Amstel Lager: 3.0 – This is another in the category of lagers that are just light and make you think of light beers (and yes I got this abroad and it is not Amstel light), but it just ends up lacking taste and coming off like a shitty saison.
Price $3
Website: https://www.amstel.com/
Count: 29/71
Victory Twelve: 5.5 – We were pleasantly surprised by our other Victory Brewing Company experience – which as an IPA that was actually – good. Here however they have gone for a beer to be complex and luxurious. In that respect they have succeeded – this is complex in flavor, and in texture. It’s not heavy, but it is potent. The problem though is that while all that is true – it’s not a great beer. If given the option I’d likely never have it again – which sure you can make your beer ‘intoxicating’ but it needs to be good overall to survive.
Price Average: Victory Twelve $9
Website: http://www.victorybeer.com/
Good Morning Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, and all the other ones. I am the man called Justice and I’d like to talk to you about a particularly unique Scotch I didn’t know existed, as I found it somewhat unexpectedly. I was recently returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic, and on my way through the airport, I was not to subtly navigated through at least three duty free shops on my way to my gate entirely by the building’s architecture. On my winding Journey through these magical halls of tax free liquor and suspiciously friendly staff offering me free samples I began noticing a series of Johnnie Walker bottles I didn’t recognize. Long time readers will know that we have sampled at one time or another all of the standard Johnnie Walker Rainbow (Red, Black, Green, DoubleBlack, Gold, Platinum, and Blue), all of which were, if not excellent, then at least above average (I’m looking at you red). Based on that past experience the idea of a new Johnnie Walker, and not wanting to get screwed out of money exchanging my Pesos back to USD drove me to decide on picking up this novelty.
Grainstore Rutland Beast: 6.5 – it has a sweet chocolate but more like truffle taste? I guess. That sweetness though almost takes the wind out of the beer sails power-wise which is what I wanted from the name/look of the beer. (Also fairly certain this is tap-only)
Price Average: Name $8
Website: http://www.grainstorebrewery.com/
Estrella Damm Lager: 5.5 – That’s actually a pretty decent beer. Not one I would likely buy again, but hey if I’m in Spain, and I’ve struck out on a local brew – at least this will be good on draft.
Price $4
Website: http://www.estrelladamm.com/en/
Count: 28/71
Hellhound: 2.0 – I’ll be honest – I don’t like this beer. I mean other beers have been able to use lemon to mostly middling results, but while this is certainly potent flavoring and it doesn’t become overwhelmingly lemon either something is wrong. It’s just not really the right mix of sweet/bitter/sour. However you get this in a shandy, and it shines like a diamond. (Honestly Mixability here would be a 7.5)
Price Average: Hellhound $13
Website: http://www.dogfish.com/
My final UK-centric post here. This comes as my duty-free purchase on the flight back (where I spent my entire layover in Switzerland running to catch my flight since the 1st was delayed). Anyway while there was a beautiful room of scotches, and multiple tastes tasting in the airport – I was sold the minute I saw the name Laphroaig next to a name (An Cuan Mor) that I did not know.
Franziskaner: 5.5 – It’s an average weissbier. I think it might be hard to find in the states, but overall while I like the beer – you are getting what you pay for price wise. It’s a nice balance of nut and banana with malt flavoring though.
Price Average: Franziskaner $3
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaten-Franziskaner-Br%C3%A4u
Holsten Pilsner: 1.5 – I have a theory. That theory is that this was originally call Holstein Piss, because cow piss is about what I think drinking this. I will admit this is slightly warmer than it should be, but no – this is not good.
Price $6 for 4-Pack
Website: http://www.carlsberggroup.com/brands/Pages/HolstenPilsner.aspx
Count: 27/71
Kindest Find: 4.5 – I’m personally starting to get annoyed with the usage of Imperial to define a beer being just slightly more potent. Regardless I do actually like this red ale, although it’s a bit too much on the hoppy side which takes over the other flavors.
Price Average: Kindest Find $7
Website: https://smuttynose.com/