Tag Archives: 2016

2016 My Ten Most Memorable Beers

Obviously this post is a bit late… So, 2016 came and went, I mean its already mid-January 2017! Over 2016, I managed to try many many great beers, especially with a long trip to Europe over the summer which included Belgium and Denmark. This list of most memorable beers is not a list of beers that I rated most highly throughout this time, but simply, just as it says, most memorable to me. It includes all the beers that I’ve tried, including at tastings (usually at least 100ml), beer festivals or whatnot, and it does not matter whether I have reviewed them here or not. There is also no limit per brewery or per style, and is just listed in alphabetical order.

  • 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze Cuvée Armand & Gaston | Belgium | Lambic (Gueuze)
  • 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek van Schaerbeekse Krieken | Belgium | Lambic (Fruit)
  • Cantillon Carignan | Belgium | Lambic (Fruit)
  • Cantillon Lou Pepe Framboise | Belgium | Lambic (Fruit)
  • De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis Port Charlotte (peated) BA | Netherlands | Imperial Stout
  • Hill Farmstead Arthur | USA | Saison
  • Mikkeller Spontantripleblueberry | Denmark | Lambic (Fruit)
  • Põhjala x To Øl Cellar Series Taanilinn Cognac BA | Estonia | Imperial Stout
  • Sante Adairius West Ashley | USA | Wild Ale
  • Tilquin Oude (Gueuze Tilquin)² À l’ancienne | Belgium | Lambic (Gueuze)

Interestingly, despite the IPA and Imperial IPA likely easily being my two most drank styles over the year (including a special fresh IPA tasting in Hong Kong that included a whole bunch of Treehouse, Trillium, Alchemist and Monkish beers), none of them made this list that is dominated by eight sour beers and two Imperial Stouts.

I have reviewed all the beers on this list except Hill Farmstead Arthur, which I had at our 2016 Hill Farmstead Christmas party tasting (post to come – ‘I think…’) at Club Qing. But at a tasting that also included Anna, Convivial Suaréz (Grassroots), Dorothy, Earl, Edith, Everett, Fear and Trembling, Florence, Genealogy, and Twilight of the Idols; Arthur ended up being my favourite. Brief TN – sour, tart, funk, lemon, straw and peach.

Anyway, feel free comment on what was your most memorable beers of 2016, and carry on drinking! You can always check out what I am drinking in 2017 on this blog, Beer Advocate, Rate Beer, Untapped and Instagram. Cheers!

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Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper 2016

Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 10.9%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian ale brewed with spices.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.31
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 17th August 2026. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A dark amber brown colour with a big three finger off white head that had good retention and left great sticky lacing.
Aroma: Caramel, sweet malts, dark fruit plum and raisins with a hint of chocolate.
Taste: Sweet caramel and toffee, plum, raisins, candied sugar, black coffee bitterness, orange, spices and booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: It’s probably overly sweet for my liking. In addition there is quite a lot of booze coming through especially as it warms and in the end, probably too much.

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Mikkeller X’mas Porter 2016 Til Fra Via

Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 8%
Style: American Imperial Porter
Other Notes: Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij. Adjuncts – Vanilla Sugar (0.9%), Coriander Seeds (0.3%), Star Anise (0.3%), Cinnamon (0.3%) and Cloves (0.1%)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Holiday Ale brewed with spices.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.88
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 16th August 2021. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a nice two finger brown head that had decent retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, cinnamon and cloves. I want to say it kind of reminds me a bit of banana cake.
Taste: Starts sweet-ish before turning bitter especially on the finish. Dark fruit plums and prunes, roasted malts, smokey, char, dark chocolate, spices and a hint of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Quite a nice Imperial Porter with spices, but perhaps a touch too much smoke and char for my liking.

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Sierra Nevada x Mahrs Bräu Oktoberfest 2016

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. x Mahrs Bräu
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: German Oktoberfest/Märzen
Other Notes: Fall seasonal, one time only

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We’ve partnered with Mahrs Bräu, one of Germany’s most highly regarded brewers, to create a golden-hued festival beer right here in the USA. Using traditional techniques, heritage German barley, and the Record hop varietal – a nearly forgotten German-grown hop – we’ve created the most authentic take on the style this side of the Atlantic.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.27
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle packaged on 14th July 2016 and poured into a Mikkeller pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden colour with a less than one finger white head that dissipated quickly with minimal sparse lacing.
Aroma: Grassy, hay, grain, sweet bready and maybe a touch of honey.
Taste: Grassy, grain, slightly sweet honey, pilsner malt, lightly floral and bready.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light to medium bodied with light to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Slightly sweet for me, and I was expecting more carbonation, but not bad.

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