Saturday 26 January 2019

Brokreacja Certain Death

  • Name: Brokreacja Certain Death, 9.5%, Poland
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Tiny, dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, roasted. Coffee and smoke.
  • Taste: Dark malt, roasted, good smoke. Slight tar. Warming and nice.
  • Bought: qoqa.ch, 330 ml, CHF 8.75
  • Score: 3.9 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 15/20)
  • Info: 26/1-2019, BB: 16/5-2021

Bauhöfer Schwarzwaldmarie

Helles Top-50, new brewery:
  • Name: Bauhöfer Schwarzwaldmarie, 5.2%, Germany
  • Appearance: Unusual with a 330 ml bottle with a screw cap. Light golden, clear. Fizzy. Good amount of white head.
  • Aroma: Light fruits, light malt. Some sweetness.
  • Taste: Light fruits, light malt. Some sweetness. Smooth and easy drinking.
  • Bought: Wittich, 330 ml, CHF 1.80
  • Score: 3.7 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 16/20)
  • Info: 26/1-2019, BB: 19/3-2019

Friday 25 January 2019

Weißenoher Bonifatius Dunkel

New brewery:
  • Name: Weißenoher Bonifatius Dunkel, 5.1%, Germany
  • Appearance: Dark brown, some light tan head.
  • Aroma: Malt, brown sugar, toasted. Sweet.
  • Taste: Medium malt, brown sugar, toasted. A bit too sweet.
  • Bought: Wittich, 500 ml, CHF 2.40
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 25/1-2019, BB: 14/5-2019

Maccabee

Israel #2:
  • Name: Maccabee, 5%, Israel
  • Appearance: Pale golden, clear. Some fizzy, white head.
  • Aroma: Grains, cereals, light sweetness.
  • Taste: Grains, corn. Very pale malts, light sweetness. Ok.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Zurich), 330 ml, CHF 4.60
  • Score: 2.1 (Aroma 4/10, Appearance 2/5, Taste 4/10, Palate 2/5, Overall 9/20)
  • Info: 25/1-2019, BB: 19/3-2019

Saturday 19 January 2019

Rinkuškiai Microhistory Beer - Karavas Forever

Lithuania #4:
  • Name: Rinkuškiai Microhistory Beer - Karavas Forever, 5.4%, Lithuania
  • Appearance: Dark golden, some orange, clear. Some white head.
  • Aroma: Malt, some herbs. Sweetness.
  • Taste: Malt, sweetness, honey. Some fruits.
  • Bought: Wittich, 330 ml, CHF 4.00
  • Score: 2.7 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 11/20)
  • Info: 19/1-2019, BB: 6/3-2019

Friday 18 January 2019

Kees Caramel Fudge Stout

  • Name: Kees Caramel Fudge Stout, 11.5%, Netherlands
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Some tan head.
  • Aroma: Nicely roasted, chocolate, caramel. Vanilla!
  • Taste: Dark malt, caramel sweetness, roasted, chocolate. Smooth. Hides alcohol well.
  • Bought: Wittich, 330 ml can, CHF 4.80
  • Score: 3.9 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 15/20)
  • Info: 18/1-2019, BB: ??/??-????

Einhornbräu Eichefrässer

New CH brewery:
  • Name: Einhornbräu Eichefrässer, 5%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Slightly hazy golden. Enormous head, maybe 10 cm of foam...
  • Aroma: Some yeast, light hops and some pale malts and some fruits. Floral.
  • Taste: Pale malts, slight herbs and fruits. Floral. Strange one.
  • Bought: Wittich, 330 ml, CHF 3.40
  • Score: 2.9 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 11/20)
  • Info: 18/1-2019, BB: 22/2-2019

Saturday 12 January 2019

Põhjala Jõuluöö

  • Name: Põhjala Jõuluöö, 8%, Estonia
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Tiny head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, roasted, some dark chocolate.
  • Taste: Dark malt, roasted. Vanilla, coffee, dark chocolate. Dry wood. Lots of things happening. Nice!
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 5.70
  • Score: 3.9 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 15/20)
  • Info: 12/1-2019, BB: 22/8-2019

Tui East India Pale Ale

New Zealand #9, new brewery:
  • Name: Tui East India Pale Ale, 4%, New Zealand
  • Appearance: Amber, clear. Some very light tan head.
  • Aroma: Some pale malts, caramel sweetness.
  • Taste: Medium malt, caramel sweetness. Not great, not bad either.
  • Bought: Wittich, 330 ml, CHF 3.60
  • Score: 2.4 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 2/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 2/5, Overall 10/20)
  • Info: 12/1-2019, BB: 25/1-2019

Friday 11 January 2019

Lervig / Hoppin' Frog Sippin' Into Darkness Barrel Aged

  • Name: Lervig / Hoppin' Frog Sippin' Into Darkness Barrel Aged, 12%, Norway
  • Appearance: Darkest near-black brown, tiny tan head.
  • Aroma: Barrel, dark ripe fruits, dark malt. 
  • Taste: Dark malt, barrel, dark ripe fruits. Some chocolate and vanilla. Smooth.
  • Bought: Boxbeers.com, 330 ml, €10.63
  • Score: 4.1 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 17/20)
  • Info: 11/1-2019, BB: 10/1-2028

DB Draught

New Zealand #8, new brewery:
  • Name: DB Draught, 4.0%, New Zealand
  • Appearance: Dark amber, seems clear. Nice amount of creamy, off-white head.
  • Aroma: Medium malt, caramel sweetness.
  • Taste: Standard malt, cardboard, some caramel sweetness.
  • Bought: Wittich, 330 ml, CHF 3.20
  • Score: 2.5 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 2/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 2/5, Overall 11/20)
  • Info: 11/1-2019, BB: 11/12-2018

Saturday 5 January 2019

Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Ale

New brewery:
  • Name: Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Ale, 7.5%, United States
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Small, dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, slight tar, roasted.
  • Taste: Dark malt, heavily roasted. Burnt. Slight coffee. Lacking depth.
  • Bought: Siblings Christmas gift - thanks!, 355 ml
  • Score: 3.6 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 15/20)
  • Info: 5/1-2019, BB: ??/??-????

Brau-Manufactur Allgaeu Schloss Neuschwanstein

New brewery:
  • Name: Brau-Manufactur Allgaeu Schloss Neuschwanstein, 6.9%, Germany
  • Appearance: Orange brown, hazy. Good amount of creamy, off-white head.
  • Aroma: Light malt, sweetness, honey, light fruits.
  • Taste: Some malt, some hops. Sweetness, honey and some fruits. Some herbs.
  • Bought: BierSouvenir (Füssen), 330 ml, €5.90
  • Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 5/1-2019, BB: 10/7-2019

Friday 4 January 2019

Struise Cuvée Delphine

  • Name: Struise Cuvée Delphine, 13.0%, Belgium
  • Appearance: 2013 vintage. Near-black brown. Some dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, some tar, dark chocolate. Wet wood.
  • Taste: Dark malt, roasted, some dark chocolate, prunes. Some barrel. Smooth.
  • Bought: Beergium.com, 330 ml, €5.49
  • Score: 4.1 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 17/20)
  • Info: 4/1-2019, BB: ??/??-????

To Øl Mr. Blue 2018 Edition

Finally found a Berliner Weisse Top-50 beer:
  • Name: To Øl Mr. Blue 2018 Edition, 9.0%, Denmark
  • Appearance: Dark brown, some red. Very hazy. Big, frothy pink head.
  • Aroma: Tart red fruits, red fruits, some barrel.
  • Taste: Lots of tart fruits, then some light sourness. Also sweet afterwards.
  • Bought: Boxbeers.com, 500 ml can, €5.38
  • Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 4/1-2019, BB: 15/1-2019

Tuesday 1 January 2019

Beer Goals 2019

Here are my beer goals for 2019:
  • Get from 176 to 185 Ratebeer countries*   [Goal achieved 2019-03-13]
  • Get from 7 to 8 Canadian Provinces
  • Get last England County (Northumberland) again   [Goal achieved 2019-12-23]
  • Rate a top-50 beer from five of the last 12 styles   [Current status: 9 left]
  • Reduce styles I have tried less than 10 beers from 3 to 0
  • Reduce styles I have tried less than 15 beers from 14 to 8
  • Get from 1237 to 1350 breweries   [Current status: 1349]
  • Get from 431 to 500 Swiss ratings   [Goal achieved 2019-10-11]
  • Get from 148 to 180 Swiss breweries   [Goal achieved 2019-11-08]
Some other minor country related goals:
  • Increase countries with 100+ ratings from 6 to 8   [Goal achieved 2019-12-21]
  • Increase countries with 10+ ratings from 29 to 32   [Current status: 31]
  • Increase countries with 5+ ratings from 43 to 46   [Current status: 44]
  • Increase countries with 2+ ratings from 92 to 96   [Current status: 95]
* This would at time of writing get me into the Top-9.