Beer Tasting Notes XI
Apr. 5th, 2012 11:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lupestripeI have noticed in recent days that the Government's attempt to reduce alcohol consumption by asking brewers to voluntarily cut the strength of their drinks has started to kick in. Stella Artois is now below 5.0% while Budweiser is down to 4.8% from the same figure. The problem is that the alcohol content of a beer and the other ingredients within it are a synergy, meaning changing one thing - in this case the amount of alcohol - will significantly effect the taste of the brew unless the other ingredients are altered too. Effectively, you need to brew a whole new beer. However, what seems to have happened is that the brewers have just reduced the alcohol content and kept everything else the same - the result being worse beer than before. It's a shame but sadly the Government (of all political parties - the last lot were just as bad) don't seem to think adults can make decisions for themselves regarding how to live their lives so we have to have this imposed upon us instead. I resent this but what can you do? I suppose there are always alternatives.
Anyway, here's my latest beer tasting notes.
Cēsu Light (4.2%) - "Tas nav alus,tas ir aliņš" it says on the back of the bottle. I don't know what it means but I wholeheartedly agree. This Latvian beer was a nice pale lager with a surprisingly high amount of body. Great to drink while snacking something.
Servus (4.5%) - This beer came in a regal looking red and white can, slightly communist in its approach with a double headed eagle as its registered trademark. This is a pasteurised beer that's imported to many countries so, perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a fizzy and unremarkable affair which is probably nice in an English pub on a warm summer's day. Sat in front of my computer in March, less so. Grainy, thin and watery, strangely and luridly yellow.
Warsteiner (4.8%) - A standard German pilsner really, with a nice gold label and described as "Eine Königin unter den Bieren". It's quite a mellow affair with a drying aftertaste but it can be prone to being overly fizzy again. Brewing excellence since 1753 apparently. I'd say standard fare since that time in all honesty.
Goose Island Mild Winter (5.6%) - I love Chicago's Goose Island brewery. They brew some wonderful American IPAs and this Christmas beer is everything you'd expect. Deep, dark, rich and sweet, this truly was a warming brew for a cold January evening. Apparently it should be served in a Willi Glass, which is something I'm sure I once saw in a sex shop.
Жигулёвское (4.0%) - A brew from Russia's Baltika brewery, imported to Germany in an authoritatian puce labelled bottle with the Romanised Zhigulyovskoye written on the label. The beer itself was surprisingly tasty, a light beer with a fair dollop of flavour.
Nøgne ø Two Captains (8.5%) - A delightfully deep flavoursome brew from my second favourite brewery in the world. At 8.5% this double IPA is tempered just right - a delicious balance of alcohol and flavour, mellow, slightly drying and incredibly moreish. I love it. Absolutely love it. Brewed with Jan Halvor Fjeld, the winner of the Norwegian homebrewing championship, this beer is a true winner indeed.
Nøgne ø Pale Ale (6.0%) - I tend to find anything greater than 5.0% strength makes for a good beer and this standard pale ale doesn't disappoint. Described as a "light, yet quite assertive ale", I cannot disagree with what's written on the label. Refreshing, hoppy, malty and with a citrus finish, it's an ideal beer to be quaffing while nibbling on tortillas.
Švyturio Šviesusis Alus (5.0%) - Moving to Lithuania now and another fine brew from the Švyturys brewery, which started brewing in 1784. The bottle label looks classy and the drink a delicate sympthony of flavour, this is definitely another fantastic 'standard' beer but then I do love Lithuania's brewing tradition.
Einstök Olgerd Icelandic Pale Ale (5.6%) - Packs a punch like the most ferocious Viking sailing the high seas in December. Stylish blue label, nice horny Viking warrior motif and a delicious beer made crisper due to the water used. Located just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle in the fishing port of Akureyri, the Einstök brewery uses glacial water from the Hilðarfjall Mountain which flows through lava fields, picking up minerals which adds depth to the taste. Certainly a unique brew and one I hope to try again. Golden in colour with tastes of citrus fruit and sultanas. Heavy on the malt, light on the hops, as you would expect really.
Anyway, here's my latest beer tasting notes.
Cēsu Light (4.2%) - "Tas nav alus,tas ir aliņš" it says on the back of the bottle. I don't know what it means but I wholeheartedly agree. This Latvian beer was a nice pale lager with a surprisingly high amount of body. Great to drink while snacking something.
Servus (4.5%) - This beer came in a regal looking red and white can, slightly communist in its approach with a double headed eagle as its registered trademark. This is a pasteurised beer that's imported to many countries so, perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a fizzy and unremarkable affair which is probably nice in an English pub on a warm summer's day. Sat in front of my computer in March, less so. Grainy, thin and watery, strangely and luridly yellow.
Warsteiner (4.8%) - A standard German pilsner really, with a nice gold label and described as "Eine Königin unter den Bieren". It's quite a mellow affair with a drying aftertaste but it can be prone to being overly fizzy again. Brewing excellence since 1753 apparently. I'd say standard fare since that time in all honesty.
Goose Island Mild Winter (5.6%) - I love Chicago's Goose Island brewery. They brew some wonderful American IPAs and this Christmas beer is everything you'd expect. Deep, dark, rich and sweet, this truly was a warming brew for a cold January evening. Apparently it should be served in a Willi Glass, which is something I'm sure I once saw in a sex shop.
Жигулёвское (4.0%) - A brew from Russia's Baltika brewery, imported to Germany in an authoritatian puce labelled bottle with the Romanised Zhigulyovskoye written on the label. The beer itself was surprisingly tasty, a light beer with a fair dollop of flavour.
Nøgne ø Two Captains (8.5%) - A delightfully deep flavoursome brew from my second favourite brewery in the world. At 8.5% this double IPA is tempered just right - a delicious balance of alcohol and flavour, mellow, slightly drying and incredibly moreish. I love it. Absolutely love it. Brewed with Jan Halvor Fjeld, the winner of the Norwegian homebrewing championship, this beer is a true winner indeed.
Nøgne ø Pale Ale (6.0%) - I tend to find anything greater than 5.0% strength makes for a good beer and this standard pale ale doesn't disappoint. Described as a "light, yet quite assertive ale", I cannot disagree with what's written on the label. Refreshing, hoppy, malty and with a citrus finish, it's an ideal beer to be quaffing while nibbling on tortillas.
Švyturio Šviesusis Alus (5.0%) - Moving to Lithuania now and another fine brew from the Švyturys brewery, which started brewing in 1784. The bottle label looks classy and the drink a delicate sympthony of flavour, this is definitely another fantastic 'standard' beer but then I do love Lithuania's brewing tradition.
Einstök Olgerd Icelandic Pale Ale (5.6%) - Packs a punch like the most ferocious Viking sailing the high seas in December. Stylish blue label, nice horny Viking warrior motif and a delicious beer made crisper due to the water used. Located just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle in the fishing port of Akureyri, the Einstök brewery uses glacial water from the Hilðarfjall Mountain which flows through lava fields, picking up minerals which adds depth to the taste. Certainly a unique brew and one I hope to try again. Golden in colour with tastes of citrus fruit and sultanas. Heavy on the malt, light on the hops, as you would expect really.
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no subject
Date: 2012-04-06 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-09 08:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 08:01 am (UTC)You do mean Budweiser Budvar, rather than the fluid commonly termed "beer" in American 7-11 fridges, in packs of 24 cans? It would disturb me to think you're aware of the alcohol content history of the latter. =:)
Two Captains does sound rather appealing. Is it anywhere near Brew Dog's double IPA in flavor?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 08:02 pm (UTC)Two Captains is gorgeous. I haven't tried Brew Dog's double IPA - there's a bottle of that in the fridge to have once I have recovered from my cold.