Obolon Zhigulevskoe (50cl, 4.5%)

Obolon Zhigulevskoe is a Ukrainian pale lager brewed at 4.5% ABV in a 500ml bottle, reviving a celebrated Soviet-era recipe using artesian water and Pilsner malt. Produced by Obolon Brewery in Kyiv, it uses light Pilsner-type barley malt with both bitter and aromatic varieties of Ukrainian hops. Zhigulevskoe was originally developed at the Zhiguli Brewery in Samara, Russia, in the late 19th century and became the most widely consumed beer style in the Soviet Union. Obolon's version aims to restore that historical recipe. The aroma is clean malt with lightly toasted grain, subtle honey-like sweetness and faint floral and herbal hop notes. The palate opens gently sweet with caramel and biscuity Pilsner malt, then moderate bitterness, with herbal and grassy hop notes toward the finish. The finish is dry and moderately crisp, with lingering grassy and hay-like malt character.