Slavutych Khmilne Svitle
Slavutych Brewery

These are sold in 1-liter or 2-liter plastic bottles in Ukraine. I've always thought, you have to really respect a country that sells beer in 2-liter bottles. That being said, it's not anything to write home about. Slavutych's other offerings, in glass 0.5 liter bottles or on tap, are much better. Typical light-style lager appearance, with quickly disappering head. No noticeable smell. Taste is better than your average BMC, but not by much. The longer this stuff sits opened in the fridge, the worse it tastes. Mouthfeel was very light and unremarkable. Overall, it's not that great of a choice, if you have others. But, the convenience sometimes outweighs, if you're going on a picnic and can't drag all those glass bottles on a bus full of people.

Bought for me in Kiev, the domestic product comes in a brown plastic one liter bottle with a pretty plain label with nothing but words in Ukrainian. Ingredients include ascorbic acid (oh good, I can skip my orange juice in the morning!). Best before 3/8/04, I opened it on 1/31/04.

Pours clear and slightly dark gold under a thin and very short-lived head. I tried a hard pour for the second pint, and got about two fingers, but it still faded very quickly. No lace, no collar, just liquid within 60 seconds. The nose is not bad - mild malt and a hint of flowery sweetness. The mouth is heavy and quite carbonated. There is some sweet fruit in the opening, along with a healthy dose of malt. The finish sports a very mild hoppy bitterness, but that fades too quickly, too, leaving just heavy malt for the aftertaste. It's drinkable, but hardly a great effort.