Brekeriet Berliner Spazz

Brewery: Brekeriet
Country: Sweden
ABV: 5.3%
Style: German Berliner Weisse
Other Notes: Berliner Spazz is part of our collection of beers known as the Specials, made as experimental batches in limited edition

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A tropical and refreshing Berliner Weisse fermented with passionfruit, vanilla beans, lactobacillus and brettanomyces yeast.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.99
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled in December 2017 #126, with a best before date of 20th December 2022. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark straw yellow colour with a big two finger white head that dissipated quickly and left no lacing.
Aroma: Tart, passionfruit, band aid, passionfruit skin with hints of lemon.
Taste: Sour, tart, passionfruit, peach and lemon.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Aroma was just average, but taste on the other hand was definitely nice and relaxing.

To Øl Goliat

Brewery: To Øl
Country: Denmark
ABV: 10.1%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Malts – Aroma Malt, Cara Crystal, Cassonade Sugar, Chocolate, Flaked Oats, Pilsner, Roasted Barley and Smoked. Hops – Columbus and Simcoe

Brewer Description: (from To Øl webshop) The great warrior of Gath. The mighty champion of the Philistines. Embedded in ancient folklore and religion. Coming from the World of Old. His size and stature is not human. He is bigger. The armor of Goliat is black. Creamy black lacings. Stands with a towering height. He can grab elements from both earth and heaven. Earthy, roasted, notes from the earth. Warming, pungent, sweet notes from the skies. His heart is beating slowly, almost endlessly slow. This man is thought to be invincible!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.82
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 375ml bottle with a best before date of 12th January 2019. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A dark brown to black colour with a one finger puffy brown head that had pretty good retention and left some small spotty lacing.
Aroma: Coffee, chocolate with light herbal, hops and booze at the end.
Taste: Light roasted malts, coffee and chocolate with light earthy and herbal hop tones late on.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: The earthy and herbal element on the finish in both aroma and taste was maybe a bit too much for me, but otherwise, it was still quite good.

Moonzen x Against The Grain King Yama’s Underworld Stout

Brewery: Moonzen Brewery x Against The Grain Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 11.5%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Brewed with Sichuan peppercorns and Bourbon barrel wood chips

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dark and Smoke drove too fast, crashed their car and didn’t last. Underworld King Yama reigns, bargains should they live again. Dark and Smoke must brew a stout, tasty enough to let them out! Chopped ATG Kentucky bourbon barrels, burning incense sticks, smoked Cherrywood malt and cracked Sichuan peppercorns create an “under” of this world combination so decadent that Dark & Smoke may never want to leave Yama’s Underworld anymore!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.03
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 650ml bomber with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a huge three finger dark tanned head that had great retention while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, chocolate, cocoa, oak and floral perfume-y with hints of smoke and Sichuan peppercorn.
Taste: Quite similar to the aroma with roasted malts, chocolate, wood and that distinct floral perfume-y characteristic. There is an interesting light spiciness that appears at the back of the throat at the end.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to light carbonation.
Overall: This was interesting with its floral and perfume-y character that really stands out, and a surprise positive for me as I don’t normally enjoy floral beers. I actually think that with the aroma, this floralness comes from the Sichuan peppercorns, but unfortunately with the taste, the light tingly spiciness in the background does not appear distinctly as Sichuan peppercorn like it does so well in certain batches of King Yama Sichuan Porter, but nonetheless, still probably better than not having it there. Mainly though, body was too light and there was probably a bit too much carbonation for me, but other than that, with everything else, this is worth a try.

Cigar City Café Con Leche

Brewery: Cigar City Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
Other Notes: 28 IBUs. Sweet Stout with coffee & cacao nibs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This beer is made with bold, strong coffee beans to emulate the most characterful Cuban espresso and lactose, a milk sugar that adds sweetness, body and flavors reminiscent of scalded milk. We’ve also added cacao nibs to further enhance its satisfying chocolate quality. Despite its assertive flavors and full body, our Sweet Stout is deceptively low in alcohol, making it the perfect accompaniment to a late-morning plate of eggs, bacon and tostadas.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.23
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. bomber, bottled on 10th November 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown in colour with a two finger brown head that had good retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Coffee, chocolate, cacao, roasted malts with hints of vanilla and cream.
Taste: Chocolate, coffee, cacao, cream and vanilla with a light herbal element on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: A very nice and easy drinking Sweet Stout that is creamy, smooth and has great coffee flavours.

Artezan Samiec Alfa 2016

Brewery: Browar Artezan
Country: Poland
ABV: 11.5%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperialny Stout leżakowane w beczkach po bourbonie (which translated from Polish means) Imperial Stout aged in boubon casks

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.46
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown in colour with no head and very sparse lacing.
Aroma: Chocolate, cocoa, molasses, dark fruit, bourbon and oak.
Taste: Chocolate, very roasty malts and coffee, toffee, sweet whiskey, oak barrel, with light smoke and coconut.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, silky, velvety smooth. Full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable Russian Imperial Stout that was extremely smooth and tastes great. Very well made!