Yes I’m still continuing the trend of 100 something beers in 100 something days … I’m up to 182 and counting…

Today, it’s something I thought I would never see again — a pull tab.  Here are two pictures confirming this:

What is the beer you ask?  Why, it is Zhu Jiang Beer (pronounced “Joo Jung” Beer) — or, in English, Pearl River.  This beer is brewed by the Guangzhou Zhu Jiang Brewery Co (which is actually part of the InBev conglomerate).

My friend kindly brought this back to me from a trip he made to China.  This was a decent lager made in the German-style.

Many times I disagree with both BeerAdvocate and RateBeer … I think the people on these sites either 1) set their expectations too high and are then disappointed, or 2) they’re too high-brow in their observation of what makes a good beer.  I agree with the All about Beer list (125 places to drink beer in the world) in that a lot of what makes a beer good is the location and people with whom you are drinking that beer — that’s why the GABF is #1 on their list.  Ok, enough pontificating.

I could probably drink several of these in one sitting since they are only 3.6% ABV.   I would probably drink them just to pull the tab!  Next thing you know I’ll be making a “pull tab necklace.”

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

Well number 181 (LOL) was the Dinkelacker MaiBock.  I like this style of beer, you just can’t drink a lot of them.  The malt really stands out in this beer but they did a good job of balancing it with the noble hops.

It is May after all and it is Fest Season so I thought it only appropriate to drink one of these while enjoying a big Schnitzel!  Yes!

I will miss Germany but I look forward to getting back to the Washington, DC area and enjoying the great craft beers in the area again!

Beer Mentor

LOL!  Yes, I finally completed the challenge of drinking 180 beers in 180 days!  How did I do it?  With Tsjeesus!  Ha ha!  Yes, the Sturdy Brewers produced this great Christmas beer … and I just had it.

In their own words: “Deep to orange blond abbey triple winterbeer which has been lagered for 8 months on different stonefruits. Tsjeeses was born out of a 5 year brew experience regarding x-mas beer without being capable of finding a suitable name up to now. With the name came a face, a caricature actually, that was drawn on the day Urbain, our brew master and master brewer, drank too many Tsjeeses’s. Every time he drinks one, he says “Tsjeeses, what a beer”. Therefore the name is more an expression of stupefaction than a curse. We have had already many discussions around the pronounciation of “Tsjeeses”. Very close would be that you say “cheeses” or cheese in plural.”

If you get the opportunity, go for a bottle of this!  I picked this beer up at the Delirium Cafe in Brussels a couple of weeks ago … oh, and happy birthday Jill!

Beer Mentor

I’m close to the finish of my journey — beer #179 was brewed byWeltenburg … the oldest Kloster Brewery in the world.  This beer is their Asam Bock.  You probably know what a Bock beer is, but do you know what an Asam is?  LOL!  The church at this Kloster is a Baroque Church … and the Asam brothers designed it.  It was only appropriate that a German beer be named after them.

Beer Mentor

Today I had another Weltenburger Beer: the Anno 1050.  This beer won a Silver medal at the World Beer Cup … and you can tell why.  It was an excellent lager (a Marzen) and I enjoyed relaxing with it after a great weekend.  Worth the effort to track one down … just savor it!

As a reminder, this brewery was established in 1050 … so this beer commemorates the beginning of the brewery!

Beer Mentor

Tonight I definitely needed a little break … I’ve just relaxed and enjoyed a nice Alpirsbacher Starkbier.  This is an excellent lager — good flavor, nice finish — really enjoyable … what a helles bock should be!   It was all I needed to finish up a quiet evening.

Beer Mentor

This is one of the beers I picked up at the Weihenstephan Brauerei.

The Korbinian is a wonderful doppelbock.  I have certainly had some awesome brews since I’ve been here in Germany, and this one is no exception.  The color, the nose, and the taste come right at you — you think, wow, I really like these bock beers — and then, bam, you think — I really like doppelbocks!   You sit and relax with it and find yourself wishing you were back at the brewery’s “Beer Stuebl” having a wurst.

Beer Mentor

Today I moved away from the wheat beers of the last three days but stayed with one of the same Kloster breweries: Alpirsbach.

I poured myself a Kloster Pils to finish off my evening.  It’s strange how you have that sense in your head that this beer is going to be “hoppy” but it still surprises you when you taste it!  Some folks would probably say this is too bitter … but if you like those noble hops, this beer will satisfy you!

Of course, it’s the aroma of the noble hops that really stand out.  Oh, and this brewery is not very far from Tettnang … so I’m sure their hops are very fresh upon arrival!

I recommend it.

Beer Mentor

I’ve continued the Hefe-Weizen trend…although this one is not a Hell.  This is a standard Hefe-Weizen from the Weihenstephaner brauerei.

This is one of the top rated Hefe Weizens (see ratebeer and beeradvocate).

I have to say that I agree with them … when I pick up a wheat beer and I get that nice banana / clove smell in the nose … and then that peculiar flavor! Wow!  I would say that the Weihenstephaner Hefe and the Schneider Weisse Aventinus are my favorite German Wheat Beers.

Beer Mentor