500ml can found in the Kyrgyz Republic. Pours clear gold with a medium-sized white head. Aroma is grain, malt. Taste is malt, grain, light breadiness. Weak bitter finish. Typical ex-USSR pale lager from one of the beer giants. Drinkable at best.

CAN 50 CL. Clear golden, white head. Malty, grainy. Similar taste, grainy with an ugly grassy bitterness.

I met Ed at Churchkey about three years ago. He retired from the FAA, as an examiner I think, years ago, and now spends his time seeking out interesting beers, the bars that serve them, and the people that drink them. In other words, a man after my own heart. He is generous to a fault: whenever I see him, his first words, after a warm greeting, are, "Wait right here, I’ll be right back." He then retrieves from the trunk of his car some amazing bottle he’s acquired along the way, more often than not from Casey of Max’s. He doesn’t have a cell phone or a computer, so he doesn’t use the internet - so you can only find him by searching his favorite bars. He has a hand written list of more than 13,000 beers he’s reviewed. Anyway, three years ago, Ed told me he had rated beers from 91 countries, but was stuck, and unable to find any more new countries. He gave me a list of countries he’d tried beers from, which I still carry in my wallet. It took me three years, but tonight I was able to share with Ed beers from countries #99 (Bosnia) and 100, this one. I am proud to call you a friend, Ed, and it has enriched my life to have known you. I wish you all the best in your search for your next centennial, whenever that may be. Oh, and the beer was a tasty enough lager, a little bit papery with an edge of cardboard, but a shining bright gold color, like Ed’s heart. As Ed graciously described it, "a good hamburger beer, on a hot day." Here’s to you, good sir.