Cerveza Aguila - Colombia - 21/3/2014

The low down: 
Colombia. It's not famous for beer. Apologies for the open bottle, but I got this at the local hipster joint, and apparently the alcoholics of Newtown cannot be trusted to drink the beer on premise.

The first thing I noticed was that there was no high grade cocaine in the beer, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I spent the first 5 minutes while drinking this beer being lectured on the pronunciation of the Spanish word Aguila. Aguila means eagle, and there is an eagle on the bottle! If only it tasted remotely that interesting.

Packaging: 4/10The eagle, or Aguila, is a nice touch, but the yellow hurts my eyes.
Refreshment: 6/10
A good summer beer, easy to drink quickly and does what you need in the potentially devastating jungle heat of Colombia.
Flavour 4/10
Tastes like beer, smells like summer, in both the good and sweaty bodies way.
Alcohol Content: 3/10
4%. Disappointed.
Price: 2/10
$8.50. This was at the Newtown hotel, where a VB costs $6.50. Should have had a VB.
Total: 19/50

Colombia makes a lot of great things. Coffee, scenery, cocaine, but apparently not beer. I've heard that the micro breweries are starting to power up in Colombia, let's hope we get to see some of their produce soon. Drink this with a gourmet burger, you could do worse.
Cheers.

Barbican lemon - U.A.E. - 21-1-2014

The low down: 
OK, this is a cheat. U.A.E is a dry country, but this was on sale in the beer section of a convenience store in Budapest, so I say it counts.

I first tried this in Malaysia, by the banks of the Malacca river, and I was instantly a fan. Considering it is priced around the soft drink mark anywhere I have found it, it's actually a pretty good supplement for coca cola or other sodas and has the benefit of being wildly exotic to my palate.

Really though, it isn't a beer. Non-alcoholic malt drink is a strange beast, and while I don't love it, I don't hate it either.

Packaging: 4/10
Arabic and unreadable, once again green and blue....
Refreshment: 9/10
It's like a coca cola add from the 80's I am the guy having an ice bucket dumped on him.
Flavour 6/10
It's subtle, but the lemony goodness is very reasonable.
Alcohol Content: 0/10
As I said, U.A.E is a dry country.
Price: 5/10
$2.40. So about the same any soda from an Australian convenience store. This was actually not cheap for Hungary though!
Total: 24/50

I can never condone alcohol free beers, but if I had to choose one, this is likely to be it. I have tried the apple, peach and raspberry, and look forward to the pineapple and pomegranate.
But let's hope I never have to make that choice. Drink this with a shot of hard spirits.
Cheers.

Westvleteren 12 - Belgium - 28/1/2014

The low down: 
OK, I wasn't going to review this but what sort of beer blog would it be if I didn't take on the alleged world's best, the proverbial heavyweight champion of the world of beer.

Firstly, It's not as rare as you think. I saw it in 3 countries, but Belgium was by far the cheapest price on it. I've even seen it in Australia, at $50 plus per bottle.

Is it the best in the world? Probably not, but it is an experience to drink, and it is a remarkable beer. Rich and strong, full of flavour and boozy as hell. Everything you want from a beer, West V 12 has in spades.

Packaging: 10/10
There is something elegant about the bottle, I was lucky enough that the bar in which I sampled allowed me to open and pour my own.
Refreshment: 9/10
Here is the scary thing; given the alcohol content you would think it was un-session-able. If I was a millionaire, this would be my BBQ beer.
Flavour 10/10
It's hard to compete with the Belgian Trappists for flavour as all 6 are incredible.
Alcohol Content: 10/10
10.2% and you can't even taste it.
Price: 8/10
$22.50. Given that you can only buy a carton of the 12 per weekend, this beer is the proverbial hens teeth. Yes, it is expensive, but there are 900 years of Cistercian skill and history in every bottle.
Total: 47/50

I drank this at 10 AM then backed it up with 5 full pints of Belgium's best at the behest of my significant other. There would have been no better way to start this hilarious morning, and I finished with a bucket of 100 mussels. In Brussels.
Cheers.

Huvila E.S.B. - Finland - 2/2/2014

The low down: 
What does extra special/strong bitter even mean? Disregard the fact that to some it's strong and to some it's special. Wikipedia provides some insight, but really it seems, special/strong is really quite subjective.

I've decided this one is special, as this beer was kind of special, not least of all because it was a magically snowy afternoon in Stockholm when I was lucky enough to stumble across it.

Beautifully bitter and floral hops, this would make for a spectacular summer beer, if Scandinavia even has summer.

Packaging: 8/10
This is a crisp design, it looks flash and modern. This score could move up or down if i was able to decipher the Finnish.
Refreshment: 8/10
Despite the hops, this would be really, really easy to session.
Flavour 8/10
Tasty. This is a great example of a bitter, special, strong, or otherwise.
Alcohol Content: 6/10
5.2% Seems higher than you would expect.
Price: 8/10
$16.00. God damn Swedish prices. I've been assured it is much cheaper in Finland and Estonia.
Total: 38/50

Finland was one of the 4 countries we skipped but had originally wanted to visit as we only had so much leave and so much money. Finland ranks highly on the next winter vacation we will take, not least of all because of the craft brewing scene. The most common meat dish in Finland is pork sausage. I can see a match.
Cheers.

Pripps Blå - Sweden - 1/2/2014

The low down: 
The Swedes have a recent reputation for the most sugary cider in all the land. It's strange then that their macro produced beer is sour and bitter. I drank this at the world famous Vasa museum, and while it isn't a terrible beer, you should probably save your funds for important things, like food and accommodation.

Sweden is expensive, it was the second most expensive country we visited (only beaten by Norway which was just ridiculous) so when you pay 12 dollars for what is effectively a not quite so crap Fosters, you can be forgiven for raising an eyebrow.

Packaging: 5/10
While I like the boat, someone told me that blue and green should never be seen, except with another colour in between.
Refreshment: 6/10
I was wearing full snow gear, and I was indoors. The -2 degrees out was all well and good, but you need a beer every time you set foot inside.
Flavour 5/10
Less dishwater than your average macro pale ale.
Alcohol Content: 5/10
5.2% a reasonable showing, but....
Price: 2/10
$12.00. yeah Sweden is expensive.
Total: 23/50

So in Sweden, drink mead. You occasionally find some dynamite Swedish craft brews, like Pistonhead or Monks, but the macro stuff, it's almost American and costs twice as much. Dink this with meatballs. Everything is better with meatballs.
Cheers.

European Wrap up 2014

The Low Down:
A meteoric update here. I recently returned from 6 weeks in Europe.

During that time I drank 135 different beers from dozens of breweries across 15 countries.

I was lucky enough to drink Westvleteren 12 in Belgium, spend 2 nights winding my way through the craft brew bars of Rome, and sit in a tiny ruin pub in Budapest drinking Mikkeller, Brewdog and Anderson Valley staples. I figured that rather than list all 135 I would list the true standout and just give them a summary score out of 50.

Černá Hora Borůvka: A Czech Blueberry Beer: 44/50
Szent András Könnye: A Hungarian Black Lager: 45/50
Bastarda Nera: An Italian Chestnut Stout: 48/50
Donker Vader: An Italian Black IPA: 45/50
Trappist Westvleteren 12: A Belgian Quadruppel: 46/50
Mikkeller Black Hole Barrel Aged Peat Whisky: A Danish Imperial Stout. 46/50


I'll write up reviews of the 4 new countries I collected as well but I need to make a quick recommendation for a bar you have to visit. Pictured to the right is Open Baladin, my new favorite bar in Europe. With 45 taps and 600 bottles, all craft, it's incredibly magical.

Whether it was Drinking steins at the Hofbrauhaus (Hitlers local), Franziskaner on a German train, Forsters in a tiny English pub, wild mead in a viking long house, or a Mack at the worlds most northern brewery, there are a million beer experiences to have in Europe. I'll be heading back next year, hopefully for 135 more.
Cheers.

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana - USA - 25/12/2013

The low down: 
You've seen Rogue show up here before, and it scored quite well but this is an entirely different beast. Voodoo Doughnut are an Oregon Doughnut company with wacky crazy flavours. They team up with Rogue Ales to deliver what I consider to be the best dessert beers that can ever exist.

This one is Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
Let me say that again: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

This beer is so impressive (coupled with the small taste I've had of maple bacon voodoo doughnut) that when I am in the states next year, I have added on 2 days to visit Newport OR.

It's that good.

Packaging: 10/10
Pink bottle, voodoo doughnut logo, everything about this is awesome. The empty bottle weighs a ton.
Refreshment: 10/10
This goes down slick. It's malty and lightly carbonated.
Flavour 10/10
Banana is the king of the flavours here, with chocolate second and peanut butter trailing behind. It tastes like an alcoholic Max Brenner milkshake.
Alcohol Content: 9/10
5.3%. That's a lot for a specialty ale that is packed with so much flavour.
Price: 8/10
$19.00 OK the honeymoon is over. I know it can be had for US$13 at the brew pub we will visit in Newport, and it is a 750ml bottle.
Total: 47/50

Welcome to the world leaders list, and with good cause. This stuff is bottled gold. I can't wait to try the raspberry, chocolate, and pretzel flavour, and who knows what else they will come up with before September. This was perfectly matched to Christmas dinner, but it would have worked with anything.
Cheers.

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye - USA - 25/12/2013

The low down:
For the second course this Christmas we plowed on into a full baked dinner that required supreme concentration, both to prepare and to eat. This next beer did not help with that.

Burnt caramels, fruity goodness and the ever present rye flavour, this is amazing stuff. Very different to your usual double IPA that it sits on the shelf with. This is my first rye beer and I can definitely say it won’t be my last. It’s almost peppery and spicy like a good seasoning. It's not too hoppy and it has a serious kick, I'm surprised I was able to continue to bake a ham and baste a turkey.

Bear Republic is a veteran of 25 years of micro-brewing finesse and their back catalog has some serious brew cred. They also build hot rods and top-fuellers, which they hopefully don’t drive after drinking their own brews.

Packaging: 8/10
Digging the hot rod, and the brown bottle does protect the never filtered ale inside.
Refreshment: 6/10
Definitely refreshing, I think it's the rye.
Flavour 10/10
As this is my first rye ale, it sets a precedent. I'll be sure to come back and comment if this should change.
Alcohol Content: 10/10
8%. Do not operate heavy machinery, or a turkey baster.
Price: 8/10
$8.10. A dollar per percentage of ABV seems pretty good to me.
Total: 42/50




So this was on the menu after the duck but before the turkey and the ham. I'd say it would have gone with either, but it really shone with some sharp bitey cheddar, quince paste, and kabana sausage on crackers.
Cheers.

Jamieson The beast IPA - Australia - 25/12/2013

The low down:
Merry Christmas!

I don't normally subscribe to Catholic dogma, but there’s something about good food and good drink with family that appeals to me, and the illegitimate birth of the baby Jesus seems like a fine reason to hit the kitchen and the bar.
Jokes about anthropomorphic jaguar rape aside, this beer is hardcore. Dark fruits and caramel with a powerful malty and honey follow through. It's not something you can drink a lot of, but it is incredibly dense in its flavour delivery.

Apparently that density is the result of six shop additions. There is a distinct alcoholic belly warming that comes with a bottle of this beer, but I guess given the bottle art I should have expected that. This beer is spectacular and by spectacular I mean deadly.

Packaging: 9/10
Ziggurats and warriors and the aforementioned man-jaguar.
Refreshment: 6/10
You cannot possibly session this beer.
Flavour 10/10:
Completely stacked with many levels of flavour.
Alcohol Content: 9/10
7%. Here’s that deadly alcohol I was talking about, and you can taste it.
Price: 7/10
$6.30 I think this is OK because of the amount of alcohol and flavour in the bottle.
Total: 41/50






This was matched to the first course of non-denominational holiday eating event. We had Peking duck in mandarin pancakes, and the slightly sweet slightly spicy Hoi Sin set this off like a rocket.
Cheers

Boatrock Smash - Australia - 21/12/13

The low down:
Golden ales seem to be the new trend among microbreweries in Australia, and this one is officially called a new world hop ale, but I know a golden when I drink it. This is a spectacular offering from Melbourne.

Malty and fruity are the flavours of the day but the real surprise is the good tinge of hops and honey at the end. Throwing the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) to the wind, Boatrocker themselves say that this beer is designed to be smashed any time of the day. So does that include 8AM before taking the kids to school?

These guys are brand new to the craft scene this year, but I expect great things from them.


Packaging: 7/10
Lightning bolt, Lightning bolt! What you guys don't LARP?
Refreshment: 8/10
Golden ale goodness. Light carbonation, and a honey finish on the hops makes this very sessionable.
Flavour 8/10:
Flavour filled and I can't wait for their specialty brews.
Alcohol Content: 5/10
4.4%. A little on the light side, but this is likely to be a session beer, so probably not a terrible idea.
Price: 8/10
$5.50 Remember this is their first year in business. There's a lot of cost that goes into setting up a new brewery. Reasonable.
Total: 36/50

There will be many more experiences at the Boatrocker brewery. Currently they also have an IPA and a pale ale, but a couple more coming soon. Watch this space, and in the meantime enjoy this with some tacos.
Cheers.