Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Monday, September 12, 2011

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier


Most of my readers know I'm a sucker for packaging. They also know I have a fetish for beer glassware. This gift pack from Paulaner is a double WIN! That's right, for $12 you get a mas and a litre of beer. I picked this up at the BCLS at Fort and Foul.

Paulaner Oktoberfest 7/10

Ratebeer 3.18 69th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

The hardest thing about the Oktoberfest/Marzens style is that aroma. I'm sure some connoisseur will state that it's the effects of lagering rich German malts. I still think it smells like lettuce and vomit. Luckily, Paulaner is light in the aroma department; just the standard lettuce and toast. This brew is very drinkable. Every gulp is medium and creamy with a smooth finish. As the style dictates it is very malt forward with only a hint of spicy and herbal hops to back it up. The malts are light and reminds one of honey, heavily chewed bread and straw. I liked it; sadly there were no pretzels around my house.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 6.0%
Value +1
Appearance +1 WITH A 1 LITRE MUG WOOT

Friday, June 24, 2011

Warsteiner Dunkel


I remember trying this beer in a can, it was terrible. On tap at Clive's Classic Lounge was a better experience.

Warsteiner Dunkel = 4/10

A 'vacancy' sign was hung on the edge of the glass to describe the nose. If you were to force an answer from me, I would say wood and vegetables. Every sip was dry with light caramel, roast, vegetal and slightly fruity. The roasted vegetables and caramel faded away slowly to leave a barely noticeable dry toast coating on the tongue. It was nice but not exciting.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0
Value 0
Appearance 0

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Duel of the Dunkels

I bought a six pack of Phillips Dr. Funk to watch the Superbowl. To those that know me, watching me buy beer in a @#$#@ing nightmare. The average person takes 3 minutes to buy beer at Cook Street CBAW. I was in there for 20 minutes! After much debate I decided to go local and buy some Phillips. My first impression was that this beer tasted metallic, overly roasted bitter and too much like cream corn. Perhaps I was being a little harsh so I decided to do a head to head with a known Bavarian/Munich Dark Lager. It doesn't end well.

Dr Funk Dunkel =4/10
Ratebeer 3.3/5 3 ratings
Beer Advocate C+

The nose on this one was slightly vegetally with roasted nuts, baseball mitt and whole grain toast. The mouthfeel was a little thin but do-able. Up front there is a pronounced metallic bitterness that I couldn't place. Once that left, a good wash of roasted malts took over: faint chocolate, toast and almonds. Aftertaste was clean with only a slight astringent snap of roast nuts remaining. Perhaps I was a little harsh on my first assessment, this was not too bad. As it warmed up the roasted vegetables got more pronounced.

Taste +2
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value 0
Appearance +1 (everyone likes a potential copyright infringement lawsuit).


Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel =7/10
Ratebeer 3.58 95th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

The nose was fainter, no vegetal, with whole wheat toast and weak coffee. There is a difference between whole wheat and whole grain toast; I can't believe I just said that. While lighter in colour it was smoother in taste. No bitterness up front, just a creamy wash of caramel, toasted almonds, cold coffee and cheap dry chocolate. Very smooth and creamy; truly a pleasure to drink. Little residual flavours, only an enjoyable warmth of caramel. The flavours changed little as the brew warmed up, maybe a little more roasted coffee. BTW if you spell this beer in Scrabble you instantly win.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (the colour of the pour is an amazing deep mahogany)

Needless to say I slammed the Funk back and savoured the remaining Ayinger.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Gaffel Kolsch

A properly prepared Kolsch is a thing of beauty. These ales undergo considerable lagering and are clean, lightly fruity with a crisp hop finish. A very delicate brew. I'm sorry if it's not from Cologne it's crap.

Gaffel Kolsch = 5/10
Ratebeer 2.94 43rd percentile
Beer Advocate B+

It just smells clean: like fresh cut grass and organic orange peel. Up front a refreshing, spicy hop tingle clears the palate for a wash of green apple, lemon and straw. The finish is gloriously clean with no off flavours/DMS. I could drink this every day and be a happy man. The description does not fully describe the refreshing nature of this beer.

Taste +4
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content -1 4.8%
Value +1
Appearance +1

Reissdorf Kolsch

Georg Schneiders Wiesen Edel-Weisse

No preamble today. It's a strong wheat beer and it's delicious. If you see buy it. Unless you happen to not like this style. But still buy one for me, then I will let you be my friend.

Georg Schneiders Wiesen Edel-Weisse = 9/10
Ratebeer 3.56 95th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Tart lemons and spicy yeast fill the room as this bottle is opened. The aroma is big enough to taste. There is so much effervescence and carbonation up front that the delicate lemon, wheat and spicy yeast flavours almost get lost. But they don't. They stick to your tongue with a slight astringency of lemon drops and sourdough bread.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 6.2%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (bonus for being organic)

KellerWies (Sierra Nevada)
Schneider Weisse
Dunkel Weiss (Great Divide)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Neuschwansteiner

I will admit buying this beer purely on packaging alone. This officially is a Munich Helles Lager. It was German brewers response to the very popular Czech Pilsner. The helles tend to be a bit maltier with less spicy hop flavours.

Neuschwansteiner 5/10

Ratebeer 2.75 30th percentile
Beer Advocate B

The pour was very clear and yellow so I did not expect much. Here is where that story ends. Glorious was the large floral hop nose with ample sweet grasses. A spicy/herbal hop snap up front mixed well with the good carbonation. The malts fought back with calming pale grasses and honey. It ended very dry and clean with only a hint of spicy honey leftover. I will never look at a lager the same again.

The castle on the label is Neuschwantein castle in Bavaria. I know this castle well; it was the inspiration for the Disney castle. I see this structure a lot.

Taste +4
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content -1 4.7%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (Perhaps the nicest label so far)

Stiegl and is addiction really so bad?
Old Towne Bavarian Lager (Swan's)
Grolsch

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Weihenstephaner Dunkelweizen

This was a purchase from BottleWorks in Seattle. I only bought it because I don't think I have ever sampled a dark hefe.

Weihenstephaner Dunkelweizen 6/10

Ratebeer
3.54 94th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

The nose was standard, yet deliciously hefe: yeasty, bready with cloves. With the dark malts came the added roasted and chocolate aromas. A light-medium mouthfeel and high carbonation carried the smooth and creamy flavours everywhere. Let's start the tastes list, there was: roasted whole wheat toast, bitter yeast, mild milk chocolate, cloves, lemon and bananas. After it was all done, a creamy coating of toasted banana bread faded too quickly. If you want to try something different, this is the one brew for you.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5.3%
Value +1
Appearance 0 (boring bottle, boring label)

Longwood Dunkelweizen
Baron Bohemian
Dunkel Weiss Great Divide

Friday, December 10, 2010

Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier

OK this is getting ridiculous, I gotta start doing more reviews. I fill up one 33 bottles of beer book per month and do about 10 reviews. Time to go short form.

Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier 7/10
Ratebeer 3.59 96th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

This is one of those beers that you hear about everywhere. It is claimed to be one of the great wheat beers in the world. At first sniff I have to agree. The nose is fragrant with yeast, cloves and wheat. Next the big banana, wheat and cloves slap a nice tang on the tongue. The mouthfeel is juicy and very refreshing. It is clean ending with a slow fading of yeast, wheat, lemons and cloves. It is easy to make a hefe beer, but hard to make it great.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value +1
Appearance +1

This is should be your next beer if you like a spicy, flavourful hefe.

Howe Sound Hangdog Hefe
Pyramid Imperial Hefe
Granville Island Hefe

Monday, February 15, 2010

Pinkus Munster Alt


Pinkus Munster Alt

Ratebeer 3.11 57th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +2

I picked this one up at Firefly because it boldly displayed an USDA organic sticker. I'm a sucker for organic beers. Apparently it is legit, they have the documentation to prove it. As for the beer, the nose is faint with caramel and light fruits. The nicely carbonated brew did give a residual fizzy mouthfeel, but not too much. It was a medium mouthfeel with grassy malts, faint fruits, ripe apricots, honey and lemons.

Aftertaste +1

The dry grassy malts faded slowly.

Alcohol Content 0 5.1%

Value 0

It was nice, but I wouldn't get it again.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Tonight was the first night of the BJCP study group. It was nice to be in a room full of people passionate about beer.

Overall 4/10

This was an another average golden/blonde ale. There was the vague fruits, grasses, and sweetness.

Saltspring Golden Ale

Saint-Martin Blond
Trappist Achel Blond

Friday, January 29, 2010

Isenbeck Dark


Isenbeck Dark
Dunkel

Ratebeer 2.53 16th percentile
Beer Advocate B

I tried this brew on tap at Passeros Greek restaurant in Victoria. Not certain why a Greek restaurant had a German beer on tap. BTW the food was excellent with a large selection of vegetarian options. The place was full of regulars and the waiter knew almost everyone by name.

Taste +2

It is a standard dark Euro lager. The nose is faint of roast, dark malts and fermented fruits. The nice and fizzy brew delivers the required light milk chocolate and roast. I liked the silky mouthfeel; but then again who doesn't.

Aftertaste 0

It had an odd menthol coolness at the end. The barest of hop bite upon exit. There was maybe a bit of light caramel and toffee too.

Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

Value 0

It was good but not overly flavourful.

Ingame Enhancement 0

No gaming tonight, but I did go and see The Princess and the Frog. It was a good, old fashion Disney with simple animation, singing and dancing. One of the main characters bites it in the end thought.

Overall 1/10

It was decent dunkel beer; sweet and malty were the main flavours. Nothing really exciting.

Baron Bohemian
Warsteiner Dunkel
Dunkel Weiss (Great Divide)

Friday, January 22, 2010

Reissdorf Kolsch


Reissdorf Kolsch

Ratebeer 3.14 60th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

This was the real treat at the Tactical Nuclear Penguin Tasting Party. It was the direct opposite in taste to the Penguin. The Kolsch was light, grassy and flowery.

Taste +4

The nose was very faint but hints of topical fruits and fireweed honey could be noted. Every sip was very light, crisp and dry. The tongue was lightly graced with honey, bread and grasses. People really under appreciate a light and refreshing brew.

Aftertaste +1

It was very crisp and dry with a slight sweetness.

Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

Not all beers need to be strong to be pleasing to the palate.

Value +1

This was an uncomplicated and refreshing beer.

Ingame Enhancement +1

No one expected this brew to impress the beer geeks after the Penguin.

Overall 6/10

It was very light and refreshing. You could drink these all day long on a warm patio and be one happy person. I also had a Kolsch style at Spinnakers and found it just as refreshing.

Bitburger Pils and Palms Springs
Steam Whistle Pilsner

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Paulaner Salvator plus Wine and Beer are equally as healthy and harmful

This is a first for beer drinkers. Wine drinkers have always claimed that their drink is healthier. It is true that wine contains more anti-oxidants by volume than beer. This study that appeared in the journal Nonlinearity in Biology, Toxicology, Medicine found that wine and beer were equally effective at increasing the amount of antioxidants in the body. The surprise finding was that they were equally as harmful if you drank too much.

All subjects in this study were to drink either red wine (Piat D’Or), 5% lager (Labatts), Guinness (5% Labatts), spirits or alcohol-free stout. After the first drink, all subjects had equivalent increased levels of antioxidants in their blood, except for the spirit drinkers. Then came the bad part. After 3 drinks, subjects actually had fewer antioxidants in their blood than at the start of the experiment. The researchers felt this was caused from byproducts of ethanol metabolism.

Why is this a big deal? A high intake of antioxidants is associated with a lower risk of developing many diseases. These include cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and various eye diseases. And fewer antioxidants in the blood may adversely affect your health. So the same advice still holds; everything in moderation plus eat your fruits and veggies.

Paulaner Salvator
Doppel Bock

Ratebeer 3.59 92nd percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

Ah.. yet another great doppel bock. Let us go through the checklist. Is there a sweet caramel , fruit sherry nose - Check. Pronounced alcohol tingle with every sip - Check. Sweet sipping beer with slippery caramel, sherry and cherries - Check.

Aftertaste +1

The slowly fading taste leaves memories of alcohol and sweet vermouth.

Alcohol Content +1 7.9%

Ouch.

Value +1

I am so glad that I can find this one in BC.

Ingame Enhancement +1

There was no L4D2 action tonight, but I did finish up typing all my backlogged beer tasting notes.

Overall 8/10

This was not an overly sweet Doppel, but it was flavourful.

Widmer Bros Cherry Oak Doppel

Spaten Optimator

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Winterbier Doppelbock and Hops Can Save my Prostate

Preliminary evidence suggests that compounds in hops can help prevent prostate cancer. Sadly this only works if your nads are in a test tube. German researchers found that xanthohumol, a bitter flavonoid in hops, can prevent testosterone from binding to receptors in prostate cells. This binding was shown to prevent the secretion of prostate specific antigen (PSA), an early indicator of prostate cancer in men.

Not everyone is convinced. Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancer at the American Cancer Society, said that if beer could prevent prostate cancer, we would already see lower rates of it.

I can be easily convinced; serve me up another ultra hoppy IPA please!


Winterbier Doppelbock (Altenmunster)

Ratebeer 3.22 65th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4

It must be winter, the sweet earthy smell of doppelbocks are everywhere. This one added a little caramel and sherry into the aroma mix. The alcohol warmth only enhanced the sweet raisins, caramel, earth and woody flavours.

Aftertaste +1

The residue was slightly vineous with herbal and caramel additions.

Alcohol Content +1 7.2%

It is everywhere with every sip.

Value +1

I love a good doppelbock and this certainly qualifies. It also gets bonus points for beautiful artwork on the label and a cool bottle.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I shared this brew with one of the Dad's that came to my little one's Tickerbell movie party. It is reassuring to know that I am not the only one that thinks Tink is hot.

Overall 8/10

A good doppelback should be strong, syrupy sweet with a good alcohol tingle. This one fits that description well.

Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock
Kozlak Amber and Re-Branding the Beer Belly
Amber Bock (Michelob)

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Spaten Optimator


Spaten Optimator
Dopplebock

Ratebeer 3.65 94th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +3

It emits a vague earthy/roasted malt and caramel nose. There was a quick splash of roasted caramel which was quickly followed by an astringent/herbal coating of hops. As the beer warms up you get a slight bitter cherry sourness and tartness.

Aftertaste 0

Clean, fast and slightly tart.
Alcohol Content +1 7.2%

Value +1

A lovely malty dopplebock.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Pre-load for L4D2 completed. Is is so wrong that I had a long conversation with Meterman about the excellent quality spatters in the new version?
Overall 6/10

Sweet, malty with earthly caramel and lots of alcohol. It was almost perfect.

Boss Kozlak Bock
Amber Bock (Michelob)
Elysian Ambrosia Maibock

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Doppel-Hirsch


Doppel-Hirsch
Doppelbock

Ratebeer 3.33 76th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4

Now this is a beer! The syrupy nose carried balanced amounts of toffee, vanilla, bourbon and wood. Every sip was the same as the nose, creamy and malty. Think of every dark flavour you can and it was there; cherries, vanilla syrup, roasted chocolate. There is barely enough hops to hold the sweetness in check.
Aftertaste +1

It doesn't last long enough. The alcohol burns and leaves a lingering bourbon and wood.

Alcohol Content +1 7.2%

This is a sharing beer for sure.
Value +1

I love a strong, sweet doppelbock and so should you.

Ingame Enhancement +1

This was tasted at a beer sampling party. Many, many beers were raided from the ARC beer fridge.

Overall 8/10

This is good, strong beer. That is all I have to say.

Hermannator Ice Bock
Amber Bock
Kozlak Amber and re-branding

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Uerige Doppel-Sticke


Uerige Doppel-Sticke
Strong Altbier

Ratebeer 3.75 96th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Altbier is style originating from Düsseldorf. It is an old style of German beer, similar to the old British ales. They were both cold conditioned for longer periods of time to help mellow some of the flavours. Apparently Holsten Festbock is also an altbier.

Taste +4
If nothing else this beer has one of the coolest bottles I have seen. One cannot mistake the nose for a weak beer, heavy on the caramel, raisins and alcohol. Straight away the first sip tingles your tongue with caramel sweetness and alcohol. After the tingle fades the second line of plum, dark fruits and a little earth reveal themselves. Very similar to a barley wine.
Aftertaste +2

There is a long mouth and throat coating, mostly burning and earthly fruits with undertones of sourness.
Alcohol Content +1 8.5%

No hiding the ethanol anywhere, it is upfront with every taste.

Value +1

If nothing else just for the bottle.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Tried the demo for UFC on the PS3 tonight. It was nice and pretty, but $70 is a little much for a fingermasher.
Overall 9/10

It is different than any other beer I have tried; rather like a big Belgian and a barley wine mixed. Did I mention the cool bottle?

Duckstein

Monday, May 18, 2009

Warsteiner Dunkel


Warsteiner Dunkel (Germany)

Ratebeer 3.04 48th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

I left out the 'premium' in the title for reasons very apparent if you ever try this beer.

Taste +1

Take everything a great Dunkel should be. A rich nose of caramel malt, green apples with a nice balance of aromatic bitter hops and a healthy dose of carbonation; then add water. I'm sure this beer has some flavour somewhere. The label actually says 'hop extract'.

Aftertaste 0

For an aftertaste there first must be a taste.

Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

Value 0

At least it was cheap. A 500ml can was under $3.

Ingame Enhancement +1

This dish water of a beer did not distract me from finishing a L4D map with Aqualung.
Overall 1/10

Technically it was beer. There is some German printing on the front of the can; I sure it says, "I can't believe you bought this beer, sucker!"

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Bitburger Pils and Palm Springs

Flavius: Palm Springs was just like a L4D map!
Meterman: Ok, try and explain. How is an overpriced desert oasis, with gated golf communities full of rich old people, just like a violent, zombie video game.
F: It was the best map ever! Every car had an alarm and there were guns and ammo everywhere!
M: Those skinny, brown zombies that grunted and flailed their arms were actually senior citizens with a tan. Also, some of those cars you were jumping on were golf carts.
F: But some of the golf carts did have alarms! That also means that I was shoving those zombies away with a 9 iron.

Bitburger Pilsener

Ratebeer 2.9 35th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

Taste +4

I know that I have been critical of cheap, exported pilseners in the past. This beer is just the same but it actually tastes good. At first the nose is very light and quite floral with grass and grains. The flavours are very mild which makes this a very drinkable beer. A pleasant malt and grain sweetness is just under balanced with light hops. All of this with little carbonation.

Aftertaste +1

The finish is very clean and dry. There was little hoppy bitterness worth mentioning.

Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

Value +1

This beer is cheap; about $2 for a 500ml can. A very nice flavour for what you pay.

Ingame Enhancement 0

No game tonight, watched Johnny English instead. If Rowan Atkinson was a zombie, would he still be funny?

Overall 5/10

This is a summer patio beer; on par with Corona for ease of drinking. I put his beer on par with Blue and Canadian, only less carbonation and less of a bitter aftertaste.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Schneider Weisse

Schneider Weisse

Ratebeer 3.56 88th Percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Schneider is one of the largest brewers of wheat beer in the world. Beers in the class of wheat beers, or Weizens, tend to be very light and refreshing. They also share the characteristics of citrus flavours and dry finishes. Breweries often use a secondary fermentation in the bottle to add natural carbonation and further enhance the flavours. These beers are very suitable for mixing with fruit juices and herbal extracts. Another great brew by this company is the Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock, a Clan AR C favourite. Hoegaarden is a notable wheat beer from Belgium. Rickards White is wheat beer brewed closer to home. ***Please note the Rickards white is not a notable beer***


Taste +3

At first whiff you were certain this would be a good wheat beer; the vapours of sweet citrus and wheat were very apparent. It was almost floral. Check; light, sunshine yellow cloudy beer. The taste is just as expected; a very clean, bright flavour. Light malt sweetness from start to finish, with hints of banana bread. This is one refreshing beer.

Aftertaste +1

The nicest, cleanest finish I have tasted in a while. The dry finish was followed by a surprising citrus fruit flavour delay.

Alcohol Content 0 5.4%

You don't expect a heavy hitting beer from a standard wheat beer.

Value +1

This was a very nice wheat beer. There is no doubt I will regularly stock this one. It cost the Clan ARC finance department $3 for 500ml.

Ingame Enhancement -1

I must beg Nightware to bestow up me admin privlidges for the L4D server. After a 1/2 price L4D game sale, the place was full of swearing idiots that do not understand the concept of co-op.

4/10 Meh

Only a bad night of gaming could ruin the score of this good beer.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock


Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

Ratebeer 3.82 97th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

This is 'ice-strong beer'. To create an eisbock, you essentially freeze a strong wheat beer. Part of the water within the beer freezes. After this step, the resulting nectar is drained away from the slushy part. This takes a normally strong dopplebock at 8% and boosts the alcohol content up to around 12%. It also tends to make the flavours sweeter and more intense. I have been looking for one of these a long time.

Taste +5

Wow, the nose is heavy on the fruity malts with a little hint of cloves. Ouch, this beer tastes big and strong. This brew feels slippery and thick; heavy on the malt sweetness. You can pick out flavours of raisins, peppers, molasses, prunes and dark cherries. These flavours mix with the alcohol to give an almost effervescent, bitter mouth feel.

Aftertaste +2

You can't seem to shake the lingering malt sweetness and prunes. Once the flavour leaves, you are graced with this alcohol warmth. The warmth seems to raise the temperature in your throat and stomach.

Alcohol Content +1 12%

Ouch, the alcohol slaps your face like a first date gone wrong! There is a slight mouthwash quality to this beer.

Value +1

I will certainly buy this beer whenever I see it again. I might even drive to Courtney to get some. It is certainly worth your $3. Wait, the BC Liquor website says they have some at the liquor store down the street; I will be right back...

Ingame Enhancement +1

The excessive amount of alcohol makes you feel invincible. With Nightware and Meterman at my back; I found myself jumping upon alarmed cars and impatiently waiting for the hoards of zombies to merrily arrive. Sadly you can only set off the alarms once, this is obviously a bug.

Overall 10/10 I hear angels singing

This beer is so complicated and intense it is hard to describe. You must try it. This is the kinda stuff that you leave to people in your will. Not me, I plan to be buried with my eisbock.