Samuel Adams Holiday Porter

Gift from OKO, Norway.

• Name: Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, 5.8%, United States
  
• Appearance: Dark brown, not much head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and coffee. Some hops. Hint of dark fruit? Caramel.
  
• Taste: Malty and burnt. Slight bitterness. Alcohol.
  
• Bought: Gift, 355 ml, € ?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/12-2007

Wychwood Bah Humbug! Christmas Ale

Bought by ØM at Tromsø Vinmonopol, and shared with him in Norway.

• Name: Wychwood Bah Humbug! Christmas Ale, 6.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark brownish red. Quite a lot of head, though shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit and berries. Cinnamon? Alcohol.
  
• Taste: Cinnamon, fruit and berries. Malty, and slightly bitter.
  
• Bought: Vinmonopolet, 500 ml, NOK 48.70
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 26/12-2007

Nøgne Ø God Jul 2007 (8.5%)

The most expensive Christmas beer for me this year, bought by ØM at Tromsø Vinmonopol. Rated second-best Christmas beer of the year by Aperitif.no and Dagbladet.no.

• Name: Nøgne Ø God Jul 2007, 8.5%, Norway
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, almost black. Little head.
  
• Aroma: Quite malty, burnt/roasted. Slight alcohol.
  
• Taste: Complex. Malt and roasted. Bitterish, but nice.
  
• Bought: Vinmonopolet, 500 ml, NOK 63.50
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 26/12-2007

Ringnes Juleøl 2007 (6.5%)

Another one bought by ØM at Vinmonopolet, Tromsø. Moved to the blog posting about Ringnes Juleøl 2006.

Mack Juleøl 2007 (6.5%)

Second Norwegian Juleøl of the season. Moved to the blog posting about Mack Juleøl 2006.

Hansa Juleøl 2007 (6.5%)

Moved to the blog posting about Hansa Juleøl 2006.

Meantime Winter Time Winter Warmer

• Name: Meantime Winter Time Winter Warmer, 5.4%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark earthy brown. Very little head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit. Malt and smoke.
  
• Taste: Roasted, coffee, smoky. Also malt and dark fruit.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 15/12-2007

400 bottles - trajectory's looking good

Then there were 400. The first 100 bottles took me 7 months, the second and third 100 took me 6 months each, and the last 100 has taken me 9 months. I have deliberately slowed down a little bit. The status now is 173 beers from the 300-book and 182 from the 500-book. This means that of the last 100 beers only 9 were from the 300-book and only 21 were from the 500-book. I should be able to make some progress when I order from a new source in January! At least I have been able to tick 17 new countries, making the total 45.

Score distribution:

0/6: 6
1/6: 17
2/6: 93
3/6: 165
4/6: 94
5/6: 25
6/6: 0
Country distribution:

1. United Kingdom [UK] (149)
2. Belgium [BE] (93)
3. Germany [DE] (44)
4. United States [US] (19)
5. Norway [NO] (13)
6. Canada [CA] (8)
7. Czech Republic [CZ] (8)
8. Netherlands [NL] (7)
9. France [FR] (6)
10. Portugal [PT] (4)
11. Russia [RU] (4)
12. Austria [AT] (3)
13. Cuba [CU] (3)
14. Finland [FI] (3)
15. Japan [JP] (3)
16. Australia [AU] (2)
17. Ireland [IE] (2)
18. New Zealand [NZ] (2)
19. Albania [AL] (1)
20. Brazil [BR] (1)
21. Switzerland [CH] (1)
22. China [CN] (1)
23. Colombia [CO] (1)
24. Denmark [DK] (1)
25. Spain [ES] (1)
26. Greece [GR] (1)
27. India [IN] (1)
28. Italy [IT] (1)
29. Jamaica [JM] (1)
30. Lao [LA] (1)
31. Lebanon [LB] (1)
32. Sri Lanka [LK] (1)
33. Lithuania [LT] (1)
34. Morocco [MA] (1)
35. Malta [MT] (1)
36. Mauritius [MU] (1)
37. Mexico [MX] (1)
38. Nepal [NP] (1)
39. Peru [PE] (1)
40. Poland [PL] (1)
41. Palestine [PS] (1)
42. Sweden [SE] (1)
43. Thailand [TH] (1)
44. Turkey [TR] (1)
45. Viet Nam [VN] (1)
    

Pike IPA

I saved this one from the 300-book for my 400th. Yet another beer provided by GR. Bought back in October in their brew-pub in 1st Avenue, Seattle (Washington, US).

• Name: Pike IPA, 6.3%, United States
  
• Appearance: Hazy dark orange. OK amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and flowers. Hops.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy, tangy. Some fruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 355 ml, $?.??
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 12/12-2007, 173/300

Slightly stronger than the 6% listed in the 300-book.

Hockley Valley Dark

Fifth and final beer bought for me by GR from LCBO in Toronto, Canada. First can of the project, all the other ones are bottles. Will stick to bottles where possible.

• Name: Hockley Valley Dark, 5%, Canada
  
• Appearance: Very dark redish brown. Little head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit. Roasted. Metallic.
  
• Taste: Roasted, burnt. Dark fruit. Malty. Slightly metallic.
  
• Bought: Gift, 473 ml, CA$ 2.50
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 8/12-2007

Young's Christmas Pudding Ale

• Name: Young's Christmas Pudding Ale, 5.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Like Christmas pudding. Sweet, some coconut.
  
• Taste: Wow. Christmas pudding, jam, coconut. Bit of hops. Too sweet.
  
• Bought: Sainsbury's, 500 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 6/12-2007

Früli Strawberry Beer

The only reason I bought this one was to link "forward" to it from my April 2007 Belgo posting.

• Name: Früli Strawberry Beer, 4.1%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Cloudy red. Not much head, and shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Like strawberry juice. Very sweet.
  
• Taste: Strawberry juice, quite sweet. Hint of sourness. Quite nice.
  
• Bought: Tesco, 250 ml, £1.29
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 3/12-2007

Fuller's Old Winter Ale

• Name: Fuller's Old Winter Ale, 5.3%, England
  
• Appearance: Redish brown. Just a little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and burnt caramel.
  
• Taste: Malt and some caramel. Slightly bitter. Warming.
  
• Bought: Sainsbury's, 500 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 29/11-2007

Thwaites Double Century Celebration Ale

• Name: Thwaites Double Century Celebration Ale, 5.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark brown/amber. Not much head, and shortlived. More head when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops. Toffee.
  
• Taste: Malt and sweet. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Nothing special.
  
• Bought: Sainsbury's, 500 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 27/11-2007

Mill Street Belgian Wit

Fourth bottle bought for me by GR from LCBO in Toronto, Canada.

• Name: Mill Street Belgian Wit, 5%, Canada
  
• Appearance: Cloudy light yellow. Tiny amount of fizzy head.
  
• Aroma: Lemon and wheat. Herbs?
  
• Taste: Wheat and lemon. A bit watery. Slightly sour.
  
• Bought: Gift, 341 ml, CA$ 2.00
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 25/11-2007

Freeminer Gold Miner

Second bottle bought in Co-op, Stow-on-the-Wold on our Cotswold trip back in August.

• Name: Freeminer Gold Miner, 5.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Orangy golden. Nice amount of creamy off-white head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and hops. Some caramel. Honey, flowers.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy. Some fruit and malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Co-op, 500 ml, £1.79
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 23/11-2007, 172/300

Christmas Beers Review (ArtOfTaste.no)

Not to be outdone, Art of Taste has also reviewed Christmas Beers, and they have included (and even preferred) a few foreign beers.

Their top 10 (of 26) Christmas Beers with less than 4.8% ABV:

1. Dahls Juleøl 4.5% (85%)
2. Aass Julehvete 4.7% (84%)
3. Grans Julebrygg 4.7% (80%)
4. Dalane Tradisjon Juleøl 4.7% (80%)
5. Hansa Julebrygg 4.7% (78%)
6. Aass Gourmet Jule Ale 4.7% (71%)
7. Aass Lundetangen Juleøl 4.7% (71%)
8. Dahls Julebrygg 4.5% (68%)
9. Nøgne Ø Julesnadder 4.5% (68%)
10. Ringnes Tuborg Juleøl 4.5% (68%)

Their top 12 (of 27) Christmas Beers with 4.8% ABV or more:

1. Chouffe N'Ice 10% (96%)
2. Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier 14% (96%)
3. Du Bocq Corsendonk Christmas Ale 8.5% (93%)
4. Du Bocq Regal Christmas 7.5% (93%)
5. Wychwood Bah Humbug! Christmas Ale 6% (92%)
6. Huyghe Delirium Noël 10% (89%)
7. Dahls Juleøl 6.3% (88%)
8. Haandbryggeriet Nissefar 7% (88%)
9. Ringnes Julebokk 9.9% (88%)
10. Haandbryggeriet Nissemor 6% (86%)
11. Meteor Bière de Noël 5.8% (86%)
12. Nøgne Ø God Jul 8.5% (86%)

And the wooden spoons go to:

• Mack Juleøl 6.5% (59%)
• Santa Clausthaler 0.0% (59%)
  

Christmas Beers Review (Dagbladet.no)

Second one out to review the 2007 Christmas Beers was Dagbladet.no.

The following 12 (of 17) with ABV of 4.8% or more received a 5/6 or 6/6 rating:

1. Ringnes Julebokk 9.9% (6/6)
2. Nøgne Ø God Jul 8.5% (6/6)
3. Berentsens Juleavec 7.5% (6/6)
4. Lervig Vellagret Julebrygg 6.5% (6/6)
5. CB Juleøl 6.5% (6/6)
6. Nissefar 7.0% (6/6)
7. Hansa Ekstra Vellagret Julebrygg 6.5% (5/6)
8. Dahls Juleøl 6.3% (5/6)
9. Hansa Juleøl 6.5% (5/6)
10. Aass Juleøl 6.5% (5/6)
11. Borg Juleøl 6.6% (5/6)
12. Julefnugg 6.5% (5/6)
    

Only 4 (of 30) with ABV of 4.7% or less received a 5/6 or 6/6 rating:

1. Nøgne Ø Julesnadder 4.5% (5/6)
2. Grans Julebrygg 4.7% (5/6)
3. Hansa Ekstra Vellagret Julebrygg 4.7% (5/6)
4. Ringnes Julebrygg 4.5% (5/6)
   

And worst overall:

• Carlsberg Christmas Brew 4.6% (1/6)
  

Christmas Beers Review (Aperitif.no)

Norwegian Aperitif.no is first one out to review this year's Christmas Beers available in Norway.

Their top 12 (of 29) Christmas Beers with less than 4.8% ABV (which you can buy in shops):

1. Nøgne Ø Julesnadder 4.7% (89%)
2. Dalane Tradisjon Juleøl 4.7% (88%)
3. Hansa Borg Juleøl 4.7% (87%)
4. Aass Gourmet Jule Ale 4.5% (86%)
5. Hansa Ekstra Vellagret Julebrygg 4.7% (86%)
6. Ringnes Dahls Juleøl 4.5% (86%)
7. Grans Juleøl 4.5% (86%)
8. Aass Jule Hvete 4.7% (86%)
9. Aass Lundetangen Juleøl 4.5% (85%)
10. Ringnes Tuborg Juleøl 4.5% (85%)
11. Hansa Fredrikstad Juleøl 4.7% (85%)
12. Berentsens Rogalands Juleøl 4.7% (85%)

Their top 11 (of 24) Christmas Beers with 4.8% ABV or more (which you due to Norway's extreme alcohol laws have to buy from the state-run Vinmonopolet shop):

1. Ringnes Julebokk 2007 9.9% (94%)
2. Nøgne Ø God Jul 2007 7.5% (90%)
3. Berentsens Jule-Avec 2007 7.5% (90%)
4. Hansa Borg Juleøl 2007 6.5% (90%)
5. Nøgne Ø Underlig Jul 2007 7.0% (90%)
6. Haandbryggeriet Nissefar 2007 7.0% (88%)
7. Hansa Fredrikstad Juleøl 2007 6.3% (88%)
8. Berentsens Julefnugg 2007 6.5% (88%)
9. Huyghe Delirium Christmas 10.0% (87%)
10. CB Juleøl 2007 6.5% (87%)
11. Mack Juleøl 2007 6.5% (87%)

Mill Street Stock Ale

Third bottle bought for me by GR in Toronto, Canada.

• Name: Mill Street Stock Ale, 5%, Canada
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Little bit of fizzy head.
  
• Aroma: First corn, then hops and a bit of malt.
  
• Taste: Bit of malt and hops, quite sweet. Watery.
  
• Bought: Gift, 341 ml, CA$ 2.00
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 21/11-2007

Mill Street Coffee Porter

Second bottle bought for me by GR in Toronto, Canada. Good to try some nice beers again after two weeks in Dubai and India...

• Name: Mill Street Coffee Porter, 5.5%, Canada
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, thick. Little bit of tan head.
  
• Aroma: Coffee, slightly burnt. Malt.
  
• Taste: Coffee and malt. Some chocolate? Quite nice.
  
• Bought: Gift, 341 ml, CA$ 2.00
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 19/11-2007

Mill Street Tankhouse Ale

Kindly bought for me by GR in Toronto, Canada. He went specially down to LCBO in Queen's Quay to get five local beers for me. Much appreciated!

• Name: Mill Street Tankhouse Ale, 5.2%, Canada
  
• Appearance: Red copper. Nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Caramel, citrus/fruit. Some malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy, some malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 341 ml, CA$ 2.00
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 29/10-2007

Pike XXXXX Stout

Another beer provided by GR. Bought from their brew-pub in 1st Avenue, Seattle (Washington, US).

• Name: Pike XXXXX Stout, 6.6%, United States
  
• Appearance: Basically black, with dark brown head. Though not too much of it.
  
• Aroma: Burnt, smoked. Coffee.
  
• Taste: Quite burnt, coffee. String, heavy aftertaste. Maybe some chocolate.
  
• Bought: Gift, 660 ml, $?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 27/10-2007

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

• Name: Sierra Nevada Summerfest, 5.0%, United States
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Small, shortlived, fizzy head.
  
• Aroma: Hops, floral. Citric, fruity. Quite nice.
  
• Taste: Hops and some malt. Smooth, a bit dry.
  
• Bought: Tesco, 350 ml, £1.40
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 23/10-2007

Guinness Original / Extra Stout

The bottle says "Original", but this is the same as the "Extra Stout" in the 500-book.

• Name: Guinness Original / Extra Stout, 4.2%, Ireland
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, basically black. Little bit of off-white head, more when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Roasted/Smokey. Some coffee.
  
• Taste: Smokey, coffee, malty. Burnt. Some bitterness, dry.
  
• Bought: Tesco, 500 ml, £1.48
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 21/10-2007, 182/500

Hook Norton Twelve Days

Eighth and final bottle bought at the Hook Norton brewery back in August.

• Name: Hook Norton Twelve Days, 5.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Small head, shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Malty, some dark fruit. Honey?
  
• Taste: Nice malt and bitterness. Some fruit.
  
• Bought: Hook Norton Brewery, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 20/10-2007

Fuller's Vintage Ale 2006

Bought this limited edition beer (100.000 bottles produced) over six months ago, and gave one bottle to OKO when I met him in April (Easter). Mine is #15025.

• Name: Fuller's Vintage Ale 2006, 8.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark amber brown, redish. Slightly hazy. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Nice malt and dark fruit. Raisins. Biscuity.
  
• Taste: Complex. Malt, quite bitter, fruit. A bit harsh. Some alcohol.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 16/10-2007, 171/300

Hook Norton Haymaker

Hook Norton "month" continues, Haymaker is part of their variety pack. Just one more to go.

• Name: Hook Norton Haymaker, 5.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark amber. Tiny amount of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Hops and malt, nothing exciting.
  
• Taste: Quite dry. Hops and malt. Bitter aftertaste. Forgettable.
  
• Bought: Hook Norton Brewery, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 14/10-2007

Hook Norton Hooky Bitter

Nope, I am not paid by Hook Norton to review their beers :-p. Sixth bottle bought from the brewery, and part of their variety pack. Two more to go after this.

• Name: Hook Norton Hooky Bitter, 3.6%, England
  
• Appearance: Copper brown, not much head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and fruit.
  
• Taste: Nice and malty, not that bitter. Quite sweet.
  
• Bought: Hook Norton Brewery, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 8/10-2007

Hook Norton Cotswold Lion

Yet another Hook Norton beer, fifth bottle bought at the brewery.

• Name: Hook Norton Cotswold Lion, 4.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Golden, little bit of white head.
  
• Aroma: Bit of flowers and hops. Herbs.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy again. Some malt. Too bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Hook Norton Brewery, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 6/10-2007

Hook Norton 303 AD

Fourth bottle bought at Hook Norton brewery (part of variety pack):

• Name: Hook Norton 303 AD, 4.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark amber, nice amount of white head.
  
• Aroma: Not much, some malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy, dry. Some malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Hook Norton Brewery, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 4/10-2007

Hook Norton Hooky Gold

Third bottle bought at the Brewery in August.

• Name: Hook Norton Hooky Gold, 4.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Golden brown. Nice amount of white head.
  
• Aroma: Quite fruity, some lemon. Hops and malt.
  
• Taste: Nice malt and hops. Bitter aftertaste, some fruit.
  
• Bought: Hook Norton Brewery, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 2/10-2007

Phoenix Beer

Bought at Taste of London months ago as this would be a new beer-country for me. Was annoyed to find out later that it could be bought from Beers of Europe for basically half the price...

• Name: Phoenix Beer, 5%, Mauritius
  
• Appearance: Light golden, little bit of white head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and some fruit and honey. Hops.
  
• Taste: Bit of malt and hops, watery.
  
• Bought: Taste of London, 330 ml, £3.00
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 28/9-2007

Monteith's New Zealand Lager

• Name: Monteith's New Zealand Lager, 5%, New Zealand
  
• Appearance: Orangy golden brown. Little bit of shortlived fizzy head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and malt, quite nice.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops, quite sweet. Fresh.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 330 ml, £0.99
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 23/9-2007

Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc

Just to fill in the "gaps", to be honest:

• Name: Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc, 5.0%, France
  
• Appearance: Pale yellow, hazy. Little bit of white head.
  
• Aroma: Very fruity, lemony. Some wheat.
  
• Taste: Pretty fruity, and sweet. Bit of wheat. Peaches?
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £2.09
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 19/9-2007

Freeminer Bumble Bee Honey Ale

Bought in Co-op, Stow-on-the-Wold on our Cotswold trip. Nice touch with Braille on the back label.

• Name: Freeminer Bumble Bee Honey Ale, 4.6%, England
  
• Appearance: Light golden, amber. Very little head.
  
• Aroma: Honey and quite sweet, some hops.
  
• Taste: Honey, hoppy and earthy. Honey and malt in aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Co-op, 500 ml, £1.79
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 17/9-2007

Vale Grumpling Premium (Old Ale)

Second bottle bought in Thresher Wine Shop in Chipping Norton, Cotswold.

• Name: Vale Grumpling Premium (Old Ale), 4.6%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Shortlived fizzy head, more head when warmer. Some sediments.
  
• Aroma: Nice malt, caramel and fruit.
  
• Taste: Quite malty, but also caramel and dark fruit.
  
• Bought: Thresher, 500 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 15/9-2007

As Marks & Spencer Buckinghamshire Ale:

• Name: Marks & Spencer Buckinghamshire Ale, 4.6%, England
  
• Appearance: Redish brown. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Nice malt and some hops.
  
• Taste: Malt and quite bitter. Some fruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Marks & Spencer, 500 ml, £2.00
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 24/1-2008

Battledown Cheltenham SPA

Bought in Thresher Wine Shop in Chipping Norton, Cotswold. SPA is supposed to mean Special Pale Ale, but another S-word comes to mind when drinking it.

• Name: Battledown Cheltenham SPA, 5.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Pale golden, slightly cloudy. Basically no head.
  
• Aroma: Not much. Some hops and lemon?
  
• Taste: Hops and perfume, quite bitter. Unpleasant aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Thresher, 500 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 12/9-2007

Sainsbury's Raspberry Wheat Beer (Meantime Red Beer)

The full name of this beer is "Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Raspberry Wheat Beer", which has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? As mentioned before this summer-only beer is the same as "Meantime Red Beer" in the 300-book, according to the Meantime brewmaster, Alastair Hook.

4-pack bought from Sainbury's a few months ago, one is for my compatriot OKO.

• Name: Sainsbury's Raspberry Wheat Beer (Meantime Red Beer), 5.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Hazy orange. Fizzy, shortlived head. Cloudier later.
  
• Aroma: Wheat and raspberry. Lemon, caramel? Mint?
  
• Taste: Again, wheat and raspberry. Some hops. A bit quenching.
  
• Bought: Sainsbury's, 330 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 10/9-2007, 170/300

St Peter's Organic Ale

Fifth and final bottle from the mixed case given to GR.

• Name: St Peter's Organic Ale, 4.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Copper orangy brown. Not much head at all.
  
• Aroma: Fruit, malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Malt and hops. Dries out your mouth. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 8/9-2007

St Peter's Golden Ale

Lots of free beers lately - not complaining, though :-). Fourth bottle of the mixed case GR was given.

• Name: St Peter's Golden Ale, 4.7%, England
  
• Appearance: Orangy golden brown. Little bit of head, more when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Bit of malt and fruit.
  
• Taste: Quite bitter, some malt and fruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 6/9-2007

St Peter's Fruit Beer Grapefruit

Third bottle of the mixed case GR was given.

• Name: St Peter's Fruit Beer Grapefruit, 4.7%, England
  
• Appearance: Light orangy brown. Tiny amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Grapefruit and some malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Sweet and malty, some grapefruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 4/9-2007

Asahi Black

Saw this one in Waitrose, and thought it was in the 500-book. Confused it with the Asahi Stout; never mind.

• Name: Asahi Black, 5%, Japan
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, basically black. Nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Burnt and roasted malt. Caramel? Metallic?
  
• Taste: Again burnt and roasted malt. Malty aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 334 ml, £1.49
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 2/9-2007

Michael "Beer Hunter" Jackson dies

OKO emailed me earlier tonight to alert me to the news that Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter, died yesterday from a heart attack here in London. CNN's story can be found here. I started this blog in order to try amongst other things all beers from his book "Great Beer Guide - 500 Classic Brews" and was saddened by this news.

I shared two bottles of Hook Norton with MG tonight, Old Hooky and Double Stout, to somehow raise a glass or two to him.

St Peter's Best Bitter

Second bottle of the mixed case GR was given.

• Name: St Peter's Best Bitter, 3.7%, England
  
• Appearance: Copper brown. Alright amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops. "Normal" bitter aroma.
  
• Taste: Quite bitter, some malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/8-2007

Visiting Hook Norton Brewery

Being in the Cotswold area, we dropped by Hook Norton Brewery on the way back to London. As it was Bank Holiday Monday, there were unfortunately no brewery tours, but at least the shop and museum were open.


The variety pack (£10.50), different to the one on their website, contained:

• Twelve Days [4/6]
• Haymaker [3/6]
  
• 303 AD [3/6]
  
• Hooky Bitter [4/6]
  
• Old Hooky [4/6]
  
• Hooky Gold [3/6]
  

They also had two more bottled beers, which I of course also bought to have a complete "set of eight":

• Double Stout [3/6]
  
• Cotswold Lion [3/6]
  

I have tried two of these before, and as I liked both of them, I look forward to tasting the remaining six.

Finally catching up with PC

After having a pint of Adnams Broadside and a pint of Everards Sunchaser in The Gun (a very nice pub) with work-related people, I finally managed to catch up with PC over a few drinks at home.

Starting off with a nice bottle of Chimay Bleue and finishing off with a big bottle of Meantime London Porter, the highlight was what we had in-between; the Westvleteren Abt (12).

The only reason I bought an extra bottle last year was so I could share it with PC. He really likes Belgian beers and he is also partly responsible for my near-obsession with beers. Having waited over a year to share the bottle with him and having stored the bottle in a cupboard; I was worried it might have gone off. The aroma and taste was as nice - or nicer - than I remember it from last August. PC really enjoyed it, and he now also rates it as one of the best beers he has ever tasted. At $16 for a 330 ml bottle it is quite expensive, but I think it is definitely worth splashing out on special occasions.

Meantime London Porter

Big bottle so good thing I had PC to share it with.

• Name: Meantime London Porter, 6.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, almost black. Lots of off-white head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and coffee. Bit of dark fruit. Peppery? Hint of chocolate.
  
• Taste: Malt and slightly smoked. Wood. Bitterness.
  
• Bought: Sainsbury's, 750 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 22/8-2007

Cantillon Vigneronne

Called "Cantillon Gueuze Vigneronne" in the 500-book.

• Name: Cantillon Vigneronne, 5.0%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Cap&Cork. Cloudy light orange. Just a little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Sour, lemony. Some fruit.
  
• Taste: Quite sour, lemony. Awful aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 750 ml, £5.69
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 21/8-2007, 181/500, 22/100
  

St Peter's Cream Stout

GR received a 12-bottle St Peter's mixed case after helping out an ex-colleague, and kindly gave some of them to me. First up was this one, which was slightly disappointing:

• Name: St Peter's Cream Stout, 6.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, almost black. Not much head at all.
  
• Aroma: Burnt and roasted, chocolate and coffee.
  
• Taste: Quite sour. Burnt, smokey. Coffee and chocolate again.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 19/8-2007

Moussy Classic

Bought by GR on holiday in Oman. He thought it was produced locally, but turns out it is actually brewed in Switzerland, which is kind of ironic after the previous beer I had which turned out to be from England, not Switzerland.

• Name: Moussy Classic, 0.0%, Switzerland
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Not much head but fizzy.
  
• Aroma: Very little. Little bit of malt.
  
• Taste: Little bit of malt, not much else.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, $?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 14/8-2007

(Shepherd Neame) Hürlimann Export Bier

I bought this from Beers of Europe because it was listed under "Switzerland". Quite disappointing that it turns out to be brewed by Shepherd Neame here in the UK...

• Name: (Shepherd Neame) Hürlimann Export Bier, 4.8%, England
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Very little head. Quite fizzy.
  
• Aroma: Not much. Bit of malt and hops, I guess.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. Quite boring.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £0.79
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 7/8-2007

Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

• Name: Grimbergen Optimo Bruno, 10%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark brownish red. Good amount of light brown head. Lots when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Malt and dark fruit. Bit of caramel and red wine(!).
  
• Taste: Quite strong, warming. Dark fruits, vinous. Slightly bitter.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £2.09
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 3/8-2007

Cairngorm Nessie's Monster Mash

This beer is called "Tomintoul Nessie's Monster Mash" in the 500-book, for reasons mentioned earlier.

• Name: Cairngorm Nessie's Monster Mash, 4.4%, Scotland
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Little bit of off-white head.
• Aroma: Malt and dark fruit. Maybe some coffee.
• Taste: Nice malt and a bit burnt/smokey. Coffee?
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.89
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 1/8-2007, 180/500

Leffe Brune

One of my favourite "commercial" beers. I have shared numerous 330ml and 750ml bottles of this with MG. This bottle was a gift from her, and now finally logged.

• Name: Leffe Brune, 6.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Nice amount of light brown head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit, prunes. Malty. Biscuits.
  
• Taste: Malt and dark fruit. Quite sweet. Nice aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 29/7-2007

Woodforde's Norfolk Wherry

• Name: Woodforde's Norfolk Wherry, 3.8%, England
  
• Appearance: Orangy brown. Not much head. Slightly cloudy. Some sediments.
  
• Aroma: Some fruit and hops.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy. A bit of fruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.99
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/7-2007, 179/500

Grimbergen Blonde

• Name: Grimbergen Blonde, 6.7%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Orangy golden. Quite a lot of white head.
  
• Aroma: Lemon and some yeast. Flowery.
  
• Taste: Quite dry. Some fruit and flowers. Hoppy. Lemony.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.49
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 25/7-2007

Brakspear Bitter

• Name: Brakspear Bitter, 3.4%, England
  
• Appearance: Brown, bronze. Tiny amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops. Some fruit. Honey, flowers.
  
• Taste: Malty and quite bitter, tangy. Some fruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Sainsbury's, 500 ml, £1.82
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 21/7-2007, 169/300

Taybeh Beer Golden

• Name: Taybeh Beer Golden, 5.2%, Palestine
  
• Appearance: Golden. Nice amount of white head.
  
• Aroma: Hoppy and flowery.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. Watery. Slightly bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 19/7-2007

Petrus (Gouden) Tripel

• Name: Petrus (Gouden) Tripel, 7.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Hazy orangy golden. Lots and lots of thick white head. Longlived.
  
• Aroma: Citric, fruity. Some hops and sourness.
  
• Taste: Lemony, almost sour. Hops and yeast. Warming.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.79
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 5/7-2007, 178/500

Rodenbach

Slightly stronger than the 5.0% listed in the 500-book.

• Name: Rodenbach, 5.2%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark red, some brown. Tiny amount of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Sour fruit, cherry. Wood?
  
• Taste: Quite sour, cherry. Quenching.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.15
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 5/7-2007, 177/500

Mythos

• Name: Mythos, 5%, Greece
  
• Appearance: Dark yellow, very clear. Shortlived white head.
  
• Aroma: Maybe hint of hops and grain.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. A bit dry. Not very interesting.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.15
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 3/7-2007
  

(Würzburger) Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier Hell

Slightly weaker than the 5.1% listed in the 500-book.

• Name: (Würzburger) Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier Hell, 4.9%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Cloudy orange. Lots of nice, white and longlasting head.
  
• Aroma: Wheaty, citric.
  
• Taste: Wheat and banana. Not much more.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.79
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 2/7-2007, 176/500

Hue Beer

• Name: Hue Beer, 5%, Viet Nam
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Basically no head.
  
• Aroma: Not much. Little bit of malt and fruit.
  
• Taste: Some malt. Not much of anything.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 350 ml, £1.15
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 28/6-2007

Affligem Triple

• Name: Affligem Triple, 8.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Cloudy orangy brown. Good amount of white head.
  
• Aroma: Pretty sweet. Fruity. Alcohol. Flowers?
  
• Taste: Lemon and quite bitter. Alcohol, warming. Some fruit. Unpleasant aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.95
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 27/6-2007

Huyghe Florisgaarden Witbier (Floris Wit-Blanche)

Quite a lot stronger than the 3.5% listed in the 500-book.

• Name: Huyghe Florisgaarden Witbier (Floris Wit-Blanche), 4.8%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Very cloudy dark yellow. Sediments. Not much head.
  
• Aroma: Lemon and wheat.
  
• Taste: Wheat. Quite fruity for a Witbier. Some lemon, though sweet.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.35
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 26/6-2007, 175/500

Casablanca Beer

• Name: Casablanca Beer, 5%, Morocco
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Just a little bit of head. Bubbles.
  
• Aroma: Some malt and grains. Citric?
  
• Taste: Quite malty and hoppy. Not much more.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.09
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 22/6-2007

Aperitif.no imported summer beers

Norwegian Aperitif.no last week blind-tested 34 imported "summer beers" that they believe might challenge the domestic summer beers.

Their top 10 (of 24) "imported summer beers" (with my rating):

1. Krusovice Imperial (89%) [Me: 3/6]
   
2. Lammsbräu Edel Pils (89%)
3. Midtfyns Ale (88%)
4. Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay (87%) [Me: 1/6]
   
5. Birra Moretti (86%) [Me: 3/6]
   
6. Cobra Premium Beer (86%) [Me: 3/6]
   
7. Kingfisher Premium (86%) [Me: 3/6]
   
8. Lindeboom Pilsener (85%) [Me: 3/6]
   
9. San Miguel Especial (85%)
10. Carib (85%) [Me: 2/6]
    

Their top 7 (of 10) "imported wheat or abbey beers" (with my rating):

1. Silenrieux Sara (88%) [Me: 2/6 and 1/6]
   
2. Chimay Blanche/White (88%) [Me: 3/6]
3. Westmalle Tripel (87%) [Me: 2/6]
4. Slaapmutske Tripel (87%)
5. Hoegaarden White Beer (86%) [Me: 2/6]
6. Silenrieux Joseph (86%) [Me: 2.5/6]
7. Leireken Witte Spelt (86%)

Speight's Gold Medal Ale

• Name: Speight's Gold Medal Ale, 4.0%, New Zealand
  
• Appearance: Amber brown. Quite a lot of head.
  
• Aroma: Hint of caramel. Metallic? Some malt.
  
• Taste: Quite malty and hoppy. Some bitterness. Dry.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.25
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 20/6-2007

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Quite a lot stronger than the 8.7% listed in the 300-book and the 8.25% listed in the 500-book.

• Name: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, 10.6%, United States
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, basically black. Nice, dark brown head.
  
• Aroma: Dark chocolate, coffee and malt. Vinous.
  
• Taste: Roasted malt, chocolate and coffee. Bit of dark fruit.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 355 ml, £1.79
  
• Overall score: 5/6
  
• Info: 15/6-2007, 168/300, 174/500

Huyghe Rubbel Sexy Lager

In April GR sent me a link to a The Register article about the Sexy Lager being removed from sale in the UK because "the name of the drink and the swimsuit were associated with sexual success". The Portman Group's decision can be found here, and includes the following important titbit (pardon the pun):

"The Panel considered that the young woman may have been under the age of 25 but that it was difficult to judge".

The label is probably better than the beer itself:

• Name: Huyghe Rubbel Sexy Lager, 5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Good amount of white head.
  
• Aroma: Bit of malt, quite sweet.
  
• Taste: Malt and hops, slightly metallic. Unpleasant aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.29
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 14/6-2007

Efes Pilsener

• Name: Efes Pilsener, 5%, Turkey
  
• Appearance: Yellow, very clear. Almost no head initially, slightly more when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Bit of hops and malt. Fruit?
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. Grainy. Not much. Crisp.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.05
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 14/6-2007

Sloeber

• Name: Sloeber, 7.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Quite cloudy, light orange. Lots of white head.
  
• Aroma: Yeast, lemony. Hops.
  
• Taste: Hoppy, alcoholic. Some citric elements. Dry.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 11/6-2007, 173/500

St. Bernardus Abt 12

I've seen some beer pages/forums raving about this one, but I found it lacking and disappointing. I would recommend that you buy a proper Trappist beer instead.

• Name: St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10%, Belgium
• Appearance: Cloudy, dark brown. Lots of thick, darkish head.
• Aroma: Dark fruit and malt. Alcohol, metallic. Biscuits.
• Taste: Quite alcoholic. Malty, some bitterness. Tongue-tingling.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £2.29
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 10/6-2007, 21/100, 17/300M

As I have tried this a few times since and liked it a lot, a 2016 re-rate :

• Name: St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10%, Belgium
• Appearance: Dark brown, hint of red. Lots of light tan head. Lots of sediments, a bit too much to be honest.
• Aroma: Malt, sweetness, some dark fruit. Raisins.
• Taste: Malt, dark fruit, sweet, toasted. Hides alcohol well. Prunes. Hides alcohol very well.
• Bought: Saveur-Biere.com, 330 ml, €2.80
• Overall score: 5/6
• Info: 27/2-2016, BB: 14/12-2018

Spaten Oktoberfestbier

• Name: Spaten Oktoberfestbier, 5.9%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Nice and golden. Not that much head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and some malt. Hoppy.
  
• Taste: Quite fruity and malty. Nice aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.99
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 8/6-2007, 172/500

Weihenstepaner Kristall Weissbier

• Name: Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, 5.4%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Lots of white head, quite longlived.
  
• Aroma: Quite fruity, artificial. Some wheat. Alcohol when warmer.
  
• Taste: Fruit, wheat and alcohol. Just alright. Dry.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.95
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 7/6-2007, 171/500

Theakston Paradise Ale

• Name: Theakston Paradise Ale, 4.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark golden, nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt, metallic. Quite fruity.
  
• Taste: Quite malty, some fruit. Malty/strong/bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 6/6-2007

Icehouse

After crossing ten lanes of rainy Route 7 in Sterling (VA) on foot, it turns out that the Safeway shop generally only sells beers in packs of six... The below was the only one that sounded interesting that they sold as single bottles:

• Name: Icehouse, 5.5%, United States
  
• Appearance: Dark yellow, orange? Good amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Slight malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Malt and hops. Nothing special. Maybe some fruit, metallic. Bad aftertaste
  
• Bought: Safeway (US), 651 ml, $1.39
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 3/6-2007

Sweetwater Tavern Sampler

I went for lunch around noon in Sweetwater Tavern in Sterling (VA), US. The burger was good enough, but the "highlight" was the round of samplers (what they call "mini pilsners") of the five beers on tap. The five brews on tap on this occasion were:

1. Naked River Light
2. Great American Restaurants Pale Ale
3. Paleface Summer Wheat
4. Silverado Ale
5. Straight Shooter Stout

The Pale Ale and Stout were both pretty good, the former reminding me of Sam Adams Lager. The remaining three weren't that good or interesting. At $8 in total it was pretty good value, though.

Kelham Island Pale Rider

• Name: Kelham Island Pale Rider, 5.2%, England
• Appearance: Dark golden. Quite a lot of longlasting head.
• Aroma: Very fruity, floral, some hops and malt.
• Taste: Pretty hoppy, also fruit and malt. Bitter aftertaste.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.99
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 1/6-2007, 167/300

Art of Taste Top Beers

Norwegian Art of Taste yesterday published the results of their 80-beer blind test, focusing on what are good "summer beers". Not sure what happened to the last two beers as they only list 78 beers...

Their top 10 beers listed below (with my rating):

1. Hoegaarden White Beer (89%) [Me: 2/6]
   
2. Silenrieux Joseph (88%) [Me: 2.5/6]
3. Silenrieux Sara (88%) [Me: 2/6 and 1/6]
   
4. Atna Engelsk Lys (87%)
   
5. Atna Økologisk Export (86%)
   
6. Leffe Brune (86%) [Me: 4/6]
7. Pilsner Urquell (86%) [Me: 4/6]
8. CB Pilsener (84%)
   
9. Atna Hveteøl (83%)
10. Ringnes Jubileumspilsner (83%)

I guess I have to add these to my list of beers to buy so I can disagree...

Paulaner Original Münchner Urtyp

• Name: Paulaner Original Münchner Urtyp, 5.5%, Germany
• Appearance: Pale golden, also very clear. Little bit of shortlived head. More when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops, some fruit/flowers.
  
• Taste: Hops and malt. Dry, hoppy aftertaste. Some fruit.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.85
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 31/5-2007, 170/500*

* In the 500-book it is simply called "Paulaner Original Munich", but it is indeed the "Urtyp", not the "Hell".

Paulaner Original Münchner Hell

• Name: Paulaner Original Münchner Hell, 4.9%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Nice, creamy and white head. Very clear.
  
• Aroma: Hops and some fruit. Flowers. Hint of malt.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy, some malt and fruit.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 31/5-2007

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

• Name: Brooklyn Oktoberfest, 5.5%, United States
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Little bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit and malt. Biscuits. Prunes.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy, some malt and fruit. Strong aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 355 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 30/5-2007

Teresopolis Lokal

• Name: Teresopolis Lokal, 4.7%, Brazil
  
• Appearance: Very light golden. Tiny amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Not much. Bit of malt, hops and fruit.
  
• Taste: Pretty boring. Little bit of hops and malt.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 350 ml, £1.09
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 30/5-2007

Jever Dark

• Name: Jever Dark, 4.9%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Dark brown. Little bit of shortlived head. Redish.
  
• Aroma: Quite malty and metallic. Coffee.
  
• Taste: Rather dry and malty. Strong aftertaste
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.49
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 25/5-2007

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

• Name: Unibroue Trois Pistoles, 9%, Canada
  
• Appearance: Dark brown. Little bit of head. Quite cloudy. More head when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit and malt. Honey.
  
• Taste: Quite malty. Fruity.Warming, strong.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £2.19
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 21/5-2007

Birra Tirana

• Name: Birra Tirana, 4%, Albania
  
• Appearance: Golden, tiny bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Some malt. Not much, maybe some hops.
  
• Taste: Quite malty, some fruit and hops. Unpleasant aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.35
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 16/5-2007

Alhambra Mezquita

• Name: Alhambra Mezquita, 7.2%, Spain
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Little bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and prunes.
  
• Taste: Quite malty, dark fruit. Prunes. Bit of alcohol.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.39
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 15/5-2007

Farsons Lacto Milk Stout

Slightly stronger than the 3.4% listed in the 500-book (where it is called Traditional Stout).

• Name: Farsons Lacto Milk Stout, 3.8%, Malta
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, almost black. Little bit of dark head.
  
• Aroma: Dark malt and actually milk. Chocolate?
  
• Taste: Some malt, sweet. Disappointing.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.29
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 12/5-2007, 169/500

Cerveza Aguila

Bought purely to tick off Colombia on my list.

• Name: Cerveza Aguila, 4.7%, Colombia
• Appearance: Light golden. A bit of shortlived head. Bubbly.
  
• Aroma: Some malt and grain.
  
• Taste: Not much, some malt and hops. Pretty boring, but not bad.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 350 ml, £1.65
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 12/5-2007

Pinkus Special

Slightly weaker than the 5.4% listed in the 300-book. Even the pictured bottle states 5.1%.

• Name: Pinkus Special, 5.1%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Light golden, slightly hazy. Very little head.
  
• Aroma: Flowers, strong honey.
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy. Some malt and hops. Biscuity. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Utobeer, 500 ml, £2.15
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 11/5-2007, 166/300

Wittekerke (Bavik Witbier)

• Name: Wittekerke (Bavik Witbier), 5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Light, cloudy yellow. Nice amount of quite thick head.
  
• Aroma: Wheat, quite yeasty. Citric fruit.
  
• Taste: Wheat, quite lemony and dry. Not bad.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.09
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 8/5-2007, 168/500

Mack Isbjørn Pils

Also bought while on Easter holiday in the North of Norway.

• Name: Mack Isbjørn Pils, 4.7%, Norway
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Little bit of head, shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Some hops and malt, standard Norwegian pilsner.
  
• Taste: Quite hopsy, also some malt. Bitterish aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Norway, 330 ml, NOK 12.90
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 3/5-2007

Karjala III

Also bought Easter Sunday in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.

• Name: Karjala III, 4.6%, Finland
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Little bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Not much, some hops and malt.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. Not much. Little aftertaste as well.
  
• Bought: Finland, 330 ml, €?.??
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 30/4-2007

Crocodile Original Imported

• Name: Crocodile Original Imported, 5.2%, Sweden
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Tiny bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Hops, slightly lemony. Some malt.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. Acidic? Hops in aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.25
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 26/4-2007

Koff III

Bought after a long day skiing in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.

• Name: Koff III, 4.5%, Finland
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Good amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Some malt and hops, not much.
  
• Taste: Bit of malt and hops. Quite boring. Hoppy aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Finland, 330 ml, €?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 24/4-2007

Dos Equis XX Amber

I've had this one in quite a few Mexican restaurants, one of the less boring Mexican beers.

• Name: Dos Equis XX Amber, 4.8%, Mexico
  
• Appearance: Light, golden brown. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt, maybe some caramel and hops. Sweet.
  
• Taste: Some malt and hops. Dry. Nothing special.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.35
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 23/4-2007

Mack Ludwig Premium Bayer

Bought while on Easter holiday in the North of Norway.

• Name: Mack Ludwig Premium Bayer, 4.7%, Norway
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Little bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Malty, roasted. Some fruit.
  
• Taste: Malty, fresh. Little aftertaste. Dry, some bitterness.
  
• Bought: Norway, 330 ml, NOK 17.90
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 23/4-2007

With a little help from my friends

My friends and family are now aware of my beer hobby, and some people have now started buying me beer when they travel abroad or come visiting. This is obviously very handy as it means free beer ;-). Seriously, though, it is cool to get strange beers from different parts of the world.

Here is a list of the people who have kindly donated beers to me:

1. GR (10)
2. ØM (9)
3. MG (4)
4. TLL (3)
5. HG (1)
6. PM (1)
   

Also special thanks to my girlfriend HG for helping me with the tasting notes.

Belgo top six Belgian beers

One of the free London newspapers yesterday had a list of Belgo's operations director's top six Belgian beers, and his rating of them. I have added my rating for comparison.

• Früli Strawberry (3/5) [Me: 3/6]
• Jupiler (4/5) [Me: 3/6]
  
• Liefmans Kriek (3/5) [Me: 1/6]
• Blanche de Bruxelles (5/5) [Me: 2/6]
  
• Barbar (4/5) [Me: 4/6]
• Duvel (4/5) [Me: 5/6]
  

I am surprised he didn't include any Trappist or Abbey beers on his list, even though they sell them in the Belgo restaurants. I have added the ones I haven't tried yet to my To-Buy list, and will update this post as I try them.

Sagres Bohemia 1835

Third and last bottle GR bought me from Lisbon:

• Name: Sagres Bohemia 1835, 6.6%, Portugal
  
• Appearance: Chestnut brown, little bit of head. Shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Malt and dark fruit.
  
• Taste: Quite malty, unpleasant dry aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, €?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 17/4-2007

Super Bock Stout

Second bottle GR bought me from Lisbon:

• Name: Super Bock Stout, 5.0%, Portugal
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, almost black. Dark head, not too much of it, though.
  
• Aroma: Roasted, burnt. Malt, some chocolate.
  
• Taste: Malty, a bit burnt. Bit boring, not much to it. Slightly bitter.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, €?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 16/4-2007

Super Bock Abadia

Another beer-gift from GR, bought in a supermarket in Lisbon, Portugal.

• Name: Super Bock Abadia, 6.4%, Portugal
  
• Appearance: Redish golden brown. Little bit of head, very shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Malt, some fruit and caramel. Metallic?
  
• Taste: Malt and caramel, can notice the alcohol.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, €?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 16/4-2007

St Austell Tribute

After drinking another St Austell HSD (part of the 3-pack GR got me), I had the third one as well:

• Name: St Austell Tribute, 4.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Copper brown. Little bit of shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and biscuits. Hops. Dark fruit.
  
• Taste: Bit of malt, quite bitter. Unpleasant aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 14/4-2007

Top 10 beers

Some people have asked me to create a top 10 list of the beers I have tasted, so here goes:

1. Westvleteren Abt (12)
2. O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale
3. Trappistes Rochefort 6
4. Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
5. Westmalle Dubbel
6. Chimay Bleue / Chimay Grande Reserve
7. Gouden Carolus (Classic)
   
8. Silly Double Enghien Blonde
9. Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock
10. Fuller's 1845

You will find a link to this list in the "Status" section.

St Austell Proper Job

Another beer gift from GR. Pack of three St Austell beers bought by him locally in Cornwall.

• Name: St Austell Proper Job, 5.5%, England
• Appearance: Dark golden. Huge amounts of head.
• Aroma: Very fruity, some hops. Bit of honey.
• Taste: Fruit and hops. Nice bitterness in aftertaste.
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, £?.??
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 12/4-2007, 16/300M

Herold Bohemian Blond Lager

Bought from Kopparberg stand in farmers marked outside shopping centre in South-East London.

• Name: Herold Bohemian Blond Lager, 5.0%, Czech Republic
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Little bit of head, more when warmer.
  
• Aroma: Some hops and malt. Standard lager.
  
• Taste: Malt and hops. Dry and bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: United Kingdom, 500 ml, £1.00
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 11/4-2007
  

Lindemans Cuvée René

• Name: Lindemans Cuvée René, 5%, Belgium
• Appearance: Cap&Cork. Dark yellow. Lots and lots of thick head. Cloudy. Some sediments.
• Aroma: Sour, winey. Lemons. Cork.
• Taste: Sour, lemony. Quenching. Dry.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 750 ml, £4.29
• Overall score: 1/6
• Info: 11/4-2007, 167/500, 15/300M

Drinking with OKO in Norway

During Easter I managed to catch up with one my oldest and best friends, OKO. As proven by the below picture, we managed to get through 11 different beers, giving him a kick-start on his beer project:

• Budweiser Budvar x2
• Theakston Old Peculier
• Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
• Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer
• Coniston Bluebird Bitter
• Meantime Coffee Beer
• Marston's Old Empire
• Peroni Nastro Azzurro
• Grimbergen Blonde
• Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc
• Westmalle Dubbel

McEwan's Champion Ale

• Name: McEwan's Champion Ale, 7.3%, England*
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Not much head.
• Aroma: Quite malty. Dark fruit. Some chocolate.
• Taste: Malty, bitter and sweet. Fruit. Vinous.
• Bought: Tesco, 500 ml, £1.59
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 3/4-2007

* Changed from Scotland to England as per Ratebeer.com 2014-07.08

Girardin Gueuze Black Label 1882

• Name: Girardin Gueuze Black Label 1882, 5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Muddy orange. Fizzy. Quite a lot of head, shortlived.
  
• Aroma: Sour, some fruit. Apricot. Lemon.
  
• Taste: Very sour and quenching. Unfinished wine.
  
• Bought: Utobeer, 375 ml, £2.70
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 2/4-2007, 165/300, 20/100
  

Poperings Hommel Bier

• Name: Poperings Hommel Bier, 7.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark orange, hint of brown. Lots of head. Cloudy, with sediments.
  
• Aroma: Hoppy. Flowers. Lemons?
  
• Taste: Fruity. Quite hoppy. Pretty bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.25
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 1/4-2007, 166/500

Verhaeghe Duchesse de Bourgogne

• Name: Verhaeghe Duchesse de Bourgogne, 6.2%, Belgium
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Nice amount of head.
• Aroma: Dark fruit. Sour/tart. Chocolate.
• Taste: Sweet fruit, though still sour. Quenching
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.25
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 31/3-2007, 165/500, 14/300M

Ward's Best Bitter

• Name: Ward's Best Bitter, 4.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Amber brown, nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Quite malty and bitter. Bitter aftertaste
  
• Bought: Tesco, 500 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 29/3-2007

Even Stevens

Not exactly a landmark, but it is now Even Stevens between the 500-book and the 300-book as I have now reached 164 in both books. The beers I have lined up at the moment indicate that I will continue to make more progress in the 500-book than in the 300-book...

Mac Queen's Nessie

Contrary to the very Scottish-sounding name, this beer is actually brewed by Schloss Eggenberg, the people behind "the strongest lager in the world", Samichlaus.

• Name: Mac Queen's Nessie, 7.3%, Austria
  
• Appearance: Golden brown. Little bit of head. Hint of red.
  
• Aroma: Rather malty, some fruit. Caramel.
  
• Taste: Pretty fruity and sweet. Does have whiskey-like flavour.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/3-2007, 164/500

Hoegaarden Speciale

Nitpicking again - listed as 5.6% in the 500-book...

• Name: Hoegaarden Speciale, 5.7%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Greyish yellow. Quite a lot of head. Cloudy.
  
• Aroma: Wheat and lemony. Hoppy.
  
• Taste: Lemony. Wheat and hops. Tangy? Dry
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.09
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 27/3-2007, 163/500

Orkney Skullsplitter

• Name: Orkney Skullsplitter, 8.5%, Scotland
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Nice amount of thick head.
• Aroma: Dark fruit. Malt and raisins. Alcohol when warmer.
• Taste: Dark fruit. Malty. Pretty sweet.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.49
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 26/3-2007, 162/500, 13/300M

King Cobra

I have put this as "English", even though it is brewed in Poland...

• Name: King Cobra, 8%, Belgium*
• Appearance: Pale yellow. Quite hazy. Lots of head.
• Aroma: Fruity. Bit of hops and malt.
• Taste: Quite hoppy, some fruit. Strong aftertaste.
• Bought: Selfridge's, 750 ml, £4.49
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 23/3-2007

* Changed from England to Belgium as per Ratebeer.com 2014-07-08

Beer Lao

I started this blog 10 February 1007, and it has taken me 1.5 months to add the 300 beers I have tried so far. This is the first one I write about "live" :-).

• Name: Beer Lao, 5%, Lao
  
• Appearance: Golden. Very little head. Fizzy.
  
• Aroma: Not much. Odd. Rice?
  
• Taste: Not very nice. Some hops. Unpleasant aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.49
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 22/3-2007
  

Carlsberg Elephant

• Name: Carlsberg Elephant, 7.2%, Denmark
  
• Appearance: Hazy, pale golden. Nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Quite fruity. Some hops.
  
• Taste: Quite fruity and malty. Warming.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 275 ml, £1.19
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 21/3-2007
  

300 bottles and counting...

Another round number. So, the first 100 bottles took me 7 months, the second 100 took me 6 months, and the last 100 also took me 6 months. The status now is 164 beers from the 300-book and 161 from the 500-book. This means that of the last 100 beers only 12 were from the 300-book and 69 were from the 500-book. Almost finished with Beers of Europe now, so I have to find a new source soon...

Score distribution:

0/6: 6
1/6: 11
2/6: 56
3/6: 119
4/6: 84
5/6: 24
6/6: 0
Country distribution:

1. United Kingdom [UK] (116)
2. Belgium [BE] (75)
3. Germany [DE] (37)
4. United States [US] (13)
5. Norway [NO] (11)
6. Czech Republic [CZ] (7)
7. Netherlands [NL] (7)
8. France [FR] (5)
9. Russia [RU] (4)
10. Cuba [CU] (3)
11. Austria [AT] (2)
12. Australia [AU] (2)
13. Canada [CA] (2)
14. Japan [JP] (2)
15. China [CN] (1)
16. Finland [FI] (1)
17. Ireland [IE] (1)
    
18. India [IN] (1)
    
19. Italy [IT] (1)
    
20. Jamaica [JM] (1)
    
21. Lebanon [LB] (1)
    
22. Sri Lanka [LK] (1)
    
23. Lithuania [LT] (1)
    
24. Nepal [NP] (1)
    
25. Peru [PE] (1)
    
26. Poland [PL] (1)
27. Portugal [PT] (1)
28. Thailand [TH] (1)

Petrus Speciale

• Name: Petrus Speciale, 5.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Light brown, amber? Lots and lots of head.
  
• Aroma: Quite fruity, some hops.
  
• Taste: Pretty smooth. Fruit and hops. Herbs? Some malt.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.49
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 19/3-2007, 161/500

Verhaeghe Vichtenaar

• Name: Verhaeghe Vichtenaar, 5.1%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Quite a lot of head.
  
• Aroma: Tannin, tart fruit. Bit sour.
  
• Taste: Sweet, sour fruit. Red wine-ish. Tart.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £0.99
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 15/3-2007, 160/500, 19/100
  

Timmermans Kriek

Weaker than than the 5.0% listed in the 500-book.

• Name: Timmermans Kriek, 4.0%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Ruby red. Quite a lot of head.
  
• Aroma: Just cherry, very much so.
  
• Taste: Very cherry, very sweet. Not quenching at all. Surprisingly nice.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.19
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 12/3-2007, 159/500

Petrus Oud Bruin

• Name: Petrus Oud Bruin, 5.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark, redish brown. Quite a lot of head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruits.
  
• Taste: Pretty fruity, dry, though sweet... Some sourness.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.09
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 11/3-2007, 158/500

Peroni Gran Riserva

• Name: Peroni Gran Riserva, 6.6%, Italy
  
• Appearance: Golden. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and fruit. Honey.
  
• Taste: Quite malty, bitter. Some fruit. Dry. Alcohol in aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.49
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 6/3-2007, 157/500

Meantime Chocolate Beer

This bottled version stronger at 6.5% instead of the 4.5% listed in the 300-book.

• Name: Meantime Chocolate Beer, 6.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark brown. Not much head.
  
• Aroma: Chocolate, malty. Maybe coffee.
  
• Taste: Chocolate, quite malty. Coffee. Bitter.
  
• Bought: Utobeer, 330 ml, £2.00
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 3/3-2007, 164/300
  

Mort Subite Kriek

Slightly stronger than the 4.3% listed in the 500-book.

• Name: Mort Subite Kriek, 4.5%, Belgium
• Appearance: Brownish red. Nice amount of head.
• Aroma: Cherry, not much else.
• Taste: Very cherry and rather sweet. Still quenching.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.29
• Overall score: 1/6
• Info: 3/3-2007, 156/500, 12/300M

Mater Wit Bier

• Name: Mater Wit Bier, 5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Pale yellowish orange. Cloudy, little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Wheat and lemon. Hint of yeast.
  
• Taste: Wheat and hopsy, very lemony. Alright.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £0.95
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 2/3-2007, 155/500

Cairngorm Stag

This beer is called "Tomintoul Stag" in the 500-book. Tomintoul Brewery hit financial trouble in 2000, was taken over by Aviemore Brewery and has since 2001 used the name Cairngorm Brewery.

• Name: Cairngorm Stag, 4.1%, Scotland
• Appearance: Dark, redish brown, mahogany? Quite a lot of head.
• Aroma: Quite malty. Fruity.
• Taste: Pretty malty, some fruits. Slightly bitter aftertaste.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.89
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 1/3-2007, 154/500

Schloss Eggenberg Hopfen König Pils

• Name: Schloss Eggenberg Hopfen König Pils, 5.1%, Austria
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Lots of head, longlasting.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and hops.
  
• Taste: Hoppy, bitter. Dry. Bitter aftertaste. Lemony?
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.19
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 28/2-2007, 153/500

Marston's Single Malt

• Name: Marston's Single Malt, 4.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Golden, nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Hops and flowers. Bit of fruit.
  
• Taste: Pretty hoppy, bitter. Bitter aftertaste, dries out your mouth.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/2-2007, 152/500

Zirndorfer Landbier

More nitpicking: Listed as 4.9% in the 500-book.

• Name: Zirndorfer Landbier, 5.0%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Dark amber, not much head.
  
• Aroma: Hoppy, flowers, maybe some fruit.
  
• Taste: Hops and some malt, fruit. Quite smooth, not too bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 27/2-2007, 151/500

Marston's Owd Rodger

• Name: Marston's Owd Rodger, 7.6%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit. Prunes. Malt.
  
• Taste: Vinous, fruity, some malt. Quite bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.85
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 26/2-2007, 150/500

St Georgen Keller Bier

• Name: St Georgen Keller Bier, 4.9%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Copper brown, hazy. Bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit, pretty hoppy.
  
• Taste: Flower, fruit and hops. Pretty smooth.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.65
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 22/2-2007, 149/500

Veltins Pilsener

• Name: Veltins Pilsener, 4.8%, Germany
• Appearance: Golden, nice amount of head, though shortlived.
• Aroma: Fruit and hops. Bit of malt.
• Taste: Bit boring, but some fruit and hops. Not much aftertaste. Dry.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.75
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 20/2-2007, 148/500, 11/300M

Radeberger Pilsner

• Name: Radeberger Pilsner, 4.8%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Golden, lots of head. Nice colour.
  
• Aroma: Hopsy, quite hopsy and fruity.
  
• Taste: Fruit, quite hopsy. Fresh. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.85
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 19/2-2007, 147/500

Marston's Oyster Stout

• Name: Marston's Oyster Stout, 4.5%, England
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown, almost black. Little bit of dark, shortlived head.
  
• Aroma: Malt, burnt, chocolate. Burnt caramel. Pretty fruity.
  
• Taste: Malty, burnt. Bitter. Some dark fruit.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.59
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 18/2-2007, 146/500

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb

• Name: Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb, 5.5%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Dark orange, cloudy. Lots of head.
  
• Aroma: Bit of wheat. Citric. Orangy.
  
• Taste: Quite fruity, not much wheat. Hopsy. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.85
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 17/2-2007, 145/500

Samuel Adams Winter Lager

The other bottle I bought and brought over from New York.

• Name: Samuel Adams Winter Lager, 5.8%, United States
  
• Appearance: Chestnut red. Nice amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and nutty. Cinnamon/mulled wine.
  
• Taste: Pretty malty, some hops and fruit. Cinnamon.
  
• Bought: United States, 355 ml, $?.??
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 16/2-2007
  

Sapporo Yebisu

Bought in a small Japanese shop in Hanover Square, London.

• Name: Sapporo Yebisu, 5%, Japan
  
• Appearance: Pale golden. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity and hoppy. Lemony.
  
• Taste: Pretty complex. Fruity, bitter and hops. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Mini J Mart, 334 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 15/2-2007, 163/300, 144/500

Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen

Nitpicking time again, as it is listed as 5.3% in the 500-book.

• Name: Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen, 5.2%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Pale orangy brown. Cloudy. Good amount of head.
  
• Aroma: Bit of wheat, lemony.
  
• Taste: Wheaty, lemony and hopsy. Not too bad. Fresh.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.79
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 13/2-2007, 143/500

Sagres Preta (Dark)

• Name: Sagres Preta (Dark), 4.3%, Portugal
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown. A bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Burnt, chocolate, smoke. Malt.
  
• Taste: Smoke, burnt. Malt. Tobacco! Maybe chocolate?!
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £0.99
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 9/2-2007, 142/500

Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

• Name: Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier, 6.8%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Bit cloudy. Almost no head.
  
• Aroma: Cherry, sour.
  
• Taste: Sour cherry. Quenching. Dries your mouth out.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.25
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 9/2-2007, 141/500, 18/100
  

Cantillon Foufoune

• Name: Cantillon Foufoune, 5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Cap&Cork. Light orange, cloudy. Very little head.
  
• Aroma: Sour, little bit fruity. Apricot.
  
• Taste: Pretty sour. Bit of fruit. Quenching.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 375 ml, £3.49
  
• Overall score: 0/6
  
• Info: 7/2-2007, 162/300, 17/100
  

Duchy Originals Organic Winter Ale

• Name: Duchy Originals Organic Winter Ale, 6.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Very redish brown. Almost no head.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit. Raisins? Hoppy. Honey.
  
• Taste: Dark fruit and malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 500 ml, £1.99
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 6/2-2007
  

Thwaites Liberation Ale

• Name: Thwaites Liberation Ale, 5.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark brown, slightly redish. Almost no head.
  
• Aroma: Pretty malty, some hops and malt.
  
• Taste: Pretty bitter. Little fruit. Hoppy. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Budgens, 500 ml, £2.08
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 5/2-2007
  

Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Golden Ale

• Name: Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Golden Ale, 4.2%, England
  
• Appearance: Golden brown. Little head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity. Some malt and hops.
  
• Taste: Fruit and malt. Smooth, but pretty bitter afterwards.
  
• Bought: Utobeer, 500 ml, £2.80
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 1/2-2007
  

Anchor "Our Special Ale" 2005

• Name: Anchor "Our Special Ale" 2005, 5.5%, United States
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Spices, cinnamon. Malt. Even chocolate and fruit (dark).
  
• Taste: Spices. Malt and chocolate. Strong. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Utobeer, 355 ml, £2.30
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 31/1-2007, 140/500

Liefmans Kriekbier

Alcohol content listed as 6.5% in the 500-book.

• Name: Liefmans Kriekbier, 6.0%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Red, hint of brown. Little bit of head (fizzy).
  
• Aroma: Fruit, strong cherry. A bit sour.
  
• Taste: Sour cherry, but also very sweet.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 375 ml, £2.39
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 30/1-2007, 139/500

Lindemans Tea Beer

• Name: Lindemans Tea Beer, 3.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Dark orange. Very little or no head. Very cloudy.
  
• Aroma: Sour, tea. Maybe some lemon.
  
• Taste: Sour, lemony tea. Sour, lemony aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £1.19
  
• Overall score: 1/6
  
• Info: 29/1-2007, 138/500

O'Hanlon's Royal Oak

This beer is called "Eldridge Pope Royal Oak" in the 500-book, but the Eldridge Pope brewery was closed in 2003. Royal Oak is now brewed under license by O'Hanlon's.

• Name: O'Hanlon's Royal Oak, 5.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Orangy brown. Cloudy. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops. Some berries.
  
• Taste: Quite hopsy, then malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/1-2007, 137/500

Broughton Greenmantle Ale

• Name: Broughton Greenmantle Ale, 3.9%, Scotland
• Appearance: Dark redish brown. Nice amount of head.
• Aroma: Honey and hops.
• Taste: Hopsy, honey again. A bit boring. Malt in aftertaste, also hops.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.79
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 25/1-2007, 136/500

George Killian's Irish Red

Bought in one of my favourite cities, New York.

• Name: George Killian's Irish Red, 4.9%, United States
  
• Appearance: Redish brown. Very little head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and hops. A bit burnt.
  
• Taste: Hopsy and malt. Hoppy aftertaste, some fruit.
  
• Bought: United States, 355 ml, $?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 23/1-2007
  

Palm Speciale

The bottle I bought was at 5.4%, not 5.2% as in the 300-book nor 5.0% as in the 500-book.

• Name: Palm Speciale, 5.4%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Chestnut brown, not much head.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and malt. Nutty.
  
• Taste: Nice and fruity (dark). Malty, some hops.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.25
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 17/1-2007, 161/300, 135/500

Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel

• Name: Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel, 5.0%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Dark brown, cloudy. Nice amount of creamy head.
  
• Aroma: Wheat and toffee-ish. Some malt.
  
• Taste: Wheaty and malt. Hoppy. Dry.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.79
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 16/1-2007, 134/500

König Pilsener

• Name: König Pilsener, 4.9%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Light golden. Basically no head.
  
• Aroma: Hops and fruit. Some malt.
  
• Taste: Hoppy, some fruit and malt. Nothing special. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.75
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 15/1-2007, 133/500

Louwaege Hapkin

• Name: Louwaege Hapkin, 8.5%, Belgium
  
• Appearance: Light yellow. Quite nice head, longlasting. Pretty fizzy. Lots of head later.
  
• Aroma: Fruit and bit of malt. Lemon?
  
• Taste: Hops and fruit. Bit of malt. Citric. Bitter.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 13/1-2007, 132/500

Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale

• Name: Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale, 6.5%, Scotland
• Appearance: Dark, dark brown, basically black. OK amount of head, shortlived.
• Aroma: Fruit and berries. Elderberry? Some malt. Coffee.
• Taste: Fruit, quite malty. Elderberries.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.39
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 11/1-2007, 131/500

Nøgne Ø Porter

ØM also brought over this (expensive) one from Norway:

• Name: Nøgne Ø Porter, 7.0%, Norway
  
• Appearance: Very dark brown. Nice amount of head, and not short-lived.
  
• Aroma: Smokey, oaky, and malt. Coffee.
  
• Taste: Malty. Bitter. Smokey. Pretty bitter aftertaste. Dry.
  
• Bought: Gift, 500 ml, NOK ?.??
  
• Overall score: 2/6
  
• Info: 10/1-2007
  

Frankenheim Alt

• Name: Frankenheim Alt, 4.8%, Germany
  
• Appearance: Medium brown. Nice amount of head, short-lived.
  
• Aroma: Malt and fruit. Dark fruit, winey.
  
• Taste: Malt and hops. Some fruit. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.69
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 8/1-2007, 130/500

Aass Bock

This is the only beer I actually asked ØM to get me from Norway:

• Name: Aass Bock, 6.5%, Norway
  
• Appearance: Redish brown. Bit of head, short-lived.
  
• Aroma: Malty. Alcohol. Hops and fruit.
  
• Taste: Malt and hops. Alcohol. Bitter aftertaste. Bit of fruit.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, NOK ?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 7/1-2007, 129/500

Fredrikstad Juleøl 2006 (6.6%)

Seventh and last Juleøl ØM gave me:

• Name: Fredrikstad Juleøl 2006, 6.6%, Norway
  
• Appearance: Dark brown, slightly red. Little head.
  
• Aroma: Malty, little bit of fruit.
  
• Taste: Pretty light. Hops and malt. Hoppy aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Gift, 330 ml, NOK ?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 6/1-2007
  

Gordon Xmas

• Name: Gordon Xmas, 8.8%, Belgium*
• Appearance: Very dark brown. Little head.
• Aroma: Fruit and malt. Maple, wood, oak, smoke.
• Taste: Dark fruit. Malty then hoppy. Alcohol, strong.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 330 ml, £1.85
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 5/1-2007, 128/500

* Changed from Scotland to Belgium as per Ratebeer.com 2014-07-08

White Horse Christmas Cracker

• Name: White Horse Christmas Cracker, 4.8%, England
  
• Appearance: Copper brown. Very little head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and fruit. Winey.
  
• Taste: Malty and pretty hopsy. Some fruit. Dry.
  
• Bought: Tesco, 500 ml, £1.00*
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 4/1-2007

* Clearance...