Ohhh... My Head...

We've sampled pleny of good beers during the first half of summer '02, and we have many to thank. First in line is Bov who gave us a load of mainlySwiss and French microbrews. This time his beers were better than ever, and included the superb Swiss belgian style barley wine Bäre-Bräu Vollmond-Triple and the well balanced French witbier Uberach Bière Blanche.

We also gottwo very special beers from Gusler: Alesmith Speedway Stout 2002 a new coffee flavoured mega-stout from Californian specialty brewer Alesmith and Stone Russian Imperial Stout, probably the best balanced example of the rare style existing.

Sandro Regusci managed once again to find us a new country: Grenada.

I also owe the Danish squad at RateBeer a big thanks for their company and assistance in Copenhagen, as well as my lovely girlfriend who brought us 20 new Lithuanian beers. So to all of you

THANKS!!!

We also managed to for the first time sample beers from the newish Finnish microbrewery Stadin Panimo. Their Stadin Dubbel is sheer world class, and the other beers we sampled were not far behind. It is hard to say as a Swede, but now I sincerely believe that the best Nordic brewery is Finnish... Still the best scoring beer was a Swedish cask lager: Jämtlands Real Bärnsten which is more like a chewy bottom fermented IPA ran away with first place. Third place was an oddity. An American style pale ale, brewed in Holland. De Schans Lentebier is a near perfect, bitter and light bodied ale.

The trip to Copenhagen was very positive. It was good to see that the formerly dull Danish beerscene is now much revived, and there are a couple of new experimantal breweries starting up, such as Brøckhouse in Hillerød and Svaneke Bryghus on Bornholm. The latter brews the great altbier Bornholmer Bryg Mørk Guld. As Denmark seem to be free from many of the stupid and rigurous laws that are plaguing brewers in other Nordic countries I have no doubt that Denmark will very soon be the leading craft brewing nation in Scandinavia.

Most Lithuanian beers were standard lagers, or exrta strong lagers, but there was a few exceptions. Gubernija Kvietinis Baltas Alus is a credible hefeweizen, and Tauras Pilsneris a fine pilsener.

PS

Beers rated May 25th 2002

POS

BEER

COUNTRY

SCORE

JZ

LS

CG

FH

LG

OH

MH

FN

NG

ABV

STYLE

44

Jämtlands Real Bärnsten, cask

Sweden

4,40

 

5

 

 

4+

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Lager, Dark

66

Stadin Dubbel

Finland

4,28

 

5

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,3%

Ale, Belgian style

116

De Schans Lentebier

Netherlands

4,18

4

5-

4+

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

6,5%

Ale, British style

167

Stone Russian Imperial Stout

USA

4,09

4

5

5-

3

3

 

4-

 

 

5-

4

9,5%

Porter/Stout

258

Uberach Bière Blanche

France

3,98

4

5-

4-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,8%

Wheat beer

263

Bäre-Bräu Vollmond-Triple

Switzerland

3,98

4-

5-

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,0%

Ale, Belgian style

268

Alesmith Speedway Stout 2002

USA

3,97

4-

4+

 

 

 

4+

 

4-

3+

 

 

12,0%

Porter/Stout

282

Diamond Ruisolut

Finland

3,95

4+

4-

4+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,5%

Special

473

Jämtlands Postiljon ESB, cask

Sweden

3,81

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,8%

Ale, British style

512

Nynäshamn Realholmens Ale, cask

Sweden

3,77

 

4-

 

 

4+

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,2%

Ale, British style

549

Klein Duimpje Springbok

Netherlands

3,75

3+

4+

3+

 

 

 

4+

 

 

 

 

7,0%

Lager, Bock

568

Bornholmer Bryg Mørk Guld

Denmark

3,74

4+

4+

3+

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

6,4%

Ale, German style

606

Tuborg Classic Hvede

Denmark

3,71

3+

4+

4

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

4,6%

Wheat beer

638

La Noisette d'Andenne

Belgium

3,69

3+

5-

3+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,5%

Ale, Belgian style

643

Stadin Trippel

Finland

3,69

 

4

 

 

4-

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,7%

Ale, Belgian style

718

Hertog Jan Tripel

Netherlands

3,66

4

3+

4-

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

8,5%

Ale, Belgian style

800

Stadin Barley Wine 2001, aged 1 year

Finland

3,60

 

4+

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,1%

Ale, British style

827

La Sorcière de Mabichon

France

3,57

3+

4

4-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,5%

Porter/Stout

831

The Shipyard Summer Ale

USA

3,57

3

3+

4

3+

4

 

3+

 

 

3+

4+

5,0%

Ale, British style

984

Topvar Marina

Slovakia

3,46

3+

4-

4-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Lager, Dark

994

Sierrvoise Noire

Switzerland

3,46

3-

4-

4+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,0%

Porter/Stout

1000

Prévôtoise La Bière du Pavillon Brune

Switzerland

3,45

4

3

4-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,3%

Porter/Stout

1046

Stadin Old Porter, draught

Finland

3,44

 

4

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,1%

Porter/Stout

1079

Dommelsch Winterbok Bier

Netherlands

3,42

3+

4+

3+

 

 

 

3-

 

 

 

 

7,0%

Lager, Bock

1149

Sierrvoise Rousse

Switzerland

3,38

3+

4

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Ale, British style

1284

Mansfield Original Bitter

England

3,32

 

3+

3+

3

4-

 

3

 

 

4

3

3,9%

Ale, British style

1301

Bush Beer 7%

Belgium

3,31

2+

3+

4-

 

 

 

4+

 

 

 

 

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1354

Temno Lasko

Slovenia

3,28

3+

3

3+

3

4

 

3

 

 

3

4-

5,9%

Lager, Dark

1391

Mallaskoski Vahva Tumma Kuohu

Finland

3,27

4-

3+

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,5%

Lager, Dark

1432

La Gauloise Blonde

Belgium

3,24

2+

3+

4-

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

6,1%

Ale, Belgian style

1445

Tauras Pilsneris

Lithuania

3,24

3

3+

3

3

3

 

4

 

 

4

3-

4,6%

Lager, Light

1487

Gubernija Kvietinis Baltas Alus

Lithuania

3,22

4

3

4-

4-

3

 

3

 

 

3

2-

4,5%

Wheat beer

1491

De Drie Ringen Lentebier

Netherlands

3,22

3-

4

3

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1494

Hartwall Roggenbier

Finland

3,22

 

3

 

 

4-

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,7%

Special

1598

Riedenburger Brauhaus Pils

Germany

3,19

3-

4

3+

4-

3-

 

3-

 

 

 

3

4,7%

Lager, Light

1623

Union Crni Baron

Slovenia

3,18

4

3+

2+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,2%

Lager, Dark

1623

Koff Velvet

Finland

3,18

4

3+

2+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,7%

Lager, Dark

1672

Benediktinerabtei Plankstetten Pilsner

Germany

3,15

2

4

3

3

4-

 

3+

 

 

 

3

4,9%

Lager, Light

1752

Hertog Jan Dubbel

Netherlands

3,10

3+

3-

3+

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

7,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1756

Hertog Jan Winterbier

Netherlands

3,10

3+

3

3-

 

 

 

4-

 

 

 

 

9,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1772

Schijndel Meibok

Netherlands

3,09

3

2+

4

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

6,5%

Lager, Bock

1799

Grande Rivière Ambrée

France

3,08

2

4

3+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,0%

Ale, Belgian style

1808

Prévôtoise La Bière des Gorges Blonde

Switzerland

3,07

3+

3+

3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,3%

Ale, Belgian style

1826

Olvi Tumma Olut

Finland

3,06

4-

3

3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,3%

Lager, Dark

1833

Carlsberg Semper Ardens Bock

Denmark

3,06

3-

4-

3

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

7,1%

Special

1870

Horn Imperial

Lithuania

3,04

4-

4-

2+

3

2

 

3-

 

 

4

3

7,0%

Lager, Bock

1877

Sierrvoise Blanche

Switzerland

3,04

3-

3-

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Wheat beer

1900

Svyturys Baltijos Tamsus Alus

Lithuania

3,03

3+

3-

3-

3-

2+

 

3+

 

 

4-

4+

6,0%

Lager, Dark

1955

Fortas Stiprus Alus

Lithuania

3,00

3-

2+

3

3

3-

 

3+

 

 

3+

5-

8,1%

Lager, Bock

2006

Kobra Stiprusis Alus

Lithuania

2,98

3+

2-

3-

3

3

 

3+

 

 

4-

4+

8,0%

Lager, Bock

2019

Benediktinerabtei Plankstetten Dinkel

Germany

2,98

3-

3

3

3-

4-

 

3

 

 

 

3

4,7%

Lager, Light

2050

Sinebrychoff Ruunu-Olutta

Finland

2,96

2+

3+

3+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,5%

Ale, German style

2091

Valdovu Rumai

Lithuania

2,96

3+

3

3-

3+

3+

 

3

 

 

3

2-

5,2%

Lager, Light

2122

De 3 Horne Meibock

Netherlands

2,94

2-

4-

3

 

 

 

4-

 

 

 

 

7,0%

Lager, Bock

2123

Fortas Tamusis

Lithuania

2,94

3+

3

3-

3-

3-

 

2+

 

 

3

4+

7,8%

Lager, Bock

2175

De Leckere Tripel

Netherlands

2,92

3-

2

4

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

8,0%

Ale, Belgian style

2177

Laitilan Kukko Pils III, draught

Finland

2,92

 

4-

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,7%

Lager, Light

2235

Föroya Slupp Öl

Faroe Islands

2,87

3

3

2+

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

5,8%

Lager, Dark

2243

De Leckere Witbier

Netherlands

2,87

3

2+

3+

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Wheat beer

2247

Olvi Juhlaolut

Finland

2,86

3

2-

3

3+

3

 

3

 

 

3+

3+

5,5%

Lager, Dark

2329

Svyturys Ekstra

Lithuania

2,82

3-

3-

3-

3

3

 

3

 

 

2+

4-

5,2%

Lager, Light

2421

Föroya Black Sheep

Faroe Islands

2,77

3+

2

3-

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

5,8%

Lager, Dark

2426

Mallaskoski Vahva Vaalea Kuohu

Finland

2,77

2

3+

2+

3+

3

 

3+

 

 

 

2

5,5%

Lager, Light

2444

Prévôtoise Bière de Noël

Switzerland

2,76

3-

3-

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,9%

Ale, Belgian style

2493

Svyturys Stipriausias

Lithuania

2,72

3-

2

3

3-

3+

 

2

 

 

3-

4+

8,0%

Lager, Bock

2544

Horn Pils

Lithuania

2,70

2+

3+

2-

3-

3+

 

3

 

 

2+

3+

4,7%

Lager, Light

2548

Hartwall Suomalainen Urho IVA

Finland

2,69

3

1+

2

3

3+

 

4

 

 

 

3

5,5%

Lager, Light

2552

Sinebrychoff Winter Porter

Finland

2,69

 

3-

 

 

3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,2%

Porter/Stout

2630

Fortas Sviesusis Alus

Lithuania

2,66

3-

1+

4-

3

3+

 

3-

 

 

3+

2-

5,5%

Lager, Light

2634

Svyturys Originalusis

Lithuania

2,65

3+

2

3-

3+

3-

 

2-

 

 

3-

3+

5,0%

Lager, Light

2648

Weeping Radish Black Radish Dark Lager

Germany

2,65

2

2

3

2+

3+

 

2+

 

 

3+

4

5,2%

Lager, Dark

2653

Hartwall Dark Lager III

Finland

2,65

3+

2

3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,5%

Lager, Dark

2716

Svyturys Svyturio

Lithuania

2,60

3+

2-

2+

3+

2+

 

3

 

 

3-

3-

5,0%

Lager, Light

2729

Gubernija Zigulinis

Lithuania

2,59

3-

1+

2

4-

2+

 

3+

 

 

3-

4

4,3%

Lager, Light

2831

Fuglsang Black Bird

Denmark

2,52

3+

1+

3-

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Lager, Dark

2844

Gubernijos Ekstra

Lithuania

2,51

4-

3-

2

2-

2

 

3+

 

 

2+

3-

5,5%

Lager, Light

2879

Horn Premium

Lithuania

2,50

3-

1

2+

2+

2+

 

3

 

 

4

4

5,2%

Lager, Light

2881

Taupa Zigulinis Alus

Lithuania

2,49

3-

1

3-

3+

3-

 

3-

 

 

3

3

4,3%

Lager, Light

2916

Haerlemsche Lente/Zomer-Bock

Netherlands

2,47

1+

3-

3+

 

 

 

3-

 

 

 

 

9,3%

Lager, Bock

2919

Monsteiner Huusbier

Switzerland

2,47

3

3-

2-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,5%

Lager, Light

2996

Geras Alus

Lithuania

2,42

2+

2+

2+

2

3-

 

2+

 

 

2

4+

8,2%

Lager, Bock

3021

Thor Fregatten Jylland

Denmark

2,40

3

2-

3-

 

 

 

2+

 

 

 

 

7,7%

Lager, Bock

3100

Louny Premium Black Label

Czech Rep.

2,35

2-

3-

3+

2+

2-

 

3+

 

 

2

2

5,0%

Lager, Dark

3114

Bornholmer Bryg Classic

Denmark

2,34

2+

3-

2

 

 

 

2+

 

 

 

 

4,6%

Lager, Dark

3145

Melbourne Christmas Lager

Germany

2,31

2+

1+

2+

2-

3+

 

3

 

 

3-

3

5,0%

Lager, Light

3187

Grolsch Lentebok

Netherlands

2,28

2

2

2

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

6,5%

Lager, Bock

3253

Åbro Sjukommatvåan

Sweden

2,21

3+

1-

1-

4-

2

 

3+

 

 

2+

3

7,2%

Lager, Light

3298

Hancock Høker Bajer

Denmark

2,17

2

1

3-

 

 

 

3+

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Lager, Light

3300

Fuglsang Hvid Bockøl

Denmark

2,16

2+

2

2

 

 

 

2+

 

 

 

 

7,6%

Lager, Bock

3320

Legenda IVB

Finland

2,15

3+

1-

2

3-

3-

 

2

 

 

3

2-

8,3%

Lager, Bock

3332

Carlsberg Carls Special

Denmark

2,14

3

1

2+

 

 

 

2+

 

 

 

 

4,4%

Lager, Dark

3383

Refsvindinge Brygmesterens Egen Pils

Denmark

2,09

2

3

2

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

4,6%

Lager, Dark

3390

Refsvindinge Lys Bjørneøl

Denmark

2,08

2-

3

2+

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

2,5%

Wheat beer

3499

Thisted Aargangsbryg 1902-2002

Denmark

1,97

3-

2

2-

 

 

 

1+

 

 

 

 

4,6%

Lager, Light

3562

Baltika 9 Krelkoe Svetloe Pivo

Russia

1,88

2

1

2

 

 

 

3-

 

 

 

 

8,0%

Lager, Bock

3563

Carib Lager Beer

Grenada

1,88

3-

1

1+

4-

1+

 

2+

 

 

2+

1

 

Lager, Light

3617

Amstel Lentebock

Netherlands

1,80

1+

2

2+

 

 

 

1+

 

 

 

 

7,0%

Lager, Bock

3677

Fuglsang Pilsner

Denmark

1,72

2

1-

2

 

 

 

2+

 

 

 

 

5,0%

Lager, Light

3868

Floris Chocolat Gardenbier

Belgium

1,26

1

1-

2-

 

 

 

2-

 

 

 

 

4,2%

Special

3925

Ceres Bering Bryg

Denmark

1,00

1

0+

1-

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

5,5%

Special

Rated by: Johan Zetterlund, Per Samuelsson, Lars Samuelsson, Oscar Hansson, Cecilia Gårdebäck, Fredrik Huldt, Lars Granström, Oscar Hansson, Minna Hytönen, Fredrik Nyströml and Nina Gustavsson

To the News page

Updated 2002-07-19 Per Samuelsson