Zatec

This bottled version at 4.6%, not 5% as listed in the 300-book.

• Name: Zatec, 4.6%, Czech Republic
  
• Appearance: Golden, not much head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity, hint of hops and malt.
  
• Taste: Similar to Budvar, fresh and fruity.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.09
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 31/10-2005, 43/300
  

Früh Kölsch

And my first ever Kölsch:

• Name: Früh Kölsch, 4.8%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Pale yellow, fizzy, but no proper head.
  
• Aroma: A bit of malt, fruity, odd.
  
• Taste: Hint of malt, fruit, not me.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 30/10-2005, 42/300, 25/500

Bitburger Pils

Is this one not Premium anymore? It is called "Premium Pils" in the 500-book, which was slightly weaker at 4.6%.

• Name: Bitburger Pils, 4.8%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Pale yellow, golden. Fizzy, little head.
  
• Aroma: Hopsy, bit fruity.
  
• Taste: Hopsy, but not much to it.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.55
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 27/10-2005, 41/300, 24/500

Goose Island Honker's Ale

Having sourced as many bottles as possible from normal shops, I had to start ordering from Beers of Europe to continue. They have a very good selection of beers, at reasonable prices, even though shipping is a bit expensive.

• Name: Goose Island Honker's Ale, 5%, United States
  
• Appearance: Light brown, a bit of head, not longlasting.
  
• Aroma: Malty, fruity.
  
• Taste: Malty, a bit fruity, pretty smooth.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 355 ml, £1.29
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 26/10-2005, 40/300
  

Achouffe La Chouffe

Big bottle, high alcohol beer. Good combination.

• Name: Achouffe La Chouffe, 8%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Pale gold, cloudy. Loads of head.
  
• Aroma: Little bit of herbs.
  
• Taste: Fruity, hopsy. Hint of malt.
  
• Bought: Oddbins, 750 ml, £3.79
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 12/10-2005, 39/300
  

Caledonian Deuchars IPA

This bottled version at 4.4% instead of the listed 3.8% in the 300-book.

• Name: Caledonian Deuchars IPA, 4.4%, Scotland
• Appearance: Golden, ok amount of head, while it lasted.
• Aroma: Fruity, citrus fruit.
• Taste: Juicy, fruity, nice aftertaste.
• Bought: Oddbins, 500 ml, £1.75
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 10/10-2005, 38/300, 23/500

Schneider Weisse Original

I have never been big on wheat beers, but as they are in the beer books, I don't have much choice, do I. This was the first beer I rated only 1/6...

• Name: Schneider Weisse Original, 5.4%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Light brown, cloudy. Not much head.
  
• Aroma: Wheat (obviously).
  
• Taste: Very wheaty. Hint of banana. Not my thing.
  
• Bought: Oddbins, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 8/10-2005, 37/300, 22/500

Nitpicking, listed as 5.5% in the 500-book.

Chimay Bleue (Blue) / Grande Reserve

Another fine example of a Trappist beer:

• Name: Chimay Bleue (Blue), 9%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark brown and cloudy. Little head.
  
• Aroma: Malty and berry. Vinous (red).
  
• Taste: Fruity, malty, full flavour. Vinous!
  
• Bought: Oddbins, 330 ml, £2.29
  
• Overall score: 5/6
  
• Info: 7/10-2005, 36/300

The 500-book includes the Chimay Grande Reserve instead of the above Chimay Bleue so I decided to try it separately even though they are supposed to be the same:

• Name: Chimay Grande Reserve, 9%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Cloudy dark brown. Good amount of head, longlasting.
  
• Aroma: Vinous, dark fruit. Yeast, acidic?
  
• Taste: Malt and dark fruit. Vinous. Complex. Bit of cork (stored nine months at home).
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 750 ml, £5.19
  
• Overall score: 5/6
• Info: 12/1-2008, 183/500, 23/100
  

Budweiser Budvar

Not to be confused with the rather less exciting US Budweiser:

• Name: Budweiser Budvar, 5%, Czech Republic
  
• Appearance: Very pale, dark yellow. Almost not head at all.
  
• Aroma: Fruity, hint of hops.
  
• Taste: Hint of hops, very fresh. Little bit fruity.
  
• Bought: Oddbins, 330 ml, £1.29
  
• Overall score: 5/6
  
• Info: 7/10-2005, 35/300, 21/500

Adnams SSB Bitter

See blog posting about Adnams Bitter.

Pilsner Urquell

• Name: Pilsner Urquell, 4.4%, Czech Republic
  
• Appearance: Dark yellow, little head.
  
• Aroma: Honey, hopsy.
  
• Taste: Smooth, not very exciting.
  
• Bought: Tesco, 660 ml, £1.54
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 5/10-2005, 34/300, 19/500

Shepherd Neame Bishop's Finger

The bottle was 5.4% instead of the listed 5% in the 300-book, and not 5.2% as listed in the 500-book either.

• Name: Shepherd Neame Bishop's Finger, 5.4%, England
  
• Appearance: Brown. little head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity, hint of malt.
  
• Taste: Malty, fruity, then bitter.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 4/10-2005, 33/300, 18/500

Hop Back Summer Lightning

• Name: Hop Back Summer Lightning, 5%, England
  
• Appearance: Golden, little head.
  
• Aroma: Hopsy, bit of malt, fresh.
  
• Taste: Malty, nice balance.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 3/10-2005, 32/300, 17/500

Timothy Taylor Landlord

This is the bottled version (confusingly called Strong Pale Ale), at 4.1% instead of the listed 4.3% in the 300-book.

• Name: Timothy Taylor Landlord, 4.1%, England
  
• Appearance: Bronze, nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity. Hopsy.
  
• Taste: Pretty hopsy. Bitter. Malty aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 2/10-2005, 31/300, 16/500

Greene King Strong Suffolk Ale

• Name: Greene King Strong Suffolk Ale, 6%, England
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, little head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity, malty.
  
• Taste: Malty, sweet.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.90
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 1/10-2005, 30/300, 15/500