Opillia 1851 Lager 500ML

Opillia 1851 Lager 500ML is a Ukrainian pale lager brewed in Ternopil at 4.7% ABV, known for its crystal-clear golden pour and balanced malt-to-hop profile. This expression earned a gold medal from Ukrpyvo for the high quality of its pale lager style, affirming its place among Ukraine's most respected traditional beers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.7%  |  Origin: Ternopil, Ukraine  |  Style: Pale Lager  |  Brewery: Opillia Brewery  |  OG: 11.5%  |  IBU: 18

Production & Heritage

Opillia Brewery operates in the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine's Ternopil Oblast, drawing its brewing water from an artesian well drilled to a depth of 167 meters. The 1851 Lager is produced using a classic 12-step brewing technique with separate fermentation processes conducted at low temperatures in Austrian-type camp cellars — a method that promotes a clean, rounded flavor with minimal off-notes. Ingredients are kept traditional: purified artesian water, malt, barley, and hops, followed by a filtration process that strips residual yeast to achieve the beer's signature crystal clarity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Gentle malt sweetness greets the nose first, followed by delicate floral hop notes. The overall impression is restrained and inviting, without any aggressive grain or sulfur character.

Taste: The entry is soft and malt-forward, with a bready sweetness that broadens across the mid-palate. Moderate hop bitterness — consistent with its 18 IBU rating — arrives in the second half, balancing the malt without overwhelming it. The body is light to medium, with a smooth, well-carbonated texture.

Finish: Clean and crisp, with a refreshing dryness that clears the palate quickly. A faint echo of grain and floral hops lingers briefly before fading.

How to Drink Opillia 1851

Serve well chilled at 4–6°C in a pilsner glass or tall flute to showcase its golden clarity and maintain carbonation. This is a straightforward, sessionable lager that works best consumed simply and cold. A Shandy (half lager, half lemonade) plays well off the beer's mild sweetness for a lighter warm-weather drink. A Michelada benefits from the clean, neutral base that lets lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire take center stage. A Boilermaker paired alongside a shot of Ukrainian honey pepper vodka creates a regionally authentic combination.

Best For

• Introducing friends to Ukrainian brewing traditions
• Pairing with grilled meats at a summer barbecue
• Stocking a well-rounded international beer selection at home
• Casual weeknight drinking when a light, balanced lager is the right call

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opillia 1851 taste like? Opillia 1851 is a smooth, malt-forward pale lager with moderate hop bitterness, a bready sweetness, and a clean, crisp finish. It sits at 18 IBU, making it mild and approachable rather than aggressively bitter.

How does Opillia 1851 compare to other European pale lagers? Opillia 1851 falls within the classic Central and Eastern European lager tradition, emphasizing clean fermentation and malt balance over hop intensity. Its use of deep artesian well water and Austrian-style cold-cellaring fermentation gives it a character more aligned with Austrian and Czech lager heritage than the drier, more hop-accented German pils style.

Is Opillia 1851 good for beginners? Yes — its 4.7% ABV, low bitterness, and clean flavor profile make it an easy-drinking introduction to European-style lagers without any challenging or polarizing flavors.

Where is Opillia 1851 made? Opillia 1851 is brewed at the Opillia Brewery in Ternopil, located in the Ternopil Oblast of western Ukraine. The brewery sources its water from a 167-meter-deep artesian well beneath the facility.

What foods pair well with Opillia 1851? Grilled sausages and kielbasa match the malt sweetness stride for stride. Varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) with sour cream complement the beer's mild body. Fried fish benefits from the lager's carbonation and clean finish cutting through oil. Mild white cheeses like havarti echo the soft, bready malt character. A simple green salad with a vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast.

What sizes does Opillia 1851 come in? The standard available format is a 500ml bottle.

Is Opillia 1851 worth the price? Opillia 1851 positions as an accessible, everyday lager — priced within the entry-level tier for imported European beers. Its gold medal recognition and traditional Austrian-cellar production method deliver quality that punches above typical mass-market lagers in the same price range.

Why Opillia 1851?

What separates this lager from the pack is its production provenance: artesian water drawn from 167 meters underground and cold-fermented in Austrian-type camp cellars using a deliberate 12-step brewing process. The Ukrpyvo gold medal validates the result. In a market flooded with industrial pale lagers, Opillia 1851 represents an authentic regional brewing tradition that prioritizes ingredient quality and patient fermentation over speed and cost efficiency.