Norrlands Guld

Today I was looking through my beer journal and realized I am WAY behind in updating this blog! It is about time I added a couple so here you go!

While I was still in Norway (like I said I am way behind!) I was looking through the fridge at my girl friends' parent's house and saw a can of Norrlands Guld just sitting there. I asked her dad if I could have it and he said no problem!

This is a Swedish beer so I was happy to try it, even when I was told that Swedish beer wasn't as good as Norwegian beer. This beer poured a dark golden color and had a good head, ok retention, and good lacing. The nose was mildly sweet and also had a dank bitterness of the hops. The taste was similar to the nose. The sweetness of the malts was brought out more in the taste but other then that it had a very watery taste that turned me off from this beer. The mouth feel was light and the carbonation was bad. (Too flat) It was a very easy drinking beer, but was a little too light for my taste. I should have had another to see if it was just a bad can, but in my haste to try as many beers as I could while in Norway I never got around to it.

(Sorry for the picture! I was in a hurry to try this beer and only took one picture. Lesson learned!)

Ringnes Skjœrgårds Pils

Back to Norway I go! Since I was in Norway I thought I'd do mostly Norwegian beers while I was here. I walked down to the local grocery store and saw some Skjœrgårds Pils, another variety of Ringnes, so I bought it along with a few others. In Norway instead of having to buy a six pack and risk getting something you don't like, you can rip open the case and get them individually if desired.

I was told that Skjœrgårds translates to "islands or rocks along the fjords." This beer had a summery look to the can so I was guessing it was a seasonal.

This beer poured a light golden color and had a good head, but had no retention what so ever and therefore had zero lacing. The nose was sweet with hints of honey and was almost spicy. The spiciness came out in the taste as well with the sweetness. The mouth feel was thin and light but was well carbonated. Overall this was a very easily drinkable beer, especially on a hot Norwegian summer day.

Quick Update

So I've been behind in posting my blogs and have had a lot of time to try some new beers and also ready my old posts. I realize I have been too vague in my descriptions and vow to improve them. From now on I will have my stuff together and focus on more aspects of beer evaluating. Thank you beeradvocate.com for helping me see the error of my ways!

More to come soon so stay posted!!

Bohemia Regent

My last night in Prague I was desperate to try another beer for the blog. A couple days before I saw a little store right next to my hotel with a bunch of beer bottles in the window, so I went in and after much uncertainty I chose a Bohemia Regent. After paying the clerk 20 korunas, 1 US Dollar!, I went back to my hotel room to enjoy my last Czech beer in this amazing city.

This beer poured a nice rich amber color and had a frothy, thick head. This was a traditional Czech pilsner and the company has been around since 1379! Strong malty nose to go along with the full malty flavor. The after taste was mildly bitter, but not over powering. Very well balanced. I was exhausted from a long day of walking and sight seeing so I didn't write much about this one. I mostly just sat back and enjoyed this beer for myself!

It was getting late when I opened this beer and I originally wasn't going to finish this 1/2 liter, but it was so good I had no other choice but to take it all down. I encourage you to visit this historic place and experience the culture, and of course the beer for yourself! Na Zdravi!!

Strahov Brewery 4 of 4 : India Pale Ale

Everything I've had at the Klasterni Pivovar Strahov brewery so far has exceeded my expectations so I had to try their fourth and final beer, India Pale Ale. The head was thick and lasting and also layered quite well. This beer poured and coldly golden, almost caramel color. The nose was an explosion of hoppy, fruity citrus that reminded my of American IPA. The first taste confirmed the nose with the taste of the abundant hops. This beer was more bitter then their American counterpart but much more smooth. The aftertaste hits you almost instantly and pleasantly sticks around.

The Czech Republic has some of the best beer in the world I am very fortunate to have had experienced this great place with my awesome girlfriend, who makes a cameo in this picture!

If you are ever in Prague make an effort to check this place out and to check out their website!! http://www.klasterni-pivovar.cz/en/

Strahov Brewery 3 of 4 : Wheat

After I drank my first two beers at the brewery I was hooked. I drank them, ordered some food,and while waiting for the food to get there I had a sip of my girlfriend's Wheat she ordered. I knew right then and there I needed to try it, and try the other one while I was at it. We decided to go to the Observation Tower nearby to do some quick sight seeing and burn off the calories from our gigantic meals. This proved to be a great experience, but a not so good idea. We walked up the biggest hill to get there, only to walk an extra 299 steps to the top of the tower, and do it all in reverse on the way back.

Finally we made it back to the brewery! I ordered the Wheat like I had planed and here it is.

This beer was a cloudy amber color and the nose was a very grainy explosion of wheat. It had a good head but didn't stick around for long. This was a traditional wheat beer, naturally cloudy, top fermented, low hopped, and all around better then any other wheat I've ever had. The main flavor, surprisingly, was wheat and boy was it heavy in the best way! Totally different then American Wheat beers. The aftertaste was strong, but not overpowering, and stuck around for a while. (That was fine with me because I didn't want this to end!) If I ever go back to Prague I am defiantly going back to relax and have the humbly called Wheat.

Strahov Brewery 2 of 4 : Dark

I thought I might as well try all four of the beers at Strahov Brewery while in Prague. The Amber was perfect so next up was the Dark. (All the beers here had straight to the point names; Amber, Dark, Wheat, and etc.) After eating my meal, of the biggest ribs I've ever seen, I was in the mood for a heavier beer so naturally I went with the Dark.

The color was a very dark ruby and I could defiantly notice hints of coffee in the nose and overall taste. Head was very good but didn't last long. This beer was very well hopped, dry, and was all malt. The perfect dark! Very strong and hearty. I could actually taste hints of the Amber in this beer. Freshness makes all the difference for me and this is as fresh as it gets! There is more to come from this brewery and it only gets better!