Gubernijos Ekstra

"Lithuanian Product Of The Year 2003", the official website touts.

And then I say, "Well, kudos for the picking a beer to be the very best product to be produced in your country during the entire 365 days of 2003.... But, umm..., Lithuania? This beer really isn't very good, you know...."

One of several beers that my buddy John picked up while volunteering at the World Beer Conference (when it was held this year here in San Diego). With such obscure beers such as this, I feel lousy for not having showed up to help out at this event!

500mL green bottle, that produced forth a very clear, almost-too-light-yellow beer into my pilsner glasss. Foam went up, and then the foam went down, and was never seen again.

Too bad the same can't said for the aroma. Not really skunked, but just not very appealing -- stale and moldy and "wet", if that makes any sense.

At least the rest of the components of this beer held up their share of the bargain, I suppose. Entirely predictable bitterness, which the website touts to be "30 EBC". Um, ok.

Please allow me to quote more from the website: "Some corns are added to the beer which give a tasted ingredient,as well. The corns help to obtain and save the originality of the beer." Couldn't have said it better myself.

In conclusion, I think the official website speaks volumes about the dull "averageness" of this beer: "As result of the ingredients, the beer is strong and deep, but pretty refreshed , however. Neither some alcohol, nor the other ingredients exceed the beer norms."

Doesn't exceed beer norms, indeed.
//TB