Ohhh... My Head... - On the road - Winter '03-'04

The darker months (on the northern hemisphere) drove your's truly away on several trips. The first one took me around eastern/central Europe, but there was limited time for beer hunting. Of the new beers Kitzmann Hefe-Weizen was by far the best.

Next trip was Bangkok, Thailand. This will probably sound unlikely to many, but there are at least 4 brewpubs in Bangkok. Of these the giantic german inspired Tawandang was my favourite, and their Weizen was well made and excellently suited for the Thai climate.

Vienna has more brewpubs to visit than what even the hardiest beer hunter can cope with in one weekend. Some of them are truly excellent. Take the Siebenstern for instance. Not only do they brew traditional malt accented Austrian style beers, but also experimental ones such as a superb Rauchbier and a American style India Pale Ale. Another good one was Nussdorfer Brauhaus, brewers of subtle, malty beers in a range of styles. Wieden-Bräu, Medl-Bräu and Salm-Bräu were all more traditional, but also all clearly worth a visit.

I was also much looking forward to a visit to 1516 Brewing Company, who listed a multitude of beers on their homepage, but at the time I visited the beer supply was nearly dry and the service was close to non-existant. I know others have had a good time there, so I take it they just had a bad day...

Lyon has at least two brewpubs. Of these Ninkasi's beers are well made, stylish and experimental, while Chantecler's were problematic at the time I visited. The best beer in town was surprisingly Ninkasi Berliner Weisse. A Berliner weisse in France?

Apart from a quick tour to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which isn't a hotspot for microbreweries, the next destination was Brazil. There are many regional brewers and a wealth of industrial lagers made in this huge country, but brewpubs are hard to find. After spending many hours searching São Paulo I found Castelões, a pizza restaurant/brewery. Their beers weren't outstanding, but clearly above the regular macros. In Rio de Janeiro's outskirt there is a distributer of fine beers including Brazilian microbrews. You can read more about them in Spring Sessions.

Guangzhou in China is home to approximately a gazillion people. It is also home to some not very interesting breweries. However there is at least one artisanal beer made - at the Ramada Pearl Hotel of all places. This beer wasn't exaclty touted all over the place though, so good luck to everyone trying to locate it...

HongKong is only a short trip away from Guangzhou. While most beers available in HongKong is if possible even blander than in mainland China there is one bright oasis in this beer desert: The East End Brewery. This is not really a brewery, but their house beers are being made for them by the local microbrewery. Mind you, these beers are not fantastic, but they do posses some character. The range of this pub does not stop there, as the also serve plenty of microbrewed beers from US, UK and Belgium.

Beers rated Nov. 2003 - March 2004 somewhere around the world

POS

BEER

COUNTRY

SCORE

PS

ABV

STYLE

180

Nussdorfer Old Whiskey Beer, draught

Austria

4,23

5-

5,5%

Special

180

7Stern Rauch Märzen, draught

Austria

4,23

5-

5,1%

Special

468

7Stern India Pale Ale, draught

Austria

3,98

4+

4,4%

Ale, British style

468

7Stern Märzen, draught

Austria

3,98

4+

5,2%

Lager, Dark

1000

Kitzmann Hefe-Weizen

Germany

3,73

4

5,6%

Wheat beer

1000

Nussdorfer Doppelhopfen Hell, draught

Austria

3,73

4

4,2%

Lager, Light

1000

Nussdorfer Thomas Zwickl, draught

Austria

3,73

4

5,1%

Lager, Dark

1000

Nussdorfer Sir Henry's English Stout, draught

Austria

3,73

4

5,2%

Porter/Stout

1000

Ninkasi Berliner Weisse

France

3,73

4

5,4%

Wheat beer

1000

Ninkasi Blanche - Bawarian Weizen, draught

France

3,73

4

4,8%

Wheat beer

1000

Mendocino Eye of the Hawk Select Ale

USA

3,73

4

8,0%

Ale, British style

1621

Freiberger Premium Pils

Germany

3,48

4-

4,9%

Lager, Light

1621

Tawandang Weizen, draught

Thailand

3,48

4-

5,5%

Wheat beer

1621

Highlander Märzen, draught

Austria

3,48

4-

Lager, Dark

1621

Highlander Weizen, draught

Austria

3,48

4-

Wheat beer

1621

Fischer Bräu Helles, draught

Austria

3,48

4-

Lager, Light

1621

Nussdorfer St. Thomas Brau, draught

Austria

3,48

4-

5,0%

Ale, German style

1621

Wieden Bräu Helles, draught

Austria

3,48

4-

Lager, Light

1621

7Stern Wiener Helles, draught

Austria

3,48

4-

4,8%

Lager, Light

1621

Ninkasi Ambrée - English Pale Ale, draught

France

3,48

4-

4,5%

Ale, British style

1621

Baden Baden Premium Bock

Brasil

3,48

4-

5,5%

Lager, Bock

2410

Taurus Head Butt Strong Ale, draught

Thailand

3,23

3+

Ale, British style

2410

Highlander Lager, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

Lager, Light

2410

Highlander Stout, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

Porter/Stout

2410

Hirter Morchl

Austria

3,23

3+

5,0%

Lager, Dark

2410

Medl-Bräu Helles, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

Lager, Light

2410

Wieden Bräu Hanfbier, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

Special

2410

Wieden Bräu Märzen, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

Lager, Dark

2410

Salm-Bräu 1842 Pils, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

Lager, Light

2410

7Stern Prager Dunkles, draught

Austria

3,23

3+

4,5%

Lager, Dark

2410

Ninkasi Noire - Stout, draught

France

3,23

3+

4,8%

Porter/Stout

2410

Ninkasi Bière de Saison - La Rousse, draught

France

3,23

3+

7,0%

Ale, British style

2410

Ninkasi Blonde - Classic Ale, draught

France

3,23

3+

4,5%

Ale, British style

3209

Zatec Böhmisch Export 12º

Czech Rep.

2,98

3

5,0%

Lager, Light

3209

Brek Chiara, draught

Italy

2,98

3

5,0%

Ale, British style

3209

Tawandang Dunken, draught

Thailand

2,98

3

4,5%

Lager, Dark

3209

Brew Pavilion Wiezen, draught

Thailand

2,98

3

5,5%

Wheat beer

3209

Villacher Zwickl, draught

Austria

2,98

3

5,0%

Lager, Light

3209

Ambulanz Weihnachtsbier, draught

Austria

2,98

3

5,0%

Special

3209

Ambulanz Altbier, draught

Austria

2,98

3

4,9%

Ale, German style

3209

Medl-Bräu Germischtes, draught

Austria

2,98

3

Lager, Dark

3209

Medl-Bräu Dunkles, draught

Austria

2,98

3

Lager, Dark

3209

Medl-Bräu Märzen, draught

Austria

2,98

3

Lager, Light

3209

Brigitta-Bräu Helles, draught

Austria

2,98

3

Lager, Light

3209

Salm-Bräu Kloster-Malz Dunkel, draught

Austria

2,98

3

Lager, Dark

3209

Salm-Bräu Helles, draught

Austria

2,98

3

4,8%

Lager, Light

3209

Salm-Bräu Wiener Märzen, draught

Austria

2,98

3

5,2%

Lager, Dark

3209

1516 Candela Sugar Loaf Ale, draught

Austria

2,98

3

Special

3209

Castelões Chopp Escuro, draught

Brasil

2,98

3

Lager, Dark

3209

Hong Kong Aldrich Bay Pale Ale, draught

HongKong

2,98

3

4,9%

Ale, British style

3209

Ramada Pearl Hotel Beer, draught

China

2,98

3

Lager, Light

3882

Aass Halling Pilsner

Norway

2,73

3-

4,7%

Lager, Light

3882

Tawandang Lager, draught

Thailand

2,73

3-

5,0%

Lager, Light

3882

Brew Pavilion Larger, draught

Thailand

2,73

3-

5,0%

Lager, Light

3882

Londoner's Pride Cream Bitter, draught

Thailand

2,73

3-

Ale, British style

3882

Londoner's London Pilsner 33, draught

Thailand

2,73

3-

Lager, Light

3882

Nussdorfer Kutscherbier, draught

Austria

2,73

3-

2,9%

Lager, Light

3882

Brigitta-Bräu Schnitt, draught

Austria

2,73

3-

Lager, Dark

3882

Salm-Bräu Weizen, draught

Austria

2,73

3-

4,8%

Wheat beer

3882

1516 Schnitt, draught

Austria

2,73

3-

Lager, Dark

3882

Bourganel Bière aux Myrtilles

France

2,73

3-

5,0%

Special

3882

Bourganel Bière aux Marrons

France

2,73

3-

5,0%

Special

3882

Ninkasi Bière Fruitée, draught

France

2,73

3-

5,0%

Special

3882

Castelões Chopp Claro, draught

Brasil

2,73

3-

Lager, Light

3882

Caracu

Brasil

2,73

3-

5,3%

Porter/Stout

3882

Baden Baden Cristal Pilsen

Brasil

2,73

3-

3,8%

Lager, Light

3882

Hong Kong Too Soo Brew, draught

HongKong

2,73

3-

4,5%

Lager, Dark

4442

Trio Kragerø Pilsner

Norway

2,48

2+

4,7%

Lager, Light

4442

Sternburg Export

Germany

2,48

2+

5,2%

Lager, Light

4442

Taurus Twister Wheat, draught

Thailand

2,48

2+

Wheat beer

4442

Ambulanz Paracelsus Hausbier, draught

Austria

2,48

2+

5,0%

Lager, Light

4442

Ambulanz Bockbier, draught

Austria

2,48

2+

Lager, Bock

4442

Schladminger Märzen

Austria

2,48

2+

5,1%

Lager, Light

4442

Brigitta-Bräu Dunkles, draught

Austria

2,48

2+

Lager, Dark

4442

Brigitta-Bräu Schwarzes, draught

Austria

2,48

2+

Lager, Dark

4442

Wieden Bräu Prager Dunkles, draught

Austria

2,48

2+

Lager, Dark

4442

Chantecler Blonde, draught

France

2,48

2+

5,4%

Lager, Light

4442

Primus Chopp Claro, draught

Brasil

2,48

2+

Lager, Light

4442

Brahma Chopp Escuro, draught

Brasil

2,48

2+

Lager, Dark

4442

Kaiser Pilsen

Brasil

2,48

2+

4,5%

Lager, Light

4442

Kingway 12º

China

2,48

2+

3,7%

Lager, Light

4442

Hong Kong Spring Lager, draught

HongKong

2,48

2+

Lager, Light

4442

Tsingtao Century 2000

China

2,48

2+

4,0%

Lager, Light

4442

Tsingtao Draft Beer

China

2,48

2+

4,0%

Lager, Light

4895

Taurus Mama Bull Pilsner, draught

Thailand

2,23

2

Lager, Light

4895

Villacher Dunkel, draught

Austria

2,23

2

4,9%

Lager, Dark

4895

Chantecler Bíère au Gingembre, draught

France

2,23

2

Special

4895

Chantecler Rousse, draught

France

2,23

2

6,4%

Ale, British style

4895

Cintra Cerveja Pilsen

Brasil

2,23

2

4,7%

Lager, Light

4895

Bavaria Chopp, draught

Brasil

2,23

2

Lager, Light

4895

Primus Chopp Escuro, draught

Brasil

2,23

2

Lager, Dark

4895

Nova Schin Cerveja Sem Álcool

Brasil

2,23

2

0,5%

Lager, Light

4895

Kingway 11º

China

2,23

2

3,4%

Lager, Light

4895

Harbin Premium Lager

China

2,23

2

5,5%

Lager, Light

4895

Zhujiang Cool Beer

China

2,23

2

0,5%

Special

4895

Bia Hà Nôi

Vietnam

2,23

2

4,2%

Lager, Light

5239

Taurus Killer Bee Lager, draught

Thailand

1,98

2-

Lager, Light

5239

Chantecler Bière au Miel, draught

France

1,98

2-

Special

5239

Bavaria Premium

Brasil

1,98

2-

4,8%

Lager, Light

5239

Brahma Malzbier

Brasil

1,98

2-

3,7%

Lager, Dark

5239

Bohemia Cerveja Pilsen

Brasil

1,98

2-

5,0%

Lager, Light

5239

Kronenbier Sem Álcool

Brasil

1,98

2-

0,5%

Lager, Light

5239

Tsingtao Great Ocean Beer

China

1,98

2-

3,4%

Lager, Light

5239

Zhujiang Draft Jingpin Beer 11°

China

1,98

2-

4,0%

Lager, Light

5239

Licher Export, draught

Germany

1,98

2-

Lager, Light

5489

Grain d'Orge St. Martin

France

1,73

1+

3,7%

Lager, Light

5489

Kaiser Summer Draft

Brasil

1,73

1+

4,5%

Lager, Light

5489

Cerpa Export

Brasil

1,73

1+

5,3%

Lager, Light

5489

Skol Beats

Brasil

1,73

1+

5,2%

Lager, Light

5489

Haizhu Beer 10º

China

1,73

1+

4,0%

Lager, Light

5489

Yanjing Beer 12º Extra

China

1,73

1+

4,3%

Lager, Light

5572

Zipfer Sparkling

Austria

1,66

1-

5,3%

Lager, Light

5689

BIP BG Svetlo Pivo

Serbia

1,48

1

Lager, Light

5689

7Stern Chilli, draught

Austria

1,48

1

5,2%

Special

5689

Chantecler Noire, draught

France

1,48

1

Porter/Stout

5689

Skol (Brazil), draught

Brasil

1,48

1

4,7%

Lager, Light

5689

Brahma Extra

Brasil

1,48

1

5,5%

Lager, Light

5689

Antarctica Malzbier

Brasil

1,48

1

4,0%

Lager, Dark

5689

Bavaria Sem Álcool

Brasil

1,48

1

0,5%

Lager, Light

5689

Tsingtao Dazhong

China

1,48

1

4,7%

Lager, Light

5689

Zhujiang 8°

China

1,48

1

3,1%

Lager, Light

5689

Zhujiang 10°

China

1,48

1

3,6%

Lager, Light

5689

Zhujiang Draft Beer 10°

China

1,48

1

3,6%

Lager, Light

5826

Meteor Mortimer

France

1,23

1-

7,2%

Special

5826

Hainan Anchor Light

China

1,23

1-

4,4%

Lager, Light

5826

Haizhu Beer 12º

China

1,23

1-

4,7%

Lager, Light

5919

Zhujiang White Beer

China

0,98

0+

3,5%

Wheat beer

5964

Beijing Yanjing Draft Beer 11º

China

0,73

0

4,0%

Lager, Light

Rated by: Per Samuelsson

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Updated 2004-06-14 Per Samuelsson