Obolon Zhygulivske Svitle

Review Date1/22/2024 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Munich Helles   Brewery: Obolon   Country:Ukraine   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.24   ABV: 4.6%

So I bought some Ukrainian beers. Slava Ukraini, glory to Ukraine! I wanted to support the Ukrainians in their fight to preserve their independence and national identity. Of course, I have tried to help in other ways, too, like donating money to relief efforts. My grandmother, my father’s mother, was born here in the USA, but her parents emigrated from Ukraine. As I said. Slava Ukraini, glory to Ukraine!

One of the beers I bought was Obolon Zhygulivske Svitle. I didn’t know much about this beer when I bought it, though I have had Obolon beers before. Obolon, located in Kiev, is Ukraine’s largest brewer, and this is a mass market Euro-lager in style, with a maltiness akin to a Munich Helles.

Here’s what the brewery says about the beer on their website:

The glorious beer of the Soviet era, the recipe of which was restored by our brewers. Zhygulivske is a pale lager beer with a pleasant malty taste and moderate bitterness. It is well perceived by all categories of customers.

From what I know of the Soviet era, the beers made there then were far from glorious. But, then, through much of the Soviet era most of the beer made here in the United States was far from glorious, too.

My bottle is mostly in Cyrillic, but it does say this in English:

Famous Ukrainian beer, brewed with old world recipes, using the finest ingredients.

The website gives an alcohol content by volume of 4.5%, though my bottle says 4.6%. I paid $3.99 for my half liter bottle at Total Wine. It has no freshness dating.

Obolon Zhygulivske Svitle pours to a brilliant golden color with a thick fluffy white head and a nose of soft bready malt. Taking a sip, the beer is clean malty, with an odd whisky like character but otherwise Helles-like in malt character. It is balanced to gently sweet in the finish, without any remarkable hop character.

The maltiness is interesting here, and the beer is clean and drinkable. I would drink it again, though truth be told, I would not go out of my way for it.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??