Beer Reviews by SIGMUND

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# Beer Origin Style Score Date
7026 Schneider Weisse Tap 6: Aventinus Weizen Doppelbock Germany Weizenbock 4.8

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

(Bottle). Theoretically I might encounter a better Weizen than this one, but I doubt very much that will ever happen. Murky brown colour, large head, aroma of Paradise: Cloves and other undefinable spices, dried fruits (figs), oak and sandalwood. Oaky cloves flavour with hints of burnt caramel. Alcohol is present, but not overwhelmingly so. Dry aftertaste. This is a thoroughly well made beer!

May 18, 2004
03:36:18 PM
7027 Heineken Lager Netherlands Pale Lager 2.6

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

I used to appreciate its crisp citrus perfumed aroma, often accompanied by a fresh seafood meal - but alas, I grew tired of it. I'm not the only one.

May 18, 2004
03:30:18 PM
7028 Goose Island IPA United States IPA 3.4

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

(355 ml bottle). This was my first American IPA, now available in Norway! Deep golden colour, good head. Lovely hoppy citrussy aroma. I got more pleasure sniffing this beer than I got from drinking it. Flavour is all hops (where are the malts?), dominant initial grapefruity bitterness like I expected (not unpleasant), quite drinkable, but the one-dimensional, medicinal and wormwoodlike bitterness that remains in the aftertaste is not to my liking.

May 18, 2004
03:22:18 PM
7029 Fuller's ESB United Kingdom Extra Special Bitter 3.9

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

One of the best bitters around. Rerate: Cask conditioned at the Blackbird, Earls Court, London. Copper coloured, no head, minimal carbonation. Moderate aroma, initial mellow flavour, then a dominant but pleasant hoppiness. Rerate bottle: 500 ml bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet). Clear amber colour, large fluffy head. Pleasant aroma of citrussy hops and toffee, hints of oak and leather. Flavour has some toffee and nuttiness, but first and foremost a distinct hoppy bitterness from start to finish, grapefruity notes. Hops linger in the long aftertaste. Not quite as good as the cask version, but still very good!

May 1, 2004
07:26:01 PM
7030 Boddingtons Pub Ale United Kingdom Bitter 3.5

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Some of the smoothest stuff you can pour from a can. Perhaps not too much character, but I like it anyhow. Easily accessible even in Norway, a lot better than most of the stuff we get here.

May 1, 2004
07:22:01 PM
7031 Fosters Lager Australia Pale Lager 1.6

Aroma: 3 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

(330 ml bottle, ABV 4.5%): Light golden colour, large head that doesn't last long. Initial fresh Heineken-like aroma that doesn't linger, bland watery flavour, aftertaste has a little strange and unpleasant bitterness in the end. So boring they could have named it "Neville Chamberlain".

May 1, 2004
07:19:01 PM
7032 Singha Thailand Lager 1.8

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 4

Another beer I bought just to get one more country rated! Pleasant aroma when you open the bottle, hardly any aroma in the glass. Very light colour. Flavour is not unpleasant, actually there is hardly any flavour at all. Aftertaste? What aftertaste? (Well, I had this beer with a fairly spicy pizza, but still...) With 6% alcohol and little or no taste, it's probably an OK beer if your intention is to get pissed as fast as possible in the Thailand heat. Down there I guess it will cost you something like 20 cents a bottle - buying it anywhere else is ridiculous.

May 1, 2004
07:13:01 PM
7033 Kingfisher Lager India Pale Lager 2.1

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

(330 ml bottle, brewed by Shepherd Neame, England). I have probably used this beer to wash down some Indian food in England, had to buy it again in Norway to rate it without food (by special order, it's normally sold only in our Indian restarants). Besides being wet and thus fit to help you survive a hot curry, this beer has nothing "Indian" or any other quality that should put it on a beer geek's wish list. Light golden colour, low head, Heineken-like aroma, uninteresting flavour but at least a hint of bitterness. Typical mediocre lager, not good, but not as bad as I expected.

Apr 25, 2004
12:13:25 PM
7034 La Trappe Dubbel / Koningshoeven Dubbel Netherlands Abbey Dubbel 4.4

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

This one certainly has a lot more going than the Blond/Enkel. Moderate aroma of oak, spices, dried fruits and English pipe tobacco (before smoking!) Delightful flavour of gently roasted malts, some yeast and spices. Moreish indeed. Moderate hops in the aftertaste. I'm looking forward to the Triple and Quadruple!

Apr 23, 2004
05:52:23 PM
7035 Delirium Nocturnum Belgium Belgian Strong Ale 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

330 ml mock "stoneware" glass bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%. Chestnut coloured beer with a big and lasting tan head. Lovely aroma of various fruits and spices, hints of farmhouse kitchen and red wine vinegar. The flavour is malty with moderate notes of dried fruits and spices. Nice one.

Apr 23, 2004
05:38:23 PM
7036 La Trappe Blond / Koningshoeven Blonde Netherlands Belgian Ale 3.5

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This was my first Trappist ale, surely most of the others must be better?? Well, it's not a bad sipping beer, but I expected so much more. Lovely aroma when you open the bottle, diminishes considerably in the glass. I started drinking it too cold, but it didn't improve much as it warmed up. Sweetish aftertaste. Maybe I would have liked it more with a solid meal? Definitely not worth the price.

Apr 13, 2004
06:26:13 PM
7037 Lindemans Kriek Belgium Fruit Lambic 3.7

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Rerate: It takes some time getting used to beer with an overwhelming taste of cherries, but dammit - this is GOOD! Sweet and sour cherries galore - but I like it. A nice change of pace - will buy again. I'm upping my rating a few points. Original rating: I bought a bottle today purely out of curiousity. I willingly admit being prejudiced: My attitude is that if I want cherry juice, I buy cherry juice - and if I want beer (yes, I normally do!) then I buy beer. So how do I rate a combination of the two? The aroma was delicious, the flavour - well, it's the best cherry soda I've ever had. But to call it a BEER??? - and worth the price? - nooo! However, REFRESHING is a relevant word.

Apr 13, 2004
06:21:13 PM
7038 Greene King Abbot Ale United Kingdom Extra Special Bitter 4.0

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I quite agree with all the positive things that has been said about this ale by others. Good stuff!

Apr 13, 2004
06:17:13 PM
7039 Leffe Blonde Belgium Belgian Ale 3.5

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I guess Belgian blonds are not my favourite style, the yeast becomes too dominant in both aroma and flavour, not least in this one. Of course it's better than any macro swill, but give me a darker beer, please!

Apr 13, 2004
06:14:13 PM
7040 Leffe Brune Belgium Abbey Dubbel 3.9

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

A helluva lot better than the Leffe Blond! (Guess I'm a malty guy.) Pretty sweet; caramel, chocolate, oak and dried fruits in the aroma, malts (somewhat roasted), caramel and oak in the flavour, hops in the finish, a little too sweet in the aftertaste. Not bad!

Apr 13, 2004
06:11:13 PM
7041 Rodenbach Grand Cru Belgium Flanders Red 4.4

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

330 ml bottle, ABV 6%. Drank it out of a plastic "glass" (sacrilege, I know!) at cellar temperature. Cherry-like aroma with hints of cowshed and ensilage. Flavour is sour/acidic/red wine vinegar-like, with strong barnyard and ensilage elements (not that I normally eat ensilage, but still...). This was my first Flemish red ale, an exciting experience! It will not be my last beer of this style.

Apr 13, 2004
06:09:13 PM
7042 Guinness Extra Stout Canada Foreign / Extra Stout 3.8

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Good of course - but Guinness Draught is much to be preferred.

Apr 13, 2004
06:02:13 PM
7043 Guinness Draught (Can) Ireland Dry Stout 4.2

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Always a winner! - at least when the alternatives are average lagers. The bitter and coffee-like aftertaste may not be a favourite with everyone. Rerate: Well, I'll never turn down a Guinness - but still has to take off a few points. It's good, but not THAT good!

Apr 13, 2004
06:00:13 PM
7044 Guinness Original (bottle) Ireland Dry Stout 4.1

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I too prefer the draught version (nitro can incl.)- but still the original is very, very good! Try it with bacon and eggs - makes you want to eat breakfast all day.

Apr 13, 2004
05:57:13 PM
7045 St. Bernardus Abt 12 Belgium Abbey Quadrupel 4.1

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Dark brown colour, huge off-white to beige head. Aroma and flavour mainly as the first time, but I drank the beer a little colder now, and the sweetness was not overwhelming. I’m upping it a couple points. Original rating: 330 ml capped bottle. I had trouble getting the very hard cap off (no proper opener at hand), and 1/4 of the beer was driven out by the carbonation before I succeeded. Drank it at temp. appr. 14 degrees C. Beer was murky brown with floaties, large tan head. Aroma was malty sweet with prunes, figs, dates, chocolate and cedarwood. Flavour was again malty sweet with prunes, figs, dates and chocolate. No detectable bitterness. A complex beer, but too sweet to be "perfect" IMO.

Apr 13, 2004
05:53:13 PM
7046 Beck's Germany Lager 2.7

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

A commercial but refreshing pilsener - nothing wrong, nothing special. Rerate: Had my first can today (bottles and draught previously). Extremely light coloured, possibly watered down version for Norway? (ABV 4,7%) The one I had on tap in Holland a month ago was very light coloured too. Am I right that the colour was slightly darker a few years ago?? Anyway, it's still a drinkable pils, but not an aroma or flavour that will linger in your memory.

Apr 13, 2004
05:46:13 PM
7047 Coors United States Pale Lager 1.6

Aroma: 3 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 3

Marginally better than Budweiser. And that says the rest.

Apr 13, 2004
05:42:13 PM
7048 Newcastle Brown Ale United Kingdom Brown Ale 3.2

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

(Bottle). A good but somewhat overrated beer. Aggressively carbonated. Better in the Good Old Days when it was stronger. Rerate, draught in Newcastle: I found the colour to be darker brown than the bottled version (can that be?), and the flavour was fuller and richer - even though the pub tried to ruin it by serving it ice cold.

Apr 13, 2004
05:39:13 PM
7049 Budweiser United States Pale Lager 1.6

Aroma: 3 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

It IS better than water - but not much.

Apr 13, 2004
05:36:13 PM
7050 Bass Ale United Kingdom English Pale Ale 3.8

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Great on draught, great bottled. Forget that Bass is now owned by big bad Interbrew - just enjoy it!

Apr 13, 2004
05:33:13 PM