Brauerei Zirndorfer Kellerbier

Posted on by Evan

Brauerei Zirndorfer Kellerbier, another from my German exchange student, is 4.9%. Kellerbier is an old style. It is an unfiltered and unpasteurized lager that dates back to the Middle Ages. This beer style matured in deep vaults. This specific Kellerbier is brewed in Zirndorf, Germany. This beer pours a cloudy orange color with a two-finger off-white head. The aroma is malty, sweet, and yeasty. The flavor is sweet, malty, and yeasty. It is smooth. This has a medium-bodied feel to the mouth. This beer finishes with a creamy malt flavor. That flavor carries over to the aftertaste but fades away. This is a great beer, and I think it’s an A, and one I’d recommend. Most of the flavors of this Kellerbier come and go; nothing really stays around. That doesn’t bring the grade down too much. That’s the only negative thing about this beer. German brewers know how to brew simple beers well. This is a good example of that. This is the last beer from Germany, and I will be participating in dry January. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Kloster Schetern Kloster-Gold Hell

Posted on by Evan

Kloster-Gold Hell is a 5.4% Helles brewed by Kloster Scheyern. This beer is from Scheyern, Germany, and was brought to me by one of my German exchange students. This beer isn’t imported into the USA. This Helles Lager pours golden with a two-finger thick white head. The aroma is malty, sweet, and crisp. The flavor is far from the aroma; it’s malty, sweetened, clean, crisp, and has a warm spiced note toward the end. This beer then has a nice malted and spiced finish. The aftertaste is malty, but not as sweet, with a nice crispness. This has a light-bodied feel in the mouth. This Kloster-Gold Hell is a delicious beer that I give an A. The flavor does not linger enough after each sip. That is the only thing that I didn’t like too much. But if you come across this beer, you must have it. It’s great! Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Kloster Bräu Schwarzer ABT

Posted on by Evan

Over the holidays, one of my German exchange students and his wife visited. He brought a few beers, Kloster Bräu Schwarzer ABT. This 3.9% ABV beer is a Schwarzbier, brewed in Nueller, Brandenburg, Germany. It has been a while since I have had and reviewed a Schwarzbier. This beer pours black, forming a two-finger beige head with brown edges. The aroma is light, smoky, malty, and coffee. The flavor starts with a smoky flavor, then transitions into a malted flavor with a bit of sweet coffee notes. This beer reminds me of a cola. Overall, this beer has a light-bodied feel. The finish is malty with a light smoky aftertaste. This beer was a fabulous beer that I give an A+. This beer has the right combination of flavors that, when all together, make a great beer. It’s delicious, and I recommend it. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Schulzens Brauerei Altmark Gold

Posted on by Evan

One of my first exchange students from Germany came to visit with his wife. He brought Schulenzs Brauerei Altmark Gold. This beer is a 4.9% ABV Pilsner. This brewery has a restaurant, a hotel, and a brewery in Tangermünde, Germany. This Pilsner pours a cloudy yellow with a one-finger white head. The aroma is Pilsner malt, tart/sweet notes, and a grassy aroma. The flavor has light sweetness with grassy flavors. There is a bit of tartness, but it is so faint it’s not there. This beer has a medium-bodied feel in the mouth. Then it finishes with a light Pilsner malt flavor. The aftertaste has a semi-sweetness to it, but not much else. Altmark Gold is a B+ beer. It is good, but the overall flavor is not as good as some Bavarian-style pilsners. I still think this is a good beer. If you can get one, drink it. It’s delicious! Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale

Posted on by Evan

Brewed in Tadcaster, England, Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale is a 6% beer. This ale is brewed around Christmas with whole-dried Fuggle & Golding hops. There is malted barley, water, yeast, and seaweed Finings. This ale is the same each year, except for the artwork on the label. That is the only yearly change. This ale pours a deep golden color with a creamy two-finger white head. The aroma has a light sweetness and is malted. The flavor is lightly sweet, smooth, and somewhat spiced. It has a bit of malt flavor. This beer has a light-bodied mouthfeel. Then it comes to a nice, semi-sweet, and smooth finish. This has a nice and light aftertaste with a faint bread note. It doesn’t stick around too long. This beer is good, but it isn’t exceptional; it’s a B+ beer. It’s a good drinking beer, meaning it is easy to drink and you could have three or four. I would recommend it. Just remember, there are slightly beer versions of this beer out there. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Straffe Hendrik Xmas Blend Barrel Age Quadruple Blend

Posted on by Evan

I have been to Brewer De Haan Man in Bruges, Belgium. They produce Straffe Hendrik, and this particular beer is the Xmas Blend Barrel-Aged Quadruple, which is 11% ABV. This beer is only available at Christmas time in 750ml bottles. This quad is bottled fermented and aged in American or French oak, either a whiskey, rum, or Bordeaux, and Calvados. They also use young quadruple ale as well as barrel-aged beer. This quad pours brown with a one-finger cream beige head. That head sticks to the top of the beer like a creamy film. The aroma is of vanilla, sweetness, and it’s boozy. The flavor is sweet, vanilla, booze, and light nutty flavors. This has a full-bodied mouthfeel. Then this beer finishes with a rich vanilla and boozy flavor. The aftertaste is light, with sweet vanilla notes that do linger for a while. This Xmas Blend is a delicious beer that gets an A+. It is 11% ABV, but that is not really reflected in the flavor. I would highly recommend this to you. It has a good, strong flavor without being too overpowering. This would be a great addition to any holiday party. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Royal Bliss Brewing Co. X Down for Doughnuts Down for Doughnuts Pastry Stout

Posted on by Evan

Down for Doughnuts is a 7.1% ABV pastry stout from Royal Bliss Brewing in collaboration with local family-run Down for Doughnuts in Mooresville, North Carolina. According to Royal Bliss, this stout is everything you love about doughnuts without being overly heavy. This stout pours black with a one-finger, thick beige head. The aroma is roasted, nutty, rich, and sweet. The beer’s flavor is nutty, roasted, rich, and velvety sweet. This beer has a full-bodied mouthfeel. Then this stout finishes with a sweet and roasted flavor. This beer has a lingering sweet aftertaste. It is good and has the essence of a doughnut. Down for Doughnuts Pastry Stout is an A, and yes, you should try it. It is worth it. It is not heavy at all, and the flavor is not overpowering. It is just right and delicious. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Perennial Artisan Ales Southside Blonde

Posted on by Evan

This dry-hopped Belgian-style Blonde Ale from Perennial Artisan Ale is 5% ABV and the first beer since returning from Africa. This beer is from St. Louis, Missouri. I don’t think I’ve had a Perennial beer before. This beer may be the first. This beer pours yellow with a two-finger white head that fades into wispy lacing. The aroma is floral, dry, clean, and a little lemony. The flavor is also floral, a little lemony, dry, and clean. This beer has a medium body mouthfeel. This ale finishes with a lemony, clean, and dry flavor. The aftertaste is dry, with not much lemon flavor. That lemon has faded and is nearly gone. Southside Blonde doesn’t scream Belgian-style by way of taste. But it is not too bad, and that gives it a B-. I would say you should try it. It is overall light flavored and good, but doesn’t make me think of other, better Belgian beers. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Cape Brewing Co. Amber Weiss

Posted on by Evan

The second day in Cape Town, South Africa I had a local craft beer from Cape Brewing Co. This beer is their Amber Weiss. This beer is 5.4% ABV, and it pours light amber with a two-finger off-white head. The aroma is lightly sweet and malty. There is not much of a Weiss aroma. The flavor is unlike a Weiss beer and is more amber. There is a light malted sweetness and now wheat. This has a medium-bodied mouthfeel. Then it finishes with a bittersweet malt note. The aftertaste is a bit off with a bitter note and not much else. This was not really a Weiss beer but more of an Amber. I give this a D. I would not have this beer. It tastes like it was not properly brewed or had lesser-quality ingredients. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Kapstadt Brauhaus Lager

Posted on by Evan

Kapstadt Brauhaus is a brewpub-type restaurant in South Africa. This is Kapstadt Lager, 4.5% ABV. I had this lager on tap at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town. This lager pours golden with an almost two-finger white head. The aroma is biscuits and corn. The flavor is lightly sweetened and bready. This has a light-bodied mouthfeel. Then this lager finishes smooth with a light sweet note. There is not much in the aftertaste but a light biscuit note. This is an easy refreshing beer that is a B-. It is well-brewed and not trying too hard to impress. But it lacks much flavor, which holds it back slightly. If you are in South Africa, I suggest you try this Lager. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers