Russia, Australia, New Zealand......Bermuda.

The Island is in good company as one of the first places in the world to try out a new beer called Amstel Pulse.

The Amsterdam-brewed beer is officially launched this Friday and all the Front Street bars of note will be selling the new brew, which comes in a stylised bottle with its own ring pull top.

A launch party is also being held at Splash Night Club.

Bermuda's love of beer and open-minded attitude to trying something new are part of the reason the Island has been chosen to be amongst the handful of countries to taste the newest beverage.

And for the health conscious the new Amstel product could be worth checking out as it is lower calories and carbohydrates than regular brand beers, per 100ml Amstel Pulse has 1.3g of carbohydrates and 32.6kcals compared with the likes of Corona (3.9 and 42.3) and Heineken (3.4 and 41.8).

To launch the new product in Bermuda Heineken has appointed Adam Wocel as its country manager. He has experience of promoting beers in his native New York and most recently in the US Virgin Islands.

Mr. Wocel has seen some enthusiastic reaction to Amstel Pulse from the first to try the bottled beer before it goes on general sale.

"Bermuda is a sophisticated market and Amstel has a great amount of market awareness here. Heineken is the number one selling beer here and Amstel is following," he said.

"Because of Amstel Pulse's low calories and carbohydrates it is going to appeal to people who are more health conscious. The people who have tried it so far have given positive feedback about the taste being crisp and refreshing."

At 4.7 percent alcohol Amstel Pulse is a full beer, but it is a very light colour due to a "trap filter" during the brewing process that gives it an extremely clear appearance.

It will only be available in bottles, and the bottles are described as "iconic" by the company. The bottles have stylistic detail reminiscent of the original Coca-Cola bottle.

Burrows Lighbourn has taken over as sole Bermuda distributor for both Heineken and Amstel. The new beer will initially be sold only in bars and restaurants before being rolled out to supermarkets in coming weeks where it will be sold in six-packs and cases.

Bars that will be serving Amstel Pulse as from this Friday are: Pickled Onion, Hog Penny, Spring Garden, Docksiders, Bermuda Bistro at The Beach, Cafe Cairo, Robin Hood, Lemon Tree and Flanagan's.

In addition the Splash Night Club will be the venue for a Friday evening launch party at 10 p.m.