William Adams

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.