Ochakovo Premium Lager

Lager Premium

European Pale Lager

500 ml

Russian

4.5% alcohol

LCBO 595 Bay Street

Purchased March 20, 2010

$2.35

I could pretend that I sought out this beer because I knew that it was produced by the largest independent brewery in Russia and I wanted to check it out. But that just isn't true. I picked up Ochakovo Premium Lager because its tall bottle and pull-off top caught my eye. I'm a sucker for gimmicks. Not just because they look cool, but sometimes because attention to detail is sometimes a sign of a quality product. And, as it turns out, I wasn't wrong.

Normally, it isn't my beer of choice but Ochakovo is pretty tasty for a crowd-pleasing Lager. There weren't any surprises here. It poured slightly orange with a quickly-dissipating head. It had a pleasant fruity and malty aroma and the palate-cleansing mouthfeel of most lagers. The flavor was nuanced - It has a slight ester flavor and finished a bit hoppier than most (which I appreciated). But somewhere in the middle there, I tasted metal (which I did not appreciate).

This is a good session beer. It's certainly better than Foster's or Corona. But I would not go out of my way to buy it. Unless, of course, the LCBO and Beer Store happened to be out of Heineken, Pilsner Urquell and Grolsch. Then I might pick it up for a party as an interesting addition that would satisfy most tastes.

For more reviews of beers and other things you can find in Toronto, visit Why Toronto.