Svytury's Ekstra Lager

Svytury's Ekstra Lager
5.2% Alc Lithuania
$2.60 per bottle LCBO

According to the bottle, Svytury's (shvee-to-rees) meaning 'lighthouse' is Lithuania's most popular beer. I had never tried a Lithuanian beer before, and its statement of popularity urged me throw it into my LCBO basket and give it a try. There is something funny about the look of this beer that I liked without even opening it. The shape of the bottle is very old-fashioned, the brand colours are black, brown, and custard, and the top is classically sealed with foil. I began to feel like this beer could be somewhat interesting. However, I was quite disappointed from here on in.

Svytury's Ekstra has a very light golden yellow colour, which is quite different to a typical Eastern European lager (usually darker gold). The back of the bottle reads, Ekstra has 'a frothy head of dazzling white'. This was the first sign of disappointment. The beer pours very clean, crisp and light much resembling a North American style light beer. There was almost no head after pouring. It smells of a European lager, but the taste, kick and aftertaste is very average and domestic.

I really wanted to like Svytury's Ekstra for one reason mainly. It's Lithuanian. When else do we get to cheer for Lithuania? I thought, Yes! Lithuania's most popular beer, Done...
...Done and Dusted, i'm afraid.

Overall - 2/5
Closer resemblance to a light American domestic, than a distinct, pure European lager.