Admiral Svetloye
Kompaniya "Teddy Beer"/Mikropivovariya Laplandia

I picked up this bottle at the microbrewery/home brew shop in the southern part of Moscow. The beer is only sold there, but there is no associated bar - take home only. Comes in a brown 33cl bottle with a slowly tapered neck and a label featuring a pipe-smoking admiral. The label repeatedly identifies the beer as unfiltered, unpasteurized and bottle-conditioned. The back label simultaneously calls the beer a lager, but also says it uses top fermentation. Ingredients include sugar (major disappointment there!). Best before 1/04, I opened it the day I bought it - 11/18/03.

Pours a very diffuse and cloudy gold under a smooth one finger white head that stuck around a little while before fading to collar. There are must a few spots of lace. The nose is malty, with a touch of sweetness, but pretty mild. The mouth is heavy and mildly carbonated. The taste is mild, with a touch of grape juice among the malts. There is very little hops here, but the brew is fresh and refreshing. A good effort overall.