TSINGTAO

Okay, so there is a story behind the TSINGTAO beer. I first tried this one last year while traveling in China (Sept/Oct 2007). It was the most popular beer around when I was there. Then a couple of weeks ago we traveled over to England to visit some friends, and wouldn't ya know it, there was a bottle of TSINGTAO on the shelf at their grocery store. Of course, I had to have it to add to my beer tasting site list! This beer is "internationally known as the best beer in China" - as it states right on the bottle. It's brewed and bottled by TSINGTAO Brewery Co in QINGDAO China. It's a must try, and a pretty good beer taste too. Just leaves a little after taste, but nothing you can't handle!

by Majestic

KARLSKRONE Premium Pilsener

KARLSKRONE - I have to say that this smelled a little funny when I opened the bottle and started to drink it. Maybe it's the plastic bottle??? Must be just the bottle, because the beer actually tastes pretty darn good! One of my favorites so far. It was bought at a local market (Aldi) in Koln Germany. Oh, and perhaps the good taste was due to bottle in one hand & awesome shortbread cookies in the other!!! You should try this some time.


by Majestic

Beck's Gold

hmmmm....Beck's Gold (Bremen Germany). Bought this one at the local market (Penny Mart) in Koln Germany. Not too much of a unique taste with this one, but it is quite bitter. Was not bad, but not a fav on my taste tester chart!

by Majestic

5,0 Original

Yup, that's the name on the can - "5,0 Original". I think we may have actually stumbled upon the least expensive beer in Germany. The local market (Rewe) has this plane jane can of beer; what we are calling "no name brand" beer. The cost, are you ready for this...... 0.35 euro per can! WOW!!! It's 5.0 percent alcohol, tastes good, and has absolutely no after taste. We took a chance on this one last night as we were walking back from a concert at the nearby church that was put on by University of Koln! Great concert too by the way!!!
Definitely worth it to check this out!
by Majestic

Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale

Check out the bottle itself. Pretty cool looking. Nothing like the beer bottles back in the US. Spitfire is a pretty heavy tasting beer, but has a good taste and smells good when you open the bottle! It also has a nice amber (brown) color to it.

A little history for you book worms....this beer was "first brewed in 1990 to celebrate the Battle of Britain which was fought in the skies of Kent England 50 years earlier". Brewed in Britain's oldest brewer Faversham Kent which is about 300 years old.

by Majestic

Ruddles English Ale

This is a very bitter Ale originally brewed in England's smallest country of Rutland. The back of the bottle says caramel and toffee taste, but it sure does not taste like candy to me, and I love my caramel candy!!! Bought this one while we were in England a few weeks back, and tasting it along with our chicken dinner tonight! Okay for a taste test, but I couldn't drink the entire bottle!

by Majestic

Pilsner Urquell

This Pilsner Urquell is bottled, and brewed in PLZEN CZECH. It's not a heavy feeling beer, but does have a strong lingering after taste.
by Majestic

McEwan's Champion Award Winning Ale

Okay, you have to try this one! McEwan's Champion Award Winning Ale. We bought it in England over the July 4-6 weekend. It's not only 7.3% alcohol, but also sweet, smooth, and fruity for a strong and dark brown colored beer. You can actually smell the fruity sweetness before drinking it. Very interesting, and definitely worth trying. It's the "Ultimate Scottish Ale with rich, strong flavor yet surprisingly smooth to drink" - as noted on the bottle.
by Majestic

Stella Artois Premium Continental Lager

Stella Artois is one of Belgium's original beers. We bought this one in England while walking along the Thames River last weekend (July 4), which by the way is a beautiful site to see. We saw Big Ben, Westminster, London Bridge & Tower, and more. What a great location for tasting some cold beer on a hot sunny day! This beer is a little heavy, and somewhat bitter tasting. Might be the malted barley ingredient that gives it the slight, but not strong after taste and bitterness. It's that good old fashion beer taste I suppose.

by Majestic

Fuller's ESB Champion Ale

Fuller's is straight from England. We purchased this one in Woking England over the past weekend (July 4-6 2008) while visiting some friends there and seeing London. And the ESB stands for "Extra Special". This English beer is dark brown, very bitter, goes down smooth and has a very interesting taste to say the least. It is not heavy in the stomach, and no after taste though, which is good for me.

There is a small stamp/seal on this one that reads "Voted Britian's Best", and on the back of this bottle it says that it contains marmalade, which would explain the rather strange taste. Also notated on the back of the bottle is "This beer is acknowledged as one of the World's Greatest Beers".

Very bitter, but good on my list!
by Majestic

Gilden Kolsch

This German Kolsch has a funny after taste compared to the other Kolsch beer I have tasted. Not quite sure what it is, but it's heavy compared to the Fruth, Gaffel, Reissdorf Kolsch beers. Not a fav in my book.
by Majestic

Paulaner Hefe - WeiBbier Dunkel

Not your typical beer taste. Hate to say, but it's a really terrible taste to me! Paulaner is a dark Brown Beer. Heavy Honey taste or Brown sugar or something. You tell me? I can't quite figure this one out??? Worth a try of course, but I couldn't drink a whole beer with this taste lingering...
by Majestic

Fruh Kolsch

Another German Kolsch. Can't even tell you how many there are around Koln. Each place you visit has a different favorite. The Fruh Kolsch tastes almost the same as the Reissdorf Kolsch, but the Fruh has a sweeter taste. Good one to enjoy with any meal!
by Majestic

Reissdorf Kolsch

As soon as you see the word Kolsch, you probably know right away, it's German! Yes, another German beer, but a good one at that. Reissdorf Kolsch leaves a really sweet taste with you as it goes down smooth. We tried this one on the park bench as we took a short break from our bike ride on the outer circle of Koln.
by Majestic

Leikeim

The bottle we bought of Leikeim Original Landbier actually had a little soccer ball attached as the bottle cap here in Germany. Perhaps to celebrate the football season. Great marketing idea huh! Very good tasting beer. Definitely a thumbs up for me, and not just because of the cool cap either!!!
by Majestic

Original Budweiser Bud Var

Tasting this in Germany, but it's a Czech imported lager. Tastes a bit like a bud, but a little heavier. I'm not partial to the heavy beer, but this does have a good taste.
by Majestic

ADELSKRONEN Export

Same ol same ol beer taste with Adelskronen. No special taste here, but cheap and good to drink. Found this one pretty cheap at the local market in Koln Germany this past week.
by Majestic

DOM KOLSCH

Germany has so many beer flavors to choose from. This is the DOM KOLSCH, which you can find here in Koln, no problem. Especially while watching the Spain vs Russia football (aka soccer) game like we did this past week. A little on the sweet side, so not dry. There is a bit of an after taste to this one. Enjoyable beer.
by Majestic

VELTINS Pilsener

Veltins Pilsener is another we bought in Germany at the local market. Good pick this Pilsener is for any day of the week! This one has a really fresh, crisp taste. It's really as simple as that. Definitely a thumbs up according to my taste!
by Majestic

Bavarin

Got this one for a discounted price at a local store (Rewe) in Koln Germany. Was on special for about .98 euro. Can't beat that price! It's a dark beer with a sweet honey taste. At least I think it's honey??? You'll have to taste this one and let me know what you taste.
by Majestic

Gaffel Kolsch

We took a ride from Koln Germany to a town called Kommern. Only about an hour drive from Koln. There is a display of old villages dating back to 1500's. Some cool stuff to see if you are into historical sites! Fun for a few hours of walking on a nice sunny day too. We stopped at the restaurant within the villages and had some awesome potato soup and a Goffel Kolsch. This beer is from Germany of course. It's somewhat bitter, but still drink-able! It goes down pretty smooth, almost like water. Maybe that's why all the pubs and cafes in Koln area always packed with people. This is a good pick for all beer drinkers and it's served all over Germany.
by Majestic

Tatra

Another from Poland. This one is for all of the strong, heavy beer drinkers who like a strong after taste. Note the high 7% alcohol too. I tasted this one with dinner. Oh, and interesting enough, I was told that MOCNE means strong. So there it is.....

by Majestic

Volt Original

Got this one in Poland again! Sitting at our apartment here in Koln tonight because the weather is not so great outside. Hey, by the way everyone is watching football (aka soccer right!) This has your same 'ol beer taste with a little zing at the end, but no after taste. No problem consuming because it's a good one. Now, just thought I'd let you know that I enjoyed tasting this one along with my cheese & crackers, pretzels, cheese puffs, and the pringles!!! Any beer drinker would enjoy this one.

by Majestic

Strong

Strong beer, from Poland, with 7% alcohol. This beer definitely has a 'strong' taste for a light beer. I actually has a sweet after taste. Certainly does have a unique taste just as the can indicates on the front "unikalny smak". Unfortunately, not a fav in my book!

by Majestic

LECH

LECH is a Polish beer. Purchased in Poland and brought back to Germany for tasting. This beer smells good, and goes down pretty smooth. It does have a bit of an after taste though. Seems they have some good beer in Poland! Definitely worth tasting if you find this one near you.

by Majestic

ZUBR

Here's a third one purchased in Poland over June 13-15 weekend. Good fresh beer smell, if beer can smell fresh!! Has your typical beer taste. This is a good one for anyone to try. Slides down really smooth too. I'm sure you'll like it!
by Majestic

DEBOWE MOCNE

Another that was bought in Poland last weekend. Now this one sits really heavy in the stomach, but has a really nice natural beer taste. It's definitely worth a try! Oh, and here's an interesting fact about this beer.....7% alcohol.
by Majestic

Warka

Bet ya haven't seen this one around town lately. We ventured to Poland last weekend June 13-15, and bought a few to bring home for tasting. This had a strange fiz sensation going down for some reason. Perhaps it was because we drank it slightly warm! Duh, should have been chilled in the frig for sure! Other than that, it's a good beer taste, and not dry. So go for it!!!
by Majestic

Tyskie Gronie Premium Lager

Tyskie Gronie Premium Lager (original brewing recipe as it says too) is from Poland. It's said to be one of Poland's best. A little on the sweet side of the spectrum, and good in my book. Got this one when we were in Poland.

by Majestic

Harnas

Harnas has the all natural crisp beer taste. No after taste which is great! I enjoyed this one along with some pork chops (or schnitzel as they call it here in Germany), and potato salad. Brought this one back from a trip to Poland in May. Harnas reminds me just a little of Bush beer that my dad used to drink back home in US.

by Majestic

Zywiec

Bought this one when we were in Poland. Popular Polish beer, but has a strange heavy tangy after taste to me. So, I was thinking just get some really salty popcorn or nuts to eat along with this beer, and then the after taste is not so bad!

by Majestic

Vulkan Brau

Everyone knows the story behind German beer, it's just the best, right!!! Well, I am sad to report that I didn't like this one much at all. It has a heavy and thick taste to me. Not one of my favorite beer tastes, but worth the trip we took to Mendig Germany's VulkanPark for tasting. It's not too far from Koblenz, where you can do some castle tours / sight seeing, and also nearby Maria Laach (beautiful lake and church scenic area).

The really cool thing about this beer is that it comes from a brewery that gives tours of the Lava Dome (volcanoes) where the beer was brewed many years ago. There are many other attractions to see too.

Well....we had to take at least one of the 2l jugs home.
by Majestic

Saigon (export)

One more, compliments of one of the Chinese restaurants en Paris. This had a sweet taste, similar to Urqell Pilsner as a friend noted. Was worth a taste while in Paris watching other people eating sushi. I don't do sushi!

by Majestic

Leffe

Another that was checked out while in Paris last weekend. Not sure how many of you have ever tried this one, BUT let me just say this......it tastes like cloves. Yeah, you read correctly, tastes like cloves!!! YUK. Now if you guys are great chefs of the world and want to add a little of this to a ham some time, well then maybe I can say it's GREAT, but other than that....not a great taste! This was one of those nasty after tastes that you could do without!!

by Majestic

"1664"

Okay, this is one of the most popular and a favorite en Paris! Tried this one in Paris last weekend too (May 22-25). They even serve it in the cool 1664 glass, which I don't have a photo of darn it. Wish I did, but c'est la vie, right! The beer is still good even without the glass. This beer does not really have a distinct taste, but it's pretty smooth. Taste like your typical beer. I really liked it though. No after taste that's for sure, which is always a good thing! Oh, and drinking more than one, no problem!!!!
by Majestic

"33"

This one was tasted over last weekend in Paris (May 22-25, 2008). Was sweet and light according to this woman's point of view. Good sweet taste.
by Majestic

Konigsbacher Pils

Tried this beer while we were in Paris over the past weekend (May 22-25, 2008). It's very popular in Paris it seems. My tastes tell me it was light and dry. Good beer by my taste buds.
by Majestic