Erdinger Weissbier "Dunkel" (Germany)

 

 www.erdinger.de

Privatbrauerei Erdinger Weissbrau

Erdinger Weissbier "Dunkel" Dark Wheat Beer

5.6% ABV

With an annual output of 40 million gallons; Erdinger Weissbrau is considered the world's largest Wheatbeer or Weissbier brewery.  Originally from Erding near Munich the brewery was first established in 1886.  The Weissbier strarted to be brewed just after that (1890s).  Up until the 1960s Weissbier made up only a small section of the Bavarian beer market, but around this time consumer's tastes changed and the classic cloudy Weissbier made a resurgence and now holds 27% of the market share.  The best place to try this and many of the other Erdinger beers is on tap at the brewery itself.

The "Dunkel" or dark beer is one of Erdinger's original beers.  The "Dunkel" features a second fermentation in the bottle.

Review

Firstly the beer pours a very brown almost mahogany, unclear liquid with a tan coloured frothy head.  A roasted malt aroma is present with slight caramel and bready notes.  There is a slight floral hoppy fragrance present too.  A mild, slight coffee taste with a little bitterness on the finish.  Surprisingly quite a refreshing and light palate with a slick mouth feel but quite fizzy carbonation.

Maybe a little too fizzy on the tongue with some good malty flavours but just not enough to be a real contender.  

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10

Appearance 4/5

Taste 7/10

Palate 3.5/5

Overall 15/20

Total 69%

Grolsch Premium Lager/Pilsner (Netherlands)

 

www.grolsch.nl

Grolsch Brewery

Grolsch Premium Lager

5% ABV

The Grolsch brewery is based in the city of Enschede in the Netherlands but it gets it's name from a small town called Grol.  In 1897 the brewery was sold to the Theo De Groen family and within a year the swing top lid for the bottles was introduced.  This forward thinking and attention to detail is why Grolsch is such a popular beer in Europe and maybe has a lead on some of the other European mass-produced pilsners.  Grolsch is unpasteurised and lagered for ten weeks which gives slightly more taste than some of it's competitors.

Grolsch is brewed using European barley, maize with Hallerbrau and Saaz hops.  It also features a yeast strain that has been developed by Grolsch over many years.

Review

For a lager; Grolsch has a pleasant aroma, slightly skunky with doughy, yeasty notes.  It has a very pale, light, clear appearance with carbonation and a white head.  Mild hoppy flavours come through on the tongue with a crisp refreshing taste and a light bitterness on the finish.  

Grolsch is very easy to drink, infact probably too easy but there just isn't enough flavour to be a mid- week winner.  One for a boozy Saturday night out.

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10

Appearance 3/5

Taste 4/10

Palate 3/5

Overall 13/20

Total 56%

Budweiser Budvar Tmavy Lezak - Dark Lager (Czech Republic)

www.budweiser.budvar.cz
Budweiser Budvar
Budweiser Budvar Tmavy Lezak - Dark Lager
4.7% ABV

Reports show that 160 litres of beer is consumed per person in the Czech Republic annually.  Of that beer 98% is of the pale lager variety.  So in 2004, it was seen as quite a strange move for the original Budweiser company to launch a dark beer.  For the first two years it was only available on tap but once it was released in bottle form and distributed both nationally and internationally it started to grab people's attention.  At  the same time the beer started winning awards including Czech Republic's Beer Consumers Organisation at which it won a gold medal.

The Dark Lager is brewed with 100% Czech hops - Saaz, semi early red varietal.  Moravian Pale, Munich, Caramel and Roasted Malts are also used in the recipe.

Review

On first pour an intensely dark brown clear liquid is present, almost black in colour.  With a tan coloured frothy head.  Caramel and roasted coffee is definitely on the nose with slight earthy or hay qualities.  A slight sweetness with a medium bitterness and a chocolate flavour on the tongue.  The beer itself feels quite light bodied with some carbonation.
 
Overall it is a different style lager and  there are some interesting qualities.  It would be very session able due to it's light palate but with some good chocolate malt and bitter flavours there is enough for an enjoyable drink on it's own.

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 15/20

Total 68%

Wells Bombardier (England)

www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk
www.bombardier.co.uk
Wells and Youngs
Wells Bombardier
5.2% ABV

As English as Fish and Chips, the Queen, Football, Eastenders and yes probably - Wells Bombardier.  Everything about this beer says English from it's notably patriotic labelling to it's characteristic malt flavour.  This beer is actually an English Heritage.
The Wells brewery itself was founded in 1902 by Charles Wells and so the story goes he used the mineral water from a well under Bedford as the water source. 
It wasn't until 1980 that the Bombardier was first brewed.  As well as the mineral water; ripe Challenger and Fuggle hops are used in the recipe, along with a large amount of crystal malt - which is added to increase the flavour and deepen the colour.

Review

A beautiful brown clear beer is visible once poured with a slightly off white head.  A faint peppery aroma is present with the malt notes also coming through.  A very malty flavour is present on tasting with good bitterness.  The palate is medium bodied with a dry finish that lingers just long enough.

Overall a great beer with strong malt flavours, the aroma is maybe a slight let down, would have preferred more.  Quite session able and almost impresses enough for a Tuesday down the local.

Scores

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 15/20

Total 68%

Hobgoblin - Ruby Beer (England)

www.wychwood.co.uk
Hobgoblin
Hobgoblin Ruby Beer
5.2% ABV

Wychwood brewery is based in Oxfordshire, England.  In 1988 head brewer Chris Moss was asked to create a special brew for the wedding of a local publican's daughter: - Fuggle and Styrian hops were blended with Pale, Crystal and Chocolate Malts to create the beer which was a huge success and so Hobgoblin Ruby Beer was born.
Wychwood use creative marketing and packaging for their beers playing on the imagery of elves, goblins and other mythical creatures.  The brewery produce a number of different beers; some permanent some seasonal.  Some of the creative titled beers include: - King Goblin (stronger 6.6%), Wych Craft (Blonde), Scarecrow (Organic Golden Ale), Goliath (Pale Ale) and Ginger Beard (Alcoholic Ginger Beer) - all with their own associated artwork.
It was their more well known Ruby Beer that went under the microscope first of all.....

Review

It pours almost mahogony clear with some carbonation and an off white head.  The aroma has roasted malts coming through with a slight hint of citrus.  On the tongue you get toffee and a roasted malt flavour, a little sweet balances the hoppy bitterness.  The drink is quite smooth and slightly creamy on the palate, with a medium body.  There is a slight astringent fruity finish.

Without the marketing; the beer itself is quite tasty although not mind blowing.  Worth grabbing one and trying for a weeknight, there are certainly some nice characteristics in there.  It would possibly be worth tracking down and giving it a go in the UK to try on cask.

Scores

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 14.5/20

Total 67%

Timothy Taylor Landlord - Bottled (England)

www.timothytaylor.co.uk
Timothy Taylor
Timothy Taylor "Landlord" Strong Pale Ale
4.1%ABV

150 years of brewing experience is behind Timothy Taylor's famous "Landlord".  From Keighley in Yorkshire, England; the brewery still uses fresh spring water from under the Pennines in all of it's beers.  Along with "Landlord" it produces Best Bitter, Golden Best, Ram Tam and Dark Mild and these can all be found on tap at various pubs in around Yorkshire.  We reviewed the bottled "Landlord" and this is slightly different to the cask version in flavour and alcohol.
Timothy Taylor must be doing something right because "Landlord" has won more awards within England than any other beer.

Review

A beautiful amber colour is presented once poured, with a slight off-white head.  The aroma is quite strong with citrus almost orange marmalade with a hit of the malty caramel beneath.  The flavour is predominantly caramel/toffee with a nice malty bitterness to finish. 
Would recommend this beer as both a session beer and with it's moreish bitter qualities can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Very much looking forward to tasting the version from the tap.  Timothy Taylor's "Landlord" is a serious contender... 

Scores

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 3.5/5
Taste 8/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 17/20

Total 77%

Endeavour 2010 Reserve Pale Ale (Australia)

www.endeavourbeer.com
Endeavour Brewery
Endeavour 2010 Reserve Pale Ale
4.5% ABV

A new beer on the Australian market, this beer has been created to rival some of the more flavour some west coast pale ales and beers that are increasingly gaining popularity.

Stated on the label - Super Alpha hops combined with Amarillo and Galaxy Hops are used along with Pilsner, Munich and Crystal malted barley with the intention of creating a subtle fruity balance with a slight bitterness.

Review

On first pour quite a nice white head appears in the glass but does not last long.  The colour is a golden slightly hazy with a little carbonation.
Certainly a pleasant citrus, florally nose when first poured, but on immediate tasting it is apparent there is not enough body; feeling fairly thin on the palate.  A little acidity comes through with a hint of malt before a dry finish.  If more malt was present there would be more body therefore probably more enjoyable.
This beer might be enjoyed with some light food or as a session beer but there is not enough "oomph" to enjoy for midweek drinking, it just feels too light.

Scores: -

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 3/5
Overall 13/20

Total 62%

Little Creatures Pale Ale (Australia)

www.littlecreatures.com.au
Little Creatures Brewery
Little Creatures Pale Ale
Additive and preservative free
5.2% ABV

Fremantle, Western Australia is the origin of this carefully crafted beer.  Slowly over the last ten years this beer has become more and more popular throughout Australia.  For some people the beer is absolutely loved and for some it has not yet had them convinced.
The beer has been produced by three guys that have been involved with the development of Pale Ales for many years: - Phil Sexton, Nick Trimbole and Howard Cearns.
The style of the beer is really a sophisticated U.S interpretation of an English India Pale Ale.  Little Creatures have taken this style and run with it by sourcing and using Cascade and Galaxy hop flowers from Tassie, Victoria and the US to give Little Creatures a distinctive aroma and flavour that is found in some form throughout their range of beers.  Also by using specially made Australian malts to balance the hops an exciting flavour is the result that always has the Little Creatures name gaining continued popularity throughout Australia.
If you ever make it to Fremantle, the Little Creatures Brewery is worth a visit for the location and the great food that accompanies all of the beers fresh from the taps.

Review

Definitely best enjoyed from a glass as stated on the label - this allowing those wonderful florally hop aromas room to breathe.  It has quite a deep amber colour with a slight haze and medium frothy head.  A light sweetness on initial taste with flavours of passionfruit and lychee coming through finishing with a good bitter aftertaste to round off a thoroughly enjoyable drop.

For a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or any other day; this is a great beer although due to it's quite strong florally hop flavours you might not go out drinking all night on it, but certainly perfect to enjoy a sixer!

Scores: -

Aroma 7/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 8/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 17/20

Total 80%

Coopers Pale Ale (Australia)

www.coopers.com.au
Coopers Brewery
Coopers Pale Ale
Additive and preservative free
4.5% ABV

A bit of an Australian institution, especially down in it's home of South Australia.

Coopers brewery established in 1862 by Thomas Cooper originally from Yorkshire in England, has got to be one of Australia's prime resources - that and coal and gold!  The Coopers brewery is still family run and continues t produce some of Australia's best beers.

Coopers have an excellent range of beers from heavy full flavoured ales and stouts to their lighter Pilsners.

It is this Australian quintessential Pale Ale that I look at first up....

Review

This classic Pale Ale has a bit of everything.  Firstly it has character visually with it's cloudy appearance, this is due to the bottle fermented yeast that is still present.  Slightly lively with a medium white foamy head.  On tasting some florally hops are present with a slight bitter after taste that give you enough flavour so that this beer can be enjoyed on it's own or as a good session.

This beer has been tried and tested hundreds of times and never fails to disappoint.

Scores: -

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6.5/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 16/20

Total 73%

Introduction - A nice pint???

Fancy a beer this Tuesday?  You probably want something you can either sit at home and enjoy, savour a couple down the pub or even possibly take to dinner.

Well this is basically one man's little quest to hunt out that perfect drop for some of those situations.

A little introduction....

For most of my adult life - alcohol (and being more specific) beer has been involved - in most, if not all of my social encounters - from late teenage years to hazy uni days and up to now more civilized inebriation's.  Some past situations have led to stories and incidents that would be probably best left to another blog possibly titled "Falling asleep in strange places".... 

Over recent times I started thinking that I could use some of these experiences and recollections for a useful purpose.  By putting together some hazy memories and more recent encounters I have decided to create a blog all about different beers and hunting down those perfect drops.  The intention of the blog is to help the every day fella not get stuck in a rut ordering the same beer every time they go to the pub, bar or bottle shop but to help choosing a new beer to possibly broaden their tastes. 

The blog will review beers on an individual basis but following the same format so that each beer can be evenly compared with one another and enough information can be found on each beer to satisfy most people curiosity .  It will feature a review section out of 100 which will be scaled according to various factors - marks will be awarded for the following categories -aroma, appearance, taste, palate, session with a total overall. 

Now I am not claiming to be Mr know-it-all-professional beer taster, but I have tasted my fair share of good quality and some not so good quality beers on my travels.  I have tried and tested Lagers, Ales, Stouts, Pilsners and Beers from some far and away countries like India, China, Argentina, Japan, Brazil to Italy and a lot more in between.

I am originally from Yorkshire in England where there are some truly fine beers brewed but for the last eight years I have been living in Australia.  So too here are where some of the world's great beers are also brewed.  Obviously there are huge differences between the standard beer served in your local pub in the two countries as is with most countries around the world.  Different styles of beers are developed to suit the lifestyle and climate of the consumer.  The different brewing techniques and development that goes into the production of beer is fascinating and is evidence of a skill that has been around for hundreds of years but continues to be refined and progresses in the modern world.  Because of this we the consumers get amazing value and reward for your money; if you are willing to go out of your comfort zone and try something different.

Hopefully some of this writing will be useful to people that maybe enjoy a drop and are looking to search out a new beer or two or are just wanting to read somebody else's independent opinion.  I will include reviews of all drinks sampled from now until then, so that you can have a little comparison of the different beers so that you can see what I recommend or see where a particular beer sits next to another.

I will be reviewing beers from all over the world.  From old classics and firm favourites to the newest ales on the market. 

I guess this introduction is to just set out my idea and hopefully you will enjoy reading and it might encourage you so next time you are at the bar on in the local bottle shop you try that unusual wheat beer from Germany or go for that IPA from Western Australia.

Lets start...