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ND: Maker: Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, United Kingdom
Beer: Hooky (bottled, unfiltered, 500ml)
Style: Bitter
ALC.VOL.: 3.5%
"A subtly balanced, golden bitter, hoppy to the nose, malty on the palate - the classic session beer, eminently drinkable." [brewery note]
Colour: Bright hazy amber; medium,m creamy head.
Nose: Bready malts, dried figs. Yeast.
Texture: Medium body, not too watery. Moderate carbonation.
Taste: Floral notes and dried figs at the start, with yeasty notes present, too. Butterscotch. Mildly sweetish. More floral towards the middle, with increasing bitterness. Some fruit retained in the finale, along with hoppy bitterness and sweet malts for balance. Medium long aftertaste of malts and hops.
Impressions: Surprisingly characterful for such a low ABV ale. Refreshing, quaffable. Superior British "standard" bitter. [My ratebeer rating: 3.4/5]
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ND: Maker: Vulkan Brauerei, Mendig, Germany
Beer: Pale Ale (can, unfiltered, 330ml)
Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
ALC.VOL.: 5.6%
Colour: Deep hazy orange; medium, fluffy white head.
Nose: Orange sherbet, yeast.
Texture: Medium body, still a bit watery. Moderate carbonation.
Taste: Orange sherbet as in the aroma, but a bit more muffled. Some herbs, yeast. Wee pinewood. Middle is still fizzy orange, much like lemonade. A bit more bitter now. Low on hops though. Taste remains the same through the finish, aftertaste slightly metallic (can!), still orange. Weak floral note now, too.
Impressions: This might be better in the cask or bottled versions (unavailable to me). Such as it is, like orange lemonade with an ever so slightly bitter streak. Not terrible, but nothing special either. (My ratebeer rating: 3.1/5)
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ND: Maker: Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, England
Beer: Hooky Gold (bottled, 500ml)
Style: Golden Ale
ALC.VOL.: 4.2%
"Pale, delicately fruity and refreshing. Hooky Gold is a beer which marries English tradition with American pizzazz. It is the first of our beers to use an American hop variety, Willamette, grown in Oregon, and having moderate bitterness with a spicy, noble hop aroma." brewery notes]
Colour: Deep yellow golden, with a small, fluffy white head.
Nose: Barley, floral hops, hay.
Texture: Medium body, not really watery. A little grainy. Moderate carbonation.
Taste: Strong floral hops *and* biscuity malts at the start. Very moderately bitter. Bitterness increases toward the middle, as it should. But the wee-sweet malts are still in there, balancing the beer. Hoppy bitterness in the finish, still very floral. Lasting, but very moderately bitter aftertaste.
Impressions: Superior golden ale with a heftier than usual malt background. Still, very hoppy, not too thin. Straightforward (some people seem to taste fruit in there - not really, no!), very quaffable. Another solid effort from Hook Norton. [My ratebeer rating: 3.4/5]
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ND: Maker: Freigeist Bierkultur (brewed at Vormann Brauerei), Stolberg, Germany
Beer: Freigeist Miss California IPA (bottled, unfiltered, 330ml)
Style: Imperial IPA
ALC.VOL.: 8%
Colour: Hazy amber; big, fluffy white head.
Nose: Grapefruit, pinewood, herbs, slight medicinal notes.
Texture: Light(!) to medium body, neither watery nor oily. Medium carbonation.
Taste:Bitter pinewood and grapefruit, but mostly bitter, strong herbal essences, too. Malty notes enter in the middle, but it's still very bitter, with pine over fruitiness. Hoppy, bitter and piney finish, with a long-lasting, strongly bitter, hoppy aftertaste.
Impressions: Surprisingly light considering its ABV, the 8% are barely noticeable. A little "in your face" with its pinewood and herbal notes, lacking the depth one would normally associate with a strong ale like this. But highly drinkable, especially for lovers of bitter and resinous IPAs. [My ratebeer rating: 3.6/5]
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That's a nice glass. Looks like a beehive. 
I don't even wanna know what that small bottle costs.  - But even in Germany, homemade craft beers can be three times as expensive as the "industry brands".
ND: Maker: Shepherd Neame & Co., Faversham, England
Beer: Shepherd Neame India Pale Ale (bottled, 500ml)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
ALC.VOL.: 6.1%
"A glorious showcase of the distinct, heavily hopped beers for which Shepherd Neame is famed, India Pale Ale delivers potent bitterness, offset with generous amounts of pale ale malt to deliver a balanced, yet uncompromising brew." [brewery note]
Colour: Reddish amber, clear, with a medium-size, fluffy off-white head.
Nose: A bit sweetish. More caramel malts than floral notes.
Texture: Medium to full body, not watery. Initially active carbonation, but settles down quickly.
Taste: First sip suggests a firmly malty, toffee-ish base, interacting with floral notes. Caramel, brown bread. Middle is more floral, but still predominantly malty. Good bitterness in the finish, with the malts vs. hops balance being pretty much the same. Aftertaste is long-lasting, firmly bitter.
Impressions: Not really an IPA, it's a little short on the hops and there are virtually no citrusy or pinewood notes to speak of. Instead, it's close to the same company's "Spitfire", but a little more powerful (much higher ABV) and with more depth of flavor. Not bad, a superior, stronger session beer. [My ratebeer rating: 3.3/5]
I spent last week traveling in Scotland, took notes for some 30 beers I drank on tap there. Maybe I'm positing a few of the better ones here.
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The only Norwegian brand that my mail order dealer carries is called "Austmann". € 5 for 0.33l bottles.
ND: Maker: Brauerei Gebr. Maisel, Bayreuth, Germany
Beer: Maisel & Friends Pale Ale (bottled, 330ml)
Style: American Pale Ale
ALC.VOL.: 5.2%
"Originally brewed for the Braukunst Live! 2014 beer festival, 2014" [brewery note]
Colour: Golden yellow, clear; big, fluffy white head.
Nose: Tangerine, a wee bit of herbs, "Brause" (sherbet)
Texture: Light-bodied, watery, a little grainy. Medium carbonation.
Taste: Surprisingly bitter and dry at first (given the aroma). Hop notes are stronger than the tangerine fruit. Some herbs, too. Bitter middle, fruit now muted. Rather short finish, again with bitter hops and some citrus, and a longer, hoppy aftertaste.
Impressions: Doesn't fit the APA style. Rather, it tastes like a pilsener with added citrus, or an overly bitter Radler (shandy). Perfectly drinkable and refreshing, but not what I expected. [My ratebeer rating: 3.0/5]
Maker: Brauerei und Gasthof Zwönitz, Zwönitz, Germany
Beer: Zwönitzer Feiromd Bier (bottled, 500ml)
Style: Vienna/Amber Lager
ALC.VOL.: 4.9%
Colour: Clear mahogany; huge, beige head.
Nose: Caramel, sour dough. Sour-sweetish.
Texture: Medium body, not too watery. Active carbonation.
Taste: Carmel, brown bread, biscuity malts. Slight coffee note, too. The bready notes dominate the middle, now with a little hoppy bitterness, too. Bitterness increases in the finale. Hazelnut notes there. Aftertaste slightly sweet, malty, but also spicy.
Impressions: Deviates considerably from the amber lager style; more like an overly carbonated, more bitter than usual "Dunkles". Really not bad, if you're in for malt and bread notes. Sufficiently bitter in the finish, so it doesn't fall flat like many "Dunkles" style beers. [My ratebeer rating: 3.6/5]
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The final dram out of this Tomintoul 12 Year-Old Portwood (12 Y + 20 months in port casks) single malt. Preserved dark fruit on the nose. Vanilla, pepper, oak. Palate: Fruit, spice and pepper very strong at the start, then in comes the oak. Vanilla in the background. Winey notes toward the finish. Aftertaste of rum fruits (plums, strawberries), lingering oak. Increasingly dry.
A great, characterful single malt for the price/age range.
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ND: Maker: Hoppebräu, Waakirchen, Germany
Beer: Vogelwuid IPA (bottled, 330ml)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
ALC.VOL.: 6.5%
Colour: Bright golden yellow; small fluffy head.
Nose: Slightly musty floral hops, some citrus, grass.
Texture: Medium body, a bit watery. Medium carbonation.
Taste: Peculiar mix of apricot, herbal notes, hoppy bitterness and a wee unpleasant medicinal note. Relatively high ABV is rather obvious; a bit boozy. Grass in the middle and finish, with an alcoholic and a floral note. Muted bitterness in the finale and aftertaste. Very faint citrus note.
Impressions: *Not* an IPA, more like a Pislener gone wrong. Not undrinkable, but like the other two "Hoppebräus" I've had, a bit off-putting and misguided. Certainly my first and final tasting of this one. [My ratebeer rating: 2.5/5]
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ND: Maker: St. Austell Brewery, St. Austell, England
Beer: Admiral's Ale (bottle-conditioned, 500ml)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
ALC.VOL.: 5.0%
"This premium bottle-conditioned ale has been uniquely brewed using our own Cornish Gold malt. Locally grown barley is traditionally malted using a special kilning process which develops a deeper intensity of colour and flavour than ordinary barley malt. Blended with both Styrian Golding and Cascade hops, the result is a deep bronze ale with a delicious rich biscuit flavour and a wonderful spicy aroma." [brewer's note]
Colour: Deep, slightly hazy copper; huge, fluffy off-white head.
Nose: Caramel, biscuity malts, red berries. a hint of sweet lemon.
Texture: Medium to fuill-bodied, not watery at all. A bit creamy. Medium carbonation.
Taste: Caramel, dark fruits, some bread, a hint of citrus and floral hops at the start. Hint of chocolate, too. More so towards the middle, with an overall slightly sweetish ring of bready malts and dark fruit. Modestly bitter finish, still malt-dominated, hints of fruit linger on. Aftertaste is long but not really bitter. More fruity and malty.
Impressions: Very, very good British ESB with bold flavours and some depth to it. Looks great, too. Eminently drinkable and characterful, almost on a par with Fuller's ESB. [My ratebeer rating: 4.2/5]
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ND: Maker: Münch-Bräu, Eibau, Germany
Beer: Eibauer Lausitzer Dunkel (bottled, 500ml)
Style: Dunkles
ALC.VOL.: 4.2%
"A wonderfully quaffable traditonal brew, re-created for yozur enjoyment." [brewery note]
Colour: Dark reddish brown; medium, creamy beige head.
Nose: Brown bread. Hints of caramel and roasted malts.
Texture: Medium body, watery. Moderate carbonation.
Taste: Sweetish. Roasted malts, caramell, slightly artifical sugar (with a bitter side note). Middle: The same. Finish: A bit bitter at least, with a little more explicit roasted malts. Short, aftertaste with the same artifically sweet note as before.
Impressions: The fact that the brewery has added artifical sweetener (saccharine) to the beer doesn't bode well. This accounts for the unpleasant sugary-bitter note that is typical of saccharine. Too sweet and one-note by half. Tastes like the malt beer for children. [My ratebeer rating: 2.0/5]
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ND: Maker: Brauerei Mashsee (brewed at Brauhaus Felsenkeller - Rupp-Bräu), Hannover, Germany
Beer: Mashsee Trainings Lager (bottled, unfiltered, 330ml)
Style: Premium Lager
ALC.VOL.: 5.5%
Colour: Hazy light orange; big, fluffy white head.
Nose: Grapefruit, some herbs, some pinewood.
Texture: Light body, watery, active carbonation.
Taste: Peach, rich pinewood, herbs and soft malts at the start. Dry hoppiness sets in very quickly, pine turns resinous, herbs still in the mix. Citrus more generic now. Herbs and pine dominate the finish, with resin and a whiff of citrus in the aftertaste.
Impressions: Very interesting lager/light IPA hybrid, almost closer to the IPA than to the lager style. Very refreshing, dry but fruity, appealingly resinous. If only it wasn't so thin-bodied and over-carbonated. But then, they set out to create a lager, didnt they? [My ratebeer rating: 3.4/5]
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ND: Maker: Bierfabrik Berlin, Germany
Beer: Bierfabrik Pale Ale Schabrackentabier (bottled, unfiltered, 330ml)
Style: American Pale Ale
ALC.VOL.: 5.9%
Colour: Hazy orange with big, fluffy off-white head.
Nose: Grapefruit, pinewood, herbs, some tropical fruit notes.
Texture: Medium body, hardly watery at all, active carbonation.
Taste: Start is dominated by herbs, hoppy bitterness and pinewood, with oranges in the background. Dry and bitter. More so towards the middle, some resinous notes now, too. Fruit remains muted. Almost oaky in the finish, with dominating hops, quite explicitly bitter. Hoppy and lemony aftertaste, which lasts forever.
Impressions: Excellent APA from Berlin. Not the fruitiest of APAs/IPAs, but characterful in the herbs and hops departments, with a fair depth to it. [My ratebeer rating: 3.7/5]
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ND: Maker: Porterhouse Brewing, Dublin, Ireland
Beer: Porterhouse Wrasslers XXXX Stout
Style: Dry Stout
ALC.VOL.: 5.7%
"Made to a recipe originally brewed by Deasy’s of West Cork in the early 1900’s. This was Michael Collins’ favourite tipple - a stout like your grandfather used to drink. A fine fullsome stout, full in every way, a pungent aroma of late kettle hops." [brewery notes]
Colour: Reddish dark brown with big, dark beige head.
Nose: Chocolate, nuts, licorice, vanilla.
Texture: Light to medium body, still watery. Mild carbonation.
Taste: Roasted malt. Coffee. A hint of vanilla. Very dry and bitter right from the start. Very bitter chocolate ("Herrenschokolade"). A little milder towards the middle, but still with coffee notes dominating. Finale turns a wee bit sour, like when you're actually munching on coffee beans. Long, bitter espresso aftertaste.
Impressions: Very good dry stout, and dry it certainly is. Those who prefer stouts that are clearly different from porters (i.e. no milk chocolate or toffee in the taste) should love this one. My only gripe: A little more body would be great. [My ratebeer rating: 3.9/5]
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ND: Maker: Buddelship Brauerei, Hamburg, Germany
Beer: Buddelship Blanker Hans (bottled, unfiltered, 330ml)
Style: Hefeweizen
ALC.VOL.: 5.3%
Colour: Deep hazy orange - no head to speak of.
Nose: Mix of tropical fruits (papaya, bananas, etc), mild medicinal notes, cloves.
Texture: Light bodied, very watery. Soft carbonation.
Taste: Bananas, oranges, lemon, cloves, perfume at the start. Predominantly citrus-sour. The lemony notes lead to the middle, still in tandem with cloves and bananas. Mild finish with a citrus note, some herbs. More bitter in the floral, hoppy aftertaste.
Impressions: So *not* a typical German Hefeweizen; the brewery claimed it's based on an old Hamburg recipe for cloudy wheat brewed for sailors (Hamburg? Cloudy wheat? For sailors?). Anyway, it's not unappealing in its very lemony character and the attractive bouquet of tropical fruits on the nose. If only it weren't quite so watery! [My ratebeer rating: 2.9/5]
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