Ohhh... My Head... - Summer tour 2003

In the hot summer of 2003 a small part of the OMH crew went south from Stockholm, heading for the French Atlantic coast. Incidentally a couple of beery places were payed a visit on the way down. The first stop was Bredaryds Wärdshus in the middle of the forests of Småland in southern Sweden. This brewpub has a reputation of making excellent beers, and also boosted a couple large aselection of bottled beers. The only owne beer served at the time we visited, the doppelbock Bredayds Extra Strong Lager was pretty good, but will not make it to the history books as one of their top beers.

Next stop (and running out of gas on autobahn doesn't count as a stop) was Leipzig. We visited the nice little brewery resteurant Brauhaus an der Thomaskirche who made one of the top pilseners we had during the trip, and the unusual brewpub Gasthof & Goseschank Bayerischer Bahnhof, where amongst the four beer we tried we tasted our first gose. Last stop was Sinfonie, a cosy downtown pub with an excellent assortment of beers. Amongst others we had the other existing gose Döllnitzer Ritterguts Gose, brewed by Ernst Bauer. This gose which shares similarities with lambic and berliner weisse ranks as one of my favourite beers during the trip.

The morning after we continued to Memmelsdrf, a village just outside the Franconian beer Mecca Bamberg. The original plan was to hit 6 breweries by, but as one was closed for the day, we only managed 5. We started 3km away from Memmelsdorf, in the tiny village Merkendorf at Hummel-Bräu, where we enjoyed a full range of typical Franconian beer styles, including rauchbier, along with dinner before we continued 50m to Wagner. In Memmelsdorf we lived at the brewery hotel Höhn, which only served their dark, hearty Görchla, and the walk to the next stop, Drei Kronen was only a couples of meters. Drei Kronen offered a small range of tp quality beers, before we made our last walk to Drosendorf and Brauerei Göller.

Switzerland (and Biel/Bienne) was up next. Finally we met up with an old friend Bov. Together with him and his friends we visited the Lago Lodge, where the excellent Seeland beers are brewed and served, we had dinner with his family and ended up having two rating session with the Swiss beer drinking elite. Many thanks to Bov, and the rest of you - I had a wonderful time! The top beer of the whole summer tour was sampled here: Bush Millenium 1999, aged 4 years, which was brought by fiulijn. we also enjoyed many interesting Alsatian microbrews.

On the way from Switzerland to the Atlantic coast we made three brewery stops. Two Fleur de Houblen and 3 Brasseurs (Aubière) were unremarkable brewpub chain like establishemnts. The 3rd was something entirely different. La Ferme de Laubicherie is situated in the middle of the French countryside, and it's a relaxing place where you live on the farm and eat with the family. They also brew a limited amount of beer. Both their beers are flavourful and very unusual. This place certainly ranks as the most charming brewery I've ever visited.

While staying at the coast we enjoyed some of the bottles we had purchased in Germany and Switzerland before turning back home again. We didn't have time for as many beer stops on the way home. However we did stop at Brasserie Bouillon, and at La Ferme au Chene, wher we had the elusive, delicious Marckloff beer, and finally at Le VaudreeAngleur, Liège, a pub which claims to serve 1000+ beers.

However the tour wasn't over when we crossed the Swedish border on the bridge from Denmark. We made a halt in Halmstad where OMH member Cicci now lives, and a rating session there. From there on we continued up the west coast to Ljungskile, where Turisthotellet, one of Sweden's top beer establishemnt lies, and sampled many good beers there.

Beers rated July 2003

POS

BEER

COUNTRY

SCORE

PS

CG

FH

ABV

STYLE

206

Bush Millenium 1999, aged 4 years

Belgium

4,21

5

 

4-

13,0%

Ale, Belgian style

227

Hansa Urbock 2000, aged 3 years

Namibia

4,17

5-

 

4

7,0%

Lager, Bock

387

Seeland Blanche, draught

Switzerland

4,01

4+

 

4

 

Wheat beer

387

Seeland Spéciale, draught

Switzerland

4,01

4+

 

4

 

Special

387

Drei Kronen Pils, draught

Germany

4,01

4+

 

4

 

Lager, Light

387

Wagner Weisse

Germany

4,01

4+

 

4

 

Wheat beer

387

La Ferme au Chene Marckloff, draught

Belgium

4,01

4+

 

4

6,5%

Ale, Belgian style

436

St. Bernardus Watou Tripel Cuvée 2002

Belgium

3,97

4+

 

 

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

585

Bürgerbräu Bamberg Pils

Germany

3,92

5-

 

3+

5,0%

Lager, Light

632

Riquewihr Hollbeer Bière Blanche

France

3,88

4+

 

4-

5,5%

Wheat beer

692

Hummel-Bräu Pils, draught

Germany

3,85

4

 

4

 

Lager, Light

711

Ernst Bauer Döllnitzer Ritterguts Gose, draught

Germany

3,83

5

 

3-

 

Wheat beer

754

Bayerischer Bahnhof Kuppler Weiße, draught

Germany

3,81

4-

 

4+

 

Wheat beer

780

Thomaskirche Helles Pils, draught

Germany

3,80

5-

 

3

 

Lager, Light

843

Hönig Posthörnla Spezial

Germany

3,76

4+

 

3+

5,4%

Special

1023

Wagner Pils

Germany

3,72

4

 

4-

4,9%

Lager, Light

1023

Riquewihr Hollbeer Bière d'Alsace Ambrée

France

3,72

4

 

4-

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1023

Höhn Görchla, draught

Germany

3,72

4

 

4-

 

Lager, Dark

1023

Hummel-Bräu Festbier, draught

Germany

3,72

4

 

4-

 

Lager, Light

1023

Double Soleilmont, aged ?? Years

Belgium

3,72

4

 

4-

 

Ale, Belgian style

1094

Rogue XS I2PA

USA

3,68

4-

 

4

 

Ale, British style

1094

Friart Jean de Nivelles Brune

Belgium

3,68

4-

 

4

 

Ale, Belgian style

1156

Hummel-Bräu Heller Maibock

Germany

3,65

3+

 

4+

7,0%

Lager, Bock

1167

Keesmann Weissbier

Germany

3,63

4+

 

3

4,8%

Wheat beer

1167

Mahr's Hell

Germany

3,63

4+

 

3

4,9%

Lager, Light

1235

Göller Freyungs Weisse

Germany

3,60

4

 

3+

 

Wheat beer

1235

Bayerischer Bahnhof Schaffner Naturtrübes Pils, draught

Germany

3,60

4

 

3+

 

Lager, Light

1294

Lauth Bière de Scharrach Blanche

France

3,56

4-

 

4-

6,0%

Wheat beer

1294

Drei Kronen Stöffla, draught

Germany

3,56

4-

 

4-

 

Special

1371

Göller Drosendorf Lagerbier, draught

Germany

3,52

3+

 

4

 

Lager, Dark

1371

Bayerischer Bahnhof Heizer Schwarzbier, draught

Germany

3,52

3+

 

4

 

Lager, Dark

1371

Bayerischer Bahnhof Original Leipziger Gose, draught

Germany

3,52

3+

 

4

5,2%

Wheat beer

1371

Bredaryds Extra Strong Lager, draught

Sweden

3,52

3+

 

4

 

Lager, Bock

1415

Cervoise Lancelot

France

3,50

4+

2+

4-

6,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1467

Kerstbie

Belgium

3,48

4-

 

 

8,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1578

Weiss Rössl Turmherren Urhell

Germany

3,47

4

 

3

5,0%

Lager, Light

1578

Faust Miltenberger Festbier

Germany

3,47

4

 

3

5,5%

Lager, Light

1578

Keemann Hell

Germany

3,47

4

 

3

4,5%

Lager, Light

1660

Hotteuse Grand Cru

Belgium

3,44

4-

3+

3+

8,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1667

Hartmann Felsen Weisse

Germany

3,44

4-

 

3+

5,2%

Wheat beer

1667

Seeland Brune, draught

Switzerland

3,44

4-

 

3+

 

Lager, Dark

1667

Hummel-Bräu Kellerbier, draught

Germany

3,44

4-

 

3+

 

Lager, Dark

1667

La Ferme de Laubicherie L'Arédienne

France

3,44

4-

 

3+

5,5%

Ale, Belgian style

1753

Wagner Märzen, draught

Germany

3,40

3+

 

4-

 

Lager, Dark

1753

Hummel-Bräu Märzen, draught

Germany

3,40

3+

 

4-

 

Lager, Dark

1753

Weiss Rössl Turmherren Hefeweizen

Germany

3,40

3+

 

4-

5,2%

Wheat beer

1753

La Jamboise de Bister

Belgium

3,40

3+

 

4-

6,5%

Ale, Belgian style

1753

La Merveilleuse de Chevremont, draught

Belgium

3,40

3+

 

4-

7,5%

Ale, Belgian style

1856

Lauth Bière de Scharrach Ambrée

France

3,36

3

 

4

6,0%

Ale, Belgian style

2075

Lauth Bière de Scharrach Blonde

France

3,27

3+

 

3+

6,0%

Ale, Belgian style

2075

Hummel-Bräu Weissbier

Germany

3,27

3+

 

3+

5,2%

Wheat beer

2075

Wagner Ungespundenes Lagerbier, draught

Germany

3,27

3+

 

3+

 

Lager, Dark

2075

Hummel-Bräu Räucherla, draught

Germany

3,27

3+

 

3+

 

Special

2075

Thomaskirche Dunkles Pils, draught

Germany

3,27

3+

 

3+

 

Lager, Dark

2075

La Ferme de Laubicherie Bière de Ferme

France

3,27

3+

 

3+

6,0%

Ale, Belgian style

2173

Lauth Bière de Scharrach Noire

France

3,24

3

 

4-

6,0%

Porter/Stout

2332

Pott's Landbier

Germany

3,22

3+

3-

4-

4,8%

Lager, Dark

2418

Füssener Kellerbier

Germany

3,19

4-

 

3-

5,1%

Lager, Light

2496

Rothaus Pils Tannen Zäpfle

Germany

3,15

3+

 

3

5,1%

Lager, Light

2496

Fleur de Houblon La Girondine, draught

France

3,15

3+

 

3

 

Ale, Belgian style

2496

Dojlidy Jakt Porter 2001, aged 2 years

Poland

3,15

3+

 

3

9,0%

Porter/Stout

2496

Blonde du Bouffay

France

3,15

3+

 

3

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

2597

Drei Kronen Lager, draught

Germany

3,11

3

 

3+

 

Lager, Dark

2647

Huyghe-Melle Black Stout

Belgium

3,09

2

4+

3+

9,0%

Porter/Stout

2745

OC'ALE Bière Blanche

France

3,05

5-

 

1

6,0%

Wheat beer

2788

Caulier L'Ampounette de Redu

Belgium

3,03

2+

4+

3-

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

2802

Hop Back Entire Stout

England

3,02

3+

 

3-

4,5%

Porter/Stout

2802

Fleur de Houblon l'Ambrée, draught

France

3,02

3+

 

3-

 

Ale, Belgian style

2802

Blanche du Bouffay

France

3,02

3+

 

3-

7,0%

Wheat beer

2802

Lancelot Blanche Hermine

France

3,02

3+

 

3-

4,0%

Wheat beer

2802

Egger Albertus Dunkles Spezialbier

Switzerland

3,02

3+

 

3-

5,2%

Lager, Dark

2861

Natural Mystick

France

3,00

3

3-

3+

5,8%

Special

2904

Fleur de Houblon La Blonde, draught

France

2,99

3

 

3

 

Lager, Light

3120

Les 3 Brasseurs la Blanche de Lille, draught

France

2,95

3-

 

3+

 

Wheat beer

3120

Baladin Nöel

Italy

2,95

3-

 

3+

9,0%

Ale, Belgian style

3197

Les 3 Brasseurs la Blonde, draught

France

2,91

2+

 

4-

 

Ale, British style

3197

Fulda Schwarzer Hahn Oringinal Rhöner Landbier

Germany

2,91

2+

 

4-

 

Lager, Dark

3219

Ambrée du Bouffay

France

2,90

3+

 

2+

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

3284

Rochfortoise La Zythone de Mars

Belgium

2,86

3

 

3-

5,5%

Ale, Belgian style

3372

Hönig Pils

Germany

2,83

3-

 

3

4,8%

Lager, Light

3372

Kuchlbauer Aloysius

Germany

2,83

3-

 

3

7,2%

Wheat beer

3742

Samuel Adam's Summer Ale

USA

2,66

2+

 

3

5,2%

Wheat beer

3742

Les 3 Brasseurs l'Ambrée, draught

France

2,66

2+

 

3

 

Ale, British style

3742

La Poiluchette Cuvée du Chateau Blonde

Belgium

2,66

2+

 

3

7,5%

Ale, Belgian style

3905

Urbanus Kellerweizen

Germany

2,58

3-

 

2+

5,5%

Wheat beer

4024

Binding Kutscher Alt

Germany

2,50

2

 

3

5,0%

Ale, German style

4060

Huyghe-Melle St. Idesbald Dubbel

Belgium

2,49

2+

 

 

8,0%

Ale, Belgian style

4122

Floris Apple

Belgium

2,48

3-

 

 

3,5%

Special

4221

Reh-Pils

Germany

2,41

2+

 

2+

4,9%

Lager, Light

4221

Rosengarten Einsiedler Dinkel

Switzerland

2,41

2+

 

2+

4,5%

Lager, Light

4349

Les 3 Brasseurs la Scotch, draught

France

2,34

2-

 

3

 

Ale, British style

4399

Bourbon

Reunion

2,29

2+

 

2

 

Lager, Light

4399

Menabrea Birra del 150 Anniversario Blonda

Italy

2,29

2+

 

2

4,8%

Lager, Light

4449

Egger Maximus

Switzerland

2,25

2

 

2+

5,2%

Lager, Light

4520

Reh Ellertaler Landbier

Germany

2,22

2-

 

3-

5,5%

Lager, Dark

4520

Rosengarten Einsiedler Lagerbier Hell

Switzerland

2,22

2-

 

3-

4,8%

Lager, Light

4579

Phuket Lager Beer

Thailand

2,17

2+

 

2-

5,0%

Lager, Light

4675

Fleur de Houblon La Blanche, draught

France

2,09

2-

 

2+

 

Wheat beer

4675

Unibroue Éphémère (Hiver 2002)

Canada

2,09

2-

 

2+

5,5%

Special

4691

La Bouillonaise Brune

Belgium

2,08

2

1+

3-

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

4723

Hönig Postillon Weiße

Germany

2,04

2+

 

1+

4,9%

Wheat beer

4784

Verhaeghe Vera Blonde, draught

Belgium

1,99

2-

 

 

 

Lager, Light

4827

Boxer Old

Switzerland

1,97

2-

 

2

5,2%

Lager, Light

4898

Prévôtoise Rousse Moine

Switzerland

1,88

2

 

1+

 

Ale, Belgian style

4898

Prévôtoise Carnaval (Schnappou)

Switzerland

1,88

2

 

1+

5,3%

Ale, Belgian style

5005

Huyghe-Melle Campus Premium, draught

Belgium

1,74

1+

 

 

 

Lager, Light

5034

Schutzenberger La Bière de Noël

France

1,73

1-

 

3-

6,0%

Lager, Bock

5045

Felsenau Schümli

Switzerland

1,72

2-

 

1+

2,9%

Lager, Light

5086

Hong Kong Dragons Back IPA

HongKong

1,64

1

 

2

5,2%

Ale, British style

5110

Fischer Doreleï

France

1,61

1-

 

2+

6,3%

Special

Rated by: Per Samuelsson, Cecilia Gårdebäck & Fredrik Huldt

To the News page

Updated 2003-10-27 Per Samuelsson