Subjective ramblings about beer, pubs and associated topics

Pfiff! - yet another beer blog

Based in San Francisco, this thoroug and readable beer blog is strongly recommended. Recent posts include discussions on the Westvleteren 12 (also covered in my blog), beer law, import vs domestic pilsners. Nice pics, too. Have a look!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 20:01 | link | comments (1)

Saving English hops

A hop-growing farm in Kent is trying to fight back against global competition by brewing its own ale, writes Adam Nicolson in The Daily Telegraph (Free to read, but you need to sign in)

 At its peak, in 1870, there were almost 72,000 acres of hops grown in England. From the 19th-century peak, hop acreage shrank to 11,000 acres in the 1930s, though it rose again to more than 20,000 by 1968 under the price protection schemes of the Hop Marketing Board. Since the board's abolition in the 1980s, the area growing hops in England is under 5,000 acres. The National Trust decided to do something about this, wanting to preserve both a hop garden and the oast houses in which the hops are dried. The Trust wasn't interested in a taxidermist's version of what had been there. "We did not want some dead heritage object," says Jonathan Light, the Trust's area manager. "We wanted something that had real, commercial life to it."

The National Trust has now launched what it hopes is the solution: Little Scotney Ale. The ale, brewed at a revived micro-brewery on a National Trust farm in Westerham in Kent, is richly and beautifully flavoured with hops, according to The Telegraph.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 10:51 | link | comments
beer, england, microbreweries, hops

Danes want beer tourism

The fast growth of small breweries gives Denmark an excellent opportunity to promote beer tourism. The newspaper Berlingske Tidende quotes both beer experts and the tourism industry. According to the director of the tourist promotion board Visit Denmark, there is money available for marketing abroad if the micro breweries join together in an initiative.

Apart from 13 established breweries, Denmark currently has 36 micros, while six are being set up and there are rumours of seven more. The editor of the magazine “ØLentusiasteN (The Beer Enthusiast), predicts a number of 100 breweries within five years.

One of the micros, Wintercoast in Sabro near Århus will be opening a bed and breakfast this summer. The owner is quoted as being in favour of coordinating tourism with other micros, but adds that they don’t have much time for marketing. “We are too busy brewing.”

If you want to go there before the rush, a list of the micros is available.

The organisation Danish Beer Enthusiasts has a list of where to find good beer in various town and cities across the country as well.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 21:25 | link | comments

Nick Lowe in concert

This post is not about beer, although a few snapshots of an ageing pub rocker could be said to be within the overall theme. And, I must say, he is ageing gracefully. Nick Lowe and Geraint Watkins are currently touring Scandinavia, and I went to both the concert in Copenhagen on 17 April and here in Oslo last night. Brilliant – don’t miss them if they turn up in your town!

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 10:10 | link | comments
pubrock

And thanks for all the ....fish?

Beer will not have to be labelled "contains fish" in the European Union - nor will wine or cider, according to the newsletter EU Food Law. This is the outcome of a decision which gives a temporary exemption from labelling for a number of derivatives made for allergens, such as the fining agent from fish that is used to clarify beer.

The decision is based on an opinion by a Scientific Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA), which says: On the basis of the data provided by the applicant, the Panel considers that it is not very likely that isinglass, under the conditions of use specified by the applicant, will cause a severe allergic reaction in fish allergic individuals. Well, you might not have allergic reactions, but it is not really according to the Reinheitsgebot, is it?

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 09:10 | link | comments
beer, brewers, eu

Meanwhile, back in Copenhagen

I set out with my friend Odd Anders to find some alternatives to Carlsberg and Tuborg, and they are certainly there if you look around. It is useful to Google a bit beforehand, so we had a few addresses to look up.

We started out at the pedestrianized area just behind the City Hall and went northwards towards the ring of lakes encircling central Copenhagen . We made a short refreshment stop at the Funchs Vinstue in Nørre Farimagsgade at Nørreport. (No, this is not the place you will find in the guide books). The beer was quite ordinary, but this charming smoke filled local show that you can spend an evening drinking beer at about 1, 50 Euro a bottle - and this is where you can really meet the locals. Some of the regulars in this place obviously live in the same building, as they enter in their slippers. Six points for the unfaked atmosphere, two for the beer. (But you could use this as an opportunity to taste their stronger beers of the Carlsberg range.) Cheap sandwiches at lunchtime, too.

Across a bridge and to the left we found Cafe Blaagaards Apotek, which has an impressive beer list, also available on their web pages. We had a pint of Hancock Luxusøl (Luxury Beer) Unpasteurized and unfiltered, easy to drink with the hops tingling on the tongue.

We would have liked to explore the list more extensively, but this was on a Sunday afternoon, and the staff were far to busy to chat with Norwegian beer tourists. Lots of temptations on tap and in bottles, however, so we'll come back on a quiet weekday and delve further into their list. Web site: http://www.kroteket.dk/speciale/default.htm

The real revelation was the last stop of the round, Nørrebro Bryghus, a microbrewery a few minutes away. This was nice and quiet, with bright and airy premises where you can follow the brewing process. The waitress happily made a sampler tray for us from their extensive list of brews. First Peblinge Peach. Very peachy. If you like a strong fruit taste, why not one of these instead of a piece of cake? Ravensborg Rød - a red ale. Nice hops flavour, bur not much of an aftertaste. "En blid bitterhed" - a mellow bitterness, it says in their menu. Amarillo hops, we are told. A nice summer beer. Bombay pale ale - just the right taste. Seems like this is the easiest type to get right - lots of micros succeed with this type. St. Hans Dubbel at 8% was the strongest, and here the tasting notes get difficult to decipher. Close, but no cigar, I believe I've written.

They have a changing range of ales available, and I strongly recommend a visit. A good selection of bar snacks, too, of which we tried a splendid sausage with fennel and red pepper. We'll be back! Web site: http://www.norrebrobryghus.dk/bryghus.html

 

 

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 16:10 | link | comments
beer, carlsberg, denmark, microbreweries

Free beer (yes, really)

I happen to travel quite a lot across Europe, both on business and in my spare time. The competition has forced the prices down, and I can seldom justify the extra expense of travelling business class. Using the cut price economy class tickets you are lucky to get a free cup of coffee on board, and you are of  course excluded from the business class lounges. So then, are you left to bring your own sandwiches and buy your beer at stiff airport prices?

Not neccessarily.

Most of us have a few credit cards in our wallet, and among mine I have a Diner's Club card. I pay a corporate annual rate of perhaps 20 Euros for this, but in addition to being a means of payment, this also open doors. To free breakfast, free snacks, free coffee and even ... free beer. Diner's have a number of airport lounges where you can walk in irrespective of the price of your ticket. These lounges are usually run in cooperation with other companies, but you just have to look around for their logo. So, in Brussels you can choose between light and brown Leffe, in Copenhagen you can have a simple breakfast or have a Tuborg and a shot of Gammel Dansk. In Vienna you may help yourself to some nice hot soup, and in Dublin you can pour yourself a Guinness or a wee dram of Jameson's if you prefer that.  I won't give you the full list, but if the reward is free beer, I think you'll be able to find their web site and click on lounges. Cheers!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 11:17 | link | comments
beer, denmark, ireland

Copenhagen: Beer, smørrebrød and aquavit

Just back from Copenhagen and the Danish beer scene which gets more interesting every time I visit. I will come back to the Danish trends in micros later, today I'll just mention one of my favourite places for a traditional lunch - Cafe Sorgenfri.

For some reason, the Danes have managed to keep many of their old-fashioned lunch cafes alive despite all modern trends. No low fat or low carb here, just a devotion to good home made food.

In Cafe Sorgenfri the meny is limited to smørrebrød or open sandwiches with a long list of varieties. I recommend to go for their combo, which includes herring, roast pork, shrimps and cheese with light and dark bread. The beer list is limited to two - ordinary Carlsberg and Carls Special, a slightly darker and more tasty beer. This is quite all right, these uncomplicated beers are excellent with the rich food - and in addition they go well with the local scnapps - aquavit. They put the bottle on the table for the guests to help themselves - a dangerous temptation!

Greetings to my friend Odd Anders, with whom I spent a very pleasant day in Copenhagen. We did some more beer tastings later, which I will return to.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:37 | link | comments
beer, carlsberg, denmark

Tried and tested – London Ale, Slottskällan Brewery

One more tasting note before the weekend:
Slottskällan brewery in Uppsala, Sweden brews on a fairly small scale, although their beers are widely available through the outlets of the Swedish state liquor monopoly Systembolaget. They brew a dozen different beer types, many of them recreations of various European beers and named after the City they come from – Prague, Vienna, Dublin etc. I tried their London ale. A nice smell, a fruity aroma dominated by distinct flowery hops. Unpasteurized and over yeasted ale, a very good pastiche of a bottled English bitter. The aftertaste is like a pint of best bitter in a London pub as well. Slightly stronger than an ordinary bitter at 4, 7% alcohol. Recommended if you happen to visit Sweden!
The brewery’s web site describes their full range of beers, unfortunately only in Swedish. Among the new beers in the pipeline is a special beer for drinking with crayfish – the short season for fresh crayfish being a particular Swedish excuse for drinking beer and aquavit in late summer. They have their own tasting panels that help them develop their new beers, and anyone can apply to join those. Something for other brewers to adopt as well!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 14:40 | link | comments
beer, brewers, sweden

Yet another beer blog

And this one is really awesome. Based in Canada, but the editor is covering the North American scene and has contributors around the world. Frequent postings with lots of photos. Much more professional than this humble blog! Check it out!

As for me, I'm off for Copenhagen during the weekend, and then I am going to various cities on the Emerald Isle next week. I'll try to cover as many beers I can, so stay tuned!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 09:44 | link | comments (2)
beer, denmark, ireland

Another beer blog

While you are waiting for me to update my blog, I stumbled across another beer blog, which I'd like to recommend: realbeerblog.com. Is seems like the author is located in Scotland.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 11:41 | link | comments (1)
beer, brewers

Anheuser-Busch Threatens Rice Boycott

Anheuser-Busch Cos., the US No. 1 buyer of rice as well as its largest brewer, says it won't buy rice from Missouri if genetically modified, drug-making crops are allowed to be grown in the state, according to an Associated Press article printed in the New York Times.

Now, if the big brewers used barley instead of rice to brew their beer, they wouldn't have to worry about this. And, as a side effect, maybe they would brew better beer, too!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 10:39 | link | comments
beer, brewers

Danes drink more imported beer

According to Statistics Denmark every Dane now drinks 11 bottles of imported beer per year. The imports are increasing at the same time the overall beer consumption is decreasing. While Britain and Germay amount for much of the volume, three countries are growing fast – The Netherlands, Belgium and The Czech Republic. The volume imported from these three countries in 2004 was ten times the volume in 2000.

 

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 13:46 | link | comments
beer, denmark

A Spanish alternative

Bock Damm - with a nice bock on the label and a retro 0,25 litre bottle (like the San Miguel bottles back when it was a premium brand in itself!). Lots of caramel malt to give a nice dark colour, but at 5,4% I would say it really is a bit lightweight for a bock. My Spanish is rather rudimentary, but on the label it says Negra Munich, and I think calling this a Münchener is closer to it. In Norway we would call it a bayer. Refreshing, full taste with a lighter aftertaste of roasted, almost burned malt. An excellent alternative to all the lagers available along the Spanish beaches.

Another beer from the same Damm brewery in Barcelona is Voll Damm. Lots of flavour, but lacking in bitterness. A Märtzen or spring beer in the German tradition. I am not an expert on this category, and I suppose it may be true to the type. Sweetish aftertaste.

 More information on these and other beers from the brewery can be found on their excellent web site http://www.damm.es

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:23 | link | comments
beer, brewers, spain, bock, martzen

What do they have against the flavour of beer?

Some words of wisdom from Stephen Beaumont's World of Beer (recommended!):

Stepping back into the daylight, I began my walk home wondering just what it is beer company ...executives have against the flavour of beer. They claim to like it, of course, and even pretend to promote it from time to time, using vague descriptives like "crisp," "smooth," and "cold," but every step they take seems designed to eliminate it. From sickly sweet, caffeinated brews to beers so light they might as well be alcoholic mineral waters, every new mega-brewery brand that hits the market these days seems specifically designed to taste less like beer than the one previous. And if there is going to be any beer taste remaining, then the approach seems to be to freeze it out, as with the ubiquitous frozen beer mugs in chain bars and Molson-Coors' highly questionable "innovation."

...

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:17 | link | comments
beer, brewers

The missing Easter brew

Why does this Norwegian beer blogger only cover beer from other countries? Is there nothing worth writing about at home?

Yes and no. I will probably write something about Norwegian brewing traditions, about the sorry state of the industry today with Carlsberg controlling most of the market and so on. I will surely come back to the Norwegian Christmas beers, which are really worth tasting. I will also give some recommendations on where to drink in Oslo before the summer season starts.

 But right now for a success

 The micro brewery nøgne ø (literally naked island, a term in one of Henrik Ibsen’s poems) on the Southern coast of Norway has in a few years’ time established itself as an excellent provider of good beers. Being away over the Easter holidays, I missed their Påskeøl or Easter Beer, which sold out as soon as it reached the shops. In a way they are a victim of their own success, as they have reached a stage where they are not able to keep their outlets supplied with their brews. Note that the price of their beers is very high in shops, and may seem astronomical in bars. I hope report of fresh money from investors mean a more steady supply and slightly lower prices.

 

 I have recently tried their India Pale Ale at 7,5% (available at the government alcohol shops Vinmonopolet as all strong beer). It is aromatic, fruity with a good bitter aftertaste. My bottle was very fizzy, and had abviously had a nice time in its scondary fermentaion in the bottle. Clean and rich taste – strongly recommended!

 

 

Their Brown Ale – lower in alcohol content and therefore sold in selected grocery stores – is another excellent beer. Darker in colour than the more famous brown ales like Newcastle and fuller of taste.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 11:32 | link | comments (2)
beer, brewers, norway

Another "monastery" beer

On a short visit to Stockholm recently, some of us ended up at Grågåsen or the Grey Goose, an establishment in Gamla Stan, the charming Old Town . It had a restaurant upstairs, but, having dined already, we ended up in the rustic bar in the vaulted cellars downstairs dating back to the middle ages. Some home flavoured schnapps listed on the blackboard on the wall as well as the draft Wisby Klosteröl. This is brewed on the island Gotland by a small brewery owned by the Swedish brewers Spendrups. It is over yeasted with some wheat malt and unfiltered. It is hard to judge the colour, as it was served in earthenware mugs. Spendrups calls it a färsköl, i.e. fresh as opposed to a lager beer, and it is an attempt to recreate an old Swedish beer style. A refreshing brew, but the name makes you expect something like a Trappist beer. Perhaps they should change the name? I’ll try to pick up the bottled version the next time I’m in Sweden .

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:59 | link | comments
beer, brewers, trappist, sweden

Our prayers are answered!

I found a reference to the Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle in the EU Food Law newsletter, describing ther feud with the German state of Brandenburg over a black beer which does not comply with the purity law. (The brewery won the case, they may brew a beer with added sugar and market it as a beer. They have even published a book about their "beer war") I Googled and found their web site, and find that they have various beers they call "wellness beers". The most curious is their Anti Aging Beer - good news if there ever was one! To quote their sales pitch:

Having consulted with several universities and health institutes, our beer contains:

Water from hotsprings, rich in minerals
flavonoids
beer (malt, water, hop, yeast)
spirulina (Algae)  

Who doesn't want to stop the aging process? A healthy body and immune system needs good food, vitamins and minerals as well as a host of trace elements. Our anti-aging beer is only part of a healthy lifestyle.
With our added nartural hotspring water (sole) and our algaes our beer has a much higher part of vitamines, minerals, proteins and a prebiotic effect (probiotic is good for the stomach and prebiotic supports the bowel). Flavonoids are strong, natural anti-oxidants similar to vitamin C, but are more easily digested and used by the body.
Please be advised, that our anti aging beer contains alcohol (4,8%).

Well, there’s a sucker born every minute, and with all other remedies for aging and illnesses, this is surely not the worst. At least you can get intoxicated while you try to keep old age at bay!

If the Belgians can call all their exotic brews beer, I have no objections to this. From what I can find on the web pages, however, it is more the term Klosterbrauerei (Monastery brewery) that I find doubtful. There does not seem to bee many monks involved in this business!

 

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 11:01 | link | comments
beer, german, brewers, trappist

A twist of lemon

Carlsberg Sweden is launching a Summer version of its Pripps Blå flavored with citrus, according to Svenska Dagbladet. Well, this was a beer made for effortless mass consumption to start with so it will not make much of a difference.

Hansa in Norway had a similar product a few years ago, but I believe it sank without a trace. Better than mixing with cola, anyway!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 13:08 | link | comments
beer, sweden, carlsberg

6 million bottles a day from a brewery you hadn't heard of. Or "Some cola in your beer, Mein Herr?"

The Independent seem to be taking beer seriously those days. A recent article by Rose George covers the big changes in the German brewing ............industry, where loyalty to local or regional beers have traditionally been strong:

German beer consumption is declining by between one and two per cent a year, according to a 2003 report by Credit Suisse First Boston. It may still be the third-largest beer market in the world (after the US and China), but trouble, nonetheless, is definitely afoot.

Except for Oetti. Recently declared Germany's top-selling beer, the brand that few non-Germans have heard of has stormed up the beer charts. From its base in the small Bavarian town of Oettinger, where an old brewing family started making beer in the Middle Ages, Oettinger has assaulted the German beer market with unconventional marketing. It has no advertising, no middle-man (it sells directly to supermarkets), but it shifts 6 million bottles a day.

What's the secret? "It's cheap!" says Niklas Wittowski, a student in Berlin who's something of a beer expert. A crate of 20 Oettinger half-litre bottles currently sells in one Berlin supermarket for €5.79. Germany's faltering economic crisis - five million unemployed, a capital city that's bankrupt - makes it financially alluring for those who might have picked more expensive beers a few years ago.

Read the whole article

I took a look at the Oettinger web site, and it is difficult to judge the quality of the beers from the look of the bottles. They have quite a few beer to offer. The least tempting is the Oettinger mixed - a drink consisting half and half of beer and cola. There must be a cruel mind behind this that is also behind the alcopop version of chocolate milk. Amazing what there is a market for. Ugh!

............

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 11:23 | link | comments (2)
beer, german, brewers, oettinger

A room with a brew

I have visited London dozens of times over the years, and find this a difficult city to find good value for money accommodation. You may be lucky to find a bargain on good hotels, but the budget priced alternatives are often rather dreary, especially if you want easy access to the central areas.

I have often attended conferences at the Kensington Olympia, and have tried many of the alternatives in the neighbourhood. My favourite is an excellent alternative for a beer lover, the Brook Green Hotel in Hammersmith, a pleasant stroll away from the Olympia or Hammersmith tube station at 170 Shepherd’s Bush Road.

One of a small number of hotels run by the Young’s brewery, this establishment offers small but well furbished rooms and a good breakfast cooked to order for a decent price. The weekend rates are even lower - £ 60 for a double room. And the service is good!

This is also a very opportunity to sample a variety of the Young’s beers. I always go for a pint of their Special first, but they have other beers available, both draft and bottled, which are worth trying. The food offered for lunch and dinner is also very good.

 

The building dates back well over a century, but the bar is modern and welcoming, with large windows with views of people passing by. A high ceiling in the main bar gives a feeling of space even when the pub is being filled up. There is another bar in the basement with live music several times a week (which give them a late license). More details about Young’s and their ales later.

 

 

 

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 13:59 | link | comments
beer, brewers, youngs, kensington

Westvleteren Trappist beers

I invited my old mate Bjørn over to sample a few bottles I brought with me from my last visit to Brussels - three beers from the The abbay of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren. This is the smallest of the trappist breweries in Beligum, and the beers are not widely available. According to the lady in the beer shop where I found them, the monks only brew beer when they need money. The bottles do no do much to promote the beers either, plain brown bottles without labels - all the information about the contents is located on the caps!

According to the abbey's own web pages, the beer is only to be sold to individual customers, and each buyer has to promise not to resell it. Well, some of their custiomers break that promise!

The lightest beer, the Blonde with the green cap, has an alcohol content of 5,8%. It is yeasty and unfuiltered, the color is light. Tastes like a wheat beer, neither sour or sweet. Aftertaste of yeast on the tongue.

The blue capped beer, a double at 8%, is dark brown, almost black in color. A taste of roasted malt, not very sophisticated. Rather like someone's successful home brew, was our verdict. The alcohol content is present in the taste. It is also sweetish. Unfiltered, and with a yeasty aftertaste.

The third beer, the brown cap triple or 12 at 10,2%, was the real treasure of the three. The same toasted smell as the double, but full of taste. Black color, a balance of sweet and bitter flavors, and a long aftertaste. If you can find this, it is strongly recommended!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:29 | link | comments
beer, brewers, trappist