The Beer Wrangler™ » 2 Tankards

Beers of the World – By David Kenning

The Beer Wrangler — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:23:15 +0000

Wrangler Rating (Mediocre)

Beers of the World promises to be a journey around the world via 350 classic beers. ‘Classic or popular’ I ask myself. Any book that devotes a large one page spread to Fosters Lager, and also adds Tennent’s Super to the list (The choice of the discerning homeless man in the UK) is struggling to fulfill the promise of ‘Classic’. Sadly the photographs are not great, with some strange choices for glasses and head size. This has the feel of a book that was hastily and cheaply put together. But why the second tankard I hear you ask… Well . . . → Read More: Beers of the World – By David Kenning

Wells IPA

The Beer Wrangler — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:34:45 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Wells IPA suffers from a common British problem: mislabeling. During the First World War, breweries (with the government!) decreased alcohol in beers to conserve resources (barley) as well as limit drunkenness among essential workers and the military. Hop levels were also reduced, so the traditionally strong and hoppy IPAs were the first in line to be emasculated. Breweries continued using the term though, but it described a pale ale or a bitter rather than the full-on flavour of an IPA. Wells IPA is a very pleasant and drinkable British pale ale that would have been awarded 3 tankards and recommended, . . . → Read More: Wells IPA

Fat Cat Brewery Honey Beer

The Beer Wrangler — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:37:24 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Fat Cat Brewery are a small producer in BC Canada (there is another with the same name in the UK) and this is their Honey Beer, an ale made with New Zealand tree sap honey. This gives this light amber brew a slightly smokey honey aroma. This is not a sweet tasting beer as they manage to get the honey flavour without the sugar, and the malt is in there too, but not integrated with the honey. There is also an overall bitterness to the brew, which reminds me of an astringent tree bark flavour, found in campari. Any hop . . . → Read More: Fat Cat Brewery Honey Beer

Kronenbourg 1664

The Beer Wrangler — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:40:42 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Kronenbourg seem to make a few different versions of 1664 around the world, and at different strengths. I remember enjoying this on holiday in France, but tasting it for review was a bit of a disappointment. It is a classic pale gold colour with a slightly yeasty nose. There is a touch of sweetness on the palate that gives way to a sourish finish that leaves a bit of a watery aftertaste. I couldn’t notice any of the nice hop notes you find in some well made lagers, as there is not much of any substance here. It is not . . . → Read More: Kronenbourg 1664

Saku Originaal Lager

The Beer Wrangler — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:29:27 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Saku Originaal is a beer from the Carlsberg stable of brands, but unusually this one hails from Estonia. It is a pale golden lager with a quickly disappearing head and a grainy aroma. The flavour is fairly light with a touch of pale malt. The finish is a bit sour with some minerally metallic notes, and maybe a suggestion of hops. One problem is that the aftertaste is not that pleasant, so the initial malty grain flavours are wiped out. All in all, this a decidedly average lager with not much to shout about.

ABV: 4.6%

Best Served: 4°C

. . . → Read More: Saku Originaal Lager

Moylan’s Celts Golden Ale

The Beer Wrangler — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:01:41 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Moylan’s Celts Golden Ale is a slightly cloudy attractively coloured ale that pours with a nice light head that leaves almost no lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma has a nice yeasty note with a hint of hop underneath. The flavour doesn’t seem to follow the aroma as it is so lightweight that it doesn’t offer much. There are very subtle yeast notes, and maybe a touch of malt, but nothing to really get hold of. I know Golden/Summer Ales are supposed to be light, but really this is obviously aimed at the macro lager crowd, which . . . → Read More: Moylan’s Celts Golden Ale

Fischer Tradition Blonde Beer

The Beer Wrangler — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:46:41 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Fischer Tradition Bière Blonde is an attractive looking pale golden lager from Alsace in France on the border with Germany. This is a mildly flavoured beer with nothing strongly obvious on the palate. There are light sweet grainy notes which continue on to the finish, but no real hop presence. The carbonation is good for a session beer, as it is not too fizzy, like so many mass produced lagers. All in all, it is a drinkable lager but does nothing to stand out from the crowd.

ABV: 6%

Best Served: 5°C

. . . → Read More: Fischer Tradition Blonde Beer

Granville Island Brewing Raspberry Wheat Ale

The Beer Wrangler — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:37:37 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

Granville Island Raspberry Wheat Ale is a hugely fruitful beer, and for me a bit out of balance. The genuinely fruity flavours of fresh raspberry are not too sweet, but a bit overpowering for the subtle wheat ale notes. This beer will definitely have its fans, and rightly so. It is made by a good brewery whose line up of seasonal releases are always worth trying. The power of the wheat and malt are far too subtle and need a touch of strength to counter the fruit. However, if you like extremely fruity beers try this with a summer pudding . . . → Read More: Granville Island Brewing Raspberry Wheat Ale

Tin Whistle Peach Cream Ale

The Beer Wrangler — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:23:46 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Mediocre)

This tastes more like a lager than an ale, and so misses out on some naturally fruity flavours. The peach flavour never really hits you and remains subtle. This might have been fine if it was a bit more full-bodied, but it tastes a bit on the thin side. Having said that, on a boiling hot day, this beer,well chilled may just hit the spot for some who want a lightly flavoured beer with a hint of fruit.

ABV: 5%

Best Served: 8°C

. . . → Read More: Tin Whistle Peach Cream Ale