World Beer Challenge
Date Consumed: ?
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: ?
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: ?
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: ?
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: ?
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: ?
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.
Date Consumed: ?
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: ?
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.
Date Consumed: ?
Beer: Casablanca Casa Beer
Brewed: Société des Brasseries du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
Size: 330mL
Alcohol Content: 5.0%
Sourced: he 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.
Date Consumed: ?
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.
Date Consumed: ?
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.
Date Consumed: ?
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.
