Ohhh... My Head... - Winter beer 2007

The most rewarding beer trip of the early months of 2007 was the one to Southampton England, where I met up with my brother who has been living there for some time. A pub crawl around the local pubs and a stop at the nicely stocked beer stire set us up with a good number of beers. Here we also found the highest scoring beer of the season, the hoppy Bowman Ales Quiver Bitter from a freshly started So'ton micro.

Another rewarding evening was one with the Zappa Was Right bunch, where as usual beer from exotic places were served. Amongst a bundle of beers from places such as China, Japan, Cape Verde and Tahiti we actually found quite a treasure in the Japanese microbrewed Baeren Pils. Also two new countries were added to our tally: Guinea and Tibet.

A trip to Portugal provided us with a lot of lagers, bu their are also some more interesting beers to be had in this sunny corner of Europe. At Lusitana and República de Cerveja they are serving their own range of beers, some of which are pretty good.

A decidedly less rewarding trip beer wise was one to Bangladesh. Even if I eventually managed to find a non-alcoholic Bangladeshi beer down there, making our country count rise to 178. I recommend you to read about Hunter Malt Beverage.

The newish pub MOnk's Café had a Dutch beer festival ongoing, and during some visits there we managed to find a couple of new beers, of which the sweet and full bodied Scheldebrouwerij Kerstbier was our winner. Another fun thing was the appearance of the very hoppy beers from Ölands Gårdsbryggeri on Stockholm's pubs, and the birth of the new microbrewery Skebo Bruksbryggeri Both of these looks promising, but in terms of highest score from a Swedish brewer Dugges takes the price with their massive IPA Bollox!

We also had the oppotrunuty to try some Norwegian Christmas beers, and some newish micros from there. Of these we preferred the decidedly American style Berentsen Rav Amber Ale.

We also more or less emptied the stock of Argentinian beers brought back before new years. Of these Shopron Porter, meant to be a Flemish red ale, but coming out more like a bitter with fantastic malt flavour was our winner.

Beers rated January-February 2006

POS

BEER

COUNTRY

Score

JZ

PS

LS

FH

FN

JB

BA

ABV

STYLE

197

Bowman Ales Quiver Bitter, cask

England

4,36

5-

4+

4,5%

Ale, British style

230

Oakleaf Hole Hearted, cask

England

4,32

4+

5-

4,7%

Ale, British style

237

Dugges Bollox!, draught

Sweden

4,31

5-

7,8%

Ale, British style

454

Hampshire Laughing Leprechaun, cask

England

4,18

4+

4+

4,5%

Porter/Stout

594

Ølfabrikken Nytår 2007

Denmark

4,09

4+

3+

4+

4

8,5%

Special

644

Dark Star Espresso Stout

England

4,05

4+

4

4,2%

Porter/Stout

663

Bells Hell Hath No Fury

USA

4,04

4+

7,7%

Ale, Belgian style

663

Baeren Pils

Japan

4,04

4+

5,0%

Lager, Light

663

Dark Star Old Ale, cask

England

4,04

4+

4,0%

Ale, British style

913

Triple fff Stairway, cask

England

4,01

4

4+

4,6%

Ale, British style

913

Bowman Ales Swift One, cask

England

4,01

4

4+

3,8%

Ale, British style

913

Oakham Inferno, cask

England

4,01

4

4+

4,0%

Ale, British style

1130

Scheldebrouwerij Kerstbier

Netherlands

3,90

4

4

9,5%

Ale, Belgian style

1186

Cwmbran Plum Porter

Wales

3,88

4

4

4,8%

Porter/Stout

1294

Shopron Red Ale

Argentina

3,84

4+

3

4+

3

6,2%

Ale, Belgian style

1308

Ølfabrikken Winter Stout

Denmark

3,83

4

4+

4

3-

8,5%

Porter/Stout

1386

Gale's Swing Low

England

3,79

4+

3+

3,8%

Ale, British style

1434

Tröegs The Mad Elf Holiday Ale

USA

3,78

4

11,0%

Special

1434

Mad River Steelhead Double IPA

USA

3,78

4

8,6%

Ale, British style

1434

Southern Tier Harvest Ale 2006

USA

3,78

4

Ale, British style

1434

Gülmen Negra Porter

Argentina

3,78

4

6,5%

Porter/Stout

1434

Berentsens Rav Amber Ale

Norway

3,78

4

5,5%

Ale, British style

1434

Anchor Our Special Ale 2001, aged 5 years

USA

3,78

4

5,5%

Ale, British style

1434

Ölands Amarillo Golden Ale, draught

Sweden

3,78

4

6,4%

Ale, British style

1434

La Rulles Blonde, draught

Belgium

3,78

4

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1434

Ölands Långe Jan

Sweden

3,78

4

5,0%

Ale, British style

1434

Dark Star English Pale Ale, cask

England

3,78

4

4,4%

Ale, British style

2050

La Trappe Blond

Netherlands

3,67

3+

4+

6,5%

Ale, Belgian style

2073

Corsario Negro Red Bitter

Argentina

3,67

4

3

3+

4

5,0%

Ale, British style

2172

Wrangham Station Master, cask

England

3,62

4

3+

4,0%

Ale, British style

2191

Ölands Segerstad Pale Ale

Sweden

3,61

4

3+

3+

3+

3,4%

Ale, British style

2191

Secretos del Monje Negra

Argentina

3,61

4

3+

3+

3+

6,5%

Porter/Stout

2246

Ölands Midvinteröl

Sweden

3,59

3+

4

4

3+

3,4%

Ale, British style

2317

Araucana Rubia

Argentina

3,56

4

3+

4-

3-

4,0%

Lager, Light

2469

Ölands Långe Erik

Sweden

3,51

4-

4,8%

Ale, British style

2469

Nils Oscar Julöl 2006 Ofiltrerad, draught

Sweden

3,51

4-

7,0%

Ale, British style

2469

Burton Bridge Old Expensive Ale, cask

England

3,51

4-

6,5%

Ale, British style

2469

Texels Tripel

Netherlands

3,51

4-

8,5%

Ale, Belgian style

2469

Skebo Bruksöl

Sweden

3,51

4-

4,7%

Ale, British style

2469

Lindeboom Gouverneur Brune

Netherlands

3,51

4-

6,5%

Ale, Belgian style

2469

Eskilstuna Skogstorps India Pale Ale, draught

Sweden

3,51

4-

6,2%

Ale, British style

2469

Hofbräu München Münchner Weisse, draught

Germany

3,51

4-

5,1%

Wheat beer

2469

Brooklyn Monster Ale 2005

USA

3,51

4-

10,8%

Ale, British style

2469

Virserums Äkta Enbärsdricka

Sweden

3,51

4-

2,3%

Special

2469

Hjo Svagdricka

Sweden

3,51

4-

2,0%

Special

2469

Blest Pilsen

Argentina

3,51

4-

4,8%

Lager, Light

2469

Pirkawakka Pale

Japan

3,51

4-

5,2%

Ale, British style

2469

Beck Bräu Lisberger Bock

Germany

3,51

4-

7,0%

Lager, Bock

2469

Fullers London Porter, cask

England

3,51

4-

5,4%

Porter/Stout

2469

Lusitana Pils, draught

Portugal

3,51

4-

Lager, Light

2469

Dugges Britannia 2007, draught

Sweden

3,51

4-

5,4%

Ale, British style

2469

Flowers Original Strong Ale, cask

England

3,51

4-

4,4%

Ale, British style

2469

Broughton Winter Fire, cask

Scotland

3,51

4-

4,2%

Ale, British style

3106

Cardos Stout Cream

Argentina

3,46

4-

3+

3

4-

6,0%

Porter/Stout

3119

Shopron Pale Ale

Argentina

3,45

4-

3-

3+

4

5,5%

Ale, British style

3159

Islay Wort n' Ale

Scotland

3,44

3+

3+

3+

4

9,0%

Special

3271

Keystone Large One, cask

England

3,40

3+

4-

4,3%

Ale, British style

3358

Blest Frambuesa

Argentina

3,38

3+

2+

4

4

7,5%

Special

3672

Fallen Angel Naughty Nun Witbier

England

3,27

3+

3+

3,5%

Wheat beer

3757

Ölands Amarillo Pale Ale

Sweden

3,25

3+

6,5%

Ale, British style

3757

Sigtuna Holiday Booster, draught

Sweden

3,25

3+

8,0%

Ale, Belgian style

3757

Scheldebrouwerij Strandgaper

Netherlands

3,25

3+

6,2%

Ale, Belgian style

3757

Lost Coast Raspberry Brown

USA

3,25

3+

5,0%

Special

3757

Mauldon's Black Adder, cask

England

3,25

3+

5,3%

Porter/Stout

3757

German Country Place Country Red, draught

Thailand

3,25

3+

5,8%

Special

3757

Daleside Witt Bier, cask

England

3,25

3+

4,5%

Wheat beer

3757

HeBrew Genesis 10:10

USA

3,25

3+

10,0%

Ale, British style

3757

Hofbräu München Original, draught

Germany

3,25

3+

5,1%

Lager, Light

3757

Brooklyner Weisse

USA

3,25

3+

5,0%

Wheat beer

3757

Atna Hveteøl

Norway

3,25

3+

5,3%

Wheat beer

3757

Störtebeker Pilsener

Germany

3,25

3+

4,9%

Lager, Light

3757

Primátor Polotmavý 13°, draught

Czech Rep.

3,25

3+

5,5%

Lager, Dark

3757

República da Cerveja Artesanal, draught

Portugal

3,25

3+

5,2%

Lager, Light

3757

República da Cerveja Malte de Whisky, draught

Portugal

3,25

3+

8,0%

Special

3757

Helsinge Vinterstout, draught

Sweden

3,25

3+

5,0%

Porter/Stout

3757

Ossett Silver King, cask

England

3,25

3+

4,3%

Ale, British style

4531

Cardos Scottish Ale

Argentina

3,18

3

3

4-

3+

6,0%

Ale, British style

5123

Ölands Kalmarsunds Öl

Sweden

2,98

3

4,3%

Ale, British style

5123

Grolsch Amber Ale

Netherlands

2,98

3

5,0%

Ale, British style

5123

German Country Place Weizen, draught

Thailand

2,98

3

5,2%

Wheat beer

5123

German Country Place Dunkel, draught

Thailand

2,98

3

5,5%

Lager, Dark

5123

Lindeboom Gouverneur Blonde

Netherlands

2,98

3

6,5%

Ale, Belgian style

5123

Brand Urtyp

Netherlands

2,98

3

5,5%

Lager, Light

5123

Oppigårds Wheat Ale, draught

Sweden

2,98

3

5,0%

Wheat beer

5123

Marston's Old Empire

England

2,98

3

5,7%

Ale, British style

5123

Sandhems Julbrygd

Sweden

2,98

3

2,0%

Special

5123

Fullers Discovery

England

2,98

3

4,2%

Ale, British style

5123

Sagres Bohemia 1835

Portugal

2,98

3

6,6%

Lager, Bock

5123

República da Cerveja Puro Malte, draught

Portugal

2,98

3

5,2%

Lager, Light

5123

República da Cerveja Bock Einbeck, draught

Portugal

2,98

3

6,8%

Lager, Bock

5123

Lusitana Abadia, draught

Portugal

2,98

3

Ale, British style

5123

Loddon Hocus Pocus, cask

England

2,98

3

4,6%

Ale, British style

5573

Hadrian & Border Farne Island, cask

England

2,97

3

3

4,0%

Ale, British style

5674

Wadworth JCB, cask

England

2,93

3-

3+

4,7%

Ale, British style

5700

Sumerios Black Soul Ale

Argentina

2,92

3

3

3

3-

6,0%

Porter/Stout

5763

Araucana Negra de Trigo

Argentina

2,89

4-

3

2+

2-

5,0%

Wheat beer

5909

Courage Directors, cask

England

2,84

3

3-

4,8%

Ale, British style

6001

Jennings Mountain Man, cask

England

2,80

3-

3

4,3%

Ale, British style

6001

Wadworth 6X, cask

England

2,80

3-

3

4,3%

Ale, British style

6011

Mack Juleøl (klasse F)

Norway

2,79

3+

3-

2

3-

6,5%

Lager, Bock

6136

Jopen Adriaan

Belgium

2,74

3

2+

5,0%

Special

6190

Krusovice Jubilejni Ležák, draught

Czech Rep.

2,72

3-

4,7%

Lager, Light

6190

Heines Äkta Enbärsdricka

Sweden

2,72

3-

2,0%

Special

6190

Wangensten Rakøl

Norway

2,72

3-

4,7%

Lager, Light

6190

Asahi Black (Kuronama)

Japan

2,72

3-

5,0%

Lager, Dark

6190

Störtebeker Hanse-Porter

Germany

2,72

3-

4,0%

Porter/Stout

6190

Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay

England

2,72

3-

4,5%

Ale, British style

6190

Super Bock Abadia

Portugal

2,72

3-

6,4%

Lager, Bock

6190

Lusitana Black & Tan, draught

Portugal

2,72

3-

Special

6190

Cintra Mulata

Portugal

2,72

3-

5,3%

Lager, Dark

6496

Hijos de Rivera 1906 Extra

Spain

2,71

3-

4+

2

2

6,5%

Lager, Bock

6693

Mack Ludwig Premium Hvete

Norway

2,63

3-

4-

1+

3

4,7%

Wheat beer

6853

Hansa Juleøl (klasse F)

Norway

2,55

2+

3

2+

3

6,5%

Lager, Bock

6867

CB Juleøl (klasse F)

Norway

2,54

2+

3

2

3+

6,5%

Lager, Bock

6957

Stonehenge Sign of Spring, cask

England

2,49

2+

3-

4,6%

Ale, British style

7054

German Country Place Lager, draught

Thailand

2,45

2+

5,0%

Lager, Light

7054

Eskilstuna Vilsta Wiener

Sweden

2,45

2+

5,3%

Lager, Dark

7054

Puls Extra Lager

Estonia

2,45

2+

5,0%

Lager, Light

7054

Black Sheep Golden Sheep Ale

England

2,45

2+

4,7%

Ale, British style

7054

Gessner Alt-Sumbarcher Dunkel

Germany

2,45

2+

5,2%

Lager, Dark

7054

Jansen Preta Sem Álcool

Portugal

2,45

2+

0,0%

Lager, Dark

7054

Lusitana Weizendunkel, draught

Portugal

2,45

2+

Wheat beer

7054

Spendrups Premium Gold 3.5%

Sweden

2,45

2+

3,5%

Lager, Light

7403

Hampshire King Alfreds, cask

England

2,40

3-

2

3,8%

Ale, British style

7472

Litton Ale, cask

England

2,36

2+

2+

3,8%

Ale, British style

7487

Grolsch Het Kanon

Netherlands

2,36

1+

4-

11,6%

Lager, Bock

7752

Wadworth Henrys Smooth, draught

England

2,19

2

2+

3,6%

Ale, British style

7759

Budels Parel

Netherlands

2,19

2

6,0%

Ale, Belgian style

7759

Hallands Pilsner 3.5%

Sweden

2,19

2

3,5%

Lager, Light

7759

Sibirskaya Korona Rubinovoe

Russia

2,19

2

5,8%

Lager, Dark

7759

Courage Two Hundred Years 1987, aged 20 years

England

2,19

2

Ale, British style

7759

Neumarkter Lammsbräu Alkoholfrei

Germany

2,19

2

0,0%

Lager, Light

7922

Mack Ludwig Premium Pale Ale

Norway

2,18

2+

2-

3+

1+

4,7%

Ale, British style

8261

Mack Ludwig Premium Brown Ale

Norway

1,94

2-

2+

2+

2

4,7%

Ale, British style

8278

Yates (IOW) Undercliff Experience

England

1,93

2

2-

4,1%

Ale, British style

8289

Lindeboom Venloosch Wit

Netherlands

1,92

2-

5,0%

Wheat beer

8289

Guiluxe

Guinea

1,92

2-

5,8%

Lager, Light

8289

Dragon Beer 11P

China

1,92

2-

4,0%

Lager, Light

8289

Blue Diamond Medlar Beer

China

1,92

2-

3,0%

Special

8289

Stary Melnik Krepkoe

Russia

1,92

2-

6,5%

Lager, Bock

8289

Lhasa Beer

Tibet

1,92

2-

4,3%

Lager, Light

8289

Fullers London Pride, cask

England

1,92

2-

4,1%

Ale, British style

8289

Lusitana Weiss, draught

Portugal

1,92

2-

Wheat beer

8289

Lusitana Stout, draught

Portugal

1,92

2-

Porter/Stout

8289

Spendrups Blue Zebra

Sweden

1,92

2-

5,5%

Lager, Light

8719

Dahls Juleøl (klasse F)

Norway

1,70

0+

3+

3+

2-

6,3%

Lager, Bock

8755

3 Horses Malt Beverage

Netherlands

1,66

1+

0,0%

Special

8755

Skol (Guinea)

Guinea

1,66

1+

5,2%

Lager, Light

8755

A. Le Coq Special Stout

Estonia

1,66

1+

6,0%

Porter/Stout

8755

Taj Mahal

India

1,66

1+

4,5%

Lager, Light

8755

Morland Old Speckled Hen 3.5%

England

1,66

1+

3,5%

Ale, British style

8755

Sagres Zer0

Portugal

1,66

1+

0,3%

Lager, Light

8755

Super Bock Twin

Portugal

1,66

1+

0,5%

Lager, Light

8755

Super Bock Preta Sem Álcool

Portugal

1,66

1+

0,0%

Lager, Dark

8755

Super Bock Pêssego Sem Álcool

Portugal

1,66

1+

0,0%

Special

8974

Fallen Angel Kama Sumatra

England

1,58

1+

2-

3,7%

Porter/Stout

9028

Shanghai Dragon

China

1,52

2-

1

4,7%

Lager, Light

9144

Budels Batavier

Netherlands

1,39

1

5,0%

Ale, Belgian style

9144

Hunter Malt Beverage

Bangladesh

1,39

1

0,0%

Special

9144

Oranjeboom Premium Nonalcoholic Malt Beverage

Netherlands

1,39

1

0,0%

Special

9144

Tsingtao Chun Sheng Tai Beer

China

1,39

1

3,3%

Lager, Light

9144

Tsingtao Shanshui 10°

China

1,39

1

4,0%

Lager, Light

9144

Suntory Original Special Beer

Japan

1,39

1

3,1%

Lager, Light

9144

Laziza Pomme

Lebanon

1,39

1

0,0%

Special

9144

Bucket of Blood Beer 1950, aged 55 years

USA

1,39

1

Special

9144

Sagres Chopp

Portugal

1,39

1

4,9%

Lager, Light

9144

Cheers Preta Sem Álcool

Portugal

1,39

1

0,5%

Lager, Dark

9144

Marina

Portugal

1,39

1

5,0%

Lager, Light

9144

Super Bock Cool (2006)

Portugal

1,39

1

4,2%

Lager, Light

9254

Ursus Premium

Romania

1,38

1

2+

1

2

5,3%

Lager, Light

9266

Ostravar Original

Czech Rep.

1,36

1-

3-

1+

2

4,3%

Lager, Light

9299

Lervig Juleøl 6.5%

Norway

1,32

1+

2-

1-

2

6,5%

Lager, Bock

9419

Tabu

Tahiti

1,12

1-

5,0%

Lager, Light

9419

Blue Lion

China

1,12

1-

4,0%

Lager, Light

9419

Yinpuninmengzhipi

China

1,12

1-

2,5%

Special

9419

Takara Barbican

Japan

1,12

1-

0,1%

Lager, Light

9419

Cabaña

El Salvador

1,12

1-

4,6%

Lager, Light

9419

Super Bock Tango

Portugal

1,12

1-

4,0%

Special

9419

Top Budget

France

1,12

1-

4,0%

Lager, Light

9419

Schloss Pils

Germany

1,12

1-

4,8%

Lager, Light

9419

Cintra Pilsen

Portugal

1,12

1-

4,8%

Lager, Light

9610

Carrefour Beer (Beijing)

China

0,86

0+

3,6%

Lager, Light

9610

Strela

Cape Verde

0,86

0+

5,6%

Lager, Light

9610

Germania Lager Premium

Germany

0,86

0+

5,5%

Lager, Light

Rated by: Johan Zetterlund, Per Samuelsson, Lars Samuelsson, Fredrik Huldt, Fredrik Nyström, Jonas Bofjäll and Björn Alnebo

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Updated 2007-03-06 Per Samuelsson