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As many of you know, I'm partial to a cold one on a hot day. I've been homebrewing Coopers excellent products for years and have sampled the odd beer or two over the last 15 years. Given my fortuitous circumstance to try many beers from abroad, I thought I'd share my views on a number of these foreign drops.
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(Tory and Traci) |
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My current location in LA is close to Redondo Beach Pier which is home to the world famous "Naja's" Bar. This now has 80 ales on tap from around the world and over 700 beers in bottles/cans. I refer to it as an oasis in this sea of tranquility. It is obviously the best place for me to indulge my passion. Therefore, I will mark all beers that are currently available on tap at Naja'a with an asterix (*). Where available, I will provide the alcohol content, however there is no legal requirement for beer producers to display the alcohol content in the USA. I will also provide a link to that beer's/brewer's web site where available.
The ratings will be listed alphabetically by beer title and will be updated regularly. The ratings will be based on the following scale:
(5) - Bury me with a bottle of this stuff.
(4) - This is bloody good. Careful, don't spill any (waste not want not).
(3) - Good standard of beverage (about the equivalent standard of VB or Carlton Draught, doesn't necessarily tastes the same)
(2) - You can drink it but I'd order something different next time.
(1) - It's socially irresponsible to brew this and market it as beer.
(0) - Vomit inducing from the first mouthful.
Any feedback/discussion on these ratings is welcome. Here goes:
Aass Bock, Norway * - This looks like a stout, smells like a stout, but doesn't actually taste like a stout. Some rich flavour but quite a good drop. Don't let the name put you off. (2.5)
Algonquin Honey Brown, USA - Nice amber colour. It was served extremely cold which enhanced it's drinkability. Easy to drink with no standout characteristics. (3)
Anchor Steam, USA * - Nice amber colour. Full flavour. Slightly bitter aftertaste. This beer is brewed in San Fransisco. Better than average beer. (3.5)
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, USA * - Buggered if I know what Boont means or where Anderson Valley is but this beer tasted pretty good. There was no hint of chocolate, cigars or any of that other crap wine producers put on their bottles. Just a good brew. (3.5)
Asahi, Japan - A reasonably ordinary brew. The label said it was "super dry". Well it was pretty dry but distinctly malty. Not really my cup of tea. (2)
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Bass Pale Ale, England - First and foremost, it might be "pale" if it was a stout but it's not. Quite a dark colour. It has a full flavour without anything standing out too much. All in all, a good beer. (3) |
Bavaria, Holland - Apparently they've been brewing this stuff since 1719. Not really sure why. It tastes like a standard German style beer with plenty of hops. Quite drinkable but not a "must" drink. (2.5)
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, USA - This tastes like a pale ale to me and a good one at that. A high alcohol content (6.8%) and great flavour make this a dangerous brewski! (4.5)
Beck's Dark, Germany - Quite drinkable for a dark, German beer. I'd drink it again. (3)
Belhaven Scottish Ale, Scotland * - Not bad but a slight "rubber" taste to it. I can't explain it, I just review it. (2)
Belle-Vue Kriek, Belgium - Has a cherry flavour so it's reall glorified Benadryl. Unfortunately it makes you cough rather than gets rid of one. (0.5)
Birra Moretti, Italy * - Considering Italians are more known for their plonk, this wasn't too bad. The red, green and white on the label was pretty good as well (Go the Rabbitohs - Never Say Die!). The flavour was somewhat malty but not over the top. (2.5)
Birra Peroni, Italy - Brad, a US beer lover I met at Naja's, reckoned this stuff was pretty good. Well, it's not bad although reminds me of a German beer. Quite drinkable though. (3)
Bitburger, Germany - To be honest, I'm not a fan of the majority of German beers that I've tasted, and this one is no exception. It has that typical German beer aftertaste but is not terrible. Worth a try but leave it at that. (2)
Blackthorn Dry Cider, England * - GUEST REVIEW FROM TRACI: If you've ever tried Strongbow Draught Cider, there is your review. (3)
Boddington's Pub Ale, England - This was a strange drop. Nice amber colour and good head. The flavour however had something different which I couldn't quite distinguish. Pleasant tasting, almost "fruity". (3)
Brewery Hill Pale Ale, USA - Brewed in Pennsylvania and not quite as good as I'd hoped for. I had just drank some of James Higgins (see July 01 page - New York trip) toxic, Italian Sambucca/Ouzo concentrate which may have had something to do with it as 99% of my tastebuds were in a total state of shock. (3)
Brew Moon Eclipse, USA - Brewed at a microbrewery in Boston. It is a full-bodied oatmeal stout. Creamy, slightly bitter, with a hint of coffee. Pretty good for a stout. (3.5)
Brew Moon Hefeweizen, USA - As usual it tastes like old bananas. Not my scene. (2)
Brew Moon Improper Hopper IPA, USA - Medium body. Amber colour. Good Drop. (3.5)
Brew Moon Munich Gold, USA - German-style export lager. Won a gold medal at the 1996 Great American Beer Festival. Very dry taste. Honey coloured, crisp and refreshing. Quite good overall. (3)
Brew Moon Orions Irish Amber, USA - Copper coloured, medium-body with a fruity-caramel aftertaste. Good stuff. (3.5)
Brew Moon Summer Wheat, USA - very refreshing, almost tangy taste. Would be excellent on a hot day. Unfortunately it was raining cats & dogs when I tried it but it still went down all the same. (4)
Broken Hill Real Ale, Australia - I had not seen this beer before and would be interested if anyone could tell me anything about it. It was in the fridge at Naja's so I thought I had better try it given Traci's origins. It was packaged in the standard Aussie "long neck" bottle. It had a cloudy, pale colour. Quite a mild flavour but quite good. I reckon this is probably made by Coopers but will stand corrected given more info. A pretty good beer though. (3.5)
Brooklyn Lager, USA - Nice amber colour but a tad too much malt. I thought I'd try one while in New York and I did. Won't be trying it elsewhere. (2.5)
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Budweiser, USA * - "The King of Beers" is the slogan - I don't think so! When Aussies think of US beer they tend to think of this beer (similar to Fosters' impression on Americans). To be honest, it's quite good for a mass-produced factory beer. At 5% alcohol it also dispels the myth that all American beer is weak. It's a good all-occasion beer. Great with pizza and a game of footy or baseball or basketball or ice hockey or... (3) |
Bud Light, USA * - A watered down version of the real thing - less calories, less alcohol and less flavour. Not the worst light beer I've tasted though. (2.5)
Bud Ice, USA - This beer has a crisp, fresh taste although no strong flavour, has 5.5% alcohol, and is ready made for rapid consumption. This beer would be ideal for "depth charges" or "torpedoes" in Australia. (3)
Buggsy's Brew, USA - Brewed at a micro-brewery in "old town" Alexandria, Virginia. Very pale and clear for a microbrew so I was expecting a domestic lager taste. I was pleasantly surprised to find a flavour packed little beer. Quite OK (3.5)
Busch, USA - Another beer from the gang who brought you "Bud". OK drop. (2.5)
Caffreys Irish Ale, Ireland * - This beer pours like a Guinness from the tap but is a pale, cloudy amber colour. I tried this on the recommendation of a bloke I met at Naja's. It wasn't too bad but it really didn't do much for me flavour-wise. (2.5)
Capitol City Brewing Company Amber, USA - A very dark "amber" colour. Quite a well-rounded medium bodied beer. It also has the same name as my dog which got it extra credits. (4)
Capitol City Brewing Company Golden Lager, USA - Somewhat frutier than most traditional lagers and quite a bit more flavour. Not quite as crisp as most which made this a bit of a novelty. (3)
Capitol City Brewing Company Hefeweizen, USA - Banana/fruity taste as usual. Why do I persist in trying these??? (1.5)
Capitol City Brewing Company Nut Brown, USA - As the name suggests, a dark nut & smoky flavoured brew. Very good. I'm nuts about this type of beer (a very, very poor pun!) (4.5)
Capitol City Brewing Company Pale Ale, USA - Not as dark as many that I've had and not quite as much flavour. Still a good beer though. (4)
Capitol City Brewing Company St Adrian's Alt, USA - A slight hefeweizen taste to me. It's supposed to have a smoky taste but I didn't cop it. St Adrian is the patron Saint of beer - surely they could put his name to a better drop, say....a pale ale from Sierra Nevada?? (2)
Carlsberg, Denmark * - I'd had quite a few by the time I got around to trying this but it's pretty good stuff. No real standout characteristics other than bugger-all aftertaste. (2.5)
Carlsberg Red, Denmark - Quite a dark amber colour but a somewhat deceptively mild taste. A thirst quenching type beer. Traci quite liked this brew. Drink quick but don't spend too much time savouring. (3.5)
Charles Reibenbach Ice Ale, USA - Standard, mass produced beer. Similar to VB or Tooheys New although not quite as smooth on the pallette. At $4 for a case of 12 cans, it has become quite popular in the Byrnes household. This is definitely the best of the Charles Reibenbach range of beers that I've tasted, but that's not saying much. (5.8% alcohol). (2.5)
Charles Reibenbach Lager, USA - This beer tastes dreadful. Luckily it was cheap so I could afford to throw it out. I'll stick to the Ice Ale from this brewer in future. I guess it shows that you get what you pay for.(1)
Charles Reibenbach Light Pilsener, USA - Quite pale in colour and flavour. The alcohol content is not provided on the can but I can assure you that this beer is nothing more than a bladder filler. (2)
Colt 45 Malt Liquor, USA - I'm not sure of the reason for the distinction between beer vs malt liquor - maybe someone can enlighten me. This was drinkable but would not be my first choice. (2)
Coors, USA * - The label says it's brewed a mile high in Colarado so I guess I've finally joined the "mile high" club. This is pretty much the standard American brew on a par with Bud or Miller. (5%) (3)
Coors Light, USA * - No alcohol content on the label but I've been told it is the highest percent of all the major "light"beers. It's called the "silver bullet" due to the colour of the can but it's flavour doesn't have too much of a bang. (2.5)
Corona, Mexico - This is a good beer. Nice golden colour with a slight malt flavour. I don't understand why people wreck it with a lemon or lime. As with Fosters and Australians, I don't think too many Mexicans actually drink this stuff though. (3.5)
Corona Light, Mexico - GUEST REVIEW FROM JENNIE RANDALL: Extremely great beer and no calories! Woo Hoo!! Great womens drink and very tasteful. (4)
Crescent City Brewhouse Weiss Beer, USA - This beer is served at a microbrewery in New Orleans. Light in colour and has a distinct banana taste. Traci quite liked it but I prefer my beer without the skins. (2)
Dinkel Acker, Germany * - GUEST REVIEW FROM SINKO: Full body, pale colour, clean, refreshing, crisp finish on the palette. A quality beer without being outstanding. Happy to drink it all afternoon with calamari. (3.5)
Dixie Blackened Voodoo, USA - I was damn drunk when I tried this. Seemed like it was pretty good. (3.5)
Dortmunder Union Dark, Germany * - Very malty. Not really my scene. (2)
Dos Equis Lager, Mexico * - It has a pale golden colour and a typical lager aftertaste- good stuff. (3)
Foggy Bottom Ale, USA - Foggy Bottom is a place in Washington, DC and is where this beer was originally brewed but it is now brewed in New York. It does have a reasonable amount of flavour but it's not what I'd consider great. I reckon it would leave you with a "foggy bottom" the next day if you hooked into a few of these. (2.5)
Fosters, Australia - John Elliott is a genius. Due to his marketing, Americans actuall think Australian drink Fosters. I thought I'd better try one over here to test it out. It tastes quite similar to how I remember. Standard mass-produced flavourless beer. Americans seem to like it though. (2.5)
Fullers ESB, England * - Looks like a pale ale but don't let looks deceive you. Very malty. Not the best beer I've had but drinkable. (2)
Golden Gate Pale Ale, USA - A fruity taste as with most American Pale Ales but a somewhat bitter aftertaste. Quite drinkable though. (3.5)
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Gordon Biersch Marzen *, USA - A slightly sweet tasting beer with a full flavour. Not much more to be said other than I really liked this beer. (4) |
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Grolsch, Holland- I know plenty of people who swear that this is an excellent drop. Well, I found it quite reasonable although I'm not sure I'd rave about it. Quite easy to drink although it does have a somewhat bitter aftertaste. Maybe it was just the bottle I had... (3) |
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Guinness Extra Stout, Ireland * - Firstly, this review is based on the bottle variety of Guinness. A few of my mates (Mr. Savery comes to mind) reckon this is the nectar of the God's. Here's a news flash - It's not. However, I found this quite a reasonable drop. Admittedly, I was in a hot spa in LA just on dusk when I consumed the beverage so I may have been unduly influenced (or under the influence), but it was quite good. I must be getting older but I won't be screwing my nose up at the mere mention of the word Guinness in future.(3) |
Harp Lager, Ireland * - I expected a typical dark Irish beer but was surprised. This is a golden colour and crisp on the pallete. This beer must have been originally brewed during the week of summer in Ireland. Good stuff. (3.5)
Harpoon IPA, USA * - As with a lot of good USA beers it is brewed in Boston. This is a damn good beer and I think it is brewed by the "Sam Adams" company. Unfortunately when Itried it it was served reasonably warm. It had the potential to be excellent served cold. (4)
Heineken, Holland * - A pale lager type beer with a lot of hops. Quite similar to a lot of German beers in taste. Not surprising given there geographical proximity of the two countries. The beer won medals in Paris in 1875, 1883, 1889 and 1900. That's was quite a while ago and maybe it's time to update the recipe. (2.5)
Henry Weinhard's Hefeweizen, USA - This is a wheat beer brewed with honey. It's quite a smooth sweet and easy drinking beer. It's one of the better wheat beer's that I've tried. (3.5)
Henry Weinhard's Pale Ale, USA - This does not have as full a flavour as most other North American Pale Ales that I've tried. It is quite similar to Henry's Vintage Reserve in flavour (what a surprise!). (4)
Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve, USA - What an impressive title! The label also says the beer is "brewed under the supervision of the brewmaster" with "37 individual brewing steps". Wow! This stuff must be damn good, right? Well, it is actually pretty good. Nice golden colour and full-flavour. If only I'd bought more than one lousy 6-pack. (4)
Hidden River Pale Ale, USA - To be honest (and I usually am), I was a little disappointed with this beer. Although it was quite good, it wasn't up to the high standard of American pale ales that I've been indulging in of late. (3.5)
Hinano, Tahiti - Apparently this beer won an award in Luxembourg in 1990. Woohoo! My guess is the judges were already plastered by the time they tried it. I thought it was less than average. (5% alc) (1.5)
Hoegarden, Belgium - The slogan says it's a white beer and yes it is quite pale. Tastes awfully like a hefeweizen (wheat beer) to me. Not to my liking. (1.5)
Humbolt Red Nectar, USA - Looks like a pale ale. Tastes like a pale ale. Gets a rating like a pale ale! (4)
Icehouse, USA - A simple, refreshing beer. Quite similar to the main domestic (USA) beers with an extra kick alcohol-wise (5.5%). (3)
John Courage Amber, England * - Amber colour and refreshingly sweet. Not too bad on a hot day. I'd drink it again. (3)
John Harvard's All American Ale, USA - Brewed at a microbrewery in Washington, DC. Tasted like a standard lager, nothing more and nothing less. (3)
John Harvard's IPA, USA - Nice amber colour. Fruity on the front of the palette and bitter on the way down. Not too bad. (3.5)
John Harvard's Irish Stout, USA - Too stouty for me. Definitely not black gold. (1.5)
John Harvard's Nut Brown Ale, USA - A very nutty flavour. Very dark and very good. (4)
John Harvard's Summer Wheat Ale, USA - Traci said "that's off" when having her first sip of this stuff. It's not quite that bad but just a reasonable beer. (2.5)
JW Dundee's Honey Brown, USA - Traci's Pentagon workmate, Megan, sent this home with Traci for me to try. It's a very smooth, sweet tasting beer. Ireally liked it. Thanks Megan! (4.5)
Kawartha Lakes Brewing Company Nut Brown Ale, Canada - Very dark, very smoky, nutty & great. I felt like I had just had a few rashers of bacon after I first tried this. Bloody good stuff. (4.5)
Keith's IPA, Canada - This stuff is brewed in Nova Scotia, Canada. It tasted nothing like an IPA to me. It's a very pale golden colour and had no aftertaste to speak of. Throw it down. (3.5)
Keystone Ice, USA - This beer is brewed by Coors and to be honest first taste drinking this from the Tooheys New. Quite a reasonable brew with no distinguishing characteristics. It's cheap and brewed for rapid consumption but at 5.9% alcohol, it may pay to keep count on how many you've downed. (3)
Killians, Ireland - I have had this plenty of times but never had pen and paper. I've finally got some and reckon that this beer is actually OK but that's about it. (2.5)
Kirin Lager, Japan * - Golden colour. Limited Flavour. Average beer. Enough said. (2.5)
Kona Brewing Company Fire Rock Pale Ale, USA - Aloha! Where has this Hawaiin beer been all my life. Way better than a Mai Tai or Blue Hawaii. (4.5)
Labatt Blue, Canada - Seems to be about the most popular domestic beer in Canada. Standard mass-produced taste but very drinkable. (5%) (3)
Labelle Strasbourgeoise, France * - I couldn't pronounce the name of this if I tried. After tasting this I am a firm believer that the Froggy's should stick to making wine. (2)
Lamar St. Pale Ale, USA - This is a certified organically grown and processed beer so I guess that means it's good for me. It is brewed specifically for a supermarket chain over here known as "Whole Foods". The beer itself tastes like an average pale ale - plenty of flavour with a hint of fruit. It's not as good as some of the others but it is a pale ale nonetheless so it tastes pretty good to me. (4)
Mammoth Brewing Co. Belgian Gold, USA - Sounds like a chocolate but tastes like a wheat beer to me. Traci did like this stuff though and proceeded to down her share until it was time to leave... (2.5)
Mammoth Brewing Co. Double Nut Brown, USA - Very pleasant aroma and nice golden colour. As the name would suggest, there is a fine nut aroma. Overall a reasonable brew. (3.5)
Mammoth Brewing Co. Golden Trout, USA - Golden colour and a lot less flavour than the other beers from this brewery. Having said that it was still a pretty good beer and there was certainly nothing fishy about the taste. (3)
Mammoth Brewing Co. High Sierra Amber, USA - Similar in colour and flavour to Newcastle Brown although not quite as malty. Reasonable stuff. (3)
Mammoth Brewing Co. Old Packers Pale Ale, USA - Typical North American Microbrewery Pale Ale. Excellent. I've really taken a liking to this type of beer. My only criticism of this particular brew is that it could have used a little more gas. Mr Tooheys had better get his act together by the time I get home and start brewing beers like this - are you reading this Hanks? (4)
Mammoth Brewing Co. Rasberry Wheat Beer, USA - This tastes like a Creaming Soda. You'd wanna be careful with this stuff although it's only 4% alcohol so the kids shouldn't get too pissed. (2.5)
McEwans Indian Pale Ale, Scotland * - Quite different taste. It's a bit like Dr Pepper softdrink in that I'm not sure whether I like it or not. I'll hedge my bets. (3)
Michelob Amber Bock, USA - An extremely dark amber colour but quite a mild taste. Almost plain tasting although I'd had a couple of tasty pale ales previously. Overall quite reasonable. (3)
Michelob Light, USA - As light beers go, this one is probably the best I've had so far in the USA. Plenty of flavour and quite refreshing. (3)
Michelob Premium Beer, USA - Not dissimilar to Miller Genuine Draft with the lager aftertaste. The bottle almost looks like a "Crown Lager" bottle although not quite as much contents. Quite drinkable stuff. (3)
Miller Genuine Draft, USA *- standard mass-produced drop. Reminds me of how Fosters used to taste on tap in Wollongong in the late 1980's. Safe beer with no real standout characteristics to turn you on or turn you off. (3)
Miller High Life, USA - Very pale in colour and reasonably tasteless. Brewed for a quick drink. I'm not really convinced this represents the "high Life". (2.5)
Miller Lite, USA * - As expected it has a similar taste to Miller Genuine Draft although somewhat watered down. American Lite beers are light on calories, not necessarily alcohol. Although not listed on the label, this one definitely has a reduced alcohol content. As "lite" beers go it is quite reasonable. (2.5)
Molsen Canadian Lager, Canada - I was adding this review to the web site when Traci called me to tell me about the plane crashing into the Pentagon. Unfortunately this beer has nothing really notable about it taste-wise. Standard mass-produced lager. (3)
Molsen Export, Canada - Ironically, the only place I've seen this is in Canada. Maybe they brew it for export but no one will take it. In any case, it's just another pale, light tasting, mass-produced beer. (3)
Molsen Golden, Canada * - The name sounds enticing but this is pure "take it or leave it" stuff. There's better Canadian beers. (2)
Moosehead, Canada * - This is a damn good beer. Refreshing, golden, not too heavy, not too light. I can now see why so many Aussies like Canada. Highly recommended drinking. (3.5)
Murphy's Irish Stout, Ireland * - This beer is thick, dark and filling. It's a stout for God's sake. It has a surprisingly mild taste and is easy to drink. Not too bad for a stout. (2)
Naja's Blonde, Germany - Very, very refreshing. It's a pilsener - very pale blonde colour. Not a lot of flavour but a fair amount of gas. It's almost like the "soda water" of beers. Unfortunately the keg ran out on my first one so I couldn't indulge in this drop any further that night. (4)
Negra Modelo, Mexico - As the name might suggest this is a dark, malty beer. OK if you like this sort of stuff but not really my cup of tea. (2)
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Newcastle Brown Ale, England * - As the name suggests, this is quite a dark brown colour. It has a strong malt flavour and is quite good. It's the sort of stuff that my old man would say "would put hairs on your chest". (3) |
NGOMA Togo Pis, Africa (not sure what country) - SWEEEEET! Very sweet. The bottles have pictures of endangered animals on them. The bottle I had had a picture of a gorilla that looked awfully like my mate Crowy. (3)
Old Speckled Hen, Not Sure - I drank this while in Manhatten. It pours like a Caffreys, Looks like a Caffreys, Smells like a Caffreys and tates like a Caffreys. Yippitta, Yippitta - that's all folks. (2.5)
Old Vienna, Canada * - Three words - bland, bland, bland. (1.5)
Paulaner Hefeweizen, Germany * - Traci likes this but, to be honest, it's a bit too fruity for my liking. (2) GUEST REVIEW FROM TRACI: I love it - tastes sort of like bananas mmmm! I'm not a beer person but I luurrve this!
Paulaner Premium Lager, Germany * - GUEST REVIEW FROM JOHN MULLANE: Typical German Ale. Light coloured, crisp, dry taste with plenty of hops. (3.5)
Pete's Strawberry Blonde, USA - Well I've tried a few of these fruit flavoured beers now and I must say that, although they taste OK as a novelty, you wouldn't drink a lot of them. This one, as the name suggests, has a distinct strawberry flavour to it. Quite sweet actually. Worth a try but I didn't really need to buy a 6-pack of this stuff! (2.5)
Pilsner Urquel, Czech Republic * - Quite a sweet, malty, honey-blonde beer. OK. (2.5)
Red Dog, USA - Nice picture of a red bulldog on the label but that's about the only high point. A mediocre beer with a less than average aftertaste. (2.5)
Red Hook ESB, USA * - ESB apparently stands for Extra Special Bitter. I thought this was quite a sweet beer with an Aussie lager type aftertaste. Not a bad beer but other than this review, I won't be writing home about it. (2.5)
Red Nectar Ale, USA - Quite a dark amber cloudy colour. It has a malty flavour with a distinctly sweet aftertaste. It did win a gold medal at the Orange County Fair in 1995. I've been to the Orange County Fair (in 2000) and can vouch for the prestige of that award - not worth the medal it's minted on. Good beer all the same. (3.5)
Red Tail Ale, USA * - This is very good. Similar to Sam Adams although ever so slightly paler in colour and flavour. A damn good beer all the same though. (4)
Red Wolf, USA - This beer was reasonably cheap so I was a little surprised when it actually tasted pretty good. Quite a full flavour. (3)
Rogue Dead Guy Ale, USA * - Nice medium amber colour. Not too bad but a reasonably ordinary aftertaste. (2.5)
Rogue Honey Cream Ale, USA - With a name like that I had to try it. Well worth it. Quite a fruity smooth taste. Unfortunately the chick on the label has got a head like a beaten favourite but you can't have it all. (4)
Rolling Rock Extra Pale, USA - Comes in an excellent old style green bottle that could quite possibly have been the inspiration for that classic tune "10 Green Bottles." The taste is no standout but is a good, fresh, crisp taste and nothing more. It's reminiscent of standard Aussie beers. (3)
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Samuel Adams Boston Ale, USA - This beer is virtually orange in colour. It's a little more bitter than the Sam Adams Lager. It has that distinct quality micro-brewery taste about it and, overall, is downright excellent. That Sam Adams sure knows how to brew a mighty fine beer.(4) |
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Samuel Adams Boston Lager, USA * - This beer has won plenty of awards all over the world so had a big hype to live up to. It doesn't disappoint. It has a nice darkish amber colour and is full of flavour in the correct proportions. Even Traci's a fan of this beer. Brewed in Boston, I can see why Cliff and Norm spent so much time at Cheers. I recommend this beer to you and your family. From the bottle (4.5). From the tap (5). |
Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic, USA - This beer is only available in bottles and is brewed specifically for the holiday season. It is brewed with cranberries and maple syrup. As expected, it has a very fruity, and somewhat, tangy taste. It is quite good for a novelty beer but is not the sort of brew that you'd have a big session on. (2.5)
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Samuel Adams Creamy Stout, USA - First mouthful tastes smokey & nutty. Seriously! Traci actually thought it tasted like chocolate (ironically that's what the label says). Very good for a stout.(3.5) |
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Samuel Adams Golden Pilsener, USA - Traci smelled this and said it "smells like an Australian beer." Pretty spot-on Traci. It tastes very similar to Tooheys New. A good easy drinking beer.(3) |
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Samuel Adams I.P.A., USA - Typical IPA - medium flavour and a crisp taste. To me, IPA's generally aren't as good as "regular" pale ales and this is no exception. Still a good beer though.(3.5) |
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale, USA - I must admit I hadn't heard of a Fezziwig Ale before. This is a Christmas beer brewed with cinammon, ginger and orange. The flavour is a little different, like a fruitier version of the Sam Adams Winter Ale. Drinkable for a novelty but that's about it. (2.5)
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Samuel Adams Pale Ale, USA - Mr Adams has done it again. A more crisp and refreshing ale than some of the others in the range but not quite as distinct flavouring though. Once again a damn good beer in its own way. (4.5) |
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Samuel Adams Spring Ale, USA - This is another of Sam's seasonal brews. It tastes very much like a good Tooheys New although a slightly sweeter aftertaste. Quite refreshing. (3.5) |
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Samuel Adams Summer Ale, USA - This is a wheat ale brewed with grains of paradise and lemon zest. Mmmm, ZESTY! Actually a reasonably thirst quenching beer but not the best of Sam's range. (3.5) |
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Samuel Adams Winter Ale, USA - This is a dark, wheat lager brewed with winter spices. It's actually not too bad for a dark lager but I'm more of a summer person. (2.5) |
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, England - With that name I was expecting porridge but, alas, it was a stout. Not really my type of breakfast. Nice bottle though! (2)
San Miguel, Philipines- Nice golden colour and quite a good beer. I didn't realise the Philipines made such a good beer. No wonder so many Aussies visited the Philipines in the 1980's. I'd definitely drink this again. (3.5)
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Sapporo, Japan- Quite refreshing beer with no distinguishing characteristics. It's alright, but isn't as a good as an ice cold schooner of "New" at Bellambi Pub! (3) |
Saranac Adirondack Amber, USA - It is a golden amber colour and has a slightly strong taste of hops. Not too overpowering as with some German beers though. A reasonable beer. (3)
Saranac Black Forest, USA - This is a Bavarian style beer. It is brownish-red in colour and has a medium body. It also has a pleasant picture on the label. Quite a good beer. (3.5)
Saranac Growler, USA - What a name. A picture of a Black Bear roaring on the front seems appropriate for this black & tan beer. As the label says "this beer will stir you from the deepest hibernation." Not too much stout in it so it's quite drinkable. All-in-all, surprisingly good (3.5)
Saranac Pale Ale, USA - A little more bitter than the majority of American Pale Ales. A good drop but no Sierra Nevada Pale Ale! (3.5)
Saranac Pilsener, USA - Actually a wheat beer but nowhere near as fruity/bananary as most I've tried. Quite reasonable (3)
Schlitz Malt Liquor, USA - Really a nothing beer. A little malty as the name suggests. 32oz bottle does represent value although it's hard to fit it into a stubby cooler. (5.9%) (2) STOP PRESS: This beer makes a cameo in Adam Sandler's latest movie Little Nicky.
Seemans Honey Brown, Canada - As with Aass Bock beer, don't let the name put you totally off. It's a slightly sweet tasting beer but has little overall flavour. Good but not great. (3)
Shiner Bock, USA - A helluvalot better than I anticipated. A darker amber colour and quite a refreshing taste. I'd drink it again. (3)
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Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale, USA * - This beer was recommended to me by Jeff, the "bouncer" at Naja's. It's a seasonal beer which means it's only made in limited quantities at a particular time of the year, thus you need to drink it while you can. From memory this is a barley beer (at 9.6% alcohol your memory doesn't last too long after a couple of these). When it first hits your mouth it tastes very similar to the Pale Ale but once you've swallowed it you get a very bitter taste in the mouth. All in all a good drop but don't drive to the pub for a couple of these! (4) |
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Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, USA * - Lovely amber colour. Slightly fruity aroma that doesn't transcend the taste (I sound like a real critic!). A sweet aftertaste but not overpowering. An extremely good beer that goes down easy. (5.6%) (4.5) STOP PRESS: I've been drinking reasonable quantities of this beer lately and have to admit it is the best beer I've tasted. Whoever organises my wake had better ensure there's a couple of cartons of this available for those attending to enjoy! Revised rating: (5) |
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Sierra Nevada Summerfest, USA * - This is a more traditional lager type beer yet has a fuller, almost fruitier flavour to it. A hell of a lot better than most other lagers I've had. It has 5% alcohol and is "bottom fermented". A few too many of these and I'm sure my bottom will be fermenting the next day. Overall, another damn good brew from this mob. (4.5) |
Spaten Pils, Germany * - Although it had a bit of a rap I didn't like it. It had quite a metallic taste to it. Maybe it was just an old bottle. (1.5)
Spaten Premium, Germany - Marginally better than its cousin pilsener. I've at least tried it. (2)
Staropranen, Czech Republic * - This beer has quite a golden colour but tastes like a lot darker coloured beer. I'll be looking for it next time I go for a few beers while in the Czech Republic. (3.5)
Steel Reserve High Gravity Lager, USA - Quite a malty flavour but not much gas. At 8.1% alcohol I reckon after a few of these I'd have a bit of gas though. (2.5)
Steinlager, New Zealand * - The label reads "World's Greatest Lager." I don't think they're right but they are Kiwi's so let them live in their own little world. The beer itself isn't too bad, although a little too malty for my liking, but reasonably refreshing. (2.5)
Stella Artois, Not Sure but I think it's Belgium - I've actually had this a few times before (a big not in Sydney with some Navy workmates springs to mind at the "Shark Bar"). It's qauite a pale, crisp brew. Slightly too hppy for my preferred taste but it's easy to drink. (3)
Ster Ale, Belgium * - Dark amber colour and a nice flavour - nothing too special though. (2.5)
Stone Indian Pale Ale, USA * - Tastes (4) like a regular pale ale to me. I reckon I got poured the wrong beer. Tasted pretty damn good though so I won't complain (other than this review). (4)
Stone Pale Ale, USA * - Another of those dark amber, full flavoured beers. I like them and I liked this. Bring 'em on! (4)
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St Pauli Girl, Germany * - Quite pale colour. Crisp flavour and very refreshing. This beer would be easy to get pissed on. I'll be looking for it at Oktoberfest. (4) |
Tecate, Mexico * - A standard, little taste beer made for easy consumption by the masses. Not for the beer connoisseur but quite drinkable. (2.5)
Tetleys English Ale, England - Pours similar to a Guiness/Caffreys. Should not be confused with Tetleys tea (you'd have to be reasonably pissed not to notice the difference). An ordinary taste but drinkable (2.5)
Tsingtao, China * - This is a pale coloured beer with an unusual flavour. It is very crisp on the pallette, has a melon-like taste and is very refreshing. A bloody good beer. (3.5)
Warsteiner Premium Pilsener, Germany * - GUEST REVIEW FROM JOHN MULLANE: Typical German Ale. Light coloured, crisp, dry taste without being too hoppy. (4)
Watney's Ale, England * - Nice amber colour with a distinct malt flavour. I doubt I'd have a big session on this stuff. (2.5)
Wild Fly Ale, USA - Made by the Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company so it had a great picture on the label. The beer had quite a malty taste. Good drop though. (3.5)
Whitbread Ale, England * - Nice dark amber colour. Smooth yet full flavour. What can I say - sometimes the Poms can brew a good beer. (4)
Wyder's Pear Cider, Canada * - GUEST REVIEW FROM TRACI: Basically this comes down to "Do you like pears?" If so, spicy & flavourable. If not, why the hell would you order pear cider? (4)
Wyder's Rasberry Cider, Canada * - GUEST REVIEW FROM JENNIE RANDALL: Coming from a Victorian point of view, this is equivalent of a VB but in a soft drink (alcoholic) form. Extremely good for females. (4) GUEST REVIEW FROM TORY LEWIS: This is a great cider! The fruity aftertaste of rasberry on the pallette is fantastic. Try this one with some nachos watching the footy with the boys. Also comes in peach and pear flavours. (4)
Yuengling Black & Tan, USA - This is from America's oldest brewery. I drank this in Philadelphia on a hot & humid day and it was served ice cold. Delicious and hit the spot. I quite like Black & Tans provided the ratio is correct. This one was. (4)
Yuengling Traditional Lager, USA - Once again, this is from America's oldest brewery. Quite refreshing, slightly hoppy but not too much. Good straight off the bat but I wouldn't switch to it after drinking something with more flavour. (3)