Barbar - Belgium 10-4-11

The Low Down:
Strong Belgian ales should be a staple to any beer drinker. Known the world round for lush and exotic flavours. This beer is no exception, though I'm not sure I would praise it as an example of the finese of Belgian brewing.

Honey and alcohol are the flavours that attack your palette in abundance. The honey is soft and smooth the alcohol is strong and warming, leaving a Spirit like warmness in your stomach, but there is a distinct nose of liquor and after-taste to sanitise a hospital. It has a kick like a molested donkey.

The Bottle is awesome in it's design, which seems to be a standard among non standard Belgian beers.

Packaging: 8/10
The Gaul warrior stirs thoughts of Pillaging savages drinking beer across the Belgian plateau.
Refreshment: 7/10
The warm fuzzy feeling after drinking this beer is unmatched. Its like honey schnapps in beer form.
Flavour 7/10:
I love honey, and the sweetness it brings to this beer is wonderful.
Alcohol Content: 10/10
8.0% Oh those crazy Belgians.
Price: 6/10
$6.50. Its a couple of bucks more than your average Belgian strong ale, but honey is expensive. A bee only carries 0.02g of nectar per trip.
Total: 38/50

Conclusion:A nice beer to sample, but don't drink too many. Apart from the fact that you will die, there's only so much heavy duty sickly sweet but burningly alcoholic beverage you can take on in one night. Ask anyone who's been to an Oktoberfest celebration. Drink this with snacks and sweets, it will compliment them superbly.
Cheers.

BrewDog 5AM Saint - Scotland 10-4-11

The Low Down:
The Zeitgeist that I reviewed earlier was the product of Scotish Brewlords BrewDog. These are the same brewers that make the Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

An "Iconoclastic Amber Ale" that is softly carbonated, bitter sweet, and tastes like everything. The longer i sipped at it, the more things i could taste. Is that citrus? peaches? Thick juicy malt? Hops? Trees? Haggis? how is it so full flavoured? Dry hopping gives this beer a kick that is quite noticeable. Its hard to find a beer that can balance so many flavours without becoming Bitter on the finish.

The bottle is amazing as all BrewDog bottles are. Living up to their mission to educate on the  "Sickness of the British Brewing industry"

Packaging: 10/10
Pretentious and arrogant, with every right to be.
Refreshment: 9/10
long smooth finish, that makes this a thinking man's beer, lightly carbonated and Fresh tasting.
Flavour 10/10:
As i said before, It is the beer of a million flavours, and does all of them well.
Alcohol Content: 9/10
5.0% Could be a little stronger, but then you couldn't drink a whole carton in a session.
Price: 9/10
$4.80. Cheap at twice the Price.
Total: 47/50

Conclusion:
A new take on a very traditional style of Beer. This is truly a wonder to behold. I expect i will encounter BrewDog again on this adventure, and I look forward to it. I was sad to see it finished, so drink it by the six pack, while in the company of friends.
Cheers.

Wieckse Witte - The Netherlands 10-4-11

The Low Down:
I cant even pronounce the name of this beer properly. That didn't stop me enjoying it.

A wheat beer with a strange subtle spiciness, this is about as smooth as Wheat beers come. Since I couldn't read the Dutch listing of Ingredients, i got out the trusty translator to discover the secret ingredient was coriander. I am one of those genetically tuned people whocan perceive the aldehydes in cilantro/coriander, making it taste like soap. And I hate it.

Surprisingly in this beer, that soapiness was not altogether unpleasant. and the spiciness of the beer wins through with just the mellowest of lotion flavours.

Packaging: 7/10
Plain and simple, and covered in Dutch sorcery runes.
Refreshment: 10/10
Fresh and zesty, a very refreshing example of an already refreshing beer style.
Flavour 10/10:
Despite the devils herb being noticeable, the beer is quite unique and full of subtle spicy and tangy flavours.
Alcohol Content: 8/10
5.0% you wouldn't want this any stronger, it would take away from the other excellent points.
Price: 7/10
$6.00. A rare beer, but brewed by a part of the Heineken Group, so distribution shoulnt be a problem
Total: 42/50

Conclusion:
A fantastic Wheat beer with amazing aromatic layers. This really would match any of the famous European Cuisine's.
Im thinking Sausages, with sauerkraut and onions. just don't put any of the Devil's herb on them.
Cheers.

Phoenix Beer - Mauritius 10-4-11

The Low Down:
Tracking this down in stock was difficult. everyone says they have it, no one does. Eventually ordered a 4 pack over the Internet and boy am I glad I did.

The flavour is a completely mixed bag, while smelling like it s going to hurt, this tastes divine. Pro-tip: don't smell this beer, just drink it. It tastes like wild flowers and caramel, with ample carbonation despite looking as flat as a surfboard.

Mauritius is an island colonised by the French off of Africa, and their beer is way better than any of the French beers I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. The Bottle is epic in design and the beer claims to be "The famous beer of Mauritius." I'd never heard of it.

Packaging: 9/10
This bottle is awesome. It just screams "I am a quality beer."
Refreshment: 9/10
Highly Carbonated without giving you indigestion, makes it perfect for hot summer afternoons.
Flavour 7/10:
many varied flavours but an almost unbearable alcoholic nose. Drinking it is still a pleasure.
Alcohol Content: 7/10
5.0% It smells like more, but tastes like less.
Price: 9/10
$3.25. This is great value. there are only 1.3 Million people on Mauritius. all of them work at the brewery.
Total: 41/50

Conclusion:
This is a warm dry afternoon beer. I expect that Mauritius suffers from one long warm dry afternoon year round, and while it may not be as Famous as the bottle claims, it should be. Drink it with BBQ meat while playing poker. I did.
Cheers.

Malt Star - Israel 10-4-11

The Low Down:
And spend the money on anything you want — cattle, sheep, wine, or other intoxicant, or anything you may desire. And you shall feast there, in the presence of the Lord your God, and rejoice with your household.
–Deuteronomy 14:26

This little extract from the Torah shows that the Israelites loved to get their crunk on, so why oh why then did this brewery turn its back on Moses' teachings and Brew an Alcohol Free beer?

It's not all bad, this imitation brew is delicious and tastes like caramel and honey smacks (the breakfast cereal).

I have it on authority that alcoholic kosher brews exist, but are impossible to find here in Australia.

Packaging: 7/10
Red, Gold  and Black are a great combination.
Refreshment: 6/10
Not really as refreshing as I would hope given that the Hebrew people spent 40 years in the Sinai desert.
Flavour 10/10:
Honey Smacks. Admittedly Drinking beer should not bring back memories of being 11.
Alcohol Content: 0/10
Sorry Malt Star, you cannot score any points here.
Price: 7/10
$2.50. Same as a can of coke. but a little less refreshing.
Total: 30/50

Conclusion:
This beer could have been a contender, and still there are many reasons to drink it. designated driver, children's breakfast cereal enthusiast, teetotaller, or giving up alcohol for Lent. As far as food matching goes, why do I feel like a bagel?
Cheers.

BeerLao - Laos 10-4-11

The Low Down:
I have had the pleasure of drinking this beer abroad and this is the beer that started my love affair with rice beer. If you have never had rice beer, start with this one. It somehow manages to bring the tastes of Asia into a bottle.

The rice allows for flavours otherwise rarely seen in a beer to shine through, A little spicy with some hints of coconut milk, and lush vegetation.

The bottle is generic Asian with one additional touch, the gold foil. Nice.

Don't let this beer warm up, as the sweetness will quickly vanish and you will be left with the bitterness that only German hops can provide.

Packaging: 8/10
the Gold foil makes it look classy, while still being an exceptionally cheap beer.
Refreshment: 8/10
When cold, this beer is dynamite, just the right amount of carbonation.
Flavour 9/10:
Rice beer, I think I love you. The rice binds to the other flavours giving the beer many layers.
Alcohol Content: 6/10
5.0%. Very respectable for an Asian lager.
Price: 8/10
$3.30. not high, not low, in Asia, this costs less than a dollar.
Total: 39/50

Conclusion:
I bought this as a six pack, lucky for me, I will have some over the long weekend to try with a wide variety of cuisines. I'm thinking something wrapped in a banana leaf. Oh and if you ever find this on tap, it is a must.
Cheers.

Cardinal Lager - Switzerland 30-3-11

The Low Down:
As previously mentioned, a colleague recently returned from Switzerland. While there she was kind enough to track down the staple Swiss beer, Cardinal Lager.

Harder to find I'm told than you might expect given how much of it is apparently imbibed across the home of the Swiss guard, the Popes personal army.

The Bottle looks like on of the aforementioned Swiss guard, in all of its gaudy livery. If you have ever drank the cheapest draught beer in a pub, because it was the cheapest draught beer in a pub, then you already know what Cardinal tastes like. With that said, refreshment is quite high, due to a slightly fruity finish that has you trying to reclaim it by continually drinking more.

Packaging: 8/10
This was going to score very high, or very low, I decided high, because I think it looks Swiss.
Refreshment: 7/10
This Beer is teasing you with an after-taste that you want to recreate. Again and again.
Flavour 5/10:
European Pale Lager, move along, nothing to see here. Except that finish, What is it?
Alcohol Content: 5/10
4.8%. As a typical draught beer. this is what is to be expected. I wish it was stronger though.
Price: 9/10
Since it was bought in by the lovely Michelle, I cant quote on its price. apparently its pretty cheap for a European beer.
Total: 34/50

Conclusion:
OK, I may have been harsh. Yes it tastes like tap beer out of the bottle, but is that really a bad thing? For the Swiss, standards are everything (see the red cross, the UN, CERN, The army knife, chocolate) and this feels like you are the pub when in fact you are in a Small inner city unit in Sydney? Drink this with a pub feed, steak and chips. Success.
Cheers.

Trumer Pils - Austria 26-3-11

The Low Down:
I wasn't planning to drink Trumer as my Austrian selection, then I remembered that I wasn't limited to one beer from each country and grabbed a bottle at Dan Murphy's on the way to my Dad's second 60th Birthday Celebration.

Light and hoppy, as any good pilsner will be, The high carbonation makes it go down easy, but there's a kind of nasty soda water burp feeling at the end.

Notes of grass and bread are to be had when you get past the pure carbonation. My Dad didn't like it all that much, and this is from a guy who for ten years drank V.B(Victoria Bitter). His tastes have matured with him, and I have to agree, this is not the perfect pilsner. It is simple, and that's what it claims to be.

Packaging: 5/10
A standard European Beer package. Does what it says on the pack.
Refreshment: 8/10
Carbonated like it's the ozone layer. It's surprising the Gillard government hasn't tried to tax this for it's carbon footprint.
Flavour 6/10:
The Notes of Flavour are there, if you strain, predominantly they are hops, as a Pilsner should be.
Alcohol Content: 5/10
4.9%. Pretty much the Universal Standard range for Pilsners around the world.
Price: 9/10
$3.50 for the single in Campbelltown Dan Murphy's. I was surprised it was there at all. so the price is right.
Total: 33/50

Conclusion:
This is a situational beer. They serve it at the Sydney Opera House, where you have a choice of this, Kirin(Japan) and what ever drivel Tooheys have pumping out that particular day. This is the best bet. not because its necessarily better than Kirin, but because its as dry as most of the Entertainment.
Cheers.

La catapult - Switzerland 25-3-11

The Low Down:
A colleague of mine recently returned from Switzerland with this microbrewed gem from Geneva. A bottle fermented dark ale, and by dark, I mean almost black. The bottle fermentation leads to a bit of sediment and a yeasty flavour. Thus this is the first beer that I moved to the glass after a few tastes.

The bottle it came in is amazing. Black with a relief image, entirely in french, an amazing example for a very very small brewery who can market their product better than multinational competition.

There's a light fruitiness to the ale, but the flavour is primarily malt with very little carbonation. It's also brewed in a barn, less than 400 meters sq.

Packaging: 10/10
The best designed bottle in my collection so far.
Refreshment: 7/10
Not much carbonation, but as a dark ale it does have the comfort factor.
Flavour 6/10:
If not for the yeast flavour this would be an amazing dark ale. As it is, I don't think I would take away that yeast kick, and also have the beer suffer in other areas for it.
Alcohol Content: 6/10
6.0%. Not strong for a dark ale, but enough that it isn't a light beer.
Price: 10/10
A colleague of mine was given this bottle, which means free is all I know about it.
Total: 39/50

Conclusion:
It's a lighter version of a Belgian dark ale, craft brewed in Switzerland, by 2 guys in what is essentially a shed. By that alone I feel kind of lucky to have tried it. Fact is it's actually pretty good too. I drank it with a bacon cheese and veal tortellini. I'd recommend it.
Cheers.

Dreher Classic Pilsner - Hungary 23-3-11

The Low Down:
Picture the scene, the whole family is getting together at the local schnitzel house for my dad's 60th birthday dinner. The menu has Hungarian beer.

This is a pilsner that is far less hoppy than one would expect. The day was quite warm, and this was the perfect accompaniment to my Jager style schnitzel drenched in mushroom and wine sauce.

The Bottle was classy (and huge) and they even delivered it with the cap on so i could take my photo's. Bravo Essen restaurant.

I would drink this any day of the week. it is the most refreshing Pilsner i have ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Packaging: 8/10
Classy and elegant. It has a theme that it sticks to. Green on green with accents really works from a design standpoint
Refreshment: 10/10
Less hoppy than the average pilsner and carbonated enough to go down a treat.
Flavour 9/10:
had no idea what to expect, but This had floral notes and tasted mildly of hops without being bitter. Fantastic!
Alcohol Content: 7/10
5.2%. on the high side of the pilsner range, but you cannot tell.
Price: 9/10
$10.00. It seems like a lot, but this was in an already expensive restaurant. I have it on good authority it can be had for half this price at bottle shops.
Total: 42/50

The Conclusion:This is schnitzel beer. I probably should have opted for the Hungarian style sauce, which would have probably pushed this beer up a point on its flavour to the maximum. Objectively though, it is still the best pilsner i have ever tasted.
Cheers.