4 - Good (buy), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Denmark, To Øl

To Øl First Frontier IPA

Tuesday, 4 August 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: To Øl
Country: Denmark
ABV: 7.1%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Hops – Warrior, Simcoe, Centennial. Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Belgium.

Brewer Description: (from website) First Frontier” We all got pieces of crazy in us, some bigger pieces than other” The thing about First Frontier is the hops. Easy… This is an IPA “the American way”, no sticky-sweet malt profile, just the real deal potent and aromatic hops. The result is a refreshingly dry, fresh and bitter IPA, heavily dryhopped with the three American hop varieties warrior, simcoe and centennial, dealing a punch of citrus, peach and grapefruit from the deepest of our hearts directly to ya face. Just added a bit of caramel malt; merely to harness and balance the alcohol.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.87
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 330ml bottle dated best before 1st October 2016 and poured into an IPA glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a slightly hazy golden orange with a huge cream head that dissipated slowly leaving lots of stringy lacing.
Aroma: Piney hops with some pineapple and citrus grapefruit. Light caramel malts to finish.
Taste: Taste follows the nose with citrus grapefruit and caramel dominating followed by a piney hop finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with light to medium carbonation.
Overall: This IPA is worth a try. While not at the top of its style, it is still very refreshing on a hot summer day.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Witbier, Daviyun S.L., Spain

Sagra Blanca de Trigo

Monday, 3 August 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Daviyun S.L.
Country: Spain
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Witbier

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The secret of Cerveza SAGRA lies in its brewmasters’ obsession to create a 100% Spanish flavoured product. Spanish craft beer inspired by the flavourful Belgian Wits with a distinct Spanish touch. Fruity flavour and citrus aroma and taste. Creamy body, refreshing bitterness and floral finish. Brewed using orange peel and coriander.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 2.48
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.5

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 30th April 2017 and poured into a Hoegaarden pint glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a hazy golden straw colour with a slightly less than one finger white head that dissipated slowly.
Aroma: Strong orange and lemon aromas. Very orange juice like.
Taste: Citrus flavours mainly lemon and orange, with a little wheat and a slightly bitter orange peel finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, light to medium carbonation, oily and creamy.
Overall: I thought it was ok but the citrus orange and lemon was a bit over the top. Not one of the better witbiers I’ve tried.

1 - Poor (never again), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V., Fruit Beer

Bacchus Kriekenbier

Friday, 31 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.8%
Style: Fruit Beer
Other Notes: 15% cherries, beer flavoured with cherries, beer with sugar and sweetener, contains barley malt and wheat.

Brewer Description: (from wrapping) Van Honsebrouck is a family owned brewery in West Flanders Belgium. It makes a range of beers including Bacchus, a beer in the local style of the region. This is the beer on which kriek is based, as well as framboise, a premium fruit beer for which Belgium is well known. Hand wrapped and presented in half champagne bottles, these are remarkable beers.

My rating: 1
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.17
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.8

Intro: A 375ml wrapped bottle with a best before date of 22nd May 2016 and poured into an oversized wine glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a clear deep ruby colour with a one finger very light pink head that dissipated slowly ending in patches of foam and nice lacing.
Aroma: Mainly sweet cherry and raspberry. Basically candy berry smells.
Taste: Sweet tart cherry, a little bit artificial but getting to the cough syrup flavours that I like so much.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with light to medium carbonation.
Overall: This was nice, although maybe a little on the sweet side. However unfortunately, according to the wrapping, it seems they add Stevia to the beer. I don’t use sugar substitute sweeteners in anything ever, and I don’t see why I need to start doing so in beers.

4 - Good (buy), Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Beer Reviews, German Dunkelweizen, Germany

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel

Wednesday, 29 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Country: Germany
ABV: 5.3%
Style: German Dunkelweizen
Other Notes: 14 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from website) Our dark wheat beer is impressive with its creamy white foam. A fruity-fresh sweetness and hints of mature bananas harmonise with delicious flavours of roasted malt, sparkling and full-bodied with a light caramel taste on the first sip. An excellent accompaniment from hearty meals and game to chocolate and nut desserts. Brewed according to our centuries-old brewing tradition on the Weihenstephan hill.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.22
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 500ml bottle with a best before date of 16th September 2015 and poured into a weizen glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a hazy copper colour with a nice three finger cream head that stuck around for a long time leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Mainly caramelised banana with hints of bready malts, caramel and a tinge of pear.
Taste: Bready malt base followed by ripe banana, bubblegum and caramel. Hints of grape and raisin in the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium crisp carbonation.
Overall: A very nice dunkelweizen that is very easy to drink. I would buy this again if it was available in Hong Kong, but for now, I will just have to keep bringing it back from Thailand and South Korea.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Witbier, Belgium, Brouwerij van Hoegaarden

Hoegaarden Original White Ale

Friday, 24 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
Country: Belgium
ABV: 4.9%
Style: Witbier

Brewer Description: (from website) 500 years of hard work went into making this beer that features the aroma of orange peel, coriander and herbs that the merry monks imported from sunny Curacao. Speaking of which: pouring Hoegaarden is just like letting the sun fall into your glass: light yellow and naturally murky. And the soft foam adds a cloudy finish. And then there’s the soft taste, light and slightly sweet and sour and with subtle citrus notes… ah, just go ahead and taste it instead of reading about it!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.8
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 2nd March 2016 and poured into a Hoegaarden pint glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a hazy straw yellow with a one finger white head that dissipates slowly into a thin creamy layer with nice curtain like lacing.
Aroma: Starts with wheat bready malt aromas before leading into some banana, honey, spice and bubblegum.
Taste: Some breadiness at the beginning followed by banana, honey sweetness and a tinge or citrus orange and clove to finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.
Overall: A good beer that is refreshing and quite tasty. Internationally, it is probably the most recogniseable and easily accessible witbier. In Hong Kong its price is very competitive as most good craft is at least double the price.

words of another dreamy traveller