Monday 12 December 2011

Lech Premium

Lech Premium is from Poznan, Poland and is pretty similar to most Euro Pale Lagers you're going to find around the world. It pours a pale, yellowish color and has tight, bubbly head. The taste is pretty plain, and will be something familiar to fans of plain lagers or American Adjuncts. It would be best enjoyed outside on a hot day, and probably gets better in larger quantities if you know what I'm getting at. It's not high in alcohol and goes well with most meals due to its lack of defining flavors.

Rating: 64/100

Sunday 11 December 2011

Schneeweisse

Another beer from Erdinger Weissbrau, and this one is slightly better than the last. It is a little bit closer to what I would usually expect from a wheat beer. It is a good color, and is bottle fermented, so there will be some particulate in the bottom of the bottle, but by pouring it correctly this only adds more flavor to the beer.

1. Pour 2/3 into a glass.
2. Swirl what is left in the bottle to help mix the particulate into the liquid.
3. Pour the rest of the bottle into glass.
4. Enjoy!

The beer is smooth, with a distinct grain taste. It is called Snow-white, and is Erdinger's winter seasonal and is built exactly for the season. It has a thick mouth-feel, and is a little heavy in the stomach but will definitely keep you warm after one or two. I don't particularly enjoy it, but there was nothing to complain about either. It's a difficult beer to rate as it is very similar to many other wheat and winter seasonal beers I've tasted. Many wheat beers have hints of citrus or fruit added to them, but this one does not have that (and it really wouldn't make sense to have citrus popping up in the winter would it?) and is therefore a little less complex than you may be hoping for. Still a pretty decent beer to enjoy on a winter evening.

Rating: 72/100

Kristallklar

A kristalweizen beer from Erding, Germany and a fairly easy to find beer brand (Erdinger Weissbrau) that has a slightly dark gold color. The beer is pretty much what you would expect from a wheat beer, and is nothing that got my taste buds excited. It is neither too malty, nor too bitter...and so it won't turn anyone away, but it won't turn heads either. I can't see many people picking this as one of their all-time favorites, and I won't even be putting it near my top 50. If you're looking for something simple to try, go for it.

Rating: 64/100

Hardcore IPA



Brewdog is a company from Fraserburg, Scotland that produced beers that attempt to cause a little revolution. They don't try to avoid confrontation and aren't afraid of you if you don't enjoy their beer. Hardcore IPA is another testament to that attitude. It is strong at 9.2% alcohol, and is an Imperial IPA which may cause some to turn their backs on a really tasty beverage. It is extremely hoppy, as it should be...but this should make you happy because it is really well done, and tastes pretty damn good. The alcohol content does not seem to affect the taste at all, and you may think that you could drink several of these before you begin to regret your decision. It's a hardcore kick to the face if you have too many but, for one or maybe two, it is a pretty good beer.

Rating: 82/100