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The Best Russian Beers

Dec29
2010 Written by admin

The Best Russian Beers

Russia is not particularly noted for its beer brewing prowess, at least outside Russia.  We associate it far more with hundreds of different types of Vodka, something to keep Russians warm in the harsh northern winters.  There are a few exceptions however, so let’s check them out.

Baltika Beers

It’s worth taking a look at this brewery as a whole as it produces so many different types

Baltika 9

Baltika 9

of beer and completely dominates the Russian beer drinking experience with about 40% of the market.  Baltika was only established in 1990 (with significant help from Carlsberg) and it’s beers are named Baltika 1, Baltika 2, etc.  Baltika 0 is a non-alcoholic beer while its strongest is Baltika 9 at 8%.

The strength is achieved “…..by natural fermentation only, according to a unique recipe developed by Baltika specialists.”

It has also won a variety of international awards, most notably a silver medal at the Superior Taste Awards in 2008 in Belgium.

 

 

Ochakovo Beers

Ochakovo Premium

Ochakovo Premium

The Ochakovo Brewery was established in 1978, predating Baltika somewhat.  Like Baltika it produces a variety of beers, it’s most popular being Ochakovo Premium Lager. Says the company (apologies for translation) Premium – “has transparency flawless diamond. Beer has a golden hue, reminiscent of the rare instances of the most expensive in the world of gemstones. Used for cooking perfect grade light of European malts and hops. Fermentation takes place at low temperatures. Beer has a subtle aroma and a balanced and harmonious taste.”  So there you go.  Ochakovo’s 20 or so other beers include the fantastically names Premium Black Lung and Barley The Golden Ear.

Russian does also have its own microbreweries and most tourists visiting Moscow and

Tinkhoff Logo

Tinkhoff Logo

St. Peterburg will be aware of the restaurant and bar premises that also contains it’s own brewery. Tinkhoff expanded soon after it’s inception in 1998 and is now an established brewer as well as a successful manager of brewpubs.  Having sampled several of the brews on Russian trips I can attest that although quite pricey, it’s pretty average for Moscow and St. Petersburg prices and the beer is top quality.


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This Year’s Christmas Beers

Dec22
2010 Written by admin

This Year’s Christmas Beers

Many breweries around the world produce special beers at specific times of the year and Christmas is no exception.  So it’s surely time now for a look at what the traditional breweries have cooked up for us this year.

In no particular order:

Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale 7% abv

It’s a strong ‘un and the Kent, Uk brewery says it’s a…

“A glowing amber winter ale with a heady fruity nose. Crystallised winter fruits combine with festive spicy hops on a platform of smooth warming alcoholic notes, leaving a refreshing cleansing hop finish.

Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale

Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale

Wells Bombareindeer

Wells Bombareindeer

Wells Bombareindeer 5.2% abv

Bombadier is already a fantastic beer but Wells brewers have added a festive touch.  The taste remains the same and only the name has been changed to protect the innocent.

Jennings Redbreast 4.5% abv

This northern brewery produces a range of stunning beers and this is no exception.  Says the company:

“Brewed with two English whole cone hops and natural coloured malt giving a chestnut red hue to the beer. Redbreast drinks with a full flavour and a warming glow.

Jennings Redbreast

Jennings Redbreast

Anchor Steam Christmas Ale

Anchor Steam Christmas Ale

Anchor Steam Christmas Ale 5.5 abv

Now we’re off to U.S. microbrewery land to check out this famous breweries Christmas offering.  They brew with a new recipe every year and each year it’s always very well received.

Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout 10% abv

Well this one really packs a punch at 10% abv.  The brewery says of this ale:

“Everything but the kitchen sink…Great Western Premium Two Row, Wheat, Carvienne, Caramunich, 95-115, 135-165L Crystal Malts, Chocolate, Roasted and Black Barley and Pale Chocolate. We also add some Brown Sugar and some Dark Belgian Candi Sugar to boost the Original Gravity.”

You can’t go too far wrong with all that.

Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout

Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout

Mahr’s Brau Christmas Bock 6% abv

Back to Europe for this offering and this German brewery knows how to produce a quality beer.  This beer has been noted for it’s unusual smell not normally associated with a bock brew.

Liebharts Residenz Bio Wintertraum Festbier 5.8 abv

One more German offering to finish off and the brewery says of this one (apologies for the dodgy translation):

“With the best organic malt, the finest organic hops and brewing qualities of waterfrom the depths of the Teutoburg Forest, ancient recipes inspired us for thisincomparable beer festival. The higher original gravity gives it a dark amber color,malty winter grade and its higher alcohol content by volume of 5.8%., matches this season.”

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The Best American Microbreweries

Dec18
2010 Written by admin

The Best American Microbreweries

It’s easy for Europeans to look down their noses at our transatlantic cousins and pour scorn on the state of the beer industry there.  Giant mass-producing breweries such as Coors and Budweiser produce brews that serious drinkers around the world wouldn’t touch with somebody elses bargepole.

However the United States is a huge, diverse country and it’s not hard to find smaller breweries, collectively termed Microbreweries, who produce a range of lagers and ales to suit anyone’s taste.  There are about 1600 nationwide and we’ll have a look at a few of the best ones.

Firestone Walker Brewing Company

Formed in 1996 by Adam Firestone, a member of the Brooks Firestone clan and his

California Pale Ale

California Pale Ale

brother in law Adam Walker, this California brewery has been a consistent winner of beer quality awards since it perfected it’s processes in 2002.  Their strength is Pale Ales and their original and most popular product is Firestone Pale Ale which, the company states:

“We’ve taken the classic British pale ale and elevated it with a wonderful dose of northwest American hops. A crisp floral hop aroma precedes a medium-bodied clean finishing ale.”

Kettle House Brewing Company

This Montana brewery was opened in 1995 by Tim O’Leary, a state native whose original

Cold Smoke Scotch Ale

Cold Smoke Scotch Ale

idea had been to start a business within which the customer could brew there own beer. This subsequently morphed into a fully fledged microbrewery.  Similar to the Firestone brewery, Kettle House includes a ‘brewpub’, essentially a pub attached to the brewery where patrons can enjoy the product.

Kettle House produces many varieties for a small operation, it’s most well known

probably being Cold Smoke Scotch Ale, described by the company as:

“formulated with Montana grown 2-row barley, northwest Goldings hops, and lotsa love, this hearty ale drinks very smooth.”

Anchor Brewing Company

This just about qualifies as microbrewery, but having been in existence in San Francisco

since 1896 it is as old as many of the newer European breweries.  The brewery has burned down several times and presumably ceased production during prohibition but it bounced back and is still with us now.

It’s most famous beer is probably Anchor Steam Beer, which is brewed, the company says:

“with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. The deep amber color, thick creamy head, and rich flavor all testify to our traditional brewing methods.”

So before your next trip to the States, check out the microbreweries where you’re going and give them a try.  You won’t be disappointed.

Posted in Breweries, By Country, Top Tens - Tagged , ,

The World’s Strongest Beers (updated)

Dec07
2010 Written by admin

Following the previous post, we are happy to announce that Dutch Brewery ‘t Koelschip has produced an incredible 60% ABV beer called Start The Future. Start the Future

It’s strength comes from it’s production method whereby it is brewed in three parts then combined.

It sells for £29.00 per 330 ml bottle and should, say the manufacturers, be drunk in very small quantities.

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The World’s Top Ten Strongest Beers

Dec01
2010 Written by admin

The World’s Top Ten Strongest Beers

Ok, first post so lets kick off with an up to date list of the world’s most potent brews. All of these beers are or have been legitimately for sale, even if only in limited amounts.

1.  End of History: From the Brewdog Brewery, Scotland’s largest independent brewery and one of its youngest, founded only in 2007. This beer is an astonishing 55% ABV, rates highly on taste tests and should be drunk in small amounts.

2.  Schorsbrau Schorshbock 43%: A mega-strong version of the  Schorsbrau Schorshbockstandard 13% Schorshbock from the German Schorsbrau brewery.   Was for a while the world’s strongest.

3.  Sink the Bismarck: Another from Brewdog, measuring in at 41%. It’s an India Pale Ale (IPA) and was brewed in response to a 40% ABV entry from Schorsbrau.

4.  Schorsbrau Schorshbock 40%: This rocket powered brew inspired Brewdog to up the ante – it’s a very highly rated beer.

5.  Struise Black Damnation IV – Messy: From the famous De Struise brewery in Belgium, this Imperial Stout enters the charts at number 5 with a potent 39% ABV. Damnation V comes just outside the top ten at number 12.

6.  Tactical Nuclear Penguin: A third entry from the BrewdogBrewdog's Tactical Nuclear Penguinbrewery, this 32% beer (as the manufacturers states), “……should be enjoyed in small serving and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance.”

Mikkeller Heavy Black7.  Mikkeller Heavy Black: This Danish Imperial Stout from the Mikkeller brewery measures in at a hefty 31.1%. Like Brewdog, this is a young brewery, dating from only 2006 but it’s already an award winner.

8.  Schorsbrau Schorshbock 31% Black: Fractionally behind Mikkeller Heavy Black the German’s pull off another stunner, with this spine-tinglingly strong effort.

9.  Schorsbrau Schorshbock 30.86%: And fractionally behind itself is this brain-addling brew. A night on the Schorshbock is clearly one to remember. Like the other Schorsbrau offerings it’s an Eisbock (frozen brewing process).

10.  Sudstern XXL: From the German Sudstern brewery this final entry in the top ten list measures in at 27.6% and it’s also an Eisbock.

We’ll update the list as and when the Scots and the Germans renew their battle for the world’s strongest beer. Check back for updates!

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