Beer review: Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit (7.6% Belgium/Denmark: De Proefbrouwerij/Mikkeller)

The Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit is a wheat beer, more specifically a Belgian White (Witbier). It's brewed by Mikkeller, a Danish microbrewery founded in 2006 and specializing in collaborations with other breweries. This beer is brewed in collaboration with De Proefbrouwerij, a Belgian brewery founded in 1996. As the name of the beer suggests, it isn't your typical Witbier, let's find out what this means.

Taste: The Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit is a medium-bodied beer. It starts with a fruity taste of orange and citrus and then moves on to deliver a malty wheat body, with aromas of moderate yeast, coriander and finishes with a strong dryish, herbal and citric hoppiness.

Overall, The Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit is exactly what the name suggests. It stands out among the Witbiers, since it offers strong distinct aromas and finishes with a strong hoppy aroma, not common for Witbiers. That's why I'm a bit confused: As an individual beer it's really pleasant and offers a wide range of aromas but as a Witbier, it really doesn't offer the traditional qualities of one. Therefore, it's definitely worth trying since it offers a flavor-rich experience, but if you're looking for a typical Witbier this isn't your choice.

75 Good

Herbal liquor review: Jägermeister (35% Germany: Mast-Jägermeister SE)

Jägermeister is one of the most well-known alcoholic drinks in the world. It's most certainly the best-known herbal liquor, a so-called digestif. It's produced by the German company Mast-Jägermeister SE, a private company founded in 1878 and located in Wolfenbüttel. The liquor was first brought to market in 1935 and today is available in almost any bar, in more than 70 countries in the world. A popular drink mixture is Jägermeister + Red Bull and for example dropping a shot glass of Jägermeister into a glass of Red Bull is called a Jägerbomb. However, it's most often served straight, and preferrably ice cold. Jägermeister's ingredients include 56 herbs, fruits, roots, and spices, including citrus peel, licorice, anise, poppy seeds, saffron, ginger, juniper berries, and ginseng.

Taste: As one would expect the drink is dominated by a intricate mixture of herbal aromas. Compared to other herbal liquors, Jägermeister is remarkably sweeter and less bitter. However, the bitterness of the herbs is still present and the ice-cold serving is recommended to reduce the stingy quality of the liquor. The herbal bitterness is followed by the sweetness and the drink finishes with a warm alcohol feel and a combination of the sting of alcohol and the herbs.

Overall, Jägermeister is a quality liquor deserving its fame. Compared to other herbal liquors, it's considerably easier to drink (read less bitter) and this explains why Jägermeister out of all the herbal liquors has achieved such worldwide fame. I'm not a huge fan of these bitter herbal liquors, but I have to give credit to something that deserves it.

75 Good

Beer review: Gauloise Brune (8.1% Belgium: Brasserie du Bocq)

The Gauloise Brune is an ale, more specifically a Belgian style dubbel. It's brewed by Brasserie du Bocq, a small Belgian family-owned brewery located in Purnode, near Yvoir. The brewery was founded in 1858 and produces about 6 million litres annually.

Taste: The Gauloise Brune is a medium/full-bodied beer with a sweet malty body. It features aromas of dried fruit, some spices, faint yeast and the beer finishes with the taste of dried fruit, a faint bitterness and a slight taste of alcohol.

Overall, the Gauloise Brune was a slight disappointment. The high price, and the fancy bottle raised my expectations quite high, but in the end the beer is a very average Belgian dubbel. I would maybe buy it again if I found it relatively cheap, but in Finland the price is just too damn high!

70 Good

Beer review: Budejovický Budvar (4.5% The Czech Republic: Budweiser Budvar Brewery)

The Budejovický Budvar is a lager, more specifically a Czech styled lager/pilsener (the beer is described as a lager but is really close to a pilsener taste-wise.) It's brewed by the Budweiser Budvar Brewery, one of the largest breweries in The Czech Republic. The brewery was founded in 1895 and has been disputing over the name "Budweiser" with other breweries, such as the Anheuser-Busch corporation. Today the company owns the right to use the name in Europe and thus the American Budweiser is called Bud around Europe. The beer is exported to more than 60 countries all over the world. It's worth mentioning that this is the Finnish supermarket version of the beer, containing only 4.5% alcohol because of the dumb alcohol laws in Finland.

Taste: The Budejovický Budvar is a light/medium-bodied lager with the typical qualities of a Czech lager/pilsener. The beer offers a slightly sweet and pleasant malty body and finishes with a Czech styled herbal grassy hoppiness.

Overall the Budejovický Budvar is a very pleasant Czech lager/pilsener with easy drinkability and a smooth and refreshing taste. This is a great alternative for the typical bulk lagers, and although it's not a masterpiece it's one step closer to saying goodbye to the piss-water sold as beer.

75 Good

Beer review: Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier (5.5% Germany: Paulaner)

The Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier is a wheat beer, more specifically a Hefeweizen. It's brewed by the Paulaner brewery, a German brewery founded in 1634 and located in Munich. Paulaner ranks number 8 among Germany's best selling breweries. The brewery is part of the Brau Holding International corporation, a German beer corporation owned by Schörghuber Unternehmensgruppe (50,1%) and Heineken International (49,9%).

Taste: The Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier is a medium-bodied beer with traditional Hefeweizen qualities. It starts off with a fruity banana aroma and then moves on to deliver a wheaty malt aroma with medium-strength yeast flavors. The beer finishes with a dryish, faintly citric hoppiness.

Overall, the Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier is a well-accomplished wheat beer. It delivers everything that one desires in a Hefeweizen. However, perhaps the flavor is too well-balanced because the overall impression is a bit dull. Other wheat beers manage to deliver the same flavors with more character. Still, it's a good beer! (You can't really go wrong with German wheat beers.)

75 Good

Beer review: Laitilan Kukko Vehnä (4.7% Finland: Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas)

The Laitilan Kukko Vehnä is a wheat beer, more specifically a Hefeweizen. It's brewed by Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas, the fourth largest brewery in Finland. The brewery was founded in 1995 and has since grown immensely. Since the Laitilan Kukko Vehnä has only 4.7% alcohol in it, it's available in Finnish supermarkets and therefore contends in the category of "supermarket strength Hefeweizens".

Taste: The Laitilan Kukko Vehnä is a medium-bodied wheat beer with all the classic characteristics of a Hefeweizen. The beer starts with a sweet fruity banana flavor and then moves on to deliver a wheaty malt body and faint sweet yeastiness. The beer finishes with a citric, herbal hoppiness.

Overall, the Laitilan Kukko Vehnä is a good Hefeweizen. Unfortunately the Finnish alcohol laws force the Finnish breweries to create beers which are slightly watery and lack strong flavors. However, in the category of "supermarket strength Hefeweizens" the Laitilan Kukko Vehnä is a well-accomplished individual.

70 Good

Beer review: Iso-Kallan Savo Special Bitter (4.5% Finland: Iso-Kallan Panimo)

The Iso-Kallan Savo Special Bitter is a bitter, more specifically a British styled bitter. It's brewed by Iso-Kallan panimo, a Finnish microbrewery founded in 2013 and located in Kuopio. Their beers are currently available in some supermarkets in the Savo region but they're also available in beer houses all around Finland.

Taste: The Iso-Kallan Savo Special Bitter is a medium-bodied beer with a refreshing, smooth and medium strength malty body with a faint yeasty taste. It finishes with a surprisingly mild, yet pleasant and round bitterness and light grassy hoppiness.

Overall, the Iso-Kallan Savo Special Bitter is a nice beer with a nice, surpisingly smooth bitter body. It's bitter in a British, sweet sort of way and what gives this beer it's distinct character is the surpisingly hoppy finish. In my opinion, the beer lacks some strength, but then again it delivers a really nice smooth bitterness.

75 Good

Beer review: Laitilan Kievari Ameriikan Ale (4.7% Finland: Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas)

The Laitilan Kievari Ameriikan Ale is an ale, more specifically an American Pale Ale. It's brewed by Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas, a medium-sized Finnish brewery mainly focused on soda manufacturing. The company was founded in 1995 and is currently the fourth largest brewery in Finland. The beer is available in Finnish supermarkets.

Taste: The Laitilan Kievari Ameriikan Ale is a medium-bodied beer with a slightly sweet malty body. It starts with a malty flavor and then delivers a strong herbal hoppiness with citric and fruity aromas. The beer finishes with a hoppy citric bitterness.

Overall, The Laitilan Kievari Ameriikan Ale is a great beer. Considering the market-strength of the beer, it succeeds in delivering a strong fruity and citric hoppy taste. It's definitely one of the better choices in Finnish supermarkets, and a positive surprise from such a large brewery.

75 Good

Cider review: Nokian Panimo Omenasiideri (4.7% Finland: Nokian Panimo)

The Nokian Panimo Omenasiideri is an apple cider. It's produced by Nokian Panimo, a medium-sized Finnish brewery located in Nokia. They pride themselves in being an honest, independent brewery. The Nokian Panimo Omenasiideri can be found in supermarkets all over Finland, and currently it's one of the only widely available ciders by a medium-sized brewery.

Taste: The Nokian Panimo Omenasiideri is a light/medium-bodied cider with a natural, sweet yet sour body. It tastes like real apples and is quite juice-like. It finishes with moderate dryness.

Overall, The Nokian Panimo Omenasiideri is a really nice cider. Among the ciders available in Finnish supermarkets, it's definitely one of the best. You can really taste the natural ingredients. It's refreshing and natural, just the way a cider should be. The market-strength makes it a bit light but that's the price you have to pay for wider circulation in Finland.

75 Good

Beer review: Lervig Art Collection Funky Moi Rye Saison (6.5% Norway: Lervig Aktiebryggeri)

The Funky Moi Rye Saison is an ale, more specifically a Rye Saison. Saison beers are usually fruity and the addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citric flavor. The beer belongs to the special "art collection" series of Lervig Aktiebryggeri, a small Norwegian brewery located in Oslo. The brewery was founded in 2003 and their products have received several awards in Norway, for example for the best summer beer and best pale beer in 2008.

Taste: The Funky Moi Rye Saison is a medium-bodied beer with a soft, fruity and sweet body. It features a slight malty flavor which is quite round and smooth (typical to beers with rye). The beer also features "earthly" aromas and finishes with a slight hoppy bitterness.

Overall, the Funky Moi Rye Saison is a good beer. It doesn't offer anything unforgettable, but delivers a nice variety of flavors in a well-balanced package. It's not the best Saison out there, but it's definitely worth trying...just because of the cool labels if nothing else!

75 Good

Beer review: Meteorite vs. Earth (8.5% Sweden: Modernist Brewery)

The Meteorite vs. Earth, is a pale ale, more specifically a Double India Pale Ale. It's brewed by Modernist Brewery, a Swedish microbrewery founded in 2012 and located in Stockholm. The name of the beer promises a powerful punch and the description on the bottle further pledges to "...give you the most pleasant whack on the chin you've ever had." That's saying a lot, let's see if the beer delivers what it promises.

Taste: The Metorite vs. Earth is a medium-bodied beer with a pleasant sweet front taste of raisins, and other dried fruit. It then delivers a nice maltiness and finishes with a medium-strength hoppiness and some berry aromas.

Overall, the Meteorite vs. Earth is a very nice DIPA with a distinct flavor and nice character. Personally, I'm left without the "whack on the chin" because the hoppiness is actually quite smooth and therefore the beer is a disappointment on that area. It does stand out among DIPAs because of its raisiny sweetness, and in my opinion that should be the factor the brewery should advertise this beer with.

70 Good

Beer review: Humulus Lupus Double IPA (9.0% Finland: Panimo Hiisi)

Humulus Lupus Double IPA is a pale ale, more specifically a double Indian Pale Ale. It's brewed by Panimo Hiisi, a Finnish microbrewery located in Jyväskylä. Panimo Hiisi was founded in 2013 and has been in existence for just over a year. It's one of the most interesting upcomers on the Finnish beer scene, and I'm eagerly awaiting to check out their products.

Taste: The Humulus Lupus Double IPA is a medium/full-bodied beer with a slightly sweet, malty front. It is quite well-balanced and offers a strong herbal hoppy body with aromas of citrus, pine and fruits. The beer finishes with a medium-strength hoppy bitterness.

Overall, the Humulus Lupus Double IPA serves as a nice proof of the expertise of the guys at Panimo Hiisi. The world of IPAs, and even DIPAs, is really crowded and it's quite difficult to stand out. Nevertheless, the Humulus Lupus does an excellent job and is warmly welcomed into the variety of Finnish DIPAs. There's still some room for improvement though. Personally, I would've preferred more fruitiness and a smoother bitterness, but those are just my preferences.

75 Good

Beer review: Pinta Atak Chmielu (6.1% Poland: Browar Pinta)

The Pinta Atak Chmielu is a pale ale, more specifically an American style Indian Pale Ale. It's the most popular beer of Browar Pinta, a Polish microbrewery founded in 2011. Although the brewery has been in existence for only a few years, their products have received a lot of acclaim among beer enthusiasts.

Taste: The Pinta Atak Chmielu is a medium-bodied IPA which starts off with a caramel, malty body. It then moves on to deliver a fruity, malty, and herbal taste and finishes with a herbal medium-strength hoppiness and medium bitterness.

Overall, the Pinta Atak Chmielu is a pleasant beer and there is nothing bad to say about it. However, in my opinion it lacks the final character that sets beers apart from the masses. It most certainly belongs to the upper-class of IPAs, but doesn't reach a podium place in my ranking.

75 Good

Beer review: Prykmestar Savukataja (9.0% Finland: Vakka-Suomen Panimo)

The Prykmestar Savukataja is a smoke beer, more specifically a smoke juniper beer (Savukataja= smoke juniper). It's brewed by Vakka-Suomen Panimo, a medium-sized Finnish brewery located on the western coast of Finland, in Uusikaupunki. The brewery was founded in 2007 and its products have received several awards since.

Taste: The Prykmestar Savukataja is a medium/full-bodied beer with a smooth, smoke dominant flavor. It delivers a slightly sweet smoky flavor, with a faint taste of smoked ham. The smoky flavor is then replaced by the flavor of juniper which, unfortunately, remains quite faint. The beer finishes with a nice sweet and smoky aftertaste.

Overall, the Prykmestar Savukataja is a mature beer with a surprisingly smooth taste, considering that it's quite strong alcohol-wise. However, because the name suggests that there should be juniper in it, I was a bit disappointed with the lack of it. There is a faint aroma of juniper but I was expecting a bit more. However, still definitely worth a try!

70 Good

Beer review: BrewDog Fake Lager (4.7% Scotland: BrewDog)

The BrewDog Fake Lager is a lager, or more specifically a Czech type pilsener. It is brewed by BrewDog, a medium-sized Scottish brewery. BrewDog, with the annual production output of about 10 million liters, was founded in 2007, and despite its young age has become one of the best-appreciated breweries in the world. The Fake Lager is their critical take on the bulk lagers, and they aim to return the Czech type pilsener to its former glory by returning to its roots. Therefore, the beer promises a malty body with a fine hoppy aftertaste, not the watery taste of bulk lagers.

Taste: The BrewDog Fake Lager is a medium-bodied pilsener with a faintly sweet, malt dominant body with a touch of citrus. After this the hop kicks in with its herbal goodness, delivering a nice slightly bitter herbal taste.

Overall, the BrewDog Fake Lager delivers what it promises. It doesn't offer anything revolutionary, but it succeeds in showing the bulk lagers what a real beer should taste like. Once again, a quality beer by BrewDog.

75 Good

Beer review: BrewDog Punk IPA (5.6% Scotland: BrewDog)

The BrewDog Punk IPA is a pale ale, more specifically an Indian Pale Ale. It is brewed by BrewDog, a medium-sized Scottish brewery. BrewDog, with the annual production output of about 10 million liters, was founded in 2007, and despite its young age has become one of the best-appreciated breweries in the world. Punk IPA is one of their most popular beers and therefore, I'm eager to test it out.

Taste: The BrewDog Punk IPA is a light/medium-bodied Indian Pale Ale. It's quite refreshing and has a body of medium strength grassy hoppiness. The beer also features some fruitiness and finishes with a good, herbal, hoppy aftertaste which features just the right amount of bitterness.

Overall, The BrewDog Punk IPA is a great way to start exploring the exciting world of IPAs. It definitely isn't the best IPA available, but neither is it the worst. It could do with some more fruitiness and a richer flavor overall, but the nice refreshing aftertaste with just the right amount of bitterness is a lot to my liking.

75 Good

Beer review: Mufloni IPA (4.5% Finland: Panimoravintola Beer Hunter's)

The Mufloni IPA is an ale, more specifically a session Indian Pale Ale, brewed by the Finnish brewery restaurant Beer Hunter's located in Pori. Although the beer selection of many Finnish supermarkets has widened nicely, IPAs are still quite uncommon. Therefore, a Finnish IPA is an interesting and welcomed product.

Taste: The Mufloni IPA is a medium-bodied Indian Pale Ale. It starts with a lemony, faintly sweet aroma which is surpassed by the strong, slightly dry and very bitter hoppiness. The aftertaste of the beer lasts quite long and the beer finishes with a strong bitterness that is left lingering in the mouth.

Overall, the Mufloni IPA is a nice beer, and it succeeds in nicely delivering all of the qualities associated with IPAs. The hoppiness is quite strong with this one, which is quite a good accomplishment considering the market strength of the beer. If you're into IPAs, this one's worth trying out, although it doesn't deliver anything memorable.

70 Good

Beer review: Luostari Dubbel (7.5% Finland: Saimaan Juomatehdas)

Luostari Dubbel is an ale, more specifically a Dubbel, brewed by Saimaan Juomatehdas, a relatively small family brewery located in Mikkeli, Finland. In 2014 they produced a total of 900 000 liters. The Luostari Dubbel is produced in association with Valamon Luostari, an orthodox monastery in Eastern Finland. Thus, Luostari Dubbel prides itself in being the only orthodox monastery beer in the world. Let's see if it can equal its Belgian siblings.

Taste: The Luostari Dubbel is a medium/full-bodied beer with a malt-dominant flavor. It provides a sweet, fruity and berry flavor and finishes with a slight herbal hoppy taste.

Overall, the Luostari Dubbel is a nice beer but still has some growing up to do, if it wants to challenge the Belgian monastery beers for real. It offers a nice variety of flavors, but still looks a bit thin when compared to other Dubbels. However, it's definitely worth trying since it's among the best Finnish beers available in Finnish liquor stores.

75 Good

Beer review: Wold Top Against The Grain (4.5% England: Wold Top)

Wold Top Against The Grain is a specialty beer, more specifically a gluten free beer made from lager malt, maize, hops and yeast. It's brewed by Wold Top, a small English brewery located in Yorkshire. Gluten free beers are quite rare, and therefore Wold Top Against The Grain is an interesting release, especially since at the moment it's found in some of the Finnish supermarkets. Let's give it a try!

Taste: Wold Top Against The Grain is a light/medium-bodied beer, with a faint malty taste. The maltiness is quite sweet and is combined with the flavor of maize. The beer is slightly fruity and features a medium strength taste of herbal hop. The aftertaste of the beer is slightly bitter.

Overall, the Wold Top Against The Grain is an interesting beer. It's gluten free and although, when it comes to brewing beer, it starts from this disadvantageous position, it manages to deliver a nice set of flavors. It's nothing unforgettable, yet it's a nice choice, especially for people sensitive to gluten.

70

Beer review: Keisari EloWehnä (4.7% Finland: Nokian Panimo)

Keisari EloWehnä is a wheat beer, more specifically a Hefeweizen. It is brewed by Nokian Panimo, one of the middle-sized breweries of Finland. Nokian Panimo prides itself in being an honest, independent brewery. Keisari EloWehnä can be found in supermarkets all over Finland and it offers an interesting alternative to the basic lager beers.

Taste: Keisari EloWehnä is a fine wheat beer. It offers a light-bodied wheat and yeast dominant flavor, with a hint of banana fruitiness. The aftertaste of the beer is pleasantly fruity and the beer finishes with a faintly bitter wheaty flavor.

Overall, Keisari EloWehnä is among the best wheat beers available in Finnish supermarkets. It's not the most refreshing one, since the flavor is quite rich. However, the flavors that it offers are really enjoyable and therefore the Keisari EloWehnä is definitely worth trying!

70 Good