Thursday, 31 December 2015

Beer Goals 2015 - Result

My beer goals for 2015 were as follows:
  • Get from 121 to 140 Ratebeer countries     [Goal reached 2015-12-19]
  • Get from 35 to 43 US States     [Goal reached 2015-09-16]
  • Get from 4 to 7 Canadian Provinces
  • Get last four English Counties     [Goal reached 2015-01-18]
  • Get last style (Sahti)     [Goal reached 2015-03-13]
  • Get a top-50 beer rating from the last eight styles     [Current status: 8 left]
  • Rate 11 beers from the 300-book (232->243)     [Current status: 238]
  • Rate 12 beers from the 100-book (58->70)     [Current status: 64]
  • Rate 34 beers from the 300M-book (66->100)     [Goal reached 2015-12-24]
I managed to reach five of the nine goals. The last four English Counties were completed early in the year after an order from Beers Of Europe and the last style I managed to get hold of via a trade with someone from Finland. Some US online orders helped me reach the US States goal in September, and I eventually managed to reach 45. Near the end of the year I managed to reach (exactly) 140 countries and also exactly 100 beers from the 300M book.

I failed to progress on the Canadian Provinces, not sure how to get hold of more of them. The Top-50 Style beer rating goal became even more difficult as they changed the way this was calculated, and I am still missing eight styles... I managed to get approximately halfway on the 100-book (6/12) and 300-book (6/11) goals, but not good enough, unfortunately.

Bring on 2016!

Doppelleu Oak Wood Red Ale

A Top-50 Irish Ale:
  • Name: Doppelleu Oak Wood Red Ale, 6.0%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Dark chestnut brown, clear. Quite a big tan head.
  • Aroma: Barrel, followed by some malt.
  • Taste: Medium malt, strong oak/barrel. Slight caramel sweetness.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Online), 330 ml, CHF 5.80
  • Overall score: 4/6
  • Info: 31/12-2015, BB: 29/2-2016

Erdinger Dunkel

  • Name: Erdinger Dunkel, 5.3%, Germany
  • Appearance: Dark brown, good amount of light tan head.
  • Aroma: Malt, some sweetness.
  • Taste: Medium malt, sweetness, not that much wheat. Pretty nice, though.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Online), 500 ml, CHF 3.00
  • Overall score: 4/6
  • Info: 31/12-2015, BB: 29/2-2016

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Barlingbo Bysen No:1

  • Name: Barlingbo Bysen No:1, 5.5%, Sweden
  • Appearance: Redish dark golden, slightly hazy with some white head.
  • Aroma: Wheat, slight fruit, spices.
  • Taste: Fruit, wheat, some spices. A bit odd.
  • Bought: Trade with Nisse666 - thanks!, 330 ml
  • Overall score: 3/6
  • Info: 30/12-2015, BB: 31/1-2016

Pan Tamni

  • Name: Pan Tamni, 5.5%, Croatia
  • Appearance: Very dark brown, with lots of dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Malt, slightly roasted.
  • Taste: Nice medium malt, roasted. Slight sweetness. Ok.
  • Bought: Trade with ogivlado - thanks!, 500 ml
  • Overall score: 3/6
  • Info: 30/12-2015, BB: 16/2-2016

Mac Ueli Ale (2015)

  • Name: Mac Ueli Ale (2015), 5.0%, Switzerland
  • Appearance: Dark orange brown, clear and fizzy. Good amount of off-white head.
  • Aroma: Malt, some dark fruit.
  • Taste: Nice malt, sweet, prunes. Light spices. Pretty good.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Basel), 330 ml, CHF 3.50
  • Overall score: 4/6
  • Info: 30/12-2015, BB: 31/12-2015

Sunday, 27 December 2015

Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

  • Name: Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout), 11.2%, United States
  • Appearance: Bottled 11/2-2015. Pretty much black, tiny amount of dark tan head. Almost oily.
  • Aroma: Barrel, coffee, very dark malt.
  • Taste: Burnt, dark malt, coffee, dark chocolate. Quite strong barrel notes. Hides alcohol very well. Very nice.
  • Bought: Trade with Nisse666 - thanks!, 355 ml
  • Overall score: 5/6
  • Info: 27/12-2015, BB: 30/11-2015 (according to importer)

Narragansett Lager Beer

New state, Rhode Island (45/51):
  • Name: Narragansett Lager Beer, 5%, United States
  • Appearance: Pale golden, clear. Fizzy. Some white head, not much.
  • Aroma: Hops and some light malt. Grains.
  • Taste: Malt, hops, grains. Standard.
  • Bought: Kindly provided by Nipun J - thanks!, 355 ml
  • Overall score: 3/6
  • Info: 27/12-2015

BrewDog / Victory Brewing U-Boat

  • Name: BrewDog / Victory Brewing U-Boat, 8.4%, Scotland
  • Appearance: Batch 251. Very dark brown, near black. Huge amount of lasting, dark tan head.
  • Aroma: Dark malt, bacon, smoke.
  • Taste: Dark fruit, dark malt, smoke, coffee, very roasted. Still pretty smooth, though.
  • Bought: Drinks of the World (Bern), 330 ml, CHF 5.80
  • Overall score: 5/6
  • Info: 27/12-2015, BB: 22/7-2017

Friday, 25 December 2015

Reinaert Tripel

  • Name: Reinaert Tripel, 7%, Belgium
  • Appearance: Hazy golden orange, lots of creamy, white head.
  • Aroma: Fruit, slight yeast and metal.
  • Taste: Lots of fruit, slight yeast. Alcohol shines through.
  • Bought: Saveur-Biere.com, 330 ml, €2.50
  • Overall score: 4/6
  • Info: 25/12-2015, 64/100, BB: 23/2-2017