Beer Goals 2019 - Result

My beer goals for 2019 were as follows (with inline comments):

• Get from 176 to 185 Ratebeer countries   [Goal achieved 2019-03-13]
• Helped as usual by some great trades, reached the goal and ended up on 189 countries. Also climbed from 14th to joint 11th place.
• Get from 7 to 8 Canadian Provinces
• Another fail on this goal...
• Get last England County (Northumberland) again   [Goal achieved 2019-12-23]
• Reached again via an online order, hopefully it lasts this time around!
• 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
• Due to the addition of lots of  new RB styles, these all became impossible and I am now missing a lot of styles again.
• Get from 1237 to 1350 breweries   [Current status: 1349]
• Technically I didn't reach this goal as I am just on 1349. But I tried a new meadery, so I think I basically reached this goal anyway, on the last day of the year. 113 new breweries is less than last year, and I think next year will be even more difficult.
• Get from 431 to 500 Swiss ratings   [Goal achieved 2019-10-11]
• Ended the year on 521 Swiss ratings. 
• Get from 148 to 180 Swiss breweries   [Goal achieved 2019-11-08]
• Ended the year on 184 Swiss breweries, but this is getting harder and harder.

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]

Same as last year, I only managed one of the four "minor country related goals", but I got pretty close on the other ones.

Lupulus Brune

 New brewery:

• Name: Lupulus Brune, 8.5%, Belgium
• Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Some tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, ripe fruits, slight spices.
• Taste: Dark malt, lightly roasted, spices. Some dark fruits in the mix. Slight alcohol.
• Bought: Halle aux Boissons (Matran), 750 ml, CHF 5.90
• Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
• Info: 31/12-2019, BB: 11/2-2022

Dr. Brauwolf Sour IPA

IPA - Sour / Wild #8:

• Name: Dr. Brauwolf Sour IPA, 5.8%, Switzerland 
• Appearance: Light orange, slight haze. Lots of head, probably a bit too much.
• Aroma: Lemon, sourness, barn.
• Taste: Lemon, slight sourness and tartness. Slight hops. Malt end.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml can, CHF 7.40
• Score: 3.0 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 12/20)
• Info: 26/12-2019, BB: ??/??-2020

Thornbridge Lucaria - Christmas Pudding

Porter - Flavored #13:

• Name: Thornbridge Lucaria - Christmas Pudding, 4.5%, England
• Appearance: Very dark brown, some light tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, roasted. Some chocolates and fruits.
• Taste: Dark malt, roasted, dark fruits, slight cake.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 4.50
• Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 12/20)
• Info: 26/12-2019, BB: 1/10-2020

Lindisfarne Dark Mead

New brewery (meadery):

• Name: Lindisfarne Dark Mead, 14.5%, England 
• Appearance: Dark brown, clear. No head.
• Aroma: Dark, ripe fruits, honey, brown sugar.
• Taste: Sweet fruits, prunes, brown sugar, honey. Very nice sipper.
• Bought: Northumbrian Gifts, 350 ml, £8.40
• Score: 3.6 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 14/20)
• Info: 25/12-2019, BB: ??/??-????

Struise Aestatis

Saison / Farmhouse - Dark #3:

• Name: Struise Aestatis, 11%, Belgium
• Appearance: 2015 vintage. Medium brown, some haze. Lots of foamy head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, slight barn, earthiness. Some ripe, sweet fruits.
• Taste: Dark malt, earthiness, hint of sourness. Ripe fruits. Some alcohol, vinous.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 5.60
• Score: 3.7 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 15/20)
• Info: 25/12-2019, BB: 21/6-2020

Wild Beer Sleeping Lemons

Flavored Gose #7:

• Name: Wild Beer Sleeping Lemons, 3.6%, England
• Appearance: Very pale yellow, slight haze. Small, fizzy head.
• Aroma: Lemons, slight sourness.
• Taste: Lots of lemons, tartness. Dry end. Not much else.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 5.10
• Score: 2.9 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 11/20)
• Info: 25/12-2019, BB: 2/5-2020

La Nébuleuse Asgard

Eisbock #12:

• Name: La Nébuleuse Asgard, 10.0%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Dark orange brown, clear. Tiny off-white head.
• Aroma: Ripe fruits, prunes, some pale malt.
• Taste: Dark, ripe fruits, caramel sweetness. Warming. Nice!
• Bought: Coop, 330 ml, CHF 3.50
• Score: 3.7 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 15/20)
• Info: 24/12-2019, BB: 30/11-2021

Blackwell Apollo Wild IPA

IPA - Sour / Wild #7:

• Name: Blackwell Apollo Wild IPA, 6.3%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Light orange golden, hazy eventually. Some off-white head.
• Aroma: Farm, light fruits. Citrus.
• Taste: Sour, barn, light fruits, citrus. Lingering light sourness.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 5.90
• Score: 3.2 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
• Info: 24/12-2019, BB: 21/2-2020

Kitchen Brew Ten Barrel Edition - California Common

California Common / Steam Beer #14:

• Name: Kitchen Brew Ten Barrel Edition - California Common, 5.5%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Burnt orange, clear. Small off-white head.
• Aroma: Pale malt, light farm and grass. Some hops.
• Taste: Pale malt, slight caramel, some hops. Slight bitterness. Some grass.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 4.80
• Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
• Info: 24/12-2019, BB: 30/11-2019

Allendale Christmas Ale

Final English county (again), Northumberland (46/46):

• Name: Allendale Christmas Ale, 5%, England
• Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Some light tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, roasted, some plum.
• Taste: Dark malt, lightly roasted, some spices, dry.
• Bought: Northumbrian Gifts, 500 ml, £2.75
• Score: 3.6 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 15/20)
• Info: 23/12-2019, BB: 31/10-2020

Chérie Bière Blanche à la Framboise

New brewery:

• Name: Chérie Bière Blanche à la Framboise, 3.5%, Belgium
• Appearance: Hazy red, good amount of fizzy pink head.
• Aroma: Lots of raspberries, slight wheat, sweetness.
• Taste: Huge amount of raspberries, slight wheat, sugar syrup.
• Bought: Halle aux Boissons (Matran), 330 ml, CHF 2.90
• Score: 2.9 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 11/20)
• Info: 23/12-2019, BB: 17/5-2021

Emelisse Barley Wine

Netherlands #100:

• Name: Emelisse Barley Wine, 12.0%, Netherlands
• Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Small, tan head.
• Aroma: Ripe fruits, caramel sweetness, slight alcohol.
• Taste: Dark fruits, ripe fruits. Caramel sweetness, warming.
• 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: 21/12-2019, BB: 10/8-2022

Unser Bier Kirsi Gose

Gose - Flavored #6:

• Name: Unser Bier Kirsi Gose, 4.3%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Dark red, clear. Some fizzy pink head.
• Aroma: Red fruits, cherries. Some pale malt. Slight butterscotch.
• Taste: Sour cherries, red fruits, light malt and earthiness.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 4.00
• Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
• Info: 21/12-2019, BB: 6/2-2020

Emelisse White Label Russian Imperial Stout Red Wine Blend BA

• Name: Emelisse White Label Russian Imperial Stout Red Wine Blend BA, 9.0%, Netherlands
• Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Nice, dark tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, roasted, some barrel.
• Taste: Roasted, dark malt, heavy barrel. Burnt aftertaste.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 7.70
• Score: 3.6 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 15/20)
• Info: 20/12-2019, BB: 12/10-2020

Broyarde Hermaphrodite

New CH brewery:

• Name: Broyarde Hermaphrodite, 6%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Light orange, slight haze. Small, fizzy off-white head.
• Aroma: Light malt, earthy, ripe fruit. Slight ginger.
• Taste: Light hops and malt, some fruit. A bit of ginger, but could have been more.
• Bought: Brewery, 330 ml, CHF 4.17
• Score: 3.2 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
• Info: 20/12-2019, BB: 22/11-2020

Maryensztadt Sourtime Agrest

Sour / Wild Beer - Flavored #6:

• Name: Maryensztadt Sourtime Agrest, 3.5%, Poland
• Appearance: Light golden, clear at first, very hazy later. Some fizzy, white head.
• Aroma: Light, sour fruits, lemon. Sour and tart.
• Taste: Light, tart fruits, lemon, quite sour. Not to my taste.
• Bought: qoqa.ch, 500 ml, CHF 6.43
• Score: 2.6 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 10/20)
• Info: 18/12-2019, BB: 30/4-2020

Bîrtel Wit Ale

New CH brewery:

• Name: Bîrtel Wit Ale, 4.6%, Switzerland 
• Appearance: Orange golden, very hazy. Nice amount of white head.
• Aroma: Light fruits, wheat, slight yeast and spices.
• Taste: Good fruits, some wheat. Light spices.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 4.80
• Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
• Info: 18/12-2019, BB: 29/2-2020

Emelisse White Label Dark Ale Tres Hombres Rum BA

American Strong Ale #7:

• Name: Emelisse White Label Dark Ale Tres Hombres Rum BA, 8.0%, Netherlands
• Appearance: Very dark brown, seems clear. Tiny tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, dark ripe fruits, barrel.
• Taste: Dark malt, barrel, rum, some ripe dark fruits. Warning. Nice.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 0.00
• Score: 3.8 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 16/20)
• Info: 14/12-2019, BB: 26/1-2021

Boréale IPA

New brewery, IPA #150:

• Name: Boréale IPA, 6.2%, Canada
• Appearance: Orange dark golden, slight haze. Small, off-white head.
• Aroma: Pale malt, some ripe fruits.
• Taste: Medium malt, slight hops. Some ripe fruits. Not great.
• Bought: Fribourg Center mini Christmas market, 341 ml, CHF 4.00
• Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
• Info: 14/12-2019, BB: 14/1-2020