tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77752250491270636382024-11-06T13:51:45.657+11:00World Beer ExperienceA blog about one man trying to Drink beers from every country(disputed territories included). Obviously some countries don't brew beer for religious reasons, or they have insufficient land for the brewing facilities. I have identified 182 so far. If you have a beer from a country i havent tried, you should get in touch, I am comfortable making deals and paying well for my stockJim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-74592933361346167822024-01-23T08:58:00.007+11:002024-01-23T08:58:45.754+11:00Al Ahram - Meister Max - 17-06-19 - Egypt<p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> The low down:</b></p><p>This one has been sitting in a folder on my computer for 5 years. Then I remembered I post to this blog<b>. </b>The pandemic put a damper on travel, shipping and things to do, but this beer was so forgettable<b> </b>that even being trapped inside for the best part of a year, I didn't get around to it, and then I just forgot. I'm only here now as I'm cleaning up some folders and came across it. My notes say "Strong lager with some cereal aromas, surprising bitterness for macro, surprisingly fresh. Good for North Africa." Now, Egypt has been in the beer game for a very long time... and despite that, they haven't mastered it. You would think, with predynastic brewing evidence that's 6-7 thousand years old, they would have a foot up on the rest of the world. Sadly, that just isn't the case.<br /></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh6ce-aN-gcK4aHGjlNdcZryZNheqS2V976a-fyEJOF3djA_bR-1P6naM7LUnuUAIVE3ntS3FczOzubGmin-ZZhswYamiBeHnwiMZQeLAy6_VNiKRPw8GTo-3IG2UfTpOHJFYNRshYdEQQCtSVdVyfJGP_XC46iWBKrkhw6lE_VvhZvwL18375KweCb3_/s4032/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh6ce-aN-gcK4aHGjlNdcZryZNheqS2V976a-fyEJOF3djA_bR-1P6naM7LUnuUAIVE3ntS3FczOzubGmin-ZZhswYamiBeHnwiMZQeLAy6_VNiKRPw8GTo-3IG2UfTpOHJFYNRshYdEQQCtSVdVyfJGP_XC46iWBKrkhw6lE_VvhZvwL18375KweCb3_/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" width="240" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Packaging: 4/10</b><br />The brand relies heavily on the MAX to sell, I think.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />an 8% macro lager, I imagine you might move to the lighter version in the heat.<br />
<b>Flavour 6/10</b><br />
Fresh and bitter despite the 8%.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 9/10</b><br />8% lagers need to be more prevalent. Balances out that big fresh flavour with some body, there's nothing worse than water with my hops!<br />
<b>Price: 3/10</b><br />
Around 14 dollars, at a restaurant. This economy is a shambles.<br />
<b>Total: 28/50</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzNyO7vtZb5uW_AS6KjF1p9poIy683PdKtxYAlRYxXTJbQOEXcSvJE1BSOJQH0iamrqT0rt5XrtX3_LFZtdydZwrvR49SmbxVLG1Cy9XuffnEBRbXlcSxCm12j33Ip_FjfVOO9D35pa-25FHXCPMmutwbUyb95YQrxfSyAyBX1EMwckWpHgAHTa4RIwLD/s4032/IMG_2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzNyO7vtZb5uW_AS6KjF1p9poIy683PdKtxYAlRYxXTJbQOEXcSvJE1BSOJQH0iamrqT0rt5XrtX3_LFZtdydZwrvR49SmbxVLG1Cy9XuffnEBRbXlcSxCm12j33Ip_FjfVOO9D35pa-25FHXCPMmutwbUyb95YQrxfSyAyBX1EMwckWpHgAHTa4RIwLD/s320/IMG_2033.JPG" width="240" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGd43M2cV3S6a50NbMjZe8a92kD8T_IIDgSsiQNggJQevMJ2QKPRmh_NvSR-2vDH3nyHDQqXWke8JQGIzAUTQa1uVhv6UZ8R4YJ6gED0iAYV8aiRm7_aZ8QT7HSbN9BNp1eo3vznFWLJ7qe3mo2A2aGJsV6aejpymSIPDxZ8IwkiiAdRaewYgoWxqGhW5/s4032/IMG_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGd43M2cV3S6a50NbMjZe8a92kD8T_IIDgSsiQNggJQevMJ2QKPRmh_NvSR-2vDH3nyHDQqXWke8JQGIzAUTQa1uVhv6UZ8R4YJ6gED0iAYV8aiRm7_aZ8QT7HSbN9BNp1eo3vznFWLJ7qe3mo2A2aGJsV6aejpymSIPDxZ8IwkiiAdRaewYgoWxqGhW5/s320/IMG_2034.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></b><b>Conclusion: <br /></b>It's getting harder to justify some of these ticks, Especially with the access to incredible craft that I have been privy too across the past 10 or so years, and yet I will persist. Much like Egypt, I suspect. This beer is better than average for the region and great with a nice North African or middle eastern meal. I drank it on my birthday with a metric boat load of hummus and flat breads, and it was well-matched. Something creamy to cut the booze and something carb filled to cut the hangover.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSmZBiVDEt4wiwpC9-S3s3bfRMDry_0GWHBD5jRrClhN5QvcKKWHmoTk4nwYJvWhyphenhyphenreJZrNLU_i4Sl0eBBvm9swt0-Pb_vUpINZ64QHIEwBew486u71lVv-RIw9E5-w75yvurEXAP8NgsW5qTSm5jT2figjv65w5w0Z5E4VHY6G2xjsmfBnG6WwO7s83E/s2000/IMG_2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSmZBiVDEt4wiwpC9-S3s3bfRMDry_0GWHBD5jRrClhN5QvcKKWHmoTk4nwYJvWhyphenhyphenreJZrNLU_i4Sl0eBBvm9swt0-Pb_vUpINZ64QHIEwBew486u71lVv-RIw9E5-w75yvurEXAP8NgsW5qTSm5jT2figjv65w5w0Z5E4VHY6G2xjsmfBnG6WwO7s83E/s320/IMG_2037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>Cheers.</i><br /><p><br /></p>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-87897325112390793332018-08-30T20:18:00.000+10:002018-08-30T20:27:27.369+10:00Brasseurs de la GBNC - Number 1 Pale Lager - 30-08-18 - New Caledonia<b>The low down:</b><br />
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Firstly thanks to Teena who braved a week at sea, the roiling ocean, and sea sick tourists to bring me this wonderful addition to the country ticks. This is allegedly the 8th best beer from New Caledonia, and while that may seem to set it up for failure, there's actually a lot of good in this beverage beyond the usual pacific style lager. I started my work on this article with the usual research about New Caledonia and the first picture on their Wikipedia page is of two men with <i>Koteka</i>, or <i>Penis Gourds</i>. I'll let you google that for yourself; sufice to say, it is exactly what it sounds like. Moving on, there's no way any factoid I come up with can beat that so let's get into the beer review.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 5/10</b><br />
You gotta have serious chops to call your beer Number 1.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />
It's super crisp for a macro pale lager. would be a treat in the heat.<br />
<b>Flavour 3/10</b><br />
Fairly subtle, hop bitterness is there but it is short on much else.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
5% fairly standard for the style, maybe even a little higher than usual.<br />
<b>Price: 6/10</b><br />
Around 3-4 dollars, so not as cheap as South East Asia but still pretty great, I can't imagine GBNC has massive production.<br />
<b>Total: 25/50</b><br />
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<b>Conclusion: </b><br />
There is a slight syrupiness, but this is otherwise a fairly serviceable beer. I imagine it's great with the local French take on seafood you get in Polynesia and surrounds, but ain't nobody got time for that on a Thursday evening in August. Tonight I served it with a brioche ham and pineapple pizza pull-apart that I invented in the supermarket after an incredibly long day at work. Brioche makes it French I guess? Maybe I'll upgrade the next one to surf and turf, or super supreme!<br />
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<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-80107037376532725832018-05-30T21:40:00.001+10:002024-01-23T10:45:56.796+11:00Taedonggang Brewing Company - Number 2 Pilsner - 30-05-18 - North Korea<b>The Low down:</b><br />
It's an interesting time in North Korean politics. You can probably google where this insane set up came from and how it plays into the international brewing scene. This beer is the equivalent of Doctor Strange's battle with Dormumamu, mainly because nobody wins.<br />
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DORMUMAMU I'VE COME TO BARGAIN.</div>
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I was lucky enough to grab this from my friend Scott, who has visited the state. When the government controls ALL of the means of production, and we are at such a unique and interesting place in the socioeconomic development of North Korea, I feel bad shitting on their brewing capability. And yet, I must.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 2/10</b><br />
It's a beer bottle, not sure how well it conveys its style.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 1/10</b><br />
It's a fail on refreshment. It is upsetting at best, and a disaster at worst.<br />
<b>Flavour 1/10</b><br />
There is not a flavour to speak of, other than a weak saturated ricey, corny mess.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 3/10</b><br />
5% but tastes like a chewy, very faulty mess. there is a sadness inside, that I can't describe.<br />
<b>Price: 8/10</b><br />
Look, it is free today, but I've traded it for a beautiful future opportunity for beer. I don't doubt it will be worth it in the long run, but it is a disaster at any price.<br />
<b>Total: 15/50</b><br />
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It's not good. It is disappointing in all the right ways. It's something that I would love to stop my populace from drinking if I had god-like dictatorial capabilities. I do not. The main cuisine of North Korea seems to be fresh cut grass and human feces, and I doubt that would match this rice lager well, ostensibly I doubt it would match anything well. The beer goes with anything tangy, mostly due to its inability to taste like anything good.<br />
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Drink it with spicy pork and rice. No selection is a winner, but they can't all be losers.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Cheers.</span>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-33718115243506050122017-11-06T22:36:00.000+11:002017-11-06T22:36:24.478+11:00Okult Ginger Rousse - Luxembourg - 13-09-17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The low down: </b><br />
Firstly, Luxembourg is pretty damn rad. Pretty much everyone has conquered and occupied this area over the past 500 years. From a beer perspective this is great news. We had a lot of crazy beer in Luxembourg, my gout-ridden friend Sean came out with me every night to a new bar to sample their delights. I chose this one because it's mental. Imagine you have arrived 3 hours ago, been for a traditional French meal and then found the nearest craft bar, right before explosions of fireworks lit up the tiny city sky. This was my first night in Luxembourg, and the beer is a perfect allegory.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 5/10</b><br />
I have no true feelings about this. It's ..... fine.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 8/10</b><br />
Citrus is on the money, ginger brings up the middle and while there's a bit of an aluminium tang, it does most things well.<br />
<b>Flavour 9/10</b><br />
Some cinnamon, some herbs and a fair chunk of roastiness. There's a lot going on.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
5%, which is either good or bad based on the rest of the beers I tried.<br />
<b>Price: 6/10</b><br />
$13 (well 8 Euros, at Konrad) it's pretty good by Luxembourg standards, but Luxembourg is not a fiscally sustainable place to drink craft beer en masse.<br />
<b>Total: 33/50</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIBqS4dYmEFDMmpWiHg_nWdXoTPBtlSg2Bp_0hapC70pqV3zxqOCacX1iLRFGP5mRkB6ztYfBY9czCRQuCx5DgH76aCHFQdCTbxihBmBkKFI-M25eGL5PHkRMUgWBhZ4QP3_uCeb1aKlK/s1600/IMG_7691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIBqS4dYmEFDMmpWiHg_nWdXoTPBtlSg2Bp_0hapC70pqV3zxqOCacX1iLRFGP5mRkB6ztYfBY9czCRQuCx5DgH76aCHFQdCTbxihBmBkKFI-M25eGL5PHkRMUgWBhZ4QP3_uCeb1aKlK/s320/IMG_7691.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am Convinced Sean can't camera. (this is a different beer)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I did not take enough photos of beer on this trip, or of this beer. there was an insane celebration in Luxembourg the night we arrived with all sorts of exciting displays lighting up the sky. We visited a traditional French Rotisserie and Restaurant; <a href="http://www.espaces-saveurs.lu/goethestuff.php" target="_blank">Goethe Stuff (Les Espaces Saveurs)</a> and think this beer would have sat spectacularly beside the <span style="font-family: Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Pièce du Boucher.</span></span><br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-76276339191458978062017-10-31T12:18:00.000+11:002017-10-31T12:18:17.460+11:00Liechtensteiner Hells Spezialbier Munchner art - 9-9-17 - Liechtenstein <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsqyhtjodH8BX91iKVQVXctLRWAe-ljoOe6bE3-wOnNHZxRCN4h9qcfB2DqR56MMwuVLqVXpUTxQNYmHqkRHPHgp0rAHbd_LMPLmGzs3s3S4_t-VpopYKk7rCiULY7Rzh5z-xErQCISlC/s1600/IMG_7624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsqyhtjodH8BX91iKVQVXctLRWAe-ljoOe6bE3-wOnNHZxRCN4h9qcfB2DqR56MMwuVLqVXpUTxQNYmHqkRHPHgp0rAHbd_LMPLmGzs3s3S4_t-VpopYKk7rCiULY7Rzh5z-xErQCISlC/s320/IMG_7624.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>The low down: </b><br />
Liechtenstein is really cool! A tiny city in a tiny country with a castle you cannot visit. I had this with Lunch in a nice little hotel restaurant as rain spittled down from the dark skies in 10 degree September. We came by train from Switzerland and the scenery was enough to send you blind; Which is a good thing too as the rough tail end of fusal alcohol in this little gem might have otherwise accomplished the job shortly after. It's a bit of skunky esters, a bit of green matter, and a lot mediocre Munich style lager. It will do for a tick.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYVVMXyCzceNR_MwuxS-fbQELtEir9XoeDlyBNpy-uZhng7MuCR09oVFsxD6tkX4foGF8t9NwnWU0j51_IQx5_88F-zHaMbq2y38NW9nHK1NsXlr9inJBCOpqXkY-Yh3eQQ9w6_sqluhg/s1600/IMG_7625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYVVMXyCzceNR_MwuxS-fbQELtEir9XoeDlyBNpy-uZhng7MuCR09oVFsxD6tkX4foGF8t9NwnWU0j51_IQx5_88F-zHaMbq2y38NW9nHK1NsXlr9inJBCOpqXkY-Yh3eQQ9w6_sqluhg/s320/IMG_7625.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TJoczIh-_5P7TEM7srB0PPI4QdHCToA3wI7PBSG21DI5vfza79JSqSh258128AAiJbM26XhXf6hSF6MmCclkRo-d1s_Qz6vFhZkOZnEMZWV7YV_bsRUCwuwPF5hm7xeTFu3-fcXa_jiN/s1600/IMG_7627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TJoczIh-_5P7TEM7srB0PPI4QdHCToA3wI7PBSG21DI5vfza79JSqSh258128AAiJbM26XhXf6hSF6MmCclkRo-d1s_Qz6vFhZkOZnEMZWV7YV_bsRUCwuwPF5hm7xeTFu3-fcXa_jiN/s320/IMG_7627.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Packaging: 6/10</b><br />
Brand is appealing, I love good font work.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 4/10</b><br />
I don't know that a Munich style beer was what I needed in the pouring rain, thought this may be more effective in July.<br />
<b>Flavour 4/10</b><br />
Look it's there, it's just overpowered by the usual things in a micro brewed Helles, primarily missing that crisp finish.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 4/10</b><br />
5.0% flat so not really anything special.<br />
<b>Price: 2/10</b><br />
$9.00 And just not worth it beyond the country tick.<br />
<b>Total: 20/50</b><br />
<br />
I really wanted to visit the brewery, but they opened late, are out of the main town, and there is no Uber in Leichtenstein. To that end I expect that IPAs and stouts may have been more my speed, but expediting the country tick has let me down. Eat this with Spatzel, it's cheese noodles with cheese sauce, and we know how I feel about cheese.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-64238962576724320152017-05-02T22:31:00.001+10:002017-05-02T22:31:38.875+10:00Latitud Cero Helles Export Lager - 2-5-17 - Ecuador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49oQpG3PcLWleoQJH3ka8_2BorC3i_sh6RDA_MavLzlUIiRvX4v0kLdwb5sxoV5573iFLfxvvQOMfjVre6KC8onAHBTb10lpptH692JZ543dlsNHyoInzZl04pAZMX3RqOPsHRwnk6l_h/s1600/IMG_6730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49oQpG3PcLWleoQJH3ka8_2BorC3i_sh6RDA_MavLzlUIiRvX4v0kLdwb5sxoV5573iFLfxvvQOMfjVre6KC8onAHBTb10lpptH692JZ543dlsNHyoInzZl04pAZMX3RqOPsHRwnk6l_h/s320/IMG_6730.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The Low Down: </b><br />
Latitude Zero; Middle of the world; I bet it gets hot there. This makes the production of exceptional lagers an effort in engineering and refrigeration. This brew comes courtesy of a project manager at my work, who recently took the trip to Ecuador exclusively to get me one of these beers*. I was terribly disappointed that it is brewed in Cuenca instead of somewhere actually on the equator but I guess it's pretty close, and it's still really warm. The beer is fruity as hell with lots of stone fruit esters which I can only attribute to the climate. Balanced hops are great in lagers, more breweries need this.<br />
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*My benefactor had legitimate real world reasons (I think).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCvNpXFJYlVGljomtEMGQTf3_z_pNSvqv7c6YBip3TP4QpVYBUVqRA4YmLtF3zuFG6ySyXNb3UUHI1Aoc5HQlslSmbKuzOvld9agdbI_Be2Lw0DLLhFAI3lCcZYtLAiMEQxy8P3XZIODq/s1600/IMG_6731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCvNpXFJYlVGljomtEMGQTf3_z_pNSvqv7c6YBip3TP4QpVYBUVqRA4YmLtF3zuFG6ySyXNb3UUHI1Aoc5HQlslSmbKuzOvld9agdbI_Be2Lw0DLLhFAI3lCcZYtLAiMEQxy8P3XZIODq/s320/IMG_6731.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXudR6cQWyYXoEUnGNa3mdB7VXaP04iGLUbLQC0E40IZRc2IwOkFl4i7gzB0bTYc2oOgRwjzFYqTU-lNXLVkdU05MrHmDuDd0K3P2-itdbPZ3orNToTVmlzGD_a6f3APM6svFaQ9avqr3/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXudR6cQWyYXoEUnGNa3mdB7VXaP04iGLUbLQC0E40IZRc2IwOkFl4i7gzB0bTYc2oOgRwjzFYqTU-lNXLVkdU05MrHmDuDd0K3P2-itdbPZ3orNToTVmlzGD_a6f3APM6svFaQ9avqr3/s320/IMG_6732.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Packaging: 8/10</b><br />
I love this, from the embossing on the bottle to the colour scheme across the range, and the Spanish that I cannot read.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />
It really is refreshing, like a tropical lager but with more stone fruit.<br />
<b>Flavour 8/10</b><br />
Did I mention stone fruit? Because I don't feel like I mentioned it enough, it is really like a peach. I could eat a peach for hours.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 6/10</b><br />
5.3% And well concealed by the grain bill and hops or maybe also the yeast esters?<br />
<b>Price: 9/10</b><br />
$2.20 US Dollars. This is from a calculation on the website and is already a great deal. My deal was better.<br />
<b>Total: 37/50</b><br />
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<b>Conclusion:</b><br />
I liked this beer, it was more stone fruit than I have had in a lager, ever. This made it feel like much more than a simple helles. I've never been to Ecuador, but as part of my research for this article I discovered llapingachos, which are literally cheese stuffed hash browns served with satay sauce. I don't even know what life is for anymore.<br />
<i>Cheers</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-1915778081525227952017-05-02T21:42:00.001+10:002017-05-03T08:02:01.533+10:00Khar Khorum Munich Dunkel - 17-8-2016 - Mongolia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNTfNasP-OZUV0Rxh2dqGOjxotq3iNM5Cu-lMk0PmYXFFl3aosK5TJeIaBtBxmWZhQrTLDMmGB4dSBNmGQxX4GH5iW2iQSGcAQ-Ywr6Tq3ZXkr0DWo19_qUkraqXCg1NFxD_wqw-2cpMU/s1600/IMG_4663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNTfNasP-OZUV0Rxh2dqGOjxotq3iNM5Cu-lMk0PmYXFFl3aosK5TJeIaBtBxmWZhQrTLDMmGB4dSBNmGQxX4GH5iW2iQSGcAQ-Ywr6Tq3ZXkr0DWo19_qUkraqXCg1NFxD_wqw-2cpMU/s320/IMG_4663.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg3HltJ4ZkjuQNfiapUB8XsD73tB0tt_T2w3B-Z63STv133OApc9cRXdXWDWBa9gkFzjcwq1cpm5J1V5sDg6ZYEubRJzEWg5QWzW9rEl5ufUb_FV2bsLqDUsyDqGVm3hMBPREqMYNflfs/s1600/IMG_4660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg3HltJ4ZkjuQNfiapUB8XsD73tB0tt_T2w3B-Z63STv133OApc9cRXdXWDWBa9gkFzjcwq1cpm5J1V5sDg6ZYEubRJzEWg5QWzW9rEl5ufUb_FV2bsLqDUsyDqGVm3hMBPREqMYNflfs/s320/IMG_4660.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The Low Down: </b><br />
First let me say the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Sky_Tower" target="_blank">Blue Sky Tower</a> with a Filipino cover band playing all the tracks that you love is a great place to experience the commercial beer of Mongolia. Model included for the glory of Chinggis Khan. We later visited the Chinggis Khan brewery, drank the salt tea and ate all of the trimmings and still this first night in Ulaanbaatar was hard to beat (although, horse riding across the steppe was literally like something from a movie). This beer was pretty damn good for a country I was scared would force me to survive solely on fermented horse milk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_OIzC_USFiqkqC9ThaNwXol2c8D4R4QZVcUuRy6yb1547xzyBREIQGKD_NXsg1USOlwpCbtkukYknDg1pOonAGAzLH8n_2CFqumFyINstqUjXhq5kc1oIQQuUG7vSygjYyc8Sa3_3STA/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_OIzC_USFiqkqC9ThaNwXol2c8D4R4QZVcUuRy6yb1547xzyBREIQGKD_NXsg1USOlwpCbtkukYknDg1pOonAGAzLH8n_2CFqumFyINstqUjXhq5kc1oIQQuUG7vSygjYyc8Sa3_3STA/s320/IMG_4647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Packaging: 7/10</b><br />
Silver foil all up in there, pretty classy bottle.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />
It will do. It's certainly better than salted milk tea<br />
<b>Flavour 7/10</b><br />
Actually a lot. It's really grainy with a little bit of biscuit and char.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 4/10</b><br />
5.3% It does feel like it could do with a touch more. It is still respectable for a commercial drop.<br />
<b>Price: 5/10</b><br />
$6.00. I thought Mongolia would be cheaper, but this was in the roof lounge.<br />
<b>Total: 29/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lVLEmVQWSTAI2Ek7IKb5YSKAz_M-H-NVCB7u1elimrAUKuyGcJYjYGBseGesdi4oZqn0aUkD_y11ZF-sO1cEN9-MZwgfxWJwYGuNbvaNiLtcWU2MBLPwF8XsyatNofyWNEOqJDfa8HQ2/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lVLEmVQWSTAI2Ek7IKb5YSKAz_M-H-NVCB7u1elimrAUKuyGcJYjYGBseGesdi4oZqn0aUkD_y11ZF-sO1cEN9-MZwgfxWJwYGuNbvaNiLtcWU2MBLPwF8XsyatNofyWNEOqJDfa8HQ2/s320/IMG_4652.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuR6D8ClMYouQyQX4ptT5WgMobfWEWfrr0nuEaxYCi0Ukisx3a0o59sh8gVLs-I4o0ODu0eo2KQVLnYXj6RFtuPksa9YFZPZbwJKFzfyo8o0oZdneckFFMAvm_EZAqaHF10WyUHygcz45/s1600/IMG_4655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuR6D8ClMYouQyQX4ptT5WgMobfWEWfrr0nuEaxYCi0Ukisx3a0o59sh8gVLs-I4o0ODu0eo2KQVLnYXj6RFtuPksa9YFZPZbwJKFzfyo8o0oZdneckFFMAvm_EZAqaHF10WyUHygcz45/s320/IMG_4655.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Conclusion:</b><br />
KaraKorum was the capital of Mongolia between 1235 and 1260 when the great Khan and his horde dominated much of the known world. Khuushuur is a mince dumpling that is fricken delicious (probably my favorite Mongolian food) and is well matched to the dark Munich style of the beer. It's actually weird that they even understand hops and grain, especially since all major empires are agricultural, unless <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nelh55xTnHM" target="_blank">you're the Mongols</a><br />
<i>Cheers</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-24400474407195661172017-05-02T21:08:00.003+10:002017-05-02T21:09:15.934+10:00Maxima Optima Linya "beer" - 15-8-2016 - Belarus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmZBkBwL61Gw6xJehrNzqqZQlnRgIgRQ_Im2c8PjzNuAX2EDNj0C6cFGoD-bo-Jh5Rrw7jbeDMIjvgs9xhIxjTBbhuAUe8mR0oU6f4JT13v06Aj5-cFU-z-u9iUIa9XDCa2NW2fLZH9bQ/s1600/IMG_4546.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmZBkBwL61Gw6xJehrNzqqZQlnRgIgRQ_Im2c8PjzNuAX2EDNj0C6cFGoD-bo-Jh5Rrw7jbeDMIjvgs9xhIxjTBbhuAUe8mR0oU6f4JT13v06Aj5-cFU-z-u9iUIa9XDCa2NW2fLZH9bQ/s320/IMG_4546.PNG" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i2Q0VH-JfNWeikP33boZEMHy7bGkKk8KtCpR-CKEpMR7S-9WzVqjG_IeSgCpeMDjCY8iFS1RBZ4uOFcX-p5pGHBHcH4FEJiPEth_i_bHS_xJ0QjT66Vl6w1juqMRrUKKTvxKqtgvES36/s1600/IMG_4602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i2Q0VH-JfNWeikP33boZEMHy7bGkKk8KtCpR-CKEpMR7S-9WzVqjG_IeSgCpeMDjCY8iFS1RBZ4uOFcX-p5pGHBHcH4FEJiPEth_i_bHS_xJ0QjT66Vl6w1juqMRrUKKTvxKqtgvES36/s320/IMG_4602.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>The Low Down: </b><br />
The screen cap above should go a fair way towards describing the difficulty I had finding this stuff. It's a screen cap from Google translate, in a supermarket in Vilnius, Lithuania, where I scanned every product for country of origin until I found this beauty. Oh what a beauty it is! The style is beer, which is hilarious in and of itself, but I can best describe it as fizzy sadness. We couldn't get guaranteed visas for Belarus, but the beer scene in Lithuania was off the hook so I'm not really that disappointed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTwdbPGhpC3BUUh8yjTkoyB4pnpKZWJtC80LnASwYmv3XrN0XERf8X0GhtdUDtLrtKHmogQdRuffP-tziIGco9FkQiyU1cC-Dp2Au0_P-0UpT2pkMdlCmpKp6Dj2ufUrMtx5ItNhdPXLK/s1600/IMG_4601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTwdbPGhpC3BUUh8yjTkoyB4pnpKZWJtC80LnASwYmv3XrN0XERf8X0GhtdUDtLrtKHmogQdRuffP-tziIGco9FkQiyU1cC-Dp2Au0_P-0UpT2pkMdlCmpKp6Dj2ufUrMtx5ItNhdPXLK/s320/IMG_4601.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Packaging: 2/10</b><br />
1L orange and white PET bottle with supermarket branding. It'll do.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 0/10</b><br />
It is about as refreshing as soda water, but with a weird metallic after-taste that makes my lips and mouth and insides and eyes and emotions burn.<br />
<b>Flavour 0/10</b><br />
A literal zero, apart from the acidic burny flavour which should be negative points if I am honest.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 4/10</b><br />
5%. It's OK in 1L bottles I guess?<br />
<b>Price: 3/10</b><br />
1 Euro for a litre, and yet that still feels over-priced.<br />
<b>Total: 9/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x5oPDc1JMMoOPHaNRQbPDF_HgQA2MZXME3fYx7PxgVzHzB-JGSdPXtNCgfrMZd4hlBMbdEXWlhG6guG-DUPf90_ul3hQmia9H9gU9WYyI5lp4NIcecDt4fV2q4gFpUJt8e7wfmtqLI1w/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x5oPDc1JMMoOPHaNRQbPDF_HgQA2MZXME3fYx7PxgVzHzB-JGSdPXtNCgfrMZd4hlBMbdEXWlhG6guG-DUPf90_ul3hQmia9H9gU9WYyI5lp4NIcecDt4fV2q4gFpUJt8e7wfmtqLI1w/s320/IMG_4603.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>Conclusion:</b><br />
I drank this from the bottle, shirtless in a Riga hotel while my travelling buddy slept nearby. I had a hangover from drinking a bunch of Latvian craft beer and Riga Balsamic and had a flight 12 hours later to Moscow. I was later assured that this was only drunk by vagrants, university students and "confused tourists", though I'm not sure which I was being compared to. Drink this with a shot of Riga Balsamic; even the herbal medicine bomb improves this rubbish.<br />
<i>Cheers</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-18462507945516814362017-05-02T20:34:00.001+10:002017-05-02T20:34:44.432+10:00Babylon Craft (and Vape Bar) - BV IPA - 30-7-2016 - KazahkstanFirstly, new layout. This is mainly due to the laziness setting in; maintaining the left right left structure on a default blogspot is serious business. This is more mobile friendly and easier. Now, to the beer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwbCimhLPGgHbzltzFvwdyuMrVvRcfZPADJzHkthGULlNrk-uX97ipxlyAokBjJF52K-szNyZOxD30lKgRROFAoINvYdfzKWwH5BfkIeXLnSWDlWHo6QXgL_wmYiquus1avZpvq7uZL3c/s1600/IMG_3850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwbCimhLPGgHbzltzFvwdyuMrVvRcfZPADJzHkthGULlNrk-uX97ipxlyAokBjJF52K-szNyZOxD30lKgRROFAoINvYdfzKWwH5BfkIeXLnSWDlWHo6QXgL_wmYiquus1avZpvq7uZL3c/s320/IMG_3850.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdnWQ7bjlP1McifTTrodT8d3q4ZuOPMv0lrTwdIPOAYBqagogGIhV0U5htFce3e4thp2iRvXljwhpYz_0huiAc-0kRLPmHh6u0ltopiOAQnjHC-S2kJIx3xA8lS4e2Fyp0xAcSl6UzVF_/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdnWQ7bjlP1McifTTrodT8d3q4ZuOPMv0lrTwdIPOAYBqagogGIhV0U5htFce3e4thp2iRvXljwhpYz_0huiAc-0kRLPmHh6u0ltopiOAQnjHC-S2kJIx3xA8lS4e2Fyp0xAcSl6UzVF_/s320/IMG_3838.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>The Low Down: </b><br />
For the 3 days in Almaty we visited a lot of different bars. Most of the beer is Russian export lagers, the occasional heffeweizen and the very very rare anything else. What a discovery to find Babylon Craft. This bar was great and the IPA was exceptional. They also had a kriek and a lager and a weiss beer, but the IPA was special. The weirdest thing was that it was also a vape bar. Also have you eaten chechil? It's cheese, string cheese, kind of like mozzarella that is smoked. Chechil is the best beer food that exists, and it is everywhere in Kazakhstan. As for the beer, this is all hops all the way down. it is juicy and floral and packed with flavour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAc-01hYmVrYUuLTZ0Xcq_HPUqu0YGYG3-SZfi4qH4_nRtptEjVFO059XmCa8VVlvmOfTCG2r-7nW50fqT4uw6StMsyCNcksLbVwzZ4mGHwMDKbNrBom3JdMWCJI7gs5wWaO73QjilEcD/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAc-01hYmVrYUuLTZ0Xcq_HPUqu0YGYG3-SZfi4qH4_nRtptEjVFO059XmCa8VVlvmOfTCG2r-7nW50fqT4uw6StMsyCNcksLbVwzZ4mGHwMDKbNrBom3JdMWCJI7gs5wWaO73QjilEcD/s320/IMG_3841.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe0FUCWc0xq1VgN_7YNQk2JlQiJzqIrm1mXtYptUq_U4fz9HN4izKbKbnoFI4W8AoVaW2pChvTYkX-pL4W2QtKmwqHpQVBarhyphenhyphenGMeUO306gmloNyQeMfCHg7m_9sEZ50G9GjjiLU-e0o4/s1600/IMG_3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe0FUCWc0xq1VgN_7YNQk2JlQiJzqIrm1mXtYptUq_U4fz9HN4izKbKbnoFI4W8AoVaW2pChvTYkX-pL4W2QtKmwqHpQVBarhyphenhyphenGMeUO306gmloNyQeMfCHg7m_9sEZ50G9GjjiLU-e0o4/s320/IMG_3846.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Packaging: 7/10</b><br />
So there's no packaging, it's all tap, but they have a PET bottle squealer fill system where the bottle screws straight into the tap! Innovation.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 9/10</b><br />
Outstanding. After a couple of days of stale export lager this made me weep.<br />
<b>Flavour 8/10</b><br />
This had all the right hops in sufficiently judicial applications.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 10/10</b><br />
7.5%, which is phenomenal since we hadn't seen a beer in Almaty with more than 6%.<br />
<b>Price: 9/10</b><br />
$4.00. The Most expensive beer we bought in the whole country.<br />
<b>Total: 43/50</b><br />
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<br /><b>Conclusion:</b><br />I mean, Kazahkstan probably isn't on too many people's list for beer and cheese tourism, but I urge you to reconsider. With the exception of the horse meat parasite we probably picked up and carried all over Europe for the next 3 weeks it was a culinary adventure worthy of song. Drink this beer with literal buckets of Chechil. Cheese is life.<br />
<i>Cheers</i><br />
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Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-2634074562805908252016-01-11T22:38:00.001+11:002016-01-11T22:52:46.554+11:00Rocquette XC Exceptional Cider - Guernsey - 28-7-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwSy9DeWIZaEftdqC_gneHXf1n8lP8n6re_W0pdI3Se4ImhH_BNm5BBASgjgYYngSFWQNzx3ytyoYtYpKr9ZYOsTmvm-bMsckeI5f70-HhoWYeBPH-9VRudBBIHMPc7F8RGpxthq2Tgn0/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strike><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwSy9DeWIZaEftdqC_gneHXf1n8lP8n6re_W0pdI3Se4ImhH_BNm5BBASgjgYYngSFWQNzx3ytyoYtYpKr9ZYOsTmvm-bMsckeI5f70-HhoWYeBPH-9VRudBBIHMPc7F8RGpxthq2Tgn0/s320/IMG_1115.JPG" width="240" /></strike></a><b>The Low down:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>OK, OK, I know this is kind of cheating, but I couldn't find a beer brewed in Guernsey for the life of me, and as I got on the ferry to France, this was behind the bar. So in the interest of completeness I decided to give it a whirl.<br />
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Its actually quite drinkable, in an 10:30 AM on a boat bouncing around in the ocean kind of way, It tastes of caramel, apples and just a hint of something I can only think of as the flavour of Champagne.<br />
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And boy is it carbonated like Champagne, I'm pretty sure opening a bottle of this is considered an act of eco-terrorism with the amount of CO2 it releases into the atmosphere.<br />
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XC apparently stands for Exceptional Cider, but exceptional is spelled with an E. Pretty sure Guernsey is part of the U.K. which invented English, try and get it right.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi0AB9K9mPoCAWeBC5u1OklKfnnxC8LbuAWRGXzuNpwnjNUKdjOCSfvHicaLDCn_ANlKlc6mIpge7CYZmIFEDNPpTh9Dwj9htmQnD1kOEq3B0toCB1XxugeINmS02cSwO-fSbWarrnimg/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi0AB9K9mPoCAWeBC5u1OklKfnnxC8LbuAWRGXzuNpwnjNUKdjOCSfvHicaLDCn_ANlKlc6mIpge7CYZmIFEDNPpTh9Dwj9htmQnD1kOEq3B0toCB1XxugeINmS02cSwO-fSbWarrnimg/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" width="240" /></a><b>Packaging: 7/10</b><br />
looks good, bonus points for the Best before on the lid.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 7/10</b><br />
Cider is by definition refreshing, unless you get that scrumpy stuff. This one is just above par.<br />
<b>Flavour 7/10</b><br />
the brutal carbonation detracts somewhat from the enjoyment, but it still tastes pretty good.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
4.5% which is a little more than your Swedish sugar waters, and a little less than your craft ciders.<br />
<b>Price: 5/10</b><br />
$10.00 On a boat in the middle of the English Channel seems reasonable.<br />
<b>Total: 31/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2BMd3b85tcPXapqFawN1iDtZ9sn0n1WZhbuW1d3p4Nzv9ekfvSsL8pS9nvL5JHPal_wIk3Q8_lm6BfeZn8SxnTQTc3IMXK2gcEQDPnYstZPhDVQ0FOr8VAB6fkWpQWYNThUiSZ_u6fXy/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2BMd3b85tcPXapqFawN1iDtZ9sn0n1WZhbuW1d3p4Nzv9ekfvSsL8pS9nvL5JHPal_wIk3Q8_lm6BfeZn8SxnTQTc3IMXK2gcEQDPnYstZPhDVQ0FOr8VAB6fkWpQWYNThUiSZ_u6fXy/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
Not Pictured, girlfriend asleep on chair next to me because it was still pretty much the morning. The boat flopped about in the pretty big winds but we made it to France safe, where we found a good patisserie with amazing chaussons aux pommes, because it's probably worth comparing apples to apples.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-41195079467059652492016-01-11T22:12:00.002+11:002016-01-11T22:26:16.307+11:00Liberation Liberation Ale Golden Brew Ale - Jersey - 27-7-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8uZz50B2Ma3djI2rSxHvsEZ4dQLtTZCBel-wHNG2NO5Z9Rs1WGMnPsLx9KS1QHAtzWAQbFxp6wQrel0vRcW-zBMf4svnssI6q_fBoa_jkb25OkrxSzaU1kvE0BF2AAE0_Fmq24ZBQLX_/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8uZz50B2Ma3djI2rSxHvsEZ4dQLtTZCBel-wHNG2NO5Z9Rs1WGMnPsLx9KS1QHAtzWAQbFxp6wQrel0vRcW-zBMf4svnssI6q_fBoa_jkb25OkrxSzaU1kvE0BF2AAE0_Fmq24ZBQLX_/s320/IMG_1109.JPG" width="240" /></a><b>The low down: </b><br />
So I thought it would be a chore to find this one, but off the plane, down to the beach for lunch and the cafe had them ready to serve.<br />
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We missed out on visiting the fort because the wind was too high, but the beer was a partial substitute. It's pretty hoppy for a Golden Ale, and I'm putting that down to the truck load of noble hops that seem to be core to the flavour.<br />
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It's citrussy without being too bitter, and kind of unique among golden ales I have tried. Mine happened to be the 70th anniversary variant, so that potentially impacts the flavour.<br />
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<b><br /></b><b>Packaging: 8/10</b><br />
It's very Jersey, everything about it screams patriotism.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 7/10</b><br />
It's refreshing, but I had a mouth ulcer and it was freezing after a European heat wave, so I can't comment too much.<br />
<b>Flavour 8/10</b><br />
Quite a lot of big flavours, citrus is right there, with biscuit on the end.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 4/10</b><br />
It's not a huge beer, but the body doesn't suffer for it.<br />
<b>Price: 6/10</b><br />
$8.00 considering the difficulty of this tick, I'm taking it.<br />
<b>Total: 33/50</b><br />
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There are tasting notes all over the web for this brew, but I had it with scones, jam and cream. really a golden ale is basically a cup of tea, so why should Devonshire have all the fun? from now on a Saint Helier tea will be scones with jam, cream and a Liberation Ale.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-63022513386958989972016-01-11T21:54:00.002+11:002016-01-14T16:48:58.294+11:00Kotayk Lager - Armenia - 4-7-15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7HbGuLLFffaezyKfQJUK2eGMtACCjvXSW2eJg5Rf-eIpB5FlbNFdg8LkMvICSEk2aZVHnc3aUphIy3Nzigkstojt1C4XCd6AOQL5-_SPZv1KjSbgMxWj9i8mV8pUcCokyW1TGtB5FJV-/s1600/image10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7HbGuLLFffaezyKfQJUK2eGMtACCjvXSW2eJg5Rf-eIpB5FlbNFdg8LkMvICSEk2aZVHnc3aUphIy3Nzigkstojt1C4XCd6AOQL5-_SPZv1KjSbgMxWj9i8mV8pUcCokyW1TGtB5FJV-/s320/image10.jpeg" width="240" /></a><b>The low down: </b><br />
Armenia has been around in one form or another for a long time, near enough to 3 millennia. Their written history of brewing merely clocks in at 2 and a half.<br />
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In the 5th century BC Xenophon (no not Nick the Australian politician) wrote:<br />
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"There were stores within of wheat and barley and vegetables, and wine made from barley in great big bowls; the grains of barley malt lay floating in the beverage up to the lip of the vessel, and reeds lay in them, some longer, some shorter, without joints; when you were thirsty you must take one of these into your mouth, and suck. The beverage without admixture of water was very strong, and of a delicious flavour to certain palates, but the taste must be acquired"<br />
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So basically ancient Armenians drank beer out of straws. That's weird. I think they still live by the idiom that the taste must be acquired, because this nutty pils is a taste I could not quite acquire.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfdzbcuom0Gg05v-Jc1KrfGkYvT67JkNjgM6DnzsK7FOYqdT8Pkmgg9mYJ6CK6tlY-7rpVQ8UK8s_A0O4yhr6JWLjjHrBGns5YSAA_HeisgEB9gTVCeBK3v8W2-NujcnMcQIwneSP662d/s1600/image11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfdzbcuom0Gg05v-Jc1KrfGkYvT67JkNjgM6DnzsK7FOYqdT8Pkmgg9mYJ6CK6tlY-7rpVQ8UK8s_A0O4yhr6JWLjjHrBGns5YSAA_HeisgEB9gTVCeBK3v8W2-NujcnMcQIwneSP662d/s320/image11.jpeg" width="240" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Packaging: 8/10</b><br />
Very strong design, and embossing on the bottle!<br />
<b>Refreshment: 2/10</b><br />
Not so much, it's hard to get past the mouth feel of straw.<br />
<b>Flavour 3/10</b><br />
the yeast esters are strong, I'm wondering if it was bottle conditioned and left for too long.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
5.2% which is about right for a Pils style.<br />
<b>Price: 6/10</b><br />
$4.00 which seems about right for the quality.<br />
<b>Total: 24/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWmodUgV9y8caVyE-4g5qThcCyCRAA4J4tu_v8VUX-3lH5ESOjij2fVYib9UiSNEZjXB3pMY22d8WJi-a7UePQ9Cq49N_ImnnRbnPdPUVC-8RomUn465VmT5ii1KXymz4F7vs3ctXdWmg/s1600/image12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWmodUgV9y8caVyE-4g5qThcCyCRAA4J4tu_v8VUX-3lH5ESOjij2fVYib9UiSNEZjXB3pMY22d8WJi-a7UePQ9Cq49N_ImnnRbnPdPUVC-8RomUn465VmT5ii1KXymz4F7vs3ctXdWmg/s320/image12.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>I know that I usually talk more about the beer but how good is that quote from 500BC? History is amazing. Drink this with a warm fuzzy feeling about the persistence of culture and the resilience of man.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-88826236680060539912016-01-11T21:36:00.001+11:002016-01-11T21:36:02.560+11:00St Louis Lager - Botswana - 15-4-15<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAC64QKAG8SMvBuiLDP_qXXAr2R-A-QcRhax41Y8MhLKTu_bql0Qt8mF8USdKWHRj4WDzq4JGWgI8LoNiFCjJhP1pW-45EtYrEv8i1jJ73HF3SXRLhAHV1KEptJ2A3wI9U4ZE7z8SBj-OC/s1600/image19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAC64QKAG8SMvBuiLDP_qXXAr2R-A-QcRhax41Y8MhLKTu_bql0Qt8mF8USdKWHRj4WDzq4JGWgI8LoNiFCjJhP1pW-45EtYrEv8i1jJ73HF3SXRLhAHV1KEptJ2A3wI9U4ZE7z8SBj-OC/s320/image19.jpeg" title="" width="240" /></a><b>The low down:</b><br />
I didn't even know where Botswana was when I started this beer, I mean I assumed Africa, probably near the bottom, but I didn't have a concept of the country in my mind.<br />
<br />Turns out it's a land locked nation just north of South Africa, and famous for safari, and being one of the only countries in Africa to hold consistent democratic elections.<br /><br />Their beer is also pretty nice, when approached from the comparative mess that is African macro brewing.<br />
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For example, did you know that there are hops in beer? apparently most African breweries don't, but they are in St Louis, you can actually taste them! It's let down a little bit because you can tell there's something other than barley, and not in the rye or wheat way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSqVuqbBEViRo0dLki1HRVFCnNUe0Dg7HE1NpDQKFnYQmSf0C3xJe2_X12n8DZmyr6HTr21ztE3ROLbbD7NVqx3hlnPVekPYlsffAldYs1FQY7z7gDQeSkUUVOkKQjF1uvnoNzyghsi6t/s1600/image20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSqVuqbBEViRo0dLki1HRVFCnNUe0Dg7HE1NpDQKFnYQmSf0C3xJe2_X12n8DZmyr6HTr21ztE3ROLbbD7NVqx3hlnPVekPYlsffAldYs1FQY7z7gDQeSkUUVOkKQjF1uvnoNzyghsi6t/s320/image20.jpeg" width="240" /></a><b>Packaging: 4/10</b><br />
Pretty ordinary can, a little shorter than I am use to.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 7/10</b><br />
I reckon that Africa is pretty warm, everywhere. This will sort you out.<br />
<b>Flavour 8/10</b><br />
Surprisingly flavourful for a macro African beer.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 4/10</b><br />
3.5% Sessionable, but could stand to be a little bigger.<br />
<b>Price: 9/10</b><br />
$2.00 I didn't ask as it was a gift, but the internet tells me they can be had for around this<br />
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<b>Total: 32/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WgZ-x-oMKpHAWh9Uo9TC6c2BTnDkz102v2oRonF4jPXma2ibo561VQwIy4cmNh0G4x05b1LJU21RZoT0tWrfSO64dS4biIE5ZDzmTgzblMlBUtVbMB00ZDyPDyRM-RVjyLvYg5F-AGv1/s1600/image21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WgZ-x-oMKpHAWh9Uo9TC6c2BTnDkz102v2oRonF4jPXma2ibo561VQwIy4cmNh0G4x05b1LJU21RZoT0tWrfSO64dS4biIE5ZDzmTgzblMlBUtVbMB00ZDyPDyRM-RVjyLvYg5F-AGv1/s320/image21.jpeg" width="240" /></a>Well It's not a Single hop IPA from the West coast of the USA, but I'd suggest it is on par with Windhoek from Namibia, which is the gold standard I measure African lagers against. Drink this with boerwors, because sausage might be the ultimate beer food.<br /><i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-16146449510811597182016-01-11T21:04:00.000+11:002016-01-11T21:04:42.999+11:00 Société Frigorifique et Brasserie de Tunis Celtia Pale Lager - Tunisia - 4-7-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0GCkxW4vhWD-sXx-fKOvcQof2UogmlzRaDhE2w0PRTfrhg8ObrdDQhND7PrB6_0ygvR56CzldnZWCddWWN_KYDRw2-7A_dwUtcaYDfZRCWx7mxAQxysIrN8TUwfoJlcGMjRzrtEqJxeG/s1600/image7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0GCkxW4vhWD-sXx-fKOvcQof2UogmlzRaDhE2w0PRTfrhg8ObrdDQhND7PrB6_0ygvR56CzldnZWCddWWN_KYDRw2-7A_dwUtcaYDfZRCWx7mxAQxysIrN8TUwfoJlcGMjRzrtEqJxeG/s320/image7.jpeg" width="240" /></a><b>The low down: </b><br />
Celtia, The North African answer to VB and Carling.<br />
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Imagine you fed a skunk nothing but hops and honey malt for a year, and then let it spray all over your brewing equipment before each batch.<br />
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This is nigh on undrinkable, which really sucks given the huge resurgence of craft options in the pale lager market.<br />
<br />This is basically the reason people think beer tastes like crap. If I didn't know better and this was early in my beer career, I might have ended it right there.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
Tunisia is 90% desert, they need good beer. Unfortunately this beer sits a solid 4/7 on their Best beers list on rate beer. Imagine what the beers below it taste like?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUWdTobDzX28URSt3NIE4yXu_26-Ri9KqoH38On-lzwA79H2AlGh1zjBtNhKVtaTijYRN4yR4Oo2dRptPVmE91ag_DjphIFb0upbvkt5eOAKzcUnxeWyhkN7CXpOiBxsLLstJCrb9z_yr/s1600/image8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUWdTobDzX28URSt3NIE4yXu_26-Ri9KqoH38On-lzwA79H2AlGh1zjBtNhKVtaTijYRN4yR4Oo2dRptPVmE91ag_DjphIFb0upbvkt5eOAKzcUnxeWyhkN7CXpOiBxsLLstJCrb9z_yr/s320/image8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>Packaging: 4/10</b><br />
OK it's no shining tribute to design thinking. but its alright.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 1/10</b><br />
Essentially makes you thirstier.<br />
<b>Flavour 2/10</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Skunky Butt and a hint of what used to be biscuits or something.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 3/10</b><br />
5% as expected.<br />
<b>Price: 5/10</b><br />
$2.00 But is it worth it?<br />
<b>Total: 15/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXLXHiFxuTo2D8C52UV5VGVsun6dYGFq8XF5V0YfG9e6ssum_cc9Knzh1Q_z526BV5n_Oy2ugZhk4T119Gp1H57sxoVsFf-ui6yUaTFxinDCkA2q_OpF2fRgdvk3kvfM3mqEmCJq1LTjl/s1600/image9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXLXHiFxuTo2D8C52UV5VGVsun6dYGFq8XF5V0YfG9e6ssum_cc9Knzh1Q_z526BV5n_Oy2ugZhk4T119Gp1H57sxoVsFf-ui6yUaTFxinDCkA2q_OpF2fRgdvk3kvfM3mqEmCJq1LTjl/s320/image9.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br />
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An absolute shame, because have you seen the food from Tunisia? It's incredible! full of garlic and sausage and chick peas and aromatic spices form the desert regions. Unfortunately my suggestion is to drink this with a bottle of Listerine.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-42876788710944315892016-01-11T20:45:00.000+11:002016-01-11T20:45:19.382+11:00Brasserie de Monaco Blanche 4.5° - Monaco - 4-7-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzWTGz5IcvM-RQ4WzxlFagd9sb41G9b-nOxhv1xPhtvqKkc8MH5XlebJ0ObwYR2QTWuSD47tQMDHPVHEMhH0_gHVn9-i2zSUx-AlgGuk0-emj-m3MHVuqJd7ZBfuWYD-w19lozrQEWnw9/s1600/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzWTGz5IcvM-RQ4WzxlFagd9sb41G9b-nOxhv1xPhtvqKkc8MH5XlebJ0ObwYR2QTWuSD47tQMDHPVHEMhH0_gHVn9-i2zSUx-AlgGuk0-emj-m3MHVuqJd7ZBfuWYD-w19lozrQEWnw9/s320/image4.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b>The low down: </b><br />
Not available in bottles except at special events, but fresh as can be from the taps at the brewery. Monte Carlo is all about celebrities, Formula 1, oceanography, and excess, but it should be about beer as well.<br /><br />Picture the sunniest day in history, now picture spending that day on the bay of one of the most luxurious cities on the planet, with a paddle of craft beer that hasn't moved more than 6 metres in its entire life.<br />
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The Brew is no slouch, I picked the heff to review because it was the most distinct of the paddle, but I could equally recommend the cider or the blonde. It was gone as fast as the cars that were driving over the top of me, as the brewery is kind of situated on pit lane.<br />
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Mmmmmm fresh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT2S1YxaPHq4AiPNRkZ0baAaLoUi2gfB0zlsuPGnw-IFjhAHFm2YobZEWLN6EVB6s6-ztIAOblncQxmmRTxCJVLbhYhGSP4MXJBvmUeFGK55B5nbo5az5zu40pummExHwkVRP5vnLXEnD/s1600/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT2S1YxaPHq4AiPNRkZ0baAaLoUi2gfB0zlsuPGnw-IFjhAHFm2YobZEWLN6EVB6s6-ztIAOblncQxmmRTxCJVLbhYhGSP4MXJBvmUeFGK55B5nbo5az5zu40pummExHwkVRP5vnLXEnD/s320/image5.jpeg" width="240" /></a><b>Packaging: 5/10</b><br />
Good glassware I guess, and I saw the growlers which I neglected to procure.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 10/10</b><br />
Instantly refreshing. We had come from Nice in the morning and it was 38 degrees (Celsius) by midday.<br />
<b>Flavour 9/10</b><br />
Perfect Heff profile, with nice big banana esters while still providing a slick citrus punch.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 6/10</b><br />
4.5% which is right on par.<br />
<b>Price: 5/10</b><br />
$7.75 for a 200 which is steep, but it's Monte Carlo. Everything costs more here.<br />
<b>Total: 35/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThnNIzGFwuG0SvuDgfZPAJnHaNUIv0ACCu-tSdAEbev4a1asVzpevzEj4ZNn_enJH4huIcWW38VStJIEYJS3SzgN_znn7L8kaOp7Hn-HWGGBH8bqUBBlwaNi1Vjt2Ni1A8QRYmmxYOYmE/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZfONYIDBInD9ItZ6PZWUmcTL_9wjq58aEdYWpuT_x3G8a90ZY-iSn9e_kNeiXH1OepGWzvLbd23khqsZl7qT18ZUCfj3w4vJLnKNjPW4xwk9l13f102AxDoFxHDfapCUrVzKi5-udpM0/s1600/image6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZfONYIDBInD9ItZ6PZWUmcTL_9wjq58aEdYWpuT_x3G8a90ZY-iSn9e_kNeiXH1OepGWzvLbd23khqsZl7qT18ZUCfj3w4vJLnKNjPW4xwk9l13f102AxDoFxHDfapCUrVzKi5-udpM0/s320/image6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We stopped off for lunch at the brewery, where the offering is burgers, salad and not much else. The national dish is Barbagiuan, a kind of stuffed spinach roll and I can see that working, but there's nothing wrong with a tasty tasty burger.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-40788420114806994102016-01-11T20:03:00.001+11:002016-01-11T20:03:26.158+11:00Brasserie de Bourbon Blanche - Réunion - 30-06-15<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTlUbZgRH67sd3iLli_oNMP0eKh3BTY73MCse_SrbdPJvkJ8qYqoamAD1km2juUG9VK40U8DnY3TpI6wEcBZ1wrmvvpsGoHrfxuWZEoJnMtuEV7CDmX9qZhygEsMjuUavNVAeWr7wRTbY/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTlUbZgRH67sd3iLli_oNMP0eKh3BTY73MCse_SrbdPJvkJ8qYqoamAD1km2juUG9VK40U8DnY3TpI6wEcBZ1wrmvvpsGoHrfxuWZEoJnMtuEV7CDmX9qZhygEsMjuUavNVAeWr7wRTbY/s320/image1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
So I'm pretty sure this beer is named for the Queen of Castille, Blanche of Bourbon. Castille was a nation state in the 13th and 14th century where most of Spain is today, and very far from Reunion, which is in the Indian ocean.<br />
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Castille went extinct, like the dodo on the bottle, before any people existed on Reunion.<br />
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Fun fact: There were no Dodos on Reunion but there was something called the Reunion Ibis. The French probably ate them all because 1. The French will eat anything, and 2. Ibis are allegedly delicious. Unlike this beer.<br /><br />It's a wit beer without any substance, and only the scarcest hint of citrus or other fruit. Blanche of Bourbon was allegedly crossbowed through the neck by order of her husband Peter the Cruel which was probably only marginally less pleasant than this beer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YANiZLFO02gQTzFpV6-Xb1HfBWJkDcmzlQHCJ9IaDUnxxIbzJiWhg3zhYDEIAg_Ggj8ocQ_a6_8pKSOkLenZyXV_oBPtlE_i-P5eNSxh2CxFe9PdeKKF6F7CHWB7BcwSgvLaUNKVmrlJ/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YANiZLFO02gQTzFpV6-Xb1HfBWJkDcmzlQHCJ9IaDUnxxIbzJiWhg3zhYDEIAg_Ggj8ocQ_a6_8pKSOkLenZyXV_oBPtlE_i-P5eNSxh2CxFe9PdeKKF6F7CHWB7BcwSgvLaUNKVmrlJ/s320/image2.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfwsbAmTcvxjcrLPJALpIBCZxgIb86HdZ8d4y-5qjGeSOL6hCNTtHsFLDOgDlM3nFkVoQTLB02hFWFTuPotNJD2It4Ejx37xmQzeS7D1jLs2f17FhDPu9o-ZSbrYguYhyrBNk194azKHH/s1600/IMG_3187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Packaging: 1/10</b><br />
What even. Stubbie, blue, wrong bird, says Bourbon yet isn't Bourbon.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 2/10</b><br />
It was one of the hottest summers on record in Paris, and this didn't help at all.<br />
<b>Flavour 2/10</b><br />
Wit's are usually a safe bet when doing this challenge. Now that's all been thrown out the window.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 4/10</b><br />
5% which is acceptable.<br />
<b>Price: 5/10</b><br />
$5.50 Cheap considering the distance it traveled, but still upsetting given the quality.<br />
<b>Total: 14/50</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7-wbjtWui0d4_LgyJWTWxxK8x7COY4_tqb3pQD4FD84nI4X304u1nG7OF6nh88-STiN0AX4qn3vR-EZmzKAFs5gfJZ5VQeWhOHWduAfS4GVT_GG-CLLLbvnXsOucHz6kW5BD4zCkkJAP/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7-wbjtWui0d4_LgyJWTWxxK8x7COY4_tqb3pQD4FD84nI4X304u1nG7OF6nh88-STiN0AX4qn3vR-EZmzKAFs5gfJZ5VQeWhOHWduAfS4GVT_GG-CLLLbvnXsOucHz6kW5BD4zCkkJAP/s320/image3.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThnNIzGFwuG0SvuDgfZPAJnHaNUIv0ACCu-tSdAEbev4a1asVzpevzEj4ZNn_enJH4huIcWW38VStJIEYJS3SzgN_znn7L8kaOp7Hn-HWGGBH8bqUBBlwaNi1Vjt2Ni1A8QRYmmxYOYmE/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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I mean it has to be ibis right? Since they are now extinct and you will struggle to find one. I think the only logical choice is Tapas. Then you can have a little plate of food and take a sip, realise the beer you have is insipid, and take another little plate of food.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-50482412895397951302016-01-11T19:36:00.001+11:002016-01-11T19:36:30.928+11:00Cervesa Alpha Sant Corneli D'Ordino IPA - Andorra - 7-8-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEgjQo4Gu316w_7TyJR7oUhTe1MrMtuvzLALaw846EQ7MUJZ61D3HcZmhWbEZvuEO5UKZ226wqHeBRKEP_r-M2ldUghkb3rBo2SYzcIcEJL9tqSdwY0QrDZIduOUn3o2X8spytsT5Gz9Z/s1600/820f71fad4ce455815fdef8289c9b24e_640x640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEgjQo4Gu316w_7TyJR7oUhTe1MrMtuvzLALaw846EQ7MUJZ61D3HcZmhWbEZvuEO5UKZ226wqHeBRKEP_r-M2ldUghkb3rBo2SYzcIcEJL9tqSdwY0QrDZIduOUn3o2X8spytsT5Gz9Z/s320/820f71fad4ce455815fdef8289c9b24e_640x640.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><br />The low down: </b><br />
Getting to Andorra without a car was a chore, but it was worth it for the beer. I should explain; my girlfriend had ruined her feet a few days before, and I was at the onset of the worst stomach bug of my life. Despite this we went on a 3 countries in 1 day bus tour that I can only imagine would have been incredible under any other conditions.<br />
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The beer is delightful. I drank it after we returned to Australia and it has a great hop profile and solid malt backbone. A very good beer and more true to the English Style of IPA.<br /><br />The beer is packed with big piney notes that indeed remind me of the forests of the Pyrenees.<br /><br /><br />
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<b><b>Packaging: 7/10</b></b></div>
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Label was a little loose but the design is slick, encroaching on the new BrewDog range.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 8/10</b><br />
In the way that only a resinous big aroma IPA can be.<br />
<b>Flavour 8/10</b><br />
By no means a wold class IPA it can still hold its own.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 8/10</b><br />
6.4% which is the only place this beer matches its U.S. west coast buddies.<br />
<b>Price: 8/10</b><br />
$3.00 Did I mention there is no tax in Andorra, NONE, on ANYTHING!<br />
<b>Total: 39/50</b><br />
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In Andorra we ate pizza but I was so unwell that I probably didn't get any nutrients out of it. If I was to rematch this beer it would absolutely be a steak. Pub lunches all the way down.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-59350163687591574482016-01-11T19:16:00.000+11:002016-01-11T23:13:32.448+11:00Biere Lorraine Blonde - Martinique - 7-8-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlomXN0jab9sZRsoF1P3ZTXZG_2Hto2s3nEGM8fUBnqB38xQ4ZhR8rOUiTRNZ15kp6H3fVViQOx4f1R5P7WGwxS1wFRO7TNMP2biGma3eWThjY4FA4mFJEOoiUEaEhWCg1LglGCbN24sL/s1600/eaa3924b1a3f0568371a5d4893d44da9_640x640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlomXN0jab9sZRsoF1P3ZTXZG_2Hto2s3nEGM8fUBnqB38xQ4ZhR8rOUiTRNZ15kp6H3fVViQOx4f1R5P7WGwxS1wFRO7TNMP2biGma3eWThjY4FA4mFJEOoiUEaEhWCg1LglGCbN24sL/s320/eaa3924b1a3f0568371a5d4893d44da9_640x640.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RBUTzoOkYN6fXcCdgLQGjpvqWxyv4NhNDXLVKnji5Temp3z9bTNZ-sh_RmH_-Zt_5nE8O_rFT5M3Zw8LEiWEZn8aHSl9ky8GMMNxuiGTbNcyukNWRUstkgBUSCb7Ld2sPDKpvkb7hzuV/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b>The low down: </b><br />
The next 2 posts will be single image affairs, as I lost my phone and was only able to recover the untapped images.<br />
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Now that the first disclaimer is out of the way here's the second "brewed under license by Heineken". Beer lovers the world over know that phrase well, and treat it with universal dismay.<br />
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This is with good reason, as the beer tastes kind of like a milder version of carbonated water. If you took what little flavour the minerals imparted to the water, and removed it. It is the absence of flavour. but I guess that makes it supremely smashable!<br />
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I know next to nothing about Martinique, and even the internet seems to write it off as that place where Napoleon went that one time.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 6/10</b><br />
Big Bold red and white flag on the 440ml can. points deducted for font madness.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 8/10</b><br />
It's essentially spring water with bubbles.<br />
<b>Flavour 1/10</b><br />
If there is one, my palette has trouble discerning it.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
5% is respectable, as there is no hint that it's there.<br />
<b>Price: 6/10</b><br />
$4.50, cheap for an import in Paris where I picked it up.<br />
<b>Total: 26/50</b><br />
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How to even try and wrap this up? This is essentially the sneaky ninja of the beer world. If you told me it was soft drink, I would believe you, and I would consider it a terrible terrible soft drink. I think it's best served on a boat, in the heat, on the way to an exile on an island.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-32475728514722465312015-01-21T21:05:00.003+11:002015-01-21T21:05:57.463+11:00Vanuatu Tusker OP Lager - Vanuatu - 25-12-14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWx-55pAgvpCg4WYMYLdAUmcU86crAA_8JzZ1eAKVT0jrUam8grHAn1CWcjYLcWEpF9PrDkPE8K0W6wmEAeqdxu1nATTZ1OcEl7KPXqnFkH76jlgjFfiQY_Yv4m_RwMHjS2BuuMcOHhA6p/s1600/20141225_061316999_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWx-55pAgvpCg4WYMYLdAUmcU86crAA_8JzZ1eAKVT0jrUam8grHAn1CWcjYLcWEpF9PrDkPE8K0W6wmEAeqdxu1nATTZ1OcEl7KPXqnFkH76jlgjFfiQY_Yv4m_RwMHjS2BuuMcOHhA6p/s1600/20141225_061316999_iOS.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
Tusker is the beer I compare all pacific lagers to, so I guess I will compare Tusker OP to it as well. Imagine someone took a sacred beverage, and upped the dextrose so the yeast burned hotter and pumped out an extra 2.3% alcohol, then basically made it half as good. This is certainly a case of more is less.<br />
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Vanuatu is a bona fide tropical paradise. The coral reefs are amazing, sunset is like being on another world and Tusker beer is everywhere like mana from heaven. You may even notice me wearing the Tusker shirt in the last image, I devoured it incessantly both times I visited.<br />
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OP is a shoddy imitator to the throne, but it's still better than most of the pacific lagers that end up in my fridge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyWVjd33-83IOm5y6lj1uPHGkg6bsjQP3wQctu00loaV1YkEXhogkDLA3GFx3j3bLb3Vl-AqjSrdfHRoARhBL_Qv35BpPvdWGDJO7C9hXsLDgAB_P2lO-U2OkArwot264pvr9-g_k7wq7/s1600/20141225_061303054_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyWVjd33-83IOm5y6lj1uPHGkg6bsjQP3wQctu00loaV1YkEXhogkDLA3GFx3j3bLb3Vl-AqjSrdfHRoARhBL_Qv35BpPvdWGDJO7C9hXsLDgAB_P2lO-U2OkArwot264pvr9-g_k7wq7/s1600/20141225_061303054_iOS.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>Packaging: 6/10</b><br />
No awards here, though I have been to the bottling plant. (It's like most other bottling plants)<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />
The original would have been a 9, this is a not so close second.<br />
<b>Flavour 5/10</b><br />
Feels like the boozahol ruins the grain bill.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 9/10</b><br />
7% which I admit, is ridiculous for an adjunct.<br />
<b>Price: 8/10</b><br />
400 Vatu in stores, or around $4 (Thanks Bill)<br />
<b>Total: 34/50</b><br />
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Yes the higher alcohol might be useful for a night getting crunk, but I'd rather just drink 2 regular Tuskers and deal with the toilet breaks.<br />For food, I remember sitting on a north facing beach eating fresh fruit (I mean tree cut fresh pineapple and mango) with a Tusker in the other hand, and it was glorious.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-633251262943200912015-01-06T20:13:00.000+11:002015-01-06T20:13:59.220+11:00Vonu Pure Lager - Fiji - 14-11-14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVmbI1uZ9EicQw7JP3jQTIvZw2GM-YedB1JKaEPfGRm5tor_m_jg5e9CMY5jPsBX3TqFwNzDzHZb85V8Y6IvxfZwUGR7MqbwzVucPlxbpHlQMK7LLpMPsnEZJ7MpqkvgGIMbOyIaLvpBZ/s1600/20141114_094753404_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVmbI1uZ9EicQw7JP3jQTIvZw2GM-YedB1JKaEPfGRm5tor_m_jg5e9CMY5jPsBX3TqFwNzDzHZb85V8Y6IvxfZwUGR7MqbwzVucPlxbpHlQMK7LLpMPsnEZJ7MpqkvgGIMbOyIaLvpBZ/s1600/20141114_094753404_iOS.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
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So first a disclaimer, Coca Cola recently purchased this brewery for a cool 5 million. This is probably the best the small island nation has to offer, and anyone who has had a Fiji Bitter will know just how much worse they get.<br /><br />Fiji receives 3000 mm of rain water per year and while much of it goes to producing the lucrative Fiji water, allegedly filtered through 450 years worth of mineral deposits, Vonu will need a fair share to keep up with the massive growth in markets that the Coca Cola deal opens up for them.<br />
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They call it "hand crafted" and it tastes like it is, and I can only imagine it would be even better on a sandy beach in the south pacific.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5t5fytRA1SsxADGwsyzmCNelPTo3pJjoxEsGAde28lt-l4JN0vI_gSUCp4M6i1TOIWfMQ0qj-7gt6rGA0ch36OQN8UDbk2YJixMGSWcJtkTLRr4hjcB5Rt7bI7RPKYAhf3NCb0JNyp7S/s1600/20141114_094806524_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5t5fytRA1SsxADGwsyzmCNelPTo3pJjoxEsGAde28lt-l4JN0vI_gSUCp4M6i1TOIWfMQ0qj-7gt6rGA0ch36OQN8UDbk2YJixMGSWcJtkTLRr4hjcB5Rt7bI7RPKYAhf3NCb0JNyp7S/s1600/20141114_094806524_iOS.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>Packaging: 9/10</b><br />
A really solid design, and I love the custom stubbie holder.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />
Pretty good refreshment levels.<br />
<b>Flavour 7/10</b><br />
A fairly mixed bag, but nice rather than revolting.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
4.6% very average for the region.<br />
<b>Price: 5/10</b><br />
$8.00 at the local Argentinian joint.<br />
<b>Total: 31/50</b><br />
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Vonu Pure Lager apparently donate a lot of money to the conservation of the endangered Vonu turtle, which is indigenous to Fiji, Tahiti and the surrounds. So I can't in good conscience recommend the turtle soup. Thankfully, it is spectacularly matched to BBQ meats.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-30879952148580400942014-10-01T00:14:00.001+10:002014-10-01T00:14:51.899+10:00Carib Lager - Trinidad and Tobago - 17-9-14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3pY3WkJKrhcxuTZb2vA47dirx2ldSIgWEI3yrpETQKDb2S81VD7ZEKTXFiMqZ0wP5lryITRUq2xSpeKQAj-X1bQrgdbxP8Oe8B7e5jtoobVDvALBLUdOEftHHJm1cZESRQMXNSdFFUKt/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3pY3WkJKrhcxuTZb2vA47dirx2ldSIgWEI3yrpETQKDb2S81VD7ZEKTXFiMqZ0wP5lryITRUq2xSpeKQAj-X1bQrgdbxP8Oe8B7e5jtoobVDvALBLUdOEftHHJm1cZESRQMXNSdFFUKt/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
I've barely hit 7 of the 28 nations and territories in the Caribbean, it's slow going because of their limited exports. Thank God for Top Hops New York. Unfortunately they were out of a couple I wanted, but they did have this gem.<br />
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I'll be visiting the Caribbean in 2016 and I'm hoping there are more beers like this. It's a really refreshing drop, no significant flavour to speak of, but in this case it's not a bad thing.<br />
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It's not very carbonated and drinks well from the once again clear bottle, but this was well refrigerated and I drank it at night, though it might suffer on a shelf.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 7/10</b><br />
Feels Caribbean, and doesn't come in red and green!<br />
<b>Refreshment: 8/10</b><br />
It was barely 19 degrees in New York, and this still worked.<br />
<b>Flavour 6/10</b><br />
Fruity, a little malty, but not amazing.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 7/10</b><br />
5.2% High for a Caribbean lager.<br />
<b>Price: 8/10</b><br />
$4.15. And this included the corkage at Top Hops.<br />
<b>Total: 36/50</b><br />
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Trinidad and Tobago invented the Calypso and the Limbo, which pretty much define the Caribbean for me. The cuisine is a combination of Indian, African and Creole. One of their specialties is a fried dough called Fried Bake. Can you see where this is going?<br />
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<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-90426273133082162692014-09-30T22:50:00.001+10:002014-09-30T22:50:18.709+10:00Kalik - The Bahamas - 11-9-14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWhH3lfIdDSLmG8foGIaZ-xWnRyd8tCAP5zuERGYwDiflPlzSve5dnmA4J7EC4zhUUewPmGS5hekSlkK1g9en8EqJqghmrajfmgepWJsdwyfEaCHTC0Ed2fsrHKVSqgDffcjEYTnFu_E4/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWhH3lfIdDSLmG8foGIaZ-xWnRyd8tCAP5zuERGYwDiflPlzSve5dnmA4J7EC4zhUUewPmGS5hekSlkK1g9en8EqJqghmrajfmgepWJsdwyfEaCHTC0Ed2fsrHKVSqgDffcjEYTnFu_E4/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
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The Bahamas is only proceeded by Aruba, Jamaica and Bermuda in the list of places The Beach Boys want to take you to. Then again, Kokomo is in Indiana, so they probably don't know crap.<br />
For the record there is also a Kokomo in Mississippi as well, but no one cares about that.<br />
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The beer is OK, but has a distinct skunk smell that is brought on by its shelf storage and clear bottle. Considering the Bahamas are supposed to be the sunniest place on earth, someone should have thought of this.<br />
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It's macro produced by Heineken on the island, so with that consideration in place, it does pretty well, in that it is better than Heineken.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 3/10</b><br />
A clear glass bottle for a beer to be drunk in the sun....<br />
<b>Refreshment: 6/10</b><br />
Skunk ruins it, but otherwise reasonably easy drinking.<br />
<b>Flavour 5/10</b><br />
Almost no hop flavour, a little malt and that's it.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
5% About par for the course.<br />
<b>Price: 8/10</b><br />
$1.85. It's probably more in a resort, but it will be better there too.<br />
<b>Total: 27/50</b><br />
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Atlanta is a pretty good analog for the Bahamas, except it has no sea breeze, no beach and a lot more craft breweries. Apparently conch fritters are a thing and hugely popular in the Bahamas. I would like to eat some, and I could do worse than pairing them with this beer.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-74485824343814033872014-09-30T22:25:00.002+10:002014-09-30T22:25:30.105+10:00Presidente - Dominican Republic - 10-9-14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-RfSaQgmj9s8XCgPLLjnpu-rB-nMSETCQjCyYA6GvSjHqyDwb_UyolLc9ubg_XwAJs2InMQMunD-QVXU2JHpD7oFT1E_KiDAytc0MHN003IOYabzs7QeKxXxkDxK3mpLkIRoOPfJO4o3/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-RfSaQgmj9s8XCgPLLjnpu-rB-nMSETCQjCyYA6GvSjHqyDwb_UyolLc9ubg_XwAJs2InMQMunD-QVXU2JHpD7oFT1E_KiDAytc0MHN003IOYabzs7QeKxXxkDxK3mpLkIRoOPfJO4o3/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
In the Dominican Republic in 1496, Bartholomew, the kid brother of Christopher Columbus, established the first Spanish colony in the West Indies. This began 30 years of the decimation and subjugation of the native Taino people. I say 30 as opposed to 500 as they were all but eradicated by the 1530's.<br />
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With that depressing story out of the way let's talk Caribbean beer. It's not quite as heinous as the actions of the European settlers in the 15th and 16th centuries, but it's also not that great.<br /><br />The primary flavour is sickly sweet malt, but there isn't a lot else to it. Another in a long line of beers that are forgettable but serviceable in the tropics.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 3/10</b><br />
What is with Caribbean beers and this colour set?<br />
<b>Refreshment: 5/10</b><br />
On the Island of Hispaniola sure, in Atlanta, partly.<br />
<b>Flavour 2/10</b><br />
Fake sweetness not optional.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 5/10</b><br />
5% Good enough for government work.<br />
<b>Price: 7/10</b><br />
$1.65 Well, at least it's cheap.<br />
<b>Total: 22/50</b><br />
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I drank this with preserved meats from the Pepper Palace, it's probably better suited to something even spicier. We visited the world of Coca Cola before I drank this and it still seemed sweet. Drink it with jalapeños, or habaneros.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-28047840316402913362014-09-30T21:49:00.001+10:002014-09-30T21:49:30.977+10:00Cerveza Tona - Nicaragua - 8-9-14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKQ0KyVz1FIHqFu3i9LBuRlbaZP5_4XHPbuSZrjbIXI3b23TNntzKyEY1L2EpKpfbD5gInDUkcRoWTKZwad7eIkiaRo9ZD8zhjzpXGZkT4AP4-SiolPcRDybTBL_bXJfivFNIFNhkT9Xr/s1600/IMG_2669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKQ0KyVz1FIHqFu3i9LBuRlbaZP5_4XHPbuSZrjbIXI3b23TNntzKyEY1L2EpKpfbD5gInDUkcRoWTKZwad7eIkiaRo9ZD8zhjzpXGZkT4AP4-SiolPcRDybTBL_bXJfivFNIFNhkT9Xr/s1600/IMG_2669.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>The low down: </b><br />
I have to admit, I know nothing about Nicaragua, except that there's a lot of coffee. Research indicates that the 2 largest lakes in Central America are located there, which makes sense because this is one watery beer.<br />
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There's also an area of Nicaragua called the Mosquito Coast which sounds entirely unappealing. Thankfully this beer does a pretty good job of making me unlikely to want to go to Nicaragua, which I keep wanting to spell "Nicuragua" and I'm not sure why.<br />
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Watery equatorial lager with flavours of corn and cardboard. Whoopee.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 4/10</b><br />
Looks like an impoverished Christmas.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 3/10</b><br />
San Fran was wonderfully hot and this beer didn't help.<br />
<b>Flavour 2/10</b><br />
As I said, it basically tastes rubbish.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 2/10</b><br />
4.6%, low enough not to matter.<br />
<b>Price: 7/10</b><br />
$2.00. Cheap, but not cheap enough for redemption.<br />
<b>Total: 18/50</b><br />
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So there you have it, the things I will drink for a country tick. If this wasn't so cheap I don't think anyone would drink it. With that said it costs the same as the average Nicaraguan earns in a day, so maybe its the Bollinger of Central America. Drink it with Bananas.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775225049127063638.post-8061779714799705582014-07-27T23:42:00.000+10:002014-07-27T23:42:11.170+10:00Blue Ice Beer - Hong Kong -20-7-14<br />
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<b>The low down: </b><br />
Oh ho ho, have I got a beer for you! Yes I drank some true Hong Kong craft beer, I even attended a craft beer festival, but I felt I must expose you to true horror.<br />
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This is the most disgusting can of something resembling beer I've had yet. This stuff is basically buttes in a can.<br />
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I have absolutely nothing nice to say about it. The can is boring, it's weak, it tastes crap, it doesn't refresh and while it only costs 80 cents, that's not value, since you can get a San Miguel or a Weihenstephaner for about 30 cents more.<br />
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<b>Packaging: 1/10</b><br />
Nope.<br />
<b>Refreshment: 1/10</b><br />
Nope.<br />
<b>Flavour 1/10</b><br />
Nope.<br />
<b>Alcohol Content: 1/10</b><br />
5% but still nope.<br />
<b>Price: 2/10</b><br />
$0.80. I still feel like this should be "nope"<br />
<b>Total: 6/50</b><br />
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This is literally the worst. It makes Pure Blonde taste like Dom Pérignon. See the look on my face in this picture? That is me staring into the abyss. If you are ever served this, commit Seppuku and die with your honor in tact. That makes me think sushi, but with LOTS of wasabi.<br />
<i>Cheers.</i>Jim Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11048509943630651047noreply@blogger.com0