Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Beer Goals 2024 - Result

My beer goals for 2024 were as follows (with inline comments):
  • Get from 205 to 207 Ratebeer countries        [Goal achieved 2024-09-11]
    • ✅ Thanks to one very good trade, managed to reach 209. Dropped down the list from 11th to 12th, though.
  • Get from 319 to 324 Ratebeer regions       [Goal achieved 2024-03-30]
    • ✅ Thanks mostly to a Swedish trade, managed to reach 333.
  • Rate a beer from the last missing style
    • ❌ Again, no luck.
  • Reduce styles I have tried less than 5 beers from 3 to 2
    • ❌ Another fail.
  • Reduce styles I have tried less than 10 beers from 16 to 10         [Current status: 14]
    • ❌ Managed to get two more to ten, but another fail.
  • Get from 1756 to 18201810 breweries         [Goal achieved 2024-10-24]
    • ✅ Did well, reached the original goal of 1820 breweries.
  • Get from 1413 to 16501550 Swiss ratings        [Current status: 1530]
    • ❌ Not quite, reached 1530 Swiss ratings.
  • Get from 371 to 410400 Swiss breweries        [Current status: 391]
    • ❌ Didn’t do very well, reached 391. Just 20 new Swiss breweries this year, compared to 62 last year.
Some Swiss regions related goals:
  • Increase cantons I am in the top-5 raters of beers from 21 to 25        [Current status: 23]
    • ❌ Not too bad, managed two more.
  • Increase cantons I am in the top-3 raters of breweries from 24 to 25
    • ❌ Yet another fail.
  • Get from 200 to 230 Bern ratings
  • Get from 240 to 260 Fribourg ratings
  • Get from 160 to 190 Vaud ratings
  • Get from 110 to 130 Zürich ratings
Just managed three out of my ten goals, so didn’t do very well. But late January I decided to cut down on beer consumption and also focus less on statistics.

Breakdown per canton:

Beers

Canton

24

Ticino

23

Fribourg

13

Bern

10

Basel-Stadt

10

Jura

8

Luzern

7

Vaud

3

Basel-Landschaft

3

Valais

3

Zürich

2

Aargau

2

Schwyz

2

St. Gallen

2

Uri

1

Glarus

1

Graubünden

1

Nidwalden

1

Schaffhausen

1

Zug

0

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

0

Appenzell Innerrhoden

0

Genève

0

Neuchâtel

0

Obwalden

0

Solothurn

0

Thurgau


Põhjala Cellar Series - Apricotta

Strong Ale - American #10:
  • Name: Põhjala Cellar Series - Apricotta, 12%, Estonia
  • Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Small, tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark fruits, ripe fruits. Slight alcohol.
  • Taste: Ripe, dark fruits. Some malt, apricot. Slight barrel. Smooth.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 9.80
  • Score: 3.9 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 16/20)
  • Info: 31/12-2024, BB: 3/8-2027

Napf Napfgold Dunkel

  • Name: Napf Napfgold Dunkel, 5.0%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Dark brown, clear. Big, frothy light tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, toasted.
  • Taste: Dark malt, toasted. Nuts, slight chocolate.
  • Bought: Coop (Bern Marktgasse), 330 ml, CHF 2.50
  • Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 31/12-2024, BB: 25/2-2025

Barbière Galaxy Session

  • Name: Barbière Galaxy Session, 3.5%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Light orange golden, clear. Small, white head.
  • Aroma: Light fruits, citrus. Decent hops.
  • Taste: Light fruits, citrus. Good hops, decent bitterness.
  • Bought: Barbière Brew Pub, 330 ml can, CHF 5.50
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
  • Info: 31/12-2024, BB: 31/1-2025

Monday, 30 December 2024

Egger Small Batch No 20 - 20er Stout

  • Name: Egger Small Batch No 20 - 20er Stout, 4.0%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Pretty dark brown, small tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, chocolate. Nicely roasted.
  • Taste: Dark malt, well roasted. Some chocolate. Dry.
  • Bought: Coop (Bern Marktgasse), 330 ml, CHF 1.80
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
  • Info: 30/12-2024, BB: 1/8-2025

Club Beer (Liberia)

Ratebeer country #209:
  • Name: Club Beer (Liberia), ?.?%, Liberia
  • Appearance: Medium golden, clear. Small head.
  • Aroma: Cereal, very pale male. Honey-like sweetness.
  • Taste: Palest malt, cereal. Sweetness.
  • Bought: Trade with Grzesiek79 - thanks!, 100 ml sample
  • Score: 2.4 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 2/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 2/5, Overall 10/20)
  • Info: 30/12-2024

Amundsen Santa's Hop Sack

  • Name: Amundsen Santa's Hop Sack, 5.3%, Norway
  • Appearance: Yellow, very hazy. Big, fizzy white head.
  • Aroma: Orange, zesty. Hops.
  • Taste: Lots of orange, zest. Some decent hops. Low to medium bitterness.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 440 ml can, CHF 6.30
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
  • Info: 30/12-2024, BB: 29/8-2025

Nøgne Ø Ale of Plenty

  • Name: Nøgne Ø Ale of Plenty, 6.5%, Norway
  • Appearance: Red, hazy. Huge, creamy off-white head.
  • Aroma: Big amount of raspberries. Sweet.
  • Taste: Lots of raspberries, sweet. Very shy hops.
  • Bought: Coop (Bern Marktgasse), 330 ml, CHF 3.95
  • Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 30/12-2024, BB: 3/12-2024

Saturday, 28 December 2024

To Øl Yule Malt 2024 (Cognac and Bourbon Barrels)

  • Name: To Øl Yule Malt 2024 (Cognac and Bourbon Barrels), 12.3%, Denmark
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Small, dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, roasted. Dark fruits, some dark chocolate.
  • Taste: Dark malt, roasted. Some wood and barrel. Dark fruits. Very smooth, very nice.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 8.10
  • Score: 4.0 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 16/20)
  • Info: 28/12-2024, BB: 3/9-2034

Sibebe Premium Lager

Ratebeer country #208:
  • Name: Sibebe Premium Lager, 4.8%, eSwatini
  • Appearance: Pale to medium golden, clear. Small head.
  • Aroma: Medium malt, cereal. Honey?
  • Taste: Cheap malt, cereal. Sweet. Average new country tick.
  • Bought: Trade with Grzesiek79 - thanks!, 100 ml sample
  • Score: 2.4 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 2/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 2/5, Overall 10/20)
  • Info: 28/12-2024

Egger / Thun Bier Small Batch No 19 - Wild Berries NEIPA

  • Name: Egger / Thun Bier Small Batch No 19 - Wild Berries NEIPA, 5.4%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Peachy orange colour, hazy. Small, fizzy off-white head. Murky end.
  • Aroma: Lots of berries, raspberries.
  • Taste: Lots of berries, raspberries. Sweet. Very low hops, low bitterness.
  • Bought: Coop (Bern Marktgasse), 330 ml, CHF 1.80
  • Score: 3.2 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 28/12-2024, BB: 1/5-2025

Friday, 27 December 2024

Totenhopfen Damn, You're... Majestic!

  • Name: Totenhopfen Damn, You're... Majestic!, 8.2%, Luxembourg
  • Appearance: Pale golden, slight haze. Quite big, fizzy off-white head.
  • Aroma: Lots of light fruits, grapefruit. Decent hops.
  • Taste: Light fruits, grapefruit. Light hops. Low, lingering bitterness.
  • Bought: Auchan Cloche d'Or (Luxembourg), 440 ml can, €3.69
  • Score: 3.6 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 15/20)
  • Info: 27/12-2024, BB: 24/6-2025

Thursday, 26 December 2024

To Øl CPH Mash Test Yummies (2023)

  • Name: To Øl CPH Mash Test Yummies (2023), 11.8%, Denmark
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Small, dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Toasted dark malt, nuts and dark chocolate. Dark, ripe fruits.
  • Taste: Dark malt, dark ripe fruits. Toasted. Chocolate, nuts. Very smooth. 
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 8.90
  • Score: 4.1 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 17/20)
  • Info: 26/12-2024, BB: 12/12-2033

Twisted Cat Dry Hopped IPA

  • Name: Twisted Cat Dry Hopped IPA, 6.5%, Luxembourg 
  • Appearance: Dark orange brown, clear. Big, light tan head.
  • Aroma: Nice hops, good amount of malt. Caramel?
  • Taste: Medium malt, good hops. Some fruits. Caramel. Good, lingering bitterness.
  • Bought: Auchan Cloche d'Or (Luxembourg), 440 ml can, €4.20
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
  • Info: 26/12-2024, BB: 25/6-2025

Wednesday, 25 December 2024

Wolff Brewing Rosa Luxembourg

  • Name: Wolff Brewing Rosa Luxembourg, 6%, Luxembourg
  • Appearance: Dark brown, red hue. Clear. Medium, light tan head.
  • Aroma: Berries, hops, medium malt.
  • Taste: Good hops, medium malt. Lightly toasted. Some berries.
  • Bought: Monoprix (Luxembourg City), 330 ml, €2.80
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
  • Info: 25/12-2024, BB: 5/4-2025

Monday, 23 December 2024

Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie Lucie (Lizzie) Antwerpse Tripel

New brewery:
  • Name: Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie Lucie (Lizzie) Antwerpse Tripel, 8.0%, Belgium 
  • Appearance: Orange golden, clear. Big, frothy white head.
  • Aroma: Sweet light fruits, tea. Some hops.
  • Taste: Good, light fruits. Some herbs and slight tea. Some honey sweetness.
  • Bought: Carrefour (Antwerp), 330 ml, €2.50
  • Score: 3.4 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 14/20)
  • Info: 23/12-2024, BB: 13/3-2027

Satori Mandarina Blonde

  • Name: Satori Mandarina Blonde, 6.0%, Luxembourg
  • Appearance: Orange golden, clear. Huge, white head.
  • Aroma: Floral, light fruits. Decent hops.
  • Taste: Light fruits, clean hops. Floral. Some honey sweetness.
  • Bought: Auchan Cloche d'Or (Luxembourg), 330 ml, €2.99
  • Score: 3.2 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 23/12-2024, BB: 9/1-2025

Sunday, 22 December 2024

Persephone Coast Light

  • Name: Persephone Coast Light, 3.2%, Canada
  • Appearance: Very pale yellow, clear. Small, fizzy white head.
  • Aroma: Very pale malt, cereal.
  • Taste: Cereal, palest malt. Faint hops. Watery.
  • Bought: Gift from JC - thanks!, 473 ml can
  • Score: 2.7 (Aroma 5/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 5/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 11/20)
  • Info: 22/12-2024, BB: ??/??-????

Altes Tramdepot Sauron

  • Name: Altes Tramdepot Sauron, 3.9%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Light yellow golden, slight haze. Big, white head. Sediments in bottle.
  • Aroma: Sour, tart. Light fruits, yeast.
  • Taste: Sour, slight barn. Some light fruits, lemon.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 5.30
  • Score: 2.9 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 11/20)
  • Info: 22/12-2024, BB: 31/7-2025

Saturday, 21 December 2024

Blanche Pierre l'Aléatoire - 32 Bière de la Grève

  • Name: Blanche Pierre l'Aléatoire - 32 Bière de la Grève, 5.1%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Pale orange, hazy. Good size, frothy white head.
  • Aroma: Thyme bomb, some wheat.
  • Taste: Lots of thyme, the wheat takes a back seat. Slight citrus.
  • Bought: Mini-Marché Delémont, 330 ml, CHF 5.00
  • Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 21/12-2024, BB: 30/4-2025

la Spirale Woodys

  • Name: la Spirale Woodys, 4.5%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Pale yellow golden, clear. Small, fizzy off-white head.
  • Aroma: Light fruits, herbs. Good amount of wheat.
  • Taste: Wheat. Light fruits towards lemon. Herbs.
  • Bought: Mini-Marché Delémont, 330 ml, CHF 3.90
  • Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 21/12-2024, BB: 31/7-2026

Friday, 20 December 2024

L'Oiselier

New CH/Jura cidery:
  • Name: L'Oiselier, 6.5%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Yellow golden, clear. Small, fizzy white head.
  • Aroma: Nice apples.
  • Taste: Green apples, slight tartness. Easy drinking, though.
  • Bought: Mini-Marché Delémont, 330 ml, CHF 5.80
  • Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 20/12-2024, BB: 30/6-2025

Barbière Wild Berry

  • Name: Barbière Wild Berry, 4.7%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Dark red, fizzy. Sight haze. Small, light pink head.
  • Aroma: Tart berries, raspberry.
  • Taste: Tart fruits, tart berries. Raspberry and some lemon.
  • Bought: Barbière Brew Pub, 330 ml can, CHF 5.50
  • Score: 3.0 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 12/20)
  • Info: 20/12-2024, BB: 31/12-2024

Saturday, 14 December 2024

BFM Koa Lager

  • Name: BFM Koa Lager, 4.2%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Pale golden, very slight haze. Small, off-white head.
  • Aroma: Herbs, pale malt, decent hops.
  • Taste: Good pale malt, some hops. Herbal. Light, lingering bitterness.
  • Bought: Mini-Marché Delémont, 330 ml, CHF 3.95
  • Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 14/12-2024, BB: 31/3-2025

la Filature Aiguille

  • Name: la Filature Aiguille, 5%, Switzerland 
  • Appearance: Dark yellow golden, clear. Small, white head.
  • Aroma: Light fruits, some wheat. Slight spices.
  • Taste: Light fruits, wheat. A bit watery. Very slight spices.
  • Bought: Mini-Marché Delémont, 330 ml, CHF 4.00
  • Score: 3.0 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 12/20)
  • Info: 14/12-2024, BB: 23/5-2025

Friday, 13 December 2024

Kitchen Brew Rye Ale

Specialty Grain - Rye / Roggenbier #9:
  • Name: Kitchen Brew Rye Ale, 5.2%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Light orange golden, quite hazy. Small, off-white head.
  • Aroma: Fruits and rye.
  • Taste: Medium fruits, rye. Some sweetness. Pale malt. Decent.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 4.80
  • Score: 3.0 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 12/20)
  • Info: 13/12-2024, BB: 28/2-2025

Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Riegele Speziator Hell

  • Name: Riegele Speziator Hell, 8.5%, Germany
  • Appearance: Medium golden, clear. Decent head.
  • Aroma: Sweet fruits, medium malt.
  • Taste: Medium malt. Sweet, ripe fruits.
  • Bought: Luigia (Fribourg), 330 ml, CHF 8.00
  • Score: 3.1 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 6/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 11/12-2024, BB: ??/??-????

Sainte Cru All I Want for Christmas is Kloug

  • Name: Sainte Cru All I Want for Christmas is Kloug, 7.5%, France
  • Appearance: Medium brown, clear. Small tan head.
  • Aroma: Medium malt, lots of spices. Slight tart fruits.
  • Taste: Spicy cake, malt. Some tart fruits. Oddball.
  • Bought: Les Trentenaires (Fribourg), 330 ml, CHF 9.00
  • Score: 3.2 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 11/12-2024, BB: ??/??-????

La Granda Ghosst

  • Name: La Granda Ghosst, 8%, Italy
  • Appearance: Dark orange, towards amber. Small head.
  • Aroma: Medium fruits, sweetness. Medium malt.
  • Taste: Medium malt, sweet fruits. Ripe fruits.
  • Bought: Les Trentenaires (Fribourg), 330 ml can, CHF 8.50
  • Score: 3.3 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 11/12-2024, BB: ??/??-????

Saturday, 7 December 2024

Bîrtel Triple NEIPA!

  • Name: Bîrtel Triple NEIPA!, 9.5%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Pale yellow golden, slight haze. Small, off-white head. Murky end.
  • Aroma: Light, ripe fruits. Low bitterness. Marmalade?
  • Taste: Good light fruits, ripe fruits. Some hops, low bitterness. Warming.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 6.90
  • Score: 3.7 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 16/20)
  • Info: 7/12-2024, BB: 31/3-2025

Friday, 6 December 2024

Heimelig Rudolph

New CH/Luzern brewery:
  • Name: Heimelig Rudolph, 8.2%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Small, dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, roasted. Lots of peat.
  • Taste: Dark malt, roasted. Quite a bit of peat, a bit too much. Decent, though.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 8.00
  • Score: 3.2 (Aroma 6/10, Appearance 3/5, Taste 7/10, Palate 3/5, Overall 13/20)
  • Info: 6/12-2024, BB: 1/2-2027