Such is the importance of beer in modern society that beer is the third most popular drink in the world, behind water and tea. As such, beer is produced in many of the world’s countries, with little variation on the ingredients used; water, malted barley, hops and yeast. Despite the simplicity of just four ingredients, there are huge variations in the taste of beer.

Whilst it’s true that many countries produce many beers, it is a rather more difficult challenge to consume a beer from every country that produces the stuff. The beer must be brewed in the country of origin and not brewed under license overseas.

This challenge started on 6th March 2011. Each country has it’s own blog post. You will often see multiple beer entries in each country. This is because either 1) the original beer was so horrible the country deserves a second chance 2) I picked up a very obscure beer and it deserves to be listed 3) I wanted to review a spectrum of beers over the course. If you have access to a beer from a country that I have not been able to drink yet, drop me a line at william@wkadams.com and we’ll sort out a reward in exchange!

Progress

Dependent Countries / Territories are places with their own flag, culture and geographic land, but depend on a sovereign county for international relations; e.g. England (UK), Guadeloupe (FR) or Hong Kong (SAR).

  • 120 Sovereign Countries
  • 10 Dependent Countries / Territories

Recent Posts

  • San Marino

    Date Consumed: 2nd April 2025
    Beer: Speak Easy
    Brewed: Birrificio Abusivo, Domagnano, San Marino
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: Suitcase by Jim Cook (thanks Jim!)
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Quite hoppy for an Italian pilsner, otherwise a pretty thin mouthfeel. Not bad, maybe better in a warmer climate.

    Speak Easy, San Marino
  • Jordan

    Date Consumed: 4th March 2023
    Beer: Dead Sea-rious
    Brewed: Carakale, Fuheis, Al Balqa Jordan
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Suitcase by Jim Cook (thanks Jim!)
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Strong grapefruit flavour coming through; noticeable salt. A well made gose, definitely inspired by US brewed recipes.

    Dead Sea-rious, Jordan
  • Bhutan

    Date Consumed: 16th May, 2020
    Beer: Druk Traffic Lights
    Brewed: Namgay Artisanal Brewery, Paro, Bhutan
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: Suitcase by Jim Cook (thanks Jim!)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: A mini break from the Covid-19 lockdown with a virtual trip to Bhutan! I did not expect to have this country ticked off. Pineapple and salt go surprisingly well together in a sharp but sweet gose.

    Druk Traffic Lights, Bhutan
  • Republic of the Congo

    Date Consumed: 5th October 2019
    Beer: Ngok
    Brewed: Brasserie du Congo, Brazzaville, Congo
    Size: 650mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Les Terroirs du Congo, Rue Labat, Paris, France
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Brewed by Heineken Congo and tastes a lot like Heineken. Not great, a bland lager with all the hallmarks of an African beer brewed for a hot market.

    Ngok, Republic of the Congo
  • Botswana

    Date Consumed: 28th August 2019
    Beer: St Louis Export
    Brewed: Kgalagadi Breweries, Gaborone, Botswana
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: Suitcase from Botswana. Thanks to Jonathan Rudd!
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Brewed for the export market. Nice carbonation, refreshing. Not bad at all. Very similar to Carlsberg.

    St Louis Lager, Botswana

    Date Consumed: 28th August 2019
    Beer: St Louis Lager
    Brewed:  Kgalagadi Breweries, Gaborone, Botswana
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 3.5%
    Sourced:  Suitcase from Botswana. Thanks to Jonathan Rudd!
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: Not as good as the Export version by a long way. Bland, low carbonation, lacks flavour. Lower alcohol, which may contribute to the poor effort.

    St Louis Lager, Botswana
  • Azerbaijan

    Date Consumed: 9th January 2019
    Beer: Xirdalan Export
    Brewed: Carlsberg Azerbaijan, Xırdalan, Baku, Azerbaijan
    Size: 440mL
    Alcohol Content: 3.6%
    Sourced: Suitcase beer from Baku Azerbaijan (thanks James Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: It’s brewed by Carlsberg and it tastes of Carlsberg. Surprising hop flavour, more like a Polish lager. A difficult country tick!

    Xirdalan Export, Azerbaijan
  • Faroe Islands (DE)

    Date Consumed: 8th January 2019
    Beer: Föroya Bjór Classic
    Brewed: Föroya Bjór, Klaksvik, Faroe Islands
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavík, Iceland
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: A true to style dark lager; slightly sweet, not bad at all. I’d enjoy a couple but its not a style I enjoy.

    Föroya Bjór Classic, Iceland
  • Egypt

    Date Consumed: 12th November 2018
    Beer: Stella Lager
    Brewed: Al Ahram, Giza, Egypt
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Bekya Middle Eastern Kitchen, Harold Park, Sydney NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: African lager is African lager. Suprised continued use of the word Stella hasn’t got some Belgian lawyers up in arms. Wasn’t expecting much, did not deliver.

    Stella Lager, Egypt

    Date Consumed: 12th November 2018
    Beer: Meister Max
    Brewed: Al Ahram, Giza, Egypt
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 8.0%
    Sourced: Bekya Middle Eastern Kitchen, Harold Park, Sydney NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Wasn’t expecting much as before, but this high alcohol beer wasn’t bad! Oh, its warming up. It’s not as good.

    Meister Max, Egypt
  • Antigua & Barbuda

    Date Consumed: 29th October 2018
    Beer: Wadadli
    Brewed: Antigua Brewery (Royal Unibrew), St. Johns, Antigua & Barbuda
    Size: 250mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Suitcase beer from a supermarket in Antigua & Barbuda (thanks Jim Marlow!)
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Caribbean lager, served in a smaller 250mL for quick drinking and many of them in the heat! Nothing too exciting but not unpleasant either.

    Wadadli, Antigua & Barbuda
  • Belarus

    Date Consumed: 28th March 2018
    Beer: Lidskoe Pilsner
    Brewed: Lidskoe Pivo, Grodnenskaya Oblast, Lida, Belarus
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.2%
    Sourced: A Belarusian Deli on Ulitsa Vosstaniya near Обелиск Городу-Герою Ленинграду
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: Absolutely nothing to report on this one. Pilsner, bland, slight cereal taste, mildly bitter.

    Lidskoe Pilsner, Belarus
  • Georgia

    Date Consumed: 26th March 2018
    Beer: Kazbegi Tbilisi Beer
    Brewed: Kazbegi, Rustavi, Georgia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Garcon Bistro, Nevsky Avenue, 95, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia
    World Beer Rating: 4/10.

    Notes: It is quite literally identical to every other lager in the former Soviet Union. that is to say, pretty basic.

    Kazbegi Tbilisi Beer, Georgia

    Date Consumed: 26th March 2018
    Beer: Kazbegi Porter
    Brewed: Kazbegi, Rustavi, Georgia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.8%
    Sourced: Garcon Bistro, Nevsky Avenue, 95, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: A touch watery but has a definite slightly smokey porter taste which I would describe as Soviet… if that’s a fair way of describing it?

    Kazbegi Porter, Georgia
  • Mongolia

    Date Consumed: 28th September 2016
    Beer: Jalam Khar
    Brewed: MCS Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
    Size: 450mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: A shop in Ulaanbaatar, sold by Ghengis himself? Suitcased to Sydney (thanks to Jim Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 3/10.

    Notes: Mongolian Heinken is the best at a descriptive flavour; it wouldn’t be out of place on draft with Carling and Carlsberg. I feel the need to lead a new Mongol Empire!

    Jalam Khar, Mongolia
  • Martinique

    Date Consumed: 7th August 2015
    Beer: Bière Lorraine Blonde
    Brewed: Brasserie Lorraine, Le Lamentin, Martinique
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: A shop in Paris, no idea where… (thanks to Jim Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 1/10

    Notes: This beer is devoid of all flavour save the presence of chemicals. The legend goes ‘it tastes better in the climate of which it’s brewed’. However in this case, there is no climate on Earth excusable for it.

    Bière Lorraine Blonde, Martinique
  • Andorra

    Date Consumed: 7th August 2015
    Beer: Alpha Sant Cornelli
    Brewed: Cerveses Alpha, La Cortinada Ordino, Andorra
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 6.4%
    Sourced: A tourist shop in Andorra La Vella (thanks to Jim Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Very, very carbonated. Some citrus, little light on the hops. The beer label was inkjet printed but this is from the only (micro) brewery in the whole country!

    Alpha Sant Cornelli, Andorra
  • Kingdom of Tonga

    Date Consumed: 20th April 2015
    Beer: Outrigger Popao Premium Ale
    Brewed: Outrigger Brewery, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu Tonga
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: A bottle shop in Tonga (Thanks to Laura’s friend Gemma for bringing this back with her)
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Malt profile, medium carbonation. Smidgen of hops coming through. For a microbrewery in Tonga this isn’t too bad. Very similar to Heineken.

    Outrigger Popao Premium Ale, Tonga
  • Myanmar (Burma)

    Date Consumed: 17th September 2014
    Beer: Beer Myanmar
    Brewed: Myanmar Brewery and Distillery, Mingaladon Township, Yangon, Myanmar
    Size: 640mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Peninsula Plaza, Singapore (Thanks Serdal Dik!)
    World Beer Rating: 5/10.

    Notes: I chilled this down and drank it from a small glass; it’s very light, very fizzy, slightly chemically but not much else going on.

    Beer Myanmar, Myanmar
  • Vanuatu

    Date Consumed: 4th September 2014
    Beer: Vanuatu Tusker OP Lager
    Brewed: Vanuatu Brewing Limited, Port Vila, Vanuatu
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 7.0%
    Sourced: Port Vila, Vanuatu (Thanks to Keith Gilsenan)
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Lets be honest; Vanuatu isn’t a world class destination for beer and it’s my fault the beer had spent a good deal of time waiting for me to pick it up. Despite that the beer itself isn’t too bad; the 7.0% ABV helps mask a slight chemically malty flavour. In humid climates, a fresher version would hit the spot nicely.

    Vanuatu Tusker OP Lager, Vanuatu
  • Hong Kong (SAR)

    Date Consumed: 15th August 2014
    Beer: Hong Kong Sevens Stout
    Brewed: Hong Kong Beer Co., Chai Wan, Hong Kong
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 6.0%
    Sourced: Hong Kong (thanks to Jim Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: 7/10. A good stout, albeit slightly watery. Dark chocolate and coffee flavours, without a doubt a surprise to drink a craft beer from Hong Kong.

    Hong Kong Sevens Stout, Hong Kong
  • Macau (SAR)

    Date Consumed: 15th August 2014
    Beer: Macau Beer
    Brewed: Companhia de Cervejas de Macau, Avenida Venceslau Morais No. 209, Macau
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Macau (thanks to Jim Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 4/10.

    Notes: Typical macro brewed beer, plenty of malt and hops. Flavour not unlike a Peroni, but with a chemically aftertaste.

    Macau Beer, Macau
  • Cook Islands (NZ)

    Date Consumed: 22nd January 2014
    Beer: Matutu Mai Lager
    Brewed: Titikaveka, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Matutu Brewery, Titikaveka, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: This bottle of beer was fresh filled from the brewery itself, so fresh it wasn’t even capped! A lovely beer from a hot and humid island. Slightly citrus, a tiny bit malty. Very drinkable, I would pick a few bottles of this up if exported to Australia!

    Matutu Mai Lager, Cook Islands (NZ)

    Date Consumed: 21nd January 2014
    Beer: Matutu Kiva Pale Ale
    Brewed: Titikaveka, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Sunset Resort, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Not particularly good. Very malty, bready, not really a Pale Ale. Only had one of these, that was enough for me.

    Matutu Kiva Pale Ale, Cook Islands (NZ)

  • Togo

    Date Consumed: 27th June 2013
    Beer: Flag Spéciale
    Brewed: Brasserie BB Lomé, Lomé, Togo
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Saveur Biere (www.saveur-biere.com)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Remarkable; African beers are typically weak with no particular flavour. This one is excellent, actually a little sweet and tastes a little of cereal. Good colour and a head that lasts longer than one would expect.

    Flag Spéciale, Togo

    Date Consumed: 5th October 2019
    Beer: Awooyo Spéciale
    Brewed: Agoènyivé, Lomé, Togo
    Size: 650mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Togo Exotique, Rue Dejean, Paris, France
    World Beer Rating: 2/10

    Notes: It was past its sell by date and is a brown ale from Togo. Vague caramel notes and poor carbonation. Not undrinkable but a long way from being average.

    Awooyo Spéciale, Togo
  • Northern Ireland (UK)

    Date Consumed: 28th May 2013
    Beer: Whitewater Belfast Lager
    Brewed: Whitewater, Saintfield, Northern Ireland
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Celtic Whisky Shop
    World Beer Rating: 2/10


    Notes: This beer is awful. Terrible. Could be due to it being slightly out of date, but there is no head whatsoever. Nice colour, but thats about it.

    Whitewater Belfast Lager, Northern Ireland

    Date Consumed: 2nd June 2013
    Beer: Whitewater Belfast Ale
    Brewed: Whitewater, Saintfield, Northern Ireland
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Celtic Whisky Shop
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Lovely ale, caramel and citrusy notes.

    Whitewater Belfast Ale, Northern Ireland
  • Tunisia

    Date Consumed: 26th May 2013
    Beer: Celtia
    Brewed: Société Frigorifique et Brasserie de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: www.alloceltia.com
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: What an unexpected delight, a good quality African beer! Flavours in line with Heineken and Grolsch, easy drinking. Well carbonated but very enjoyable.

    Celtia, Tunisia
  • Madagascar

    Date Consumed: 21st May 2013
    Beer: Star Three Horses Beer Pilsener
    Brewed: Brasseries Star, Antananarivo, Madagascar
    Size: 650mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.4%
    Sourced: Chateau Rouge Market
    World Beer Rating: 2/10

    Notes: Madagascar, this is not a good beer. This is only just a beer. Tastes of corn and bitterness with an unwelcome metallic aftertaste. Foul.

    Star Three Horses Beer Pilsener, Madagascar
  • Réunion (FR)

    Date Consumed: May 2013
    Beer: Bourbon Metiss
    Brewed: Brasserie de Bourbon, Saint-Denis, Réunion
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 3.5%
    Sourced: Chateau Rouge Market
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: This is marketed as a fruity beer, only it has almost no carbonation and tastes like sugary water mixed with tropical fruit squash. Réunion is so small I’m impressed they even have a brewery. Probably one for the ladies on a tropical beach in Réunion…

    Bourbon Metiss, Réunion
  • Guadeloupe (FR)

    Date Consumed: 17th May 2013
    Beer: Corsaire Biere Caribeenne
    Brewed: Brasserie du Corsaire, Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Chateau Rouge Market.
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Light, well carbonated, quite like a light version of Budweiser Budvar. Slight taste of chemicals; I bet this would go down like a treat in the heat of the Caribbean!

    Corsaire Biere Caribeenne, Guadeloupe
  • Wales (UK)

    Date Consumed: 17th May 2013
    Beer: Otley O-Garden
    Brewed: Otley, Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 6/10


    Notes: Slightly floral and tastes a little of grass. Low bitterness, easy to drink. Pretty good.

    Otley O-Garden, Wales
  • Leichtenstein

    Date Consumed: 29th April 2013
    Beer: Liechtensteiner Brauhaus Hells
    Brewed: Liechtensteiner Brauhaus, Schaan, Liechtenstein
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: bierpost.com
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: I expected more since Lichtenstein is sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria with Germany to the north, but this tastes like burnt caramel with a metallic aftertaste. I have a couple more from this brewery, lets hope they get better!

    Liechtensteiner Brauhaus Hells, Liechtenstein

    Date Consumed: 29th April 2013
    Beer: Liechtensteiner Brauhaus Krona
    Brewed: Liechtensteiner Brauhaus, Schaan, Liechtenstein
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: bierpost.com
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Nothing special here either except it’s got a strange metallic flavour.

    Liechtensteiner Brauhaus Krona, Liechtenstein
  • Suriname

    Date Consumed: 23rd April 2013
    Beer: Parbo Bier
    Brewed: Surinaamse Bierbrouwerij, Paramaribo, Suriname
    Size: 1000mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: ServiceNow colleague in the Netherlands who posted a couple of bottles over from Amsterdam (thanks to Micha Schraven)
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Definitely suited to a tropical environment as the beer itself has no strong flavour. Bonus points for boldly shunning a 330mL bottle in favour of a gigantic 1000mL bottle, why can’t more beers come in this size?

    Parbo Bier, Suriname
  • Moldova

    Date Consumed: 23rd April 2013
    Beer: Chisnau Blonda
    Brewed: Efes Vitanta Moldova Brewery, Chisinau, Moldova
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: www.piwazdusza.pl
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Classic Eastern European lager with no particularly good points other than I could happily drink a few on a hot day.

    Chisnau Blonda, Moldova
  • England (UK)

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Fullers London Pride
    Brewed: Fullers Brewery, London, England
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: Randwick Cellars, Randwick, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 5/10.

    Notes: Hate to rate my home country with anything less than 10, but London Pride is not the best tasting (ale) out there

    London Pride, England

    Date Consumed: 16th April 2013
    Beer: Beavertown Dishoom India Pale Ale
    Brewed: Beavertown, London, England
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Dishoom, Shoreditch, London, UK
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: What a fantastic IPA. Bursting with flavour, especially citrus. I’d absolutely have this beer on a regular basis if more widely distributed. Great with spicy food.

    Beavertown Dishoom India Pale Ale, England
  • Scotland (UK)

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Innis & Gunn Rum Finish
    Brewed: Belhaven (Greene King), Edinburgh, Scotland
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 7.4%
    Sourced: Leura Cellars, Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: A 9 for Innis & Gunn, who make incredibly good beer, this one with the wonderful sweetness of rum – the dark colour of the beer is gorgeous. This beer is brilliant!

    Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer, Scotland

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Brewdog Cocoa Psycho
    Brewed: BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 10.0%
    Sourced: Kris Wines, Greater London, UK
    World Beer Rating: 10/10

    Notes: Absolutely stunning. Chocolate, coffee, insanity. 10% ABV to match a 10/10 score. This is one of the greatest stouts ever made. God damn.

    Brewdog Cocoa Psycho, Scotland

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Never Mind The Anabolics
    Brewed: BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 6.5%
    Sourced: Kris Wines, Greater London, UK
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Another great beer from Brewdog. Intense fruit and hoppy flavour from just the smell! Goes down great, a little bitterness to finish off.

    Brewdog Never Mind The Anabolics, Scotland
  • Venezuela

    Date Consumed: 10th April 2013
    Beer: Polar Pilsen
    Brewed: Empresas Polar, Caracas, Venezuela
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Pronto Brazil and Latino Importers via www.amazon.de
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: This beer is light, refreshing and I suspect excellent on a hot summers day in Caracas. Slight citrus with light hops, definitely easy going. It’s number 100!

    Polar Pilsen, Venezuela
  • Ecuador

    Date Consumed: 1st April 2013
    Beer: Club Premium
    Brewed: Cerveceria Nacional Ecuador, Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.4%
    Sourced: Brought back from Ecuador from one of my sister’s friends who was on holiday (thanks to Susie Adams!)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: This beer tastes very much like a Czech beer; hoppy and full of flavour, not like the usual South American pilsner. Mark me impressed!

    Club Premium, Ecuador

    Date Consumed: 5th April 2013
    Beer: Club Premium Roja
    Brewed: Cerveceria Nacional Ecuador, Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Brought back from Ecuador from one of my sister’s friends who was on holiday (thanks to Susie Adams)
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: What went wrong? The Premium was a great beer! Not one to write home about, off-flavour caramel and a little bitter.

    Club Premium Roja, Ecuador
  • Taiwan

    Date Consumed: 12th October 2012
    Beer: Taiwan Beer
    Brewed: Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp, Taipei, Taiwan
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Quite surprising how different this one is to other Chinese style lagers, a little grainy with a smooth finish. I probably wouldn’t drink this in a pub, but as a beer accompanying spicy food, it’s perfect.

    Taiwan Beer, Taiwan
  • Bolivia

    Date Consumed: 10th October 2012
    Beer: Paceña Centenario
    Brewed: Cervecería Boliviana Nacional, La Paz, Bolivia
    Size: 350mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: This is rather good! Tiny bit of citrus, well carbonated, clean, fresh. I’d drink this again!

    Paceña Centenario, Bolivia
  • French Polynesia (FR)

    Date Consumed: 27th September 2012
    Beer: Hinano
    Brewed: La Brasserie de Tahiti, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: The Beer Cellar, Hamilton, New Zealand.
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Yes I am fully aware that French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France. Tahiti was once however a sovereign nation (until it’s 1880 annexation by France) so I’m including this as a special entry. The beer itself is pale, well carbonated and is quite watery. Nothing particular to touch on, other than being easy to drink and having an aesthetically pleasing logo.

    Hinano, French Polynesia

     

  • Honduras

    Date Consumed: 9th September 2012
    Beer: Cerveza Barena
    Brewed: Cerveceria Hondureña, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Skunky malt taste. Doesn’t have any highlights, just a bland Central American lager. Probably a better drop when consumed in Honduras.

    Cerveza Barena, Honduras

    Date Consumed: 13th October 2012
    Beer: Cerveza Salva Vida
    Brewed: Cerveceria Hondureña, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: A bit crap for anything that isn’t an ice cold beer drank after a long lazy day on a tropical beach.

    Cerveza Salva Vida, Honduras
  • Bahamas

    Date Consumed: 7th August 2012
    Beer: Kalik
    Brewed: Commonwealth Brewery, Nassau, Bahamas
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Luekens Liquors, Dunedin, Florida, United States
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: Fantastic beer from the Bahamas! Refreshing, tropical and slightly sweeter than Corona. Could add lemon or lime, but tastes wonderful just as is. It’s a real shame this beer isn’t exported to more locations.

    Kalik, Bahamas
  • Haiti

    Date Consumed: 8th June 2012
    Beer: Prestige Lager
    Brewed: Brasserie Nationale d’Haiti, Port au Prince, Haiti
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.6%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: From a country more noticed for poverty and earthquakes, a rather lovely beer emerges! Not exactly bursting with flavour but a well balanced beer with a slight hoppy taste and a little bit of corn.

    Prestige Lager, Haiti
  • Barbados

    Date Consumed: 8th June 2012
    Beer: Banks Beer
    Brewed: Banks Barbados Brewery, St. Michael, Barbados
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Tastes rather like Old Speckled Hen. Little bit of caramel, little bit of charcoal. Nothing particularly good about it.

    Banks Beer, Barbados
  • Nicaragua

    Date Consumed: 5th June 2012
    Beer: Toña
    Brewed: Compañía Cevercera de Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: At first taste it tastes of nothing at all, then the more you drink the more it grows on you. Nothing special but I can imagine it tastes great in the heat of Nicaragua!

    Toña, Nicaragua
  • Uruguay

    Date Consumed: 5th June 2012
    Beer: FNC Pilsen
    Brewed: FNC S.A., Montevideo, Uruguay
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.1%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Not particularly good to be honest. Hoppy and lacking quality.

    FNC Pilsen, Uruguay
  • Guatemala

    Date Consumed: 4th June 2012
    Beer: Gallo (Famosa), Guatemala
    Brewed: Cerveceria Centro Americana, Guatemala City, Guatemala
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: What a refreshing beer! Lightly carbonated and a mild fruity finish. Barely noticable hop flavour. I would love this to be available in Australia!

    Gallo (Famosa), Guatemala
  • Dominican Republic

    Date Consumed: 4th June 2012
    Beer: Presidente
    Brewed: Cervecería Nacionál Dominicana, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Quite bitter with plenty of hops. Tastes very like Victoria Bitter in Australia. Not unpleasant but I would pass on this one if offered in any other climate then tropical!

    Presidente, Dominican Republic
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Date Consumed: 29th May 2012
    Beer: Nektar Pivo
    Brewed: Banjalučka Pivara, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Food Society, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Clean crisp taste, very similar to Polish or Czech beers. Surprisingly amber in colour and pours with a lovely long lasting head.

    Nektar Pivo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Nepal

    Date Consumed: 19th May 2012
    Beer: Mustang Premium Lager Beer
    Brewed: Sungold Brewery, Kathmandu, Nepal
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Muglan Nepalese Restuarant, Sydney, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: What a fantastic beer! Well balanced, great tasting beer from Nepal. Aromatic with light carbonation. This stuff needs to be imported more!

    Mustang Premium Lager Beer, Nepal

    Date Consumed: 19th May 2012
    Beer: Ghorka Beer
    Brewed: Gorkha Brewery, Kathmandu, Nepal
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.5%
    Sourced: Muglan Nepalese Restuarant, Sydney, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Bland, inoffensive but not a lot going for it. Good with spicy food but that’s about it.

    Ghorka Beer, Nepal
  • Armenia

    Date Consumed: 12th May 2012
    Beer: Kilikia Jubilee
    Brewed: Yerevan Brewery, Yerevan, Armenia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.1%
    Sourced: Yerevan, Armenia (thanks to Arkady Gundroff!)
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Light bodied, well carbonated. Extremely metallic flavour, very like Obolon Lager from the Ukraine. Slight corn flavour. Not bad at all, I reckon this would be much better on tap instead of a bottle.

    Kilikia Jubilee, Armenia
  • Ghana

    Date Consumed: 28th February 2012
    Beer: Gulder Lager
    Brewed: Ghana Breweries Limited, Kumasi, Ghana
    Size: 650mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: African Food Market on Electric Avenue, Brixton, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: I’m not sure if I was expecting something more, but luckily I didn’t have high expectations. Bland but not tasteless, Gulder has hops in the aftertaste that lingers. Definitely better drunk in Ghana than a cold United Kingdom, but lets move on.

    Gulder Lager, Ghana
  • Luxembourg

    Date Consumed: 26th February 2012
    Beer: Bofferding Lager Pils
    Brewed: Bofferding, Bascharage, Luxembourg
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.8%
    Sourced: Beers Of Europe Warehouse, Kings Lynn, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: It’s got a European hoppy flavour with a lingering slightly metallic aftertaste. Not unpleasant, but not particularly nice either.

    Bofferding Lager Pils, Luxembourg
  • Cambodia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Angkor Beer
    Brewed: Cambrew, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia (thanks to Ashna Hussein)
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Mildly bitter, metallic flavour finish. I suspect this beer, like many other Asian beers, would be better enjoyed in the Asian climate. Still, I would buy this in a case for a BBQ – a session beer but not a craft beer.

    Angkor Beer, Cambodia
  • Papua New Guinea

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: South Pacific SP Lager
    Brewed: South Pacific Brewery, Hohola NCD, Papua New Guinea
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Spiros Bottle Shop Online, QLD, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Strong carbonation, mildly sweet but not unpleasant. Taste of hops present but not overpowering – it’s quite like the domestic beers of Australia – clean but nothing to write home about.

    South Pacific SP Lager, Papua New Guinea
  • Columbia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Club Colombia
    Brewed: Grupo Empresarial Bavaria, Bogota, Colombia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: La Cita, Darling Harbour, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Pretty weak, very dry, mild hops. Seems to be in line with other South American lagers.

    Club Colombia, Colombia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Cerveza Aguila
    Brewed: Grupo Empresarial Bavaria, Bogota, Colombia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.0%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Not bad, although this beer feels mass produced and lacks any real flavour. Little bit of corn and hops.

    Cerveza Aguila, Columbia
  • Tanzania

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Kilimanjaro Premium Lager
    Brewed: Tanzanian Breweries, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
    Size: 375mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Stone Town, Zanzibar Town, Tanzania (thanks to Lachlan and Liz Ralph)
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Well carbonated with light cereal and hoppy notes. Gets better the more you drink. Definitely would be more refreshing after a hot day in Africa then Australia!

    Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, Tanzania

    Date Consumed: 27th June 2013
    Beer: Serengeti Premium Lager
    Brewed: Serengeti Breweries, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.5%
    Sourced: Beers of Europe, Kings Lynn, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: Tastes of charcoal and bitterness. Not one I would drink again.

    Serengeti Premium Lager, Tanzania
  • Samoa

    Date Consumed: 23rd April 2013
    Beer: Vailima
    Brewed: Samoa Breweries, Apia, Samoa
    Size: 750mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.9%
    Sourced: MH Supermarkets, Nadi, Fiji
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Watery and weak with light citrus flavour, although it had a mild chemical flavour. Very odd aftertaste, like I’d had a McChicken Sandwich from McDonalds (sesame seeds and chicken?)

    Vailima, Samoa
  • Costa Rica

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Cerveza Imperial (Costa Rica)
    Brewed: Florida Bebidas, La Ribera de Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: The Beer Store NZ (thanks to Julia Nixon!)
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: Unimpressive beer, no real flavour. Would be very welcome in a hot and humid environment, but not a beer that you’d go for over other mass produced beers. Excellent logo though!

    Cerveza Imperial, Costa Rica
  • Chile

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Kross Golden Ale
    Brewed: Kross Microbrew Beers, Curacaví, Chile
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Wines2Buy Pty Ltd, eBay Australia, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Golden ale with lemon and honey notes. Well carbonated, very clean, much like a Coopers Green beer but sweeter and more fruity. I will enjoy many more of these!

    Kross Golden Ale, Chile

    Date Consumed: 22nd June 2012
    Beer: Kunstmann Torobayo Pale Ale
    Brewed: Cerveceria Valdivia S.A. (CCU), Valdivia, Chile
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Churrasco Brazilian Style BBQ, Woolloomooloo, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: This is an exceptionally good beer from Chile. Clean, refreshing and well crafted, this beer is definitely one of my favourites from South America so far.

    Kunstmann Torobayo Pale Ale, Chile

    Date Consumed: 3rd June 2013
    Beer: Austral Calafate Ale
    Brewed: Cerveceria Austral S.A., Punta Arenas, Chile
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: monfavori.com
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Maybe it’s been a while since this beer was brewed, affecting it’s flavour, but nothing special going on here.

    Austral Calafate Ale, Chile
  • Iran

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Istak Halal Beer
    Brewed: Khorshid Zareewar Co, Sanandaj, Iran
    Size: 320mL
    Alcohol Content: 0.0%
    Sourced: Naab, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    World Beer Rating: 2/10

    Notes: As far as non-alcoholic lime flavoured Iranian halal beers go, this one is quite drinkable. On the beer scale however, it’s not comparable. 2 points because it tastes of lime and not malt.

    Istak Halal Beer, Iran
  • Saudi Arabia

    Date Consumed: 20th September 2011
    Beer: Rich Beer
    Brewed: Al-Moudi Beverage Ind, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
    Size: 340mL
    Alcohol Content: 0.0%
    Sourced: Marakesh Restaurant, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    World Beer Rating: 1/10

    Notes: Malty horribleness. How do people even consider this a beer? Still, it’s an unexpected Saudi Arabian achievement!

    Rich Beer, Saudi Arabia
  • Malaysia

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Anchor Smooth
    Brewed: Guinness Anchor Berhad, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
    Size: 325mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Cool Storage Supermarket, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Not particularly good. Tastes of cereal and hops. Lightly carbonated.

    Anchor Smooth, Malaysia
  • Switzerland

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Locher Appenzeller Balik Beer
    Brewed: Breuerei Locher, Appenzell, Switzerland
    Size: 11.0%
    Alcohol Content: 330mL
    Sourced: Caviar House & Prunier, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (International Terminal), Sydney, NSW Australia
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: My God this beer is strong. Fruity, almost like wine with medium carbonation. Sweet flavour, dominated by alcohol. I love this beer, but only because I had one (A six pack would happily knock you out) and felt quite jolly afterwards!

    Locher Appenzeller Balik Beer, Switzerland
  • Albania

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Korça Pils Bjonde
    Brewed: Birra Korça, Korça, Albania
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: A local supermarket, Albania (thanks to Candace Richards!)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: This beer is pretty good. Strong metallic flavour leading to a hoppy finish. Typically European in bottle size and carbonation, I would happily buy this in a six pack.

    Korça Pils Bjonde, Albania
  • Fiji

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Fiji Bitter
    Brewed: Fosters Group Pacific, Walu Bay, Suva, Fiji Islands
    Size: 375mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: Food4Less, Nadi, Fiji (thanks to Desmond Singh!)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Surprisingly good, tastes similar to domestic Fosters brewed in the United Kingdom except a slightly fruity aftertaste. Lovely refreshing beer in the 32 degree heat of Fiji.

    Fiji Bitter, Fiji

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Vonu Pure Lager
    Brewed: Island Brewing Company, Nadi, Fiji Islands
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content:
    Sourced: Prouds, Nadi, Fiji
    World Beer Rating: 10/10

    Notes: I was absolutely blown away by this beer, it’s simply wonderful. Light floral and citrus notes, lightly carbonated. A world class craft beer brewed in Fiji? Indeed it is. I would love this to be eventually exported worldwide.

    Vonu Pure Lager, Fiji

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Fiji Taki Beer
    Brewed: Fosters Group Pacific, Walu Bay, Suva, Fiji Islands
    Size: 750mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: Prouds, Nadi, Fiji
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Boring “Clean Crisp Taste” translates to “Nothing to write home about”. Tasted like Tooheys New. Typically mass produced Fijian beer and served cold for thirsty tourists.

    Fiji Taki Beer, Fiji
  • Philippines

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: San Miguel Pale Pilsen
    Brewed: San Miguel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Harry’s Bar, Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: Lovely citrus notes and a mild carbonation. No wonder it’s the Philippines’ flagship brand, it’s really good!

    San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Philippines

    Date Consumed: 2nd October 2012
    Beer: Red Horse Extra Strong
    Brewed: San Miguel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 7.0%
    Sourced: The Beer Cellar, Hamilton, New Zealand.
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: My god this beer has malt and alcohol stamped on the flavour like a steel toe-capped boot. It’s supposed to be a Philippine favourite, but I don’t rate it that highly.

    Red Horse Extra Strong, Philippines
  • Nigeria

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Star Lager
    Brewed: Nigerian Breweries PLC, Lagos, Nigeria
    Size: 600mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.1%
    Sourced: Falcon Foods and Wines, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Nigeria’s #1 Beer apparently, but it’s not exactly #1 in my book. Minerally flavours, especially iron. Very carbonated, aftertaste fades fast. Not unpleasant, but pretty average.

    Star Lager, Nigeria
  • Bulgaria

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Kamenitza
    Brewed: Pivovaren Zavod Kamenitza (StarBev), Plovdiv, Bulgaria
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.4%
    Sourced: Rosova Dolina, Tottenham Hale, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Not unpleasant, but nothing that grabs you. Little carbonation; it tells you to drink at 3°C, which is probably to hide the lack of flavour. Still, you’d drink this without complaining if served on tap at a pub

    Kamenitza, Bulgaria
  • Uganda

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Bell Lager
    Brewed: Uganda Breweries, Port Bell, Kampala, Uganda
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.0%
    Sourced: beersofeurope.co.uk
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Surprisingly refreshing beer, watery but with a pleasantly light hoppy flavour. Like most other African beers I’ve tried, this is not bursting with citrus, floral or complex layers, but this is a very good beer from Uganda.

    Bell Lager, Uganda
  • Malta

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Cisk Export Premium Lager
    Brewed: Simonds Farsons Cisk, Mriehel, Malta
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: www.beersofeurope.co.uk
    World Beer Rating: 3/10

    Notes: Foul tasting beer. Maybe the hops and water of Malta is not quite up to the task. Tasted bland with a mineral aftertaste.

    Cisk Export Premium Lager, Malta
  • Cuba

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Cubanero Fuerte (Bucanero Fuerte)
    Brewed: Cerveceria Bucanero, Holguín, Cuba
    Size: 350mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.4%
    Sourced: www.beersofeurope.co.uk
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Pretty average beer, I suspect it’s good in the sweltering heat of Cuba, not South West London. Strong aftertaste of communism and malt.

    Cubanero Fuerte (Bucanero Fuerte), Cuba

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Cerveza Cristal
    Brewed: Cerveceria Bucanero, Holguín, Cuba
    Size: 350mL
    Alcohol Content:
    Sourced: Premier Wines, Strawberry Hill, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Wow, this is a remarkable recovery from the previous Cubanero. Light, refreshing beer with a subtle aftertaste of hops. This is delicious and I would most certainly recommend this for either drinking with spicy foods or just enjoying after a long day!

    Cerveza Cristal, Cuba
  • Romania

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Bere Timisoreana
    Brewed: Ursus Breweries, Cluj Napoca, Romania
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Romanian Food Centre, Edgeware, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Much like the other Eastern European beers, this one is very hoppy, full of flavour with a bitter aftertaste. Very carbonated, which is a slight downfall to an otherwise quite surprisingly good beer.

    Bere Timisoreana, Romania
  • United Arab Emirates

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Barbican Premium Malt
    Brewed: Brewed by Aujan Industries Co., Dammam, United Arab Emirates
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content:
    Sourced: Electric Avenue Wholesalers, Brixton, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 2/10

    Notes: Wow, I didn’t expect to find a beer brewed in the United Arab Emirates. Barbican Premium Malt is classified as a beer, containing the ingredients of beer without the alcohol. I got the strawberry flavour (in hindsight, what kind of beer is not brewed with anything strawberry but tastes of it?), and this beer tasted entirely of artificially flavoured strawberry. Actually quite drinkable as a strawberry soda beverage, not as a beer.

    Barbican Premium Malt, United Arab Emirates
  • Ireland

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
    Brewed: St. James’s Gate Brewery, Dublin, Ireland
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 7.5%
    Sourced: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: It’s the world famous Guinness and it’s a high alcohol export version from Ireland itself. Should be enough to score high marks and it does… just. Wonderful strong oaky stout flavour, complex but not too overwhelming. Not the best Guinness can produce but I understand the requirement that this beer might remain in the bottle for quite a time and needs to remain drinkable. I would rate the draft version higher, only because it’s fresher.

    Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Ireland

    Date Consumed: 2014
    Beer: Harp Lager
    Brewed: Dundalk, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.3%
    Sourced: The Beer Cellar Website, Hamilton, New Zealand
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Pretty average beer.

    Harp Lager, Ireland
  • Lithuania

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Svyturys Ekstra Premium
    Brewed:  Svyturys, Klaipeda, Lithuania
    Size:  500mL
    Alcohol Content:  5.2%
    Sourced: Russkiy Bazar, Cambridge Heath, London, United Kingdom.
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Strong malty flavour, quite unlike it’s neighbouring countries. I feel generous giving this a 7, but the beer has a good aftertaste and perfectly carbonated – two important factors of drinking a good beer.

    Svyturys Ekstra Premium, Lithuania
  • Latvia

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Cesu Premium Alus
    Brewed: Cesu Alus Daritava (Olvi), Cesis, Latvia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Russkiy Bazar, Cambridge Heath, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Hoppy flavour, much like the famous pilsners that the Czech Republic produces. Not quite as good but I have to admit I would definitely drink a pint of this if this were on tap in a local pub sometime in the future.

    Cesu Premium Alus, Latvia
  • Ethiopia

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: St George Beer
    Brewed: Kombolcha Brewery (BGI Ethiopia), Kombolcha, Ethiopia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Addis Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: I expected this country to be in the list of Islamic and/or war-torn countries that doesn’t produce a beer, but here is one of the three brands that they brew! Sadly it’s a dull affair, very light on the hops and a distinct lack of any real taste. Quite carbonated, which makes that the only memorable point, other that the novelty of drinking Ethiopian beer.

    St George Beer, Ethiopia
  • Estonia

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Viru Beer
    Brewed: Tartu Õlletehas (Olvi), Tartu, Estonia
    Size: 300mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: The Bottle, York, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Inoffensive, but definitely drinkable at a pub or bar. Doesn’t have much flavour, aftertaste or anything of note apart from the clearly Soviet inspired octahedral bottle, which is brilliant. Onwards!

    Viru Beer, Estonia
  • Trinidad and Tobago

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Carib Lager
    Brewed: Carib Brewery, Champs-Fleurs, Trinidad & Tobago
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Costcutter, Southwark, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Not sure why I rated this beer so high, but I think it’s because I like floral and fruity tasting beers that remind me of topical soft drinks and I was drunk. This beer is exactly what I like in such a soft drink, and it’s alcoholic! Mind you, I wouldn’t have too many of them.

    Carib Lager, Trinidad & Tobago
  • Finland

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Lapin Kulta
    Brewed: Hartwall Brewery, Helsinki, Finland
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Very carbonated, although some flavour pushing through. Nothing really stood out other than a mild hoppy bitterness.

    Lapin Kulta, Finland
  • Jamaica

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Dragon Stout
    Brewed: Desnoes and Geddes, Kingston, Jamaica
    Size: 284mL
    Alcohol Content: 7.5%
    Sourced: Bubbles Off Licence, Twickenham, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Hello Dragon Stout, where have you been hiding? Lovely stout from Jamaica with caramel and malt flavours ending in a smooth satisfying aftertaste. Was quite thin for a stout, if this was of a slightly thicker consistency then you’re looking at a 9.

    Dragon Stout, Jamaica

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Red Stripe Lager
    Brewed: Desnoes and Geddes, Kingston, Jamaica
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.7%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes:  It’s almost sacrilegious, but I prefer the brewed under licence version made in the United Kingdom. This beer has nothing inoffensive about it, but it’s bland with a slight corn flavour.

    Red Stripe Lager, Jamaica
  • Sweden

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Crocodile Original Export Lager
    Brewed: Krönleins Bryggeri, Halmstad, Sweden
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: This beer is pretty average. No distinct flavours and no aftertaste to speak of. Tasted like a mass produced beer from the domestic Australian market.

    Crocodile Original Export Lager, Sweden
  • Morocco

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Casablanca Casa Beer
    Brewed: Société des Brasseries du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: The Bottle, York, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: This beer is intensely weird. The initial flavour is quite average, even slightly unpleasant, however suddenly from nowhere there is a lovely citrus aftertaste that makes up for it’s previous sins. Not enough to make up for the actual flavour however.

    Casablanca Casa Beer, Morocco
  • Cyprus

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Keo Premium Beer
    Brewed: Keo Breweries, Lemesos, Cyprus
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Bethnal Green Food Centre, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom.
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Refreshing flavour but quite a sharp, mineral aftertaste which limits its rating.

    Keo Premium Beer, Cyprus
  • Peru

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Cusquena
    Brewed: Cervecera del sur del Peru (Grupo Empresarial Bavaria), Arequipa, Peru
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Revolution Vodka Bar, York, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 4/10

    Notes: Was looking forward to this beer, since the beer claims the water is sourced from the Andes and contains all the flavours of Latin America. Sadly, it’s generically plain, bitter but not offensively bad.

    Cusquena, Peru

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Premium Cristal
    Brewed: Backus y Johnston, Lima, Peru
    Size: 355mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Half Time Beverage, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Does not warrant the ‘Premium’ prefix, but not too bad at all. Clean and refreshing, this beer has potential.

    Premium Cristal, Peru
  • Slovenia

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Lasko Club
    Brewed: Pivovarna Lasko, Lasko, Slovenia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.9%
    Sourced: International Beer Shop (thanks Jim Cook)
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Very drinkable beer with a smooth aftertaste, although not drunk at the same time as eating those lemon and thyme roast chickens in the picture on Good Friday!

    Lasko Club, Slovenia
  • Serbia

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Lav
    Brewed: Carlsberg Srbija D.O.O. Pivara, Celarevo, Serbia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Liquor Stax, Bonnyrigg, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: This beer doesn’t go on the offensive (in terms of flavour). Very drinkable, I would definitely enjoy a six pack of these on a hot/cold/warm/any day.

    Lav, Serbia
  • Macedonia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Zlaten Dab Svetlo Pivo
    Brewed: Prilepska Pivarnica, Prilep, Macedonia
    Size: 4.5%
    Alcohol Content: 330mL
    Sourced: Liquor Stax, Bonnyrigg, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 1/10

    Notes: No real flavours, too much carbonation, aftertaste left a ‘toilet smell’ in your mouth. You were lucky to score 1 because you were just a thirst quencher after work.

    Zlaten Dab Svetlo Pivo, Macedonia
  • Kenya

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Tusker Lager
    Brewed: Kenya Breweries, Nairobi, Kenya
    Size: 4.2%
    Alcohol Content: 500mL
    Sourced: International Beer Shop, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Great flavours and a lovely aftertaste. Kenya, you should export your beers more!

    Tusker Lager, Kenya
  • Denmark

    Date Consumed:
    Beer: Carlsberg Elephant (Imported)
    Brewed: Carlsberg Brewery, Copenhagen, Denmark
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 7.2%
    Sourced: Liquor Stax, Bonnyrigg, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 9/10

    Notes: Harder to find as this one was imported from Denmark as opposed to being brewed under license. Really great tasting beer, although at 7.2% you need to be careful!

    Carlsberg Elephant, Denmark
  • Montenegro

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Niksicko Pivo
    Brewed: Trebjesa Brewery, Niksic, Montenegro
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Petersham Liquor Mart, Petersham, NSW,Australia
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Smoother, less hoppy taste than the Czech beers of Eastern Europe. Definitely a summer BBQ beer.

    Niksicko Pivo, Montenegro
  • Israel

    Date Consumed: 23rd May 2012
    Beer: Maccabee Lager Beer
    Brewed: Tempo Beer Industries, Netanya, Israel
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: thebeerstore.com.au
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Surprisingly good. Metallically aftertaste but good flavour and very drinkable!

    Maccabee Lager Beer, Israel

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Goldstar
    Brewed: Tempo Beer Industries, Netanya, Israel
    Size: 55mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.9%
    Sourced: The Beer Cellar, Hamilton, New Zealand
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: Not bad, a little heavy for a hot dry climate but overall it’s pretty good.

    Goldstar, Israel
  • Hungary

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Dreher Classic
    Brewed: Dreher Brewery, Budapest, Hungary
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: Kemenys Supermarket, Bondi, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: I really liked this beer. Very hoppy flavour but with that lovely Czech-style aftertaste.

    Dreher Classic, Hungary
  • Russia

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Baltika 4 Orginaloe
    Brewed: Baltika Brewery, St. Petersburg, Russia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.6%
    Sourced: 1st Choice Liquor, Naremburn, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Not at all bad, although the flavour is very bland. Lovely aftertaste brings it into the 7 category.

    Baltika 4 Orginaloe, Russia

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Baltika 7 Eksportnoe
    Brewed: Baltika Brewery, St. Petersburg, Russia
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.4%
    Sourced: Russkiy Bazar, Cambridge Heath, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: A different style Baltika to compare with the above dark lager. Minerally with short aftertaste. Drinkable on a hot day, but not a beer you’d want to have in place of a superior European lager.

    Baltika 7 Eksportnoe, Russia
  • Sri Lanka

    Date Consumed: 2011
    Beer: Sinha Stout
    Brewed: Ceylon Brewery, Nuwara Eliya & Biyagama, Sri Lanka
    Size: 330m
    Alcohol Content: 8.0%
    Sourced: Glebe Cellars, Glebe, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 10/10

    Notes: This is absolute gold, what an amazing stout. Full of flavours and immensely strong to boot. A six pack of these would put you under the table in a pleasure and alcohol induced coma!

    Sinha Stout, Sri Lanka
  • Lebanon

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Almaza Pilsner
    Brewed: Brasserie Almaza, Beirut, Lebanon
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.1%
    Sourced: Liquor Paradise, Geenacre, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: I’m impressed by its flavour and despite being supremely hard to get hold of (it was in a gift pack of four beers, so I bought the pack just for this) I would definitely drink again.

    Almaza Pilsner, Lebanon
  • Namibia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Nambia Tafel Lager
    Brewed: Namibia Breweries, Windhoek, Namibia
    Size: 340mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.0%
    Sourced: Springbok Delights, Lane Cove, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Surprising entry into the 8 range with a lovely strong flavour. I could easily breeze through a six pack of Tafel Lager on a sunny day at a BBQ get together.

    Nambia Tafel Lager, Namibia

    Date Consumed: 2013
    Beer: Windhoek Lager
    Brewed: Namibia Breweries, Windhoek, Namibia
    Size: 340mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.0%
    Sourced: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, London, United Kingdom
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: Looking forward to trying another Namibian lager, however Windhoek is not as nice to drink as it’s brother from the same brewery, Tafel. Bitter and hoppy flavour that doesn’t last.

    Windhoek Lager, Namibia
  • Laos

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Beerlao
    Brewed: Lao Brewery Co, Vientiane, Laos
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Dan Murphys, Burwood, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: It’s adequate, from a country that isn’t famous for anything in particular, especially in the beer world. Tricky to get hold of but does have a very unique rice flavour I quite enjoyed that raises the score into the top half.

    Beerlao, Laos
  • South Africa

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Hansa Pilsner
    Brewed: South African Breweries, Sandton, South Africa
    Size: 340mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.5%
    Sourced: Springbok Delights, Lane Cove, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 5/10

    Notes: I was expecting more from this one, but alas.

    Hansa Pilsner, South Africa
  • Croatia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Karlovacko Pivo
    Brewed: Karlovačka Pivovara, Karlovac, Croatia
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.2%
    Sourced: 1st Choice Liquor, Sylvania, NSW, Australia (thanks to Stuart McTaggart!)
    World Beer Rating: 6/10

    Notes: Typical Eastern European taste much like a Czech pilsner, but lacks the pedigree of established beer nations which is evident in the flavour.

    Karlovacko Pivo, Croatia
  • Slovakia

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Pivovar Zlaty Bazant
    Brewed: Heineken Slovensko, Hurbanovo, Slovak Republic
    Size: 500mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Kemenys, Bondi, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 8/10

    Notes: Very typical European style lager but it has a rather lovely lingering hoppy taste that the neighbouring Czech Republic doesn’t have.

    Pivovar Zlaty Bazant, Slovakia
  • Singapore

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Archipelago Samui
    Brewed: Archipelago Brewery Company, Singapore, Singapore
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 4.6%
    Sourced: Amatos Liquormart, Leichhardt, NSW, Australia
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: I really enjoyed this beer (as I do all wheat beers) however as it started to warm outside of the fridge, the citrus notes faded. Drink cold (and quick) to enjoy it best.

    Archipelago Samui, Singapore

    Date Consumed: 2012
    Beer: Archipelago Explorer
    Brewed: Archipelago Brewery Company, Singapore, Singapore
    Size: 330mL
    Alcohol Content: 5.0%
    Sourced: Changi International Airport, Singapore, Singapore
    World Beer Rating: 7/10

    Notes: This beer is very refreshing, with citrus and some mild spices. Has a distinct tea like flavour, which is slightly off-putting.

    Archipelago Explorer, Singapore