World Beer Challenge

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.

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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?

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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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.