Go Green: Tuborg Green

Together with Carlsberg, Tuborg presents one of the most recognisable Danish products. Since it is present even on the shelves of our small local supermarkets, I guess it’s safe to say it can be acquired almost all around the world.

• Name: Tuborg Green
• Brewery: Carlsberg Brewery
• City: Copenhagen
• Country: Denmark

Tuborg Green is your typical pilsener, meaning that it looks, smells and tastes like a typical pilsener. So, your glass will be filled with a pale golden liquid, topped with a meadium white head with basically no retention. The nose will pick up a mild grainy aroma, as well as some hoppiness. You will enjoy a taste that follows the nose. The start is malty and grainy, but it’s not really sweet as is the case with some others. This nice start is followed by a mild bitterness in the body, not too much of it but still enough to taste it. The finish has some hops in it, but only just.

Is Tuborg Green one of the best beers in the world? No, definitely not the best beer I have tried.

Is Tuborg Green the best Danish beer? No, not really. I prefer Carlsberg to this one, but I bet there are also some other fine Danish beers out there. Hopefully, I’ll get to try several of them next summer.

Is Tuborg Green a good beer at all? Definitely. It’s a very decent beer that gets it’s job done. Nice, refreshing and non-offensive. That’s your Tuborg Green.

• Style: Pilsener
• ABV: 4,6%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 3,5 / 5
• Smell: 3,5 / 5
• Taste: 3 / 5
• Overall: 3 / 5

• Bottle: 4 / 5

The Battle: Adnams Broadside

Although English ales are not (were not) my favourite beer style so far, I am getting more and more attracted to them. This was also the reason I picked up this one (and some others) recently, and gave it a try.

• Name: Adnams Broadside
• Brewery: Adnams
• City: Southwold
• Country: England

This ale was produced in order to commemorate the Battle of Sole Bay in 1672. The story claims that the English fleet was moored in Southwold during the battle against the Dutch Republic. When called to action, most of the sailors were drinking in local ale houses.

It pours out with a clear and dark ruby color (maybe copper). It is topped wit a very decent white head that lasts long enough to get it on your nose. The aroma is typical of an ale – some hops and malts along with a completely obvious yeast smell. The content is very drinkable, although quite yeasty and bready (not really the best thing in the world) and quite bitter in the end. I’m guessing you couldn’t take down more than a couple of these, since it’s quite filling, but if you’re up for the challenge, let me know. But, it definitely deserves another chance.

• Style: English Strong Ale
• ABV: 6,3%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, yeast

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 3,5 / 5
• Taste: 3,5 / 5
• Overall: 3,5 / 5

• Bottle: 4 / 5

Cherry on the Top – Mort Subite Kriek

I first came across a kriek beer a long time ago, when I had no idea what this means. Basically, it’s a Belgian variety of beer made by fermenting lambic style of beer with sour Morello cherries (thank you Wikipedia).

• Name: Mort Subite Kriek
• Brewery: Mort Subite (Alken – Maes – Heineken)
• City: Kobbegem
• Country: Belgium

Mort Subite pours with a very pretty dark red and clear color – exact color of a cherry. It is topped with a quite weak foamy head which immediately dissipates to almost nothing. The aroma is actually a disappointment. I expected it to be sweet and cherry-like, but the reality was quite different. The aroma was not really sweet at all, but more soury and slightly acid – it actually reminded me of a cheap wine. If I didn’t know it was a cherry beer, I would never have guessed it. The taste on the other side was a completely different story. Pleasantly sweet, but not too much, definitely cherry-like, with the addition of some hoppiness towards the end.

I have tried several krieks so far, but this was proved to be the best among them. It was sweet but in reasonable measures, and not too sweet like some others. It was very smooth and easy to drink, with just a slight bitterness in the finish. A very enjoyable beer, and a nice fruity change from all the radlers available here.

• Style: Lambic Style – Fruit
• ABV: 4,5%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, cherries, elderberries

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 2 / 5
• Taste: 4,5 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

• Bottle: 2 / 5

No Sleep Till …: Brooklyn Lager

Originating in the Big Apple, this beer is New York’s hometown beer, first produced before the prohibition era. Today, it may not be as popular as some other American superbrands, but what it lacks in popularity, it makes up for in quality.

• Name: Brooklyn Lager
• Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
• City: Brooklyn, New York
• Country: USA

This New Yorker pours with an almost completely clear amber color. There is a medium white head which has a quite good resistance. The smell is mild and sweet, with the addition of some caramel and a little yeast. The taste is not too strong, but still strong enough to let you know what you’re drinking. The taste is an interesting combination. Slighty sweet and fruity at first, followed by some yeatines and breadiness in the body (also some toasted feel), finishing with a nice hoppiness and bitterness.Makes a nice break from other typical lagers.

• Style: Amber Lager / Vienna
• ABV: 5,2%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, yeast

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 4 / 5
• Taste: 3,5 / 5
• Overall: 3,5 / 5

• Bottle: 3,5 / 5

The Bulgarian: Kamenitza

Kamenitza was my first and only (so far) taste of Bulgarian beers. I have to say it was quite difficult to get, so I guess I’ll have to make a trip to this country very soon in order to samle more local brews.

• Name: Kamenitza
• Brewery: Pivovaren Zavod Kamenitza (MolsonCoors)
• City: Plovdiv
• Country: Bulgaria

Kamenitza is a nice beer, which makes a great refreshment during the hot summer days. But, it doesn’t really distinguish itself from other lagers. The typical characteristics are all here, starting with teh appearance. There is the clear and golden color, topped with a medium white and foamy head which dissipates fairly quick. The nose picks up some malt and some grains. The taste is therefore no suprise. Sweet at first, grainy in the body with a slight bitterness in the finish. Pleasant and non-offensive, but nothing more than this.

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 4,4%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops

RATINGS:

• Appearance: 3,5 / 5
• Smell: 3,5 / 5
• Taste: 3 / 5
• Overall: 3 / 5

• Bottle: 3 / 5

Summer Surprise – Osječko Black Radler

This radler was a pleasant discovery during this long-gone-now summer. I have already said that several varieties of radlers have really spread across our part of Europe in the recent years. But this was the first combination of dark beer and lemon. And it was great.

• Name: Osječko Black Radler
• Brewery: Osječka Pivovara
• City: Osijek
• Country: Croatia

The name already suggests the color of this beer, which is dark brown, almost black. The glass is topped with a weak, creamy head, which settles down immediatley. The nose picks up the citrusy aroma, thanks to the lemon, and slightly malty, roasted and chocolatey aroma, thanks to the dark beer. The taste is pleasant. It starts sweet, with the refreshing zing of lemon juice, and is then followed by the soury and roasted taste of the beer. The end lacks a bit of bitterness, but we’ll let that one slip by.

All in all, I have to admit this is a very nice mixture that brings exactly as it promises: dark beer and some lemonade. It is extremelly refreshing and easy to drink, and a perfect alternatiove to all the other typical radlers out there.

• Style: Fruit Beer
• ABV: 2%
• Ingredients: water, sugar, lemon juice, orange juice, barley malt, corn grits, dark caramel malt, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 4,5 / 5
• Taste: 4 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

• Bottle: 4 / 5

Classic Hungarian: Dreher Classic

Produced in the country’s capital of Budapest, here is one of the most famous Hungarian beer brands, and for that matter, also one of the best tasting, at least in my opinion.

• Name: Dreher Classic
• Brewery: Dreher Sörgyár (SABMiller)
• City: Budapest
• Country: Hungary

The appearance of this pilsener is standard: clear golden color, highly carbonated body, and a finger of white foamy head with little retention. The nose picks up some malt, light hopes, and mostly grains, but in general the aroma is fairly weak. The taste is therefore completely expected. Slightly sweet at first, followed by a bready and grainy taste, finishig with a very decent hoppiness. It’s very refreshing and easy to drink, with a lack of watery feel, but with a decent bitterness instead.

• Style: Pilsener
• ABV: 5,2%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 3,5 / 5
• Taste: 4,5 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

• Bottle: 2 / 5

Germany’s Favourite Son: Krombacher Pils

According to our favourite “encyclopedia”, Krombacher Pils is Germany’s most consumed pilsener, produced by the second best selling brewery in the country. This is actually a great deal, considering we’re talking about Germany, “the beer country”.

• Name: Krombacher Pils
• Brewery: Krombacher Privatbrauerei Kreutzal
• City: Kreutzal-Krombach
• Country: Germany

This beer pours with a typical light golden color and a quite generous foamy white head with a decent retention. There’s not much going on in there for the nose, since the aroma is quite subtle, but there are some grainy as well as some mild hops in the background. The taste follows the nose. It is fairly mild and neutral (though not watery). There is more stress on the malts than on the hops, but still a pretty nice balance between the two. The finish is slightly more bitter than some other pilseners, which is just perfect.

I can see why this beer is so popular in Germany, since it’s obvious they’ve put a lot of work into developing it. It may not be the best beer, but it certainly is among the best pilseners I have tasted. I like it.

• Style: Pilsener
• ABV: 4,8%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, hop extract

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 3 / 5
• Taste: 4 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

• Bottle: 3 / 5

A Polish King: Tyskie Gronie

I haven’t presented another Polish beer for a while now. I brought this one back from my New Year’s trip to Cracow a couple of years ago.

• Name: Tyskie Gronie
• Brewery: Kompania Piwowarska (SABMiller)
• City: Poznan
• Country: Poland

According to wikipedia, Tykie Gronie is one of the most popular Polish beer brands. This is a big deal since I can say Polish people make some really nice beers. Tyskie has a completely clear, golden color, and is topped with a relatively generous white foamy head. The aroma is expected – the nose picks up the aromas of malt and grains a moment after opening the bottle. The taste is delightfully sweet in the beginning, followed by a lot of grains in the body, as well as some hops in the back. The finish is generously bitter nad slightly dry, which goes great with the light, but not watery body.

I can see why this beer is so popular in Poland (and around). It’s a great beer which will really make a good start to a day of exploring Poland. I definitely recommend it.

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 5,5%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 3,5 / 5
• Taste: 4 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

• Bottle: 3 / 5

Mexican-Czech Connection: Bohemia Clásica

Time for another Mexican beer, which actually borrowed its name from the old Czech name of Bohemia. So a mixture of Czech and Mexican influence – this should be interesting and tasty.

• Name: Bohemia Clásica
• Brewery: FEMSA – Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma
• City: Monterrey
• Country: Mexico

This Bohemia beer is a lager, and it definitely looks like one. It has the traditional golden color, and about a finger of white and quickly dissipating foamy head. The nose won’t fool you, it’s definitely a lager aroma with a slight skunkiness, faint hopps in the back and predominantly grainy aroma. The taste is iitially sweet and malty, followed by a grainy/hoppy body, coming together with a nice and bitter finish.

I would be lying if I claimed this is a special beer. But I would also be lying if I said this beer is no good. In fact, it’s one of the better Mexican beers I have had so far. Plus, it goes extremelly well with Mexican food, let’s say chimichangas (gotta love the word) . All in all, a very decent beer from the land of the Aztecs.

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 5,3%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 3,5 / 5
• Smell: 4 / 5
• Taste: 4 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

• Bottle: 3,5 / 5