Monday, April 14, 2008

Beers of Belgium

Ahh Belgium, home to some of the best beer in the world! It was hard to find a bad beer here, but don't worry, we found a few. Belgians take their beer seriously, and they can brew some mighty strong beers, so you'll find that many of the beers mentioned include their alcohol content. Enjoy, we sure did!

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Beer: Westmalle Triple (Trappist)
Color: Clouded dark golden
Head: White



Dale's comments:
Fantasticly complex with a slightly fruity aroma and hoppy taste. Finishes smooth and rich.
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)



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Beer: Bruges Zot 7.5%
Color: Dark amber
Head: Light and creamy tan, dissapates quickly



Dale's comments:
Solid dark beer, rich in flavor and color, malty undertones with balanced hoppiness. Strong alcohol.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Finally a complex beer! Slightly fruity bouquet but extrememly well balanced with hops and malt. Alcohol cleans the palate at the end of the finish.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)


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Beer: Orval (Trappist)
Color: Clouded amber
Head: White and light with small bubbles



Dale's comments:
Very floral in color and taste, bitter if it sits on the tongue. Finishes well. Refreshing.
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Nice beer. Sour apple or a little banana at the start. Smooth drinking, no real alcohol at the end. Nicely done.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: De Struisse "Rosse" Amber, aka Recipe No.2
Color: Clouded amber, carbonation off the bottom
Head: Slight, foamy white



Dale's comments:
Very good with a different texture. Refreshing, sweet with a dry (mild) taste on the tongue. Some mild fruit undertones. Bits of caramel, some coffee. A "living beer".
EXC . . * . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Wonderfully honeyed, rounded beer with malted and hoppy notes but *no* harsh taste. Some orange rind, some sweet green apple. Sweet and rounded all the way through.
XXX
XXX (6 of 6)



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Beer: Westvleteren "12", 10.2% (Trappist)
Color: Almost black
Head: Off-white and foamy



Dale's comments:
Complex, soft on the tongue, smooth as it goes down, strong finish. Floral overtones, but fruity undertones.
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Big, malted maple syrup (?) taste. Lots of carbonation, but not as much as to make it undrinkable. Very good, very big, lots of alcohol. I'd drink 4...but then I'd be on my ass.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: Chimay blue (Trappist)
Color: Black
Head: Foamy light tan




Dale's comments:
Thick and full, warm going down the throat, bitter but nice and round, thick. Not to be consumed in quantity.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Rollercoaster ride of a beer. Sediment in the bottle. Sour, heavy carbonation at the start, then dry as can bee, then your teeth feel it, then it finishes smooth with a taste of...blueberries? Wild.
XXX
/00 (3.5 of 6)



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Beer: De Struisse "Pannepot" aka "Old Fisherman's Ale" or Recipe 4, 10% (2006)
Color: Black
Head: Tan and foamy, dissapates quickly



Dale's comments:
Finishes the *exact* same way as the other De Struisse. Definitely darker and very rich. Slick on the tongue, overwhelming fullness takes over some of the finer flavors.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Beauty of a beer. Dark beer taste without the heavy body. Notes of chocolate, dark cherry, toffee at the end but totally drinkable. Carbonation at the end brightens the palate and refreshes. Again with that well-rounded taste and mouthfeel! Slightly sour finish.
XXX
XX0 (5 of 6)



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Beer: De Struisse "Kloeke Blonde", aka Recipe 3, 6% (left)
Color: Golden Amber
Head: Pillowy white



Dale's comments:
Much more bitter, still a bit of fruitiness. Hoppy, with a complex hoppy finish. Not as good as the other De Struisse beer (the Rosse).
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Hoppier version of the Rosse, this one still has the rounded feel of the other De Struisse but hits with hops and finishes yeasty, almost bready. Good, but not to my taste.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Achel Brune (Trappist, right)
Color: Dark amber, almost brown
Head: Foamy white, long lasting



Dale's comments:
Dark appearance, dark taste with a little maple when it hits the tongue, but a full mouth finish. Slightly bitter, but still smooth.
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Persistent, creamy head and high carbonation define this beer. Very sparkly and active in the mouth, same taste of sour cherry, but rounded. Similar in mouthfeel to the Westmalle Triple.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Bruge Zot blonde, 6%
Color: Cloudy golden
Head: Foamy white, dissapates




Dale's comments:
Balanced, cloudy, but mild. Excellent complexity for a lighter beer. Once finished, it carries a slight alcohol taste. Very good and I don't mean that just because we went on the tour!
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Bready, refreshing, easy to drink and delicious. Finishes with a little lemon rind. Nice, easy carbonation makes it a pleasure to drink.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: Kasteel triple, 11% (right)
Color: Black
Head: Low, foamy tan



Dale's comments:
Deep rich taste of chocolate malt and toffee. Not too much carbonation. The alcohol is all in the finish, but fades out of the aftertaste.
EXC . . * . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Ah, my malty friend! Sweet at the end with molasses and some nutty undertones. Very slight carbonation.
XXX
XX0 (5 of 6)



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Beer: Kwak 8% (left)
Color: Deep amber
Head: Foamy off-white



Dale's comments:
Big bubbles, still complex. Typical amber caramel malt, very little alcohol, litter bitterness, warm on the throat.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Carbonation off the bottom, slightly bready and honeyed taste. Higher carbonation tells of the alcohol. Nicer as it warms up.
XXX
/00 (3.5 of 6)



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Beer: Leffe Brune
Color: Medium-dark brown
Head: Foamy head, big bubbles



Dale's comments:
Dark and rich. Some residual sugar??? Not too complex, strong and warm. Mildly bitter, malty.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Higher carbonation, although a flatter taste profile. Not terribly impressive. Malted...blah.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Gouden Carolus Classic, 8.5%
Color: Deep amber brown
Head: Off-white and creamy




Dale's comments:
Malt, chocolate malt. Dark roasted flavor, some floral, but not overwhelming or persistent in the taste. The alcohol flavor is short-lived toward the end of the taste.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Bubbles off the bottom - this one's got lots of carbonation but it's soft and fruity to taste. Dates and figs. Foams up when it hits the palate however. Not my favorite effect as it slows the drinking.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Hommelbier
Color: Amber-golden with sediment
Head: Frothy white, dissapates



Dale's comments:
Very potent when it hits the mouth. You can feel it in the sides of the jaw and back of the tongue. Hoppy nose and taste. Taste stays on the tongue for a long time.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Interesting. Hoppy but balanced with some sugar so it's not bitter. Bright notes up high, and then some sour notes on the tongue. Good interplay, long finish.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Hoegaarden Grand Cru, 8.5%
Color: Golden
Head: Creamy white



Dale's comments:
Caramel and honey flavor, sweet with limited bitterness. Refreshing. Better cold than warm, lots of sediment. Smooth, full aftertaste.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)



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Beer: Keizer Karel Blonde, 8%
Color: Light golden
Head: Clean white, small bubbles



Dale's comments:
Light and clean with more complexity than most lighter beers. Sweet on the tongue, sour/bitter on the back of the throat.
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Immediately tastes like a Belgian - fizzy and floral bouquet, but drops off quickly into a pils taste profile. Interesting, but not something I'd drink all the time. Very different though.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Palm
Color: Amber
Head: Foamy white



Dale's comments:
Nutty and amber smooth. Not too complex. Alcohol is all thru the nose. Fair.
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Smooth and slightly honeyed, but has a medium-high carbonation that holds it back. Overpowers the delicate tastes.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: 't Smisje Honingbier, 6% (left)
Color: Amber
Head: Creamy, low white



Dale's comments:
Overwhelming smell of pineapple in the glass and tart. Many sour fruit flavors, but no honey.
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Holy fruit salad, Batman! High carbonation off the bottom with flavors of canned peaches and some pineapple. This one will get you drunk AND give you a headache!
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: 't Smisje Blonde, 6% (right)
Color: Cloudy golden
Head: Foamy white



Dale's comments:
Offensive amount of hops right on the tongue and nose to start. No other flavor penetrates the hops. Could not finish!!!
EXC . . . . . . . * . . ASS (3 of 10)

Adam's comments:
High carbonation and tons of hops. Leads to a bitter aftertaste that persists on and on.
X00
000 (1 of 6)



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Beer: Rochefort "8", 9.2% (Trappist)
Color: Black
Head: Foamy tan




Dale's comments:
Even for a Trappist with somewhat lower alcohol, alcohol is all you taste. Very strong and full. The finish doesn't let up - no hops, no fruit, no finesse.
EXC . . . . . * . . . . ASS (5 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Wow, this is a meal of a beer. Highly active in the mouth, high carbonation, high alcohol. Coffee, toffee, tobacco, licorice - am I kissing my uncle? A little oaty at the end too. Big beer - too much for me.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Belle-Vue Gueze, 5.5%
Color: Light amber
Head: Foamy white, dissapates



Dale's comments:
Slight taste of honey and currant, sweet and refreshing. Less full than other lambics.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Quite refreshing! Taste a bit like a cider, but with less sugar. Some prominent strawberry notes. A pleasure to drink.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: Uilenspiegelbier
Color: Very dark brown, almost black
Head: Pillowy off-white



Dale's comments:
Very refreshing and flavorful for a dark. Sweet but complex. Residual hops, bitter aftertaste.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Tasty, quite tasty. A little dark cherry and meaty. Very active on the palate, highly carbonated with high alcohol.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Grimbergen Brun, draught
Color: Dark amber
Head: Darker off-white



Dale's comments:
Very drinkable, light flavors and light on the tongue. Clean aftertaste, alcohol is subtle.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Kind of like the Bruges Zot 7.5%, but not as good. Slightly sweet and fruity, medium carbonation, end a bit flat...
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Bruges Triple
Color: Cloudy golden
Head: Foamy white



Dale's comments:
Middle of the road bitterness which hangs on the tongue. Very decent, but finish isn't as complex as others of the same type.
EXC . . . . . *. . . . ASS (5 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Dry, slightly yeasty, slightly floral beer. Not very complex or alcoholic...or so it seems.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Bruges Tarwebier ("wheat beer")
Color: Cloudy yellow
Head: Clean white



Dale's comments:
More flavor than the color and type, unfiltered, yeasty flavor with mild, light hoppiness.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Wow. Beautifully balanced wheat beer with body. No overwhelming lemon taste - very mild, very balanced honey-orange notes with hops.
XXX
XX0 (5 of 6)



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Beer: Kriek EXTREME
Color: Raspberry red
Head: Pinkish white




Dale's comments:
EXTREME-ly cherry. Somewhere between cherry coughdrops and passion fruit bubblegum. YUCK!
EXC . . . . . . . * . . ASS (3 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Wow - that's EXTREME-ly cherry. Tastes like an alcoholic black cherry Luden's. Bitch juice?? Oh yea!
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Rochefort "10", 11.3% (Trappist)
Color: Dark brown, almost black
Head: Low and foamy off-white



Dale's comments:
Chocolate malt, dark and full with some sweetness. Not too bitter, but VERY full. Will kick your butt. One would be enough for a drink, or a meal.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
A little dark cherry on the nose, flavors of chocolate and dark cherry and a little coffee. Medium-low carbonation belies the alcohol. None of the hyper-active foaming of the Rochefort 8. Solid dark beer.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: St. Bernadus Tripel
Color: Amber
Head: White



Dale's comments:
Hint of sweet cream to the nose, with some fruitiness. Sweet immediately, but some bitterness quickly thereafter. Long lasting flavor.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Mild, more heavily carbonated. Slightly floral, balanced...not terribly interesting, but well balanced.
XX/
000 (2.5 of 6)



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Beer: Brasserie Ellezelloise "Hercule Stout", 8.4%
Color: Black
Head: Low foamy tan



Dale's comments:
Not a thick stout, not overwhelming. Chocolate flavors, dark chocolate, some thickness in the mouth. Flavorful.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Chocolately delish with some tobacco at the end. More carbonation, but pleasant - balances the alcohol. Nice!
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)

Beers of Germany

Germany had a lot of pils-style beers. Try as we might to find something darker, we just couldn't locate any on tap at all. Are all the schwartzbiers hiding until Oktoberfest? Here's how everything stacked up.


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Beer: Bohmisches
Color: Golden yellow
Head: Foamy white


Dale's comments:
Smell is hoppier than the taste. Smooth and light with sweet undertones. Would go well with a light appetizer, say bruschetta.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Pilsner style, and pretty good at it. Medium carbonation. Starts slightly sweet but finishes with a balance of hops. Nicely done.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)


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Beer: Radeburger
Color: Medium yellow
Head: Light, creamy white



Dale's comments:
Another entry in the log of crap mass-consumption German-Czech-Austrian beers. Just palatable with too much carbonation.
EXC . . . . . . . * . . ASS (3 of 10)

Adam's comments:
A bit better than the average pils, but a pils nonetheless. Slightly hoppy, finishes at length but pleasantly.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Muskowa
Color: Pale yellow
Head: Almost none



Dale's comments:
Light, but with balance. Could drink five gallons without noticing.
EXC . . . . . . . * . . (3 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Tastes like Miller Lite! Low alcohol, clean to the palate. Yay piss beer!
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: Berliner Weiss with fruit
Color: Red
Head: None



Dale's comments:
Very refreshing, but not a beer in the traditional sense. Perfect summer evening drink.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Yeah right.



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Beer: Schofferhoffer
Color: Dark amber
Head: Foamy white



Dale's comments:
Finally a beer that matches its color! Best of Berlin, good full taste with some apricot undertones. Something to consider drinking at home or brewing a copy with a slightly darker malt and late boil hops???
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Interesting dark hefeweiser. Tastes like a wheat beer, but with a little more body. I hoped for more.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Altendurfer
Color: Medium yellow
Head: Foamy white medium-low head



Dale's comments:
Served in a Grolsch type bottle with a lot of "pop" but nothing in the way of flavor. Light and simple.
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Another German vapor-beer. Very little to taste here, could drink it like water.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Jever
Color: Pale yellow
Head: Foamy white



Dale's comments:
Adam couldn't finish his, but I didn't find it any less palatable than so many others so far. Not recommended.
EXC . . . . . . . * . . ASS

Adam's comments:
Worst beer to date, couldn't finish it! Smells like weed, tastes like bongwater. Is this a joke?!
000
000 (0 of 6)



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Beer: Tanner Zapfe
Color: Yellow
Head: Foamy white



Dale's comments:
Another disappointment. If you are only going to make light beers, make just one with some damn taste!! No complexity, no flavor except bitter just when it hits the tongue, and no class!
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
I'm fucking hammered, but at least I'm not drinking Jever. Slightly malted taste...or something.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)

Beers of the Czech Republic

Dale and I drank primarily draft beers while in Prague. Don't be fooled by how much head you see in some of these pictures - the Czech routinely pour their beers off the tap for a full amount of head, but in many of the beers this dissapates rapidly.

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Beer: Staropramen Dark (left)
Color: Black
Head: Creamy off-white


Dale's comments:
Some coffee taste, but not nearly complex enough for a beer of its color.
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Sweet with tastes of corn syrup or molasses. Totally drinkable, but slightly fake tasting because of all the sugar.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Staropramen Lager (right)
Color: Light Amber
Head: Medium foamy white


Adam's comments:
Solid beer. Drinkable but a little more carbonated than I would like.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Staropramen Granata
Color: Reddish amber
Head: Full foamy white head


Dale's comments:
Why am I drinking this?!?!? After a dark beer, had NO flavor!
EXC . . . . . . . * . . ASS (3 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Is there beer in this glass? Tastes like pleasant nothing.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Staropramen 1/2 lager 1/2 dark (left)
Color: Medium amber
Head: Two sizes of bubbles, foamy head


Dale's comments:
Very refreshing. The [two sizes of] bubbles were the most memorable part.
EXC . . . . * . . . . . ASS (6 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Wonderfully drinkable. Balance of the sweetness that the dark needed. Not complex, just drinkable.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Budvar
Color: Pale Yellow
Head: White, thin and foamy


Dale's comments:
OK light beer, typical of the common man's everyday drink. Clean with minimal hops.
EXC . . . . . * . . . . ASS (5 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Thin beer, tastes mass produced. Wouldn't bother drinking again.
X00
000 (1 of 6)



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Beer: Master Demi-dark Special
Color: Reddish amber
Head: Creamy off-white


Dale's comments:
Good color and balance. Some residual hops in the aftertaste. Heavy head, but lightly carbonated overall.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Floral, balanced with some hops. Smooth mouth-feel, hops later, finishes clean.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: 1/2 Pilsner Urquel, 1/2 Velkopopovicky Kozel
Color: Medium amber
Head: Creamy, small bubbles


Dale's comments:
Bitter, nothing great. Slightly metallic with some oakiness. Still smooth, "boozy" aftertaste.
EXC . . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Interesting. These two don't really marry well, but the result is complex. The overall taste is creamy, then light, finishes dark. Not beautiful, but drinkable.
XX0
000 (2 of 6)



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Beer: Gambrinus (left)
Color: Medium yellow
Head: Low frothy white


Adam's comments:
Clean pilsner. Slight hops in the aftertaste, but clean. Head is slightly creamy. Good for pilsner style.
XXX
000 (3 of 6)



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Beer: Rezane (right)
Color: Dark amber
Head: Very little


Dale's comments:
Light beer taste for the color. Refreshing and flavorful. Some nuttyness, some alcohol, and a little hops.
EXC . . . . . * . . . . ASS (5 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Tastes like a velvet, but lacks the creamy head. Good balance, longer than expected finish.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)


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Beer: Kozel Tmavy
Color: Black
Head: Creamy tan


Dale's comments:
Light taste for as dark a beer. Some chocolate taste, very sweet, aftertaste is a brown sugar, most complex of the beers, very consumable.
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Very malty and sweet, more carbonated than the other dark beers. Pleasant. Medium body. Light molasses aftertaste.
XXX
X00 (4 of 6)



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Beer: Pilzn Light
Color: Golden
Head: Lasting light white head


Dale's comments:
Light, drinakble, close to a Rolling Rock in bitterness. Typical of a mass consumption beer.
EXC . . . . . * . . . ASS (4 of 10)



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Beer: Bakalar Dark
Color: Dark brown
Head: Full off-white head, big bubbles


Dale's comments:
Complex dark beer. The first dark Czech beer that is rich for its color. Some bitter with coffee flavors, a bit grainy, low alcohol taste, but finish is warm in the throat.
EXC . . * . . . . . . . ASS (8 of 10)



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Beer: U Fleku house beer
Color: Black
Head: Foamy white


Dale's comments:
Again, light tasting for such a dark beer. Very light and smooth. I think we had 8 of these between the two of us with our dinner...
EXC . . . * . . . . . . ASS (7 of 10)

Adam's comments:
Not too sweet, not too carbonated, just well balanced and drinkable. Boy, I could drink a lot of these...
XXX
XX0 (5 of 6)