Konig Ludwig Dunkel

Today's offering is a big two fingers to Munich Oktoberfest (Munich breweries did ban this brewer from the party as he is a little unorthodox; dry hopping and turns 80% of the malt sugar into alcohol). It almost impossible to find the dunkel in the Netherlands I had to cross the boarder for this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Mid chestnut  with very slightly off white head that really lasts

Aroma:

Roasted malt at first that is replaced by a very mild coffee a touch of figs and a spicy hop note.

Taste:

Dark roasted grain at first which get increasingly fig and vinously fruity as time goes on. The finish is long a slightly coffee like bitterness and slightly sour balanced by the vinous fruits


Overall:

Ok this beer is hard to get out side Germany as it is so good, I really like this beer it has sweetness, sourness and bitterness a classic beer that I wish was more available.

9.0/10

Kostitzer Schwarzbier

Today's offering is a Germany black larger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very very dark chestnut almost black with slightly off white head that lasts

Aroma:

Smells grassy at first followed by some bitter plain chocolate which has a touch of roasted malt in the background and at the end the book says figs and I see what they mean but I would add earthy figs.

Taste:

A first a burnt grain but is chased out by malt loaf flavour which gets creamier as the taste goes on. The finish is bitter roasted grain with plain chocolate and a touch of spicy hops. Oddly enough the flavours are slightly muted I think it could do with being stronger by 1-2% abv.


Overall:

Close but lacks a really depth to the flavours to make it really nice beer for me, carbonation is excellent however.

7.0/10

La Choulette Ambree

Today's offering is a biere de garde

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark Russet with a off white head that did not last

Aroma:

Low amount of aroma with soapy coriander with a hint of sweet malt and earthy hops in the background.

Taste:

A first a burnt grain starts but soon is overpowered by sweet spicy vinous fruits which is just kept in check by the bitter hops as to be not overpowering. The finish is complex starting with a spicyness which is slightly dry but the vinous fruit comes back with malt in the background.

Overall:

Prove that there are good beers in France. It does remind me of a Belgium dubbel but slightly less thick and more refined. Not a beer you can drink a lot of but still a nice beer.

8.5/10

Berliner Kindl Weiss

Today's offering is a little odd a low strength wheat beer from Berlin which apparently is normal served with different colour syrup shot as it is very acidic.

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Turbid pale gold with a disappearing head that leaves a faint reminder

Aroma:

Slightly acidic yeast is the dominant smell with a hint of damp hay.

Taste:

Sour citrus taste comes through which just fades to be a bit vingery and then the breadiness of the yeast takes over. The finish is short and very dry.

Overall:

Surprisingly refreshing like lemon barley water it is sour but has a hint of fruitiness and it is not a flavour that last like the lambic. Pleasantly surprised I was expecting to not enjoy this one at all but I do like it, like nothing else I have tasted in the beers before, strange but good

8.5/10

Spaten Munchner Hell

Today's offering is a Munch pale lager from Spaten, again one I picked up from dash to the boarder earlier in the week.

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very pale gold with large lasting creamy white head

Aroma:

Very light toasted malt and hint of hop with a touch of citrus

Taste:

Light malt with a touch of hops surprisingly sweet at first but slightly drying in the end. The finish is malt and just a touch of citrus fruit.

Overall:

A bland slightly sweet lager but not exactly special if this was on tap at my local I would drink it however I would not search for it. Reminds me of Amstel but just a bit better+.

6.5/10

Zywiec Porter

Found this in ABC beers in Den Haag, after checking several polish shops to no avail even though I live close to the largest brewery in Europe, Heineken which brew it was hard to find

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark, dark chestnut with a hint of red lasting tan head of small bubbles.

Aroma:

Liquorice and black treacle with alcohol at the end with a touch of burnt malt.

Taste:

Rich black treacle fills the mouth ay first with dark chocolate coming through later followed closely by coffee. The finish is warming alcohol with coffee and burnt grain with a touch of hops.

Overall:

This one is a really winter/autumn warmer very heavy beer to be enjoyed slowly in a nice chair by the fire it is a real cozy/gezillig beer. Best enjoyed a touch below room temperature

8.5/10

Baltika Classic No. 3

Found this in the local Russian shop in Leiden, finally after visiting a few times

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very pale gold with white bright lasting head

Aroma:

The malt is in the background with vanilla and lemon and the book says cornflour and I see what it means.

Taste:
A very light malt with light floral hops coming later. The finish is drying with the bitter hops held in check with tangy citrus fruit and a hint of the malt

Overall:

A really nice summer beer, light and refreshing not a beer that I would hunt it out but nice enough shame it autumn otherwise I might have enjoyed it more.

7.5/10

Spaten Oktoberfestbier

A run to boarder meant picking up some German beers there first is Spaten Oktoberfestbier, seems as feared in the book the Marzen is no longer available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Light gold with nice large lasting off white head

Aroma:

Toasted malt with grassy overtones

Taste:
The toasted malt comes across first which becomes more plump, bread malt which is underpinned by a light hop bitterness, the finish carries on much the same with a slight metallicness at the end. Nice subtle carbonation.

Overall:

Perfectly drinkable and different but I would not go out of my way to find it, to bad I have a whole crate!!

7.0/10

Zum Uerige Alt

Final found another beer one of my local beer shops gets 8 bottles circa once a year. This is a German, specifically Dusseldorf, alt beer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark chestnut with a touch of redness with nice large lasting off white head

Aroma:

Toasted malt with spicy overtones and a faint orange fruitiness

Taste:

The toasted malt comes across first but soon a earthy hoppiness fulls the mouth underpinned by the orange fruitiness. The finish is long with malt that fade to a hoppy bitterness mixed with a tartness

Overall:

I really like alt beers and this is a really good one, a good example of the style. It is a style that should be more available.

8.5/10