Beer Goals 2014 - Result

My beer goals for 2014 were as follows:

• Get from 92 to 100 Ratebeer countries      [Goal reached 2014-10-28]
• Get from 22 to 32 US states      [Goal reached 2014-10-26]
• Get from 2 to 6 Canadian provinces      [Current status: 4]
• Get last eight English counties      [Current status: four left]
• Get last four German Bundesländer      [Goal reached 2014-12-25]
• Get last two styles      [Current status: one left]

On the positive side I managed to get from 92 to 121 countries, from 22 to 35 US states and I rated the last four German Bundesländer. So three out of six goals reached.

On the flip side, I only managed to rate two new Canadian provinces, four of the remaining English counties and one of the missing styles. I will try harder in 2015 to reach these goals :-).

Dagon Extra Strong

• Name: Dagon Extra Strong, 8%, Myanmar
• Appearance: Clear golden, some off-white head.
• Aroma: Malt? Slight alcohol.
• Taste: Strong malt, some alcohol. Slightly harsh.
• Bought: Courtesy of Erica M. - thanks!, 640 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 29/12-2014

Mandalay Strong Ale

• Name: Mandalay Strong Ale, 6.5%, Myanmar
• Appearance: As "Mandalay Strong Beer". Says "Thank You" on the inside of the cap... For buying it?  Golden orange, clear. Fizzy white head.
• Aroma: Malt, some sweetness?
• Taste: Malt and hops, not too sweet. Better than expected.
• Bought: Courtesy of Erica M. - thanks!, 640 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 29/12-2014

Strela Preta

• Name: Strela Preta, 5.4%, Cape Verde
• Appearance: Dark brown, hint of red? Clear. Small, dark tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, wood.
• Taste: Dark malt, chocolate, sweet. Slightly roasted. Pretty good.
• Bought: Courtesy of Julien C. - thanks!, 250 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 28/12-2014, BB: 13/2-2015

Strela Kriola

• Name: Strela Kriola, 5.0%, Cape Verde
• Appearance: Yellow golden, clear. Some fizzy white head.
• Aroma: Mostly medium malt, to be honest.
• Taste: Pretty good malt and hops, slight grains. Better.
• Bought: Courtesy of Julien C. - thanks!, 250 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 28/12-2014, BB: 5/6-2015

Strela

• Name: Strela, 5.6%, Cape Verde
• Appearance: Light golden, clear. Some white head.
• Aroma: Malt, grains, grass.
• Taste: Grains, some malt. Light.
• Bought: Courtesy of Julien C. - thanks!, 250 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 28/12-2014, BB: 1/3-2015

Club Premium Negra

• Name: Club Premium Negra, 5%, Ecuador
• Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Just a little bit of tan head.
• Aroma: Some dark malt, not much else.
• Taste: Dark malt, sweet. Not bad, though.
• Bought: Courtesy of Antonio S. - thanks!, 330 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 27/12-2014, BB: 4/12-2014

Pilsener (Ecuador)

• Name: Pilsener (Ecuador), 4.2%, Ecuador
• Appearance: Very pale golden, clear. Some light white head.
• Aroma: Grains and malt?
• Taste: Grains, some malt and hops. Watery.
• Bought: Courtesy of Antonio S. - thanks!, 330 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 27/12-2014, BB: 24/1-2015

Bière Lorraine Blonde

• Name: Bière Lorraine Blonde, 5%, Martinique
• Appearance: Pale golden, clear. Some white head.
• Aroma: Grains, malt.
• Taste: Cereal, malt, sweetness. Forgettable.
• Bought: Trade with MarkoNm - thanks!, 250 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 25/12-2014, BB: 10/3-2015

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2014

• Name: Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2014, 8.5%, England
• Appearance: Bottle 4230. Dark brown, clear. Some light tan head.
• Aroma: Dark fruits, dark malt.
• Taste: Dark fruits, dark malt, caramel. Vinous. Nice and quite complex.
• Bought: Coop, 500 ml, CHF 6.95
• Overall score: 5/6
• Info: 25/12-2014, BB: 31/12-2024

Hasseröder Premium Pils

Final Bundesland, Saxony-Anhalt (16/16):

• Name: Hasseröder Premium Pils, 4.9%, Germany
• Appearance: Light golden, clear. Some off-white head.
• Aroma: Malt, grains.
• Taste: Malt, good hops. Slight grains and some lasting bitterness. Crisp.
• Bought: Trade with Erzengel - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 25/12-2014, BB: 30/4-2015

Cerveza Salva Vida

• Name: Cerveza Salva Vida, 4.8%, Honduras
• Appearance: Pale yellow, clear. Some fizzy white head.
• Aroma: Corn, cereal.
• Taste: Cereal, corn. Not that interesting.
• Bought: Total Wine & More (Sterling), 355 ml, $1.42
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 24/12-2014

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2012

• Name: Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2012, 8.5%, England
• Appearance: Bottle 127656. Dark orange brown, slightly hazy. Nice amount of off-white head.
• Aroma: Fruits, malt. Caramel.
• Taste: Ripe fruits, some malt, slight alcohol. Caramel, roasted. Good.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 500 ml, CHF 8.80
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 24/12-2014, BB: 31/12-2015

Gala

• Name: Gala, 5.3%, Chad
• Appearance: Orange golden, clear. Some off-white head.
• Aroma: Malt, basement.
• Taste: Malt, little hops, grains. Watery?
• Bought: Trade with Gregory - thanks!, 640 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 23/12-2014, BB: 10/10-2015

Murree Beer

• Name: Murree Beer, 4.7%, Pakistan
• Appearance: Light golden, clear. Some fizzy, white head.
• Aroma: Malt and some hops.
• Taste: Malt, some hops and grains. Crisp. Standard.
• Bought: Trade with Cunningham - thanks!, 330 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 23/12-2014, BB: 16/1-2015

Fallen Angel Black Death

New English county, Hertfordshire (42/46)*:

• Name: Fallen Angel Black Death, 5.2%, England
• Appearance: Very dark brown, hazy I think, flat.
• Aroma: Sour fruit, chilli.
• Taste: So, I didn't know this was a chilli beer, so a big swig later my mouth was on fire. Before that it had some sourness. Not going to risk it "burning twice" so the rest of the bottle goes in the drain. Amazing how much chilli they decided to add to this socalled beer.
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £2.69
• Overall score: 1/6
• Info: 21/12-2014, BB: 30/9-2015

* (42/46) again since the Northumberland beer I tried has been reclassified as being from Nottinghamshire...

Neuzeller Schwarzer Abt

New Bundesland, Brandenburg (15/16):

• Name: Neuzeller Schwarzer Abt, 3.9%, Germany
• Appearance: Blackish brown, good amount of tan head.
• Aroma: Caramel, malt.
• Taste: Very sweet, malt, very slightly toasted. Borderline too sweet.
• Bought: Trade with Erzengel - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 21/12-2014, BB: 23/7-2015

Bocikovoe Stil Bavarez Nefiltrată

• Name: Bocikovoe Stil Bavarez Nefiltrată, 4.2%, Moldova
• Appearance: Hazy yellow, fizzy white head.
• Aroma: Light fruit? Malt?
• Taste: Cereal, some fruit. Watery. No "vomit" nor "almost undrinkable" from me, but it's not good either.
• Bought: Trade with Dorin - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 20/12-2014, BB: 24/11-2014

St. John Brewers Virgin Islands Island Hoppin IPA

• Name: St. John Brewers Virgin Islands Island Hoppin IPA, 6.2%, United States Virgin Islands
• Appearance: Burnt orange, some off-white head.
• Aroma: Hops and virgin fruits?
• Taste: Pretty bitter, some caramel sweetness, light fruits. Lingering bitter aftertaste. Maybe better if consumed on USVI?
• Bought: Trade with Cunningham - thanks!, 355 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 20/12-2014, BB: 30/9-2014

Club Pilsener (South Sudan)

• Name: Club Pilsener (South Sudan), 4.5%, South Sudan
• Appearance: Light golden, clear. Good amount of white head.
• Aroma: Cereal, basement.
• Taste: Malt, cereal, watery. Shy hops or what?
• Bought: Trade with Gregory - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 19/12-2014, BB: 2/8-2014

White Bull Lager

A very hard-to-get country:

• Name: White Bull Lager, 5%, South Sudan
• Appearance: Light golden, clear. Some fizzy, white head.
• Aroma: Cereal, lightly fruity?
• Taste: Cereal, light malt, hops, watery. Not horrible, though.
• Bought: Trade with Gregory - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 19/12-2014

Baladin Open Riserva

Virtual tasting session with Nordcore.

• Name: Baladin Open Riserva, 7.5%, Italy
• Appearance: Dark golden, clear. Some off-white head.
• Aroma: Sweet, caramel? Some hops?
• Taste: More sweetness, nice fruits, bitterness in aftertaste. Not your typical IPA.
• Bought: Eataly (Genova), 250 ml, €3.30
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 15/12-2014, BB: 30/11-2014

Passarola DOS

• Name: Passarola DOS, 8%, Portugal
• Appearance: Very dark brown, nice tan head.
• Aroma: Dark malt, roasted, some dark fruit.
• Taste: Dark malt, dark fruit. Slight coffee, roasted. Slight tartness. Very nice.
• Bought: Trade with Andre - thanks!, 330 ml
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 14/12-2014

Bario Classic

• Name: Bario Classic, 0.0%, Saudi Arabia
• Appearance: Light brown, clear. Fizzy, micro-head.
• Aroma: Fruity-malty.
• Taste: Malty-fruity sweet juice. Not horrible, though.
• Bought: Trade with Erzengel - thanks!, 330 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 10/12-2014, BB: 21/2-2015

Zhiguli Barnoe Barkhatnoe

• Name: Zhiguli Barnoe Barkhatnoe, 4.0%, Russia
• Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Some tan head.
• Aroma: Caramel, dark fruit. Sweetness.
• Taste: Dark malt, caramel, sweetness. Very good, I think, though not sure why.
• Bought: Trade with Dorin - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 7/12-2014

Castel Beer (Senegal)

• Name: Castel Beer (Senegal), 5.2%, Senegal
• Appearance: Yellow golden, clear, fizzy white head.
• Aroma: Cereal, that's probably it...
• Taste: Cereal, some malt. Ok.
• Bought: Trade with Erzengel - thanks!, 330 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 7/12-2014, BB: 5/12-2014

Boulevard 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer

• Name: Boulevard 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer, 5.5%, United States
• Appearance: Hazy, pale yellow. Some white head.
• Aroma: Citrus, wheat.
• Taste: Nice wheat, very smooth. Some lemon and sweetness.
• Bought: Total Wine & More (Sterling), 355 ml, $1.99
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 6/12-2014, BB: 20/11-2014

Kündig s’Husbier

• Name: Kündig s’Husbier, 4.8-5.2%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Flip-top bottle. Orange brown, slightly hazy. Good amount of off-white head.
• Aroma: Malt, metallic.
• Taste: Malt, slight sweetness, but confusingly also some sourness. Lacking, not great.
• Bought: Trade with Gregory - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 3/6
• Info: 6/12-2014, BB: 29/7-2014

Kilikia

• Name: Kilikia, 4.8%, Armenia
• Appearance: Pale golden, fizzy white head.
• Aroma: Cereal, corn, not pleasant.
• Taste: Corn, cereal, some malt. Pretty bad.
• Bought: Trade with MarkoNm - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 5/12-2014

Kündig s’Premium

• Name: Kündig s’Premium, 5.5%, Switzerland
• Appearance: Flip-top bottle. Burnt orange, cloudy. Good amount of off-white head.
• Aroma: Malt, orange?
• Taste: Malt, caramel, some slight fruit and hops. Slightly metallic?
• Bought: Trade with Gregory - thanks!, 500 ml
• Overall score: 4/6
• Info: 5/12-2014, BB: 4/7-2014

Castel Beer (Cameroon)

Another new country? Yes, it is.

• Name: Castel Beer (Cameroon), 5.2%, Cameroon
• Appearance: Yellow golden, clear, fizzy. Lots of white head.
• Aroma: Sweet, cereal.
• Taste: Malt, sweet, some light fruit? Pretty standard.
• Bought: Trade with Erzengel - thanks!, 650 ml
• Overall score: 2/6
• Info: 1/12-2014