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Georgia
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Castel-Sakartvelo, Argo Beer (Georgia) 
This beer from Castel-Sakartvelo, founded in 1997 after Georgian inependence, is named after the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, whose story is set in ancient Georgia. Unfortunately the beer doesn't quite live up to the romance, pouring a dullish yellow/brassy colour with a fairly thin white head. There's something vegetal about the nose, along with a sweet maltiness but little in the way of hops or more interesting character. The palate is much the same, with a slightly muddy flavour not disturbed too much by any hop or depth of malt character. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, 70p, UK retailer not known. |  |
Kazbegi, Gold (Georgia)
This pours a pale gold colour, with a fairly fluffy and moderately persistent white head. The nose is really fragrant and limey – almost as if it has some lime or even Tequilla splashed in. On the palate it si light and racy, and that citrus character continues. It tastes a tiny bit shandy-like, with lime and only very gentle hops and malt in the background. This is not a great beer, but it is crisp enough and has a bit of pithy bite in the finish. Stop press: having found out a bit more, the beer is indeed brewed with 'natural lemon flavour', and brewed with barley and rice. 4.7% ABV, 50cl, 70p, UK retailer not known.  |  |
Kazbegi, Lager Beer (Georgia)
The strongest of the three Kazbegi beers pours a deep amber/gold colour with a moderate white head. It is the maltiest of the three, with again a hint of lemon zest or orange peel. On the palate this is pretty standard, decent lager, with a bit of extra biscuit malt adding some richness on the mid-palate, and otherwise clean, fairly low-hopped character with a touch of sweetness. Possibly the least interesting of the three beers too, but well enough made of its unexceptional style. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, 60p, UK retailer not known. |  |
Kazbegi, Platimum (Georgia)
Strikingly packaged in a trendy aluminium canister, this lager-style beer from Kazbegi is flavoured with Tequila. It pours a moderately deep amber/gold with a thinnish white head. The nose has lots of sweet notes, with a sugary malt character and touches of lemon. On the palate this is decidedly sweet and slightly artificial in flavour, with the Tequila definitely there, but a slightly saccharin quality too. There is some decent hop presence here, with a bit of bite in the finish, but something about this beer just doesn’t satisfy, with a slightly cloying finish that lacks grown-up appeal 4.0% ABV, 50cl, 70p, No known UK stockists. |  |
Kazbegi, Tbilisi Beer (Georgia)
This lager-style beer pours a nicely deep golden colour with a moderate white head. It has sweet, biscuity malt and bready aromas, with a little hints of something herbal. On the palate it is quite rich and smooth, with a good bite of bitter hops and some crisp lemony fruit. The malt comes through a little more in the finish of this powerful beer, but a pretty good effort this whilst perhaps lacking a bit of crispness and clarity. 4.8% ABV, 50cl, 60p, UK retailer not known. |  |
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