WAZZA'S DRINKING AROUND THE WORLD

THE FULL HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE

Hey there guys and gals! Welcome back to me drinking around the world and giving you some reviews of some of the best and worst beers around the planet, as well as give you some awesome pics from where I've been, and this time it's to the Heineken Brouwerij in Amsterdam. It was a great experience

This was only 3 stops away from me in Zeeburg, where I was staying at the Stayokay Hostel there, which by the way, is getting a pretty good prop! Check my TripAdvisor profile to know what I mean!

The bus ride was quick, and because I bought the ticket from the hostel, I got to go straight through, as the line was pretty long, as you can see from the first photo on this blog page.

Walking through, they showed the history, and the building is well set up for the tourists, as the start and end points you land in the Heineken shop. The tour is excellent - I mean 5 stars, as it's very interactive and you get a couple of half-pints included in the tour, and you get to keep the arm band (which I still have on!)

The history is told to you through interactive screens and actors playing parts of the history of the company. As you can see below, there are a number of small displays throughout the route of the tour.

Heineken have won several awards, and some that are well known around the world, some are for keys to cities, and others are very unique

The Gold Medal of Honour is one such unique award

You get to this room (below) and we had one of the tour guides tell us about the ingredients one by one, with bringing some out in bowls to get the aromas of each.

 Here are some more of the interactive parts of the tour. From the projector in a vat, to the walk around through the stable (yes there was a real horse in there too!)

HORSEY!!!

 To seeing this stuff - all getting mixed in - the "stuff" being the hops and water here

 And if you wanted to give the brewer a hand, you could put some of the ingredients in this hand driven machine to get the good bits out! :)

So many things to do and see, but the best bit is the "Heineken Experience Ride" which you get put into a roller coaster simulation room, complete with water splashes, wind, moving floorboards, interactive movie and handlebars! A great time!

During the tour, you got to see how well Heineken market their product, and how they get sponsorships for the biggest sporting events and the biggest festival events in the world. It is the world's number one beer.

You also get to see Heineken's influence in sports, especially rugby and football. They have signed shoes from Messi, Maldini, Cahill and a few others who have been sponsored in some way by Heineken

There was even an area where you chose kick or scrum! Unfortunately the scrum machine was broken, but I got 3 out of 3 in the kick simulator... Too bad I'm too old to be a wallaby!

As you can see I had a great time. At the top of the building, you had a great view of Amsterdam, and you got your two mini pints!

Great day had - and I recommend doing it if you're in Amsterdam! As you can see, I took a few photos this time. I was very glad I did it. And I got to drink beer at the end.

Like I said, ended in the Heineken store, and they do have some great clothing and accessories, and I got myself a beanie. So when you're in Amsterdam, get a ticket and do this. It's worth it!

So until next time...

Cheers! And drink on!

Wazza's Drinking Around the World (or trying to...) Number 6!

Well hello again everyone and here I am, watching the hockey final at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and I'm thinkin'... 

What a great time for a beer review!

#6. Sharp's Brewery - Doom Bar (Bitter) - ALC. 4.0% VOL.

This one is a beaut bitter

Well well well... Do I say that a lot? It's been a while, but I have been drinking left, right and centre, and have acquired the start of a ponch! lol So I have to do some more exercises and get walking all over the place to stop that so I can continue to bring you reviews of beer after beer. It's a tough job but as they say, someone has to do it, and that'd be me! :)

This is definitely a new favourite. I didn't expect it to be so tasty. I usually don't go for "room temperature beers" like bitters. But this was one I didn't mind, as it has a better taste at that temperature.

Just look at the colour! It's gorgeous. It's got that deep deep amber (you may not be able to see it that well in the photos here) and the flavour really matches, with a lovely malt flavour, and you can really get that hint of dried fruit. I tasted a bit of sultana, and great hops.

ALL GONE

As you can see, it didn't really last that long! I had this at the Fish and Eels. What a great pub. Right next to a canal, and with the weather turning up, we had a cracking meal there too. The fish and chips are great - you get the chips AND mushy peas - and a good ol' wedge of lemon for the tasty fish. Or the Hunter's Chicken, which really was to die for. I mean... wow. What a great plate - HUGE! And the beer right beside, was the BEST thing I've had chicken with. Funny but true!

And this has a wonderfully fruity aftertaste that, when cold, is rather refreshing. 

Check this out - AWARDS: Brussels Beer Challenge - Pale & Amber Ale - Bitter Bronze 2013, Brussels Beer Challenge Bronze 2015, Food Reader Awards Best Drink 2014, International Beer Challenge Bronze (Design and Packaging) 2014, Publican’s Choice Award National Cask Ale brand 2013, Taste of the West Award Bronze 2013, Taste of the West Award Silver 2014

Now understand that this isn't just a great beer, it's a grand one. I love it. 

Now to judgement:

Sight - 9 - Well it really has to be. It's got that colour that I wish ice cream could be

Smell - 7 - Good, but I thought it was going to be stronger

Taste - 8 - Alleluia! I love this, I really do. The only downer is that it's a bitter to be served at room temperature. If it's cold (which is rare around these parts!) it has a great refreshing aftertaste

Feel - 8 - I like a strong brew. This was it. Thicker. Felt good on the palate

Aftertaste - 8 - great when cold! Otherwise it's that room temperature drink that you have. 

Pleasure - 8 - I would go out of my way to drink this if I saw it in a bar.

Ability - 8 - look at the awards. And it's a bitter!

Encore - 8 - yeah - I'd drink it over a period of time. 

Reputable - 8 - the awards, but as I am from Oz, I hadn't heard of it before. 

Purchase - 8 - yeah I'd buy this if was in my local bottle-o!

OUT OF TEN I GIVE IT 8!

So there you have it. Number 6 done and dusted!

Stay tuned for another review as soon as humanly possible!

Cheers! And drink on!

The Fifth posting of Wazza's Drinking Around the World... well... Europe!

Wazza's Drinking Around the World!

G'day all! Here we are already at the 5th addition of Wazza's Drinking Around the World. And I, personally, am loving it.

Here today we have a bit of a bottler...

5. Sharp's Wolf Rock Traditional Red IPA - Alc.Vol. 4.8%

The bottle is huge.

Okay, let's read the blurb first this time... They (Sharp's) have been brewing this beer since 1994, and they brew with moreish character and brewed with passion. I suppose most brewers who like their job would say the same thing.

"Eight nautical miles off Land's End lies the infamous reef Wolf Rock, the inspiration for this exceptional Red IPA..."

And, they have politely told us what we should expect from this very tall bottled beer - it's almost the size of an Aussie King Brown...

"Aroma: ripe fruit, roast malt, spicy"

"Taste: full ripe sweetness, citrus"

"Finish: roasted, berry fruit"

"Serve: best served chilled"

"Food Pairing: charcuterie (?), smoked fish or cheddar ploughmans"...

Well, first off, I had to look up the word "charcuterie"...!

From Wikipedia (who else?)

The full glass

"Charcuterie is the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, ballotines, pâtés, and confit, primarily from pork. Charcuterie is part of the garde manger chef's repertoire. Wikipedia"

Well, we all learn something new everyday, don't we?

I poured the beer, into a pint glass, whilst watching "Spectre",

Ian Fleming's newest addition to the Bond franchise. And it does have a beautiful colour, a wonderful red, ruby colour, with low fizz and beautiful clarity.

With the help of my cousin, Brian, we had this whilst watching this great movie (I'm a BIG Bond fan!), and we found it a bit heavy, but a bit weak at the same time.

Yes it does have everything the wrapper said it would, but it didn't mention the aftertaste, which was a bit wanting. The citrus taste did overpower the burnt berries, leaving my palate a tad confused. And for once, this one had to be chilled, and my English cousin loves his beers at room temperature, and he said it was full bodied, and has a nice taste.

So down the to my review:

• Sight - 7 - looks lovely, beautiful colour, and very clear, with light fizz
• Smell - 6 - didn't get the full aroma honestly, but there were hints of fruitiness
• Taste - 7 - nice, heavy, but weak on the palate
• Feel - 6 - felt that it was a bit weak
• Aftertaste - 6 - aftertaste that lingered longer than the taste
• Pleasure - 6 - A beer that I'd have for differing reasons. Would be better with food
• Ability - 6 - I'm not sure that this is a common man/woman's beer. 
• Encore - 6 - I don't think I'd drink this again and again, but my palate may change
• Reputable - 5 - haven't heard of it before, but I am in the U.K.
• Purchase - 5 - Won't go out of my way to get it.

Out of 10 I give it - 6 out of 10 

Honestly not my type of beer. It does give you the perfect pint in measurement, but nothing to generally write home about... well, except in this instance

So keep drinking readers, and I hope to see your comments on the pages past, present and future of my blog

Cheers! And drink on!

Wazza

Number 4!

Number 4 in the series of Wazza's Drinking Around the World!

Hello all, and here we go again. I've just been down Harlow Mill, and had a scrumptious chicken schnitzel down there with the cousin, once more, and had a Tetley, but didn't have a chance to judge that one, as I was in a bit of a rush - I have to go to Beat-Herder tomorrow up in Stockport (well, Sawley in Lancashire really) and that goes for 4 days, so I stocked up on a few beers the day before, namely today's brew, yesterday's and a few for the next week, which I will review when I get back from the continent, on my Euro Trip.

So again. Here we go... and this one has got a bit of a kick to it!

4. Innes & Gunn Rum Finish - Alc.Vol 6.8%

And I'm pretty impressed already. I took the top off, lovely little bottle. Only 330ml, so I'm thinking this HAS to be good due to the size. And it is Oak Aged! My my!

The outside of the bottle says "brewed in small batches - handcrafted Scottish beer"... 

SCOTTISH? OK this is my first Scottish beer. Joy to the world! Made and bottled in Edinburgh, each bottle has the stamp and the signature of brewers, with each carefully matured for exactly 57 days, in old rum barrels, which gives it an apparent different taste. "A full bodied Scottish beer bursting with fruit and spicy notes"...

The pour - this is a gorgeous ruby red (and those who know me, know I love red-heads!). There isn't much of a head, which is good, but the colour is amazing. Not too fizzy either.

The taste is like something I have never ever tasted before. Just because of this, it makes it one of the beers that I will search for in the future. The nose is very rum influenced due to the barrels, but it's not overpowering. Spicy flavours! It really is growing on me! I think if I had few of these I would be walking myself home! I'd say this is a meal for rich meats. Maybe duck, and may I even say quail?

The blurb on the back says it's been matured over the finest rum-infused American Oak heartwood. I think whatever they are using, it's certainly making a fine impression on me! It does have a nice rum aftertaste. I don't mind an aftertaste that's like this. It is rather a strong aftertaste though, and lingers in your mouth for a while. It goes straight to your head though, so watch out how many you drink, especially that the alcohol content is 6.8%!!!!

Just another fine beer you can have with cheese - Lord 'a' Mercy! Two now! This beer tasting reviewing thingamie is going to make me fat! I have a vaporizer with me, and the flavours of muffin and this beer compliment each other well. So I'm even thinking this as a dessert beer? Maybe?

Down to judgement!

So here goes...

• Sight - 8 - I like rubies. I like ruby red's even better. There's not too much fizz, and not a lot of head, which means more beer.
• Smell - 7.5 - Strong rum, influences
• Taste - 7.5 - good drop, with heavy undertones of spice
• Feel - 7 - Not bad, not too thick or thin
• Aftertaste - 7 - I like the rum aftertaste on this, but watch your breathe!
• Pleasure - 7.5 - I do like it, and would tell people to have one
• Ability - 7 - this is for the conneissuers, with the rum ability
• Encore - 6 - I could, just to get absolutely plonkered with mates
• Reputable - 5 - it's coming up, more work to be done
• Purchase - 6 - Yeah I'd definitely buying a few of these in the future, just because of the potency, and the aftertaste

So out of 10 I give it - 7.5 out of 10

Now go out and buy one of these, and I dare you to have more than 3, and stay sane and walk in a straight line

Looking forward to the next drop

Cheers! And drink on!

Wazza

Wazza's Drinking Around the World #3

Drinking Around the World

#3. BrewDog - Elvis Juice - Grapefruit Infused IPA - Alc.Vol 6.5%

Again, without further ado... I've had dinner again, and I've just sipped something that goes really really well with fish pie.

So, another BrewDog infusion has past by my palate, and this one has an unusual name, and an very spritely taste.

Elvis Juice..?

I'm talking about the Elvis Juice. I don't know if Elvis Presley actually LIKE Grapefruit, but he probably should have had more than he did. But maybe it is for Elvis Costello? The colour of the beer is almost a pure amber, and put up to the light, it's orange. Low fizz, which is good.

When I pop the cap, straight away, the aroma comes out of the bottle, full of grapefruit aroma. The colour is quite orange/amber, and the taste is full of that citrusy grapefruit flavour. 

I had a good swig of this, and it was almost offensive. There was just a tad too much citrus. I'm saying this, as I absolutely love citrus in my beers, but I have a feeling that not everyone is like me, and would prefer a lager or an ale over a radler or a citrus infused lager. But me being me, I like this beer. I do like the overtones of grapefruit. I am being biased of course

The Cap

And as it went, I was having a fish pie and salad for dinner, that has filled me up (especially with hot apple pie and custard for desserts! YUM!) and the Elvis Juice complimented it very very well, which really isn't surprising, because of the common mix of fish and lemon or lime and even at some times orange. I'm pretty sure someone out there has had fish on the BBQ with grapefruit. And if no-one has, I think it's about time to, and then grab this beer to compliment the fact.

On the bottle - BrewDog brew uncompromising and irreverent beer. (!) So the brewers are asking to ditch the mainstream and try one of their different beers which is "a mad last-ditch stand to create a beer that actually tastes of something"... My oh my...

But I like it. Not for everyone, but I do like it. 

Sight - 7.5 - I like orange, and there is not that much fizz, so that's a bonus for me, plus it's an Elvis

Smell - 7 - I like the citrusy aroma, but it may offend others

Taste - 6.5 - only because not everyone will like this infused bombshell

Emptied...

Feel - 7 - the swig was a great swig. I do like it. Not too watery and not too thick

Aftertaste - 7 - nice bitter aftertaste that goes well with the grapefruit

Pleasure - 6 - like it. But not as much as I thought I would

Ability - 6 - Would be a great seller in the hotter climates and would advise people to give it a go

Encore - 6 - I honestly don't think I could have too many of these. 

Reputable - 6 - Not yet well known.

Purchase - 5 - Haven't ever seen it before. I'm not sure I'd be out there buying it again, but would advise others to try it

Out of 10 I'll be giving it - a 6.5 out of 10

This is a great shot at an infusion beer, with an admirable shot at getting grapefruit in a solid IPA. But, honestly, this is not for everyone. But it is great with seafood, and great on a scorching hot day. To have a look, visit Brewdog.com.

Until next beer.

Cheers! And drink on!

Waz

Another judged... another blogged!

#2 Already... Hey! I just had dinner!

Again... without further ado...

The colour is amazing

2. Morland - "Old Crafty Hen" - Alc.Vol. 6.5%

I've had this one before. I had it about 5 days into London... Well... Essex really, which is not London, but from an Aussies point of view, it's one and the same

I've decided to have a go at Old Crafty Hen, before the more well known Old Speckled Hen, just because this beer is oak aged, and is a premium dark and malty bitter. I love the colour. It's a colour you don't get that much of in Oz (from now on Australia, or "Straya" will be known as Oz, simply because we live in a land just like the movie, and it was once a prison planet...), and through this Oak-Aged process, it comes with this rather beautiful colour

The only problem is that people usually have this at room temperature. Now as an Aussie, it's almost a cardinal sin to drink a beer at room temperature. But after drinking so many beers, and wines, and liqueurs, you know you have to drink as the locals do. So I had a go at this at room temp...

Emptied

NOT BAD... you can get a real toffee taste, which really matches the colour. I could get the dried fruit, raisiny taste, like Sunbeam raisins that we get in Oz. When you breath it in, you get a lovely oak taste, a little burnt maybe, but that just gives it taste. A great taste.

On the bottle - Aroma - Toffee and raisins; Taste - Toffee malt combined with dried fruit for a complex richness. And that complex richness does it wonders, which compliments the colour and the aroma perfectly. The Master Brewer at Morland has created a pure belter for the English drinkers whom like to have a room temp beer. And this beer is well respected, and consumed in quite large amounts. And it's amazing with cheese... Let me be the judge of that, eh?...

So... here I am with some Fully Matured Cheddar. A lovely sort actually... Grated, so I can get the full flavour with the beer...

Oh my lord!!!

I cannot believe the way this beer
is with cheese!!!! More please!!!

Get me more cheese - STAT!!! I have never quite experienced a beer that does this. It gives the cheese that red wine & cheese feel. You know, when you have a dinner party you're cooking for, and the guests are there, and you pull out the cheese for and appetizer (or even dessert), and you can't help but pop a bottle of red with some Camembert or Brie, and they just go so amazingly together...?

Well this beer does the same thing. I will now be drinking this on alternate dinner parties! It's totally marvelous! A big wow!

However, I'm not sure I could neck these all day. It is a quite robust beer. It's almost like a Belgian Monk beer - like a Duval or a Trappiste... And it's rather heavy. But rather low on fizz..

So... down to the nitty gritty...

• Sight - 7 - Very dark and foreboding, with the pour being very slow as a head can and will puff. Colour is marvelous
• Smell - 7 - I think it has a rather weak smell
• Taste - 8.5 - good drop, very good. And because of the taste with cheese rated very high
• Feel - 7.5 - thick, nice as it flows in the mouth
• Aftertaste - 7.5 - nice, the toffee and raisin flavours really stick out, but not unpleasantly
• Pleasure - 7 - I do like it, but it's not for everyone, as it is a room temp beer
• Ability - 7 - this is a vintage beer, so it's for the conneseirs 
• Encore - 7 - I could, but only in milder climes
• Reputable - 7 - it's well known in the U.K., so that's a pretty good beef
• Purchase - 7 - not the first time I've had it, but it seems unusually hard to get here in the U.K.

So... drum roll please...

Out of 10 I will be giving it  - 7.5 out of 10

This is certainly a well aged beer, but the fact that it goes with cheese (on of my favourite foods ever!), gives it the extra oomph that I like. I will be telling my mates to try this instead of a wine with cheese sometime soon.

Once again, please your input is needed and respected, so please put something down on here, and give your own reviews to this fine beer...

Until my next review on my tour around the world...

Cheers! And drink on!

Wazza

Wazza's Drinking Around the World!

Wazza's Drinking Around the World!

This is the very first entry to another of my infamous (may I hope it turns famous!) blogs that I entail to do, and maybe fail miserably, but will be enjoying some great drops around the world.

I will be trying to taste, swig, skull and drink my way through as many beers, lagers, bitters, ales, red's and whites, and of course, liquors and liqueurs that I possibly can and put the details up here through my new drinking blog.

So without further ado...

NUMBER 1, NUMERO UNO, UNE...

1. BrewDog - PUNK IPA - Post Modern Classic - Alc.Vol 5.6%

BrewDog Punk IPA

This has a WONDERFUL nose on this. The smells of citrus and (maybe) as slight honey scent. I like these types of ales. I do like ales in general, but it doesn't bias me in the slightest

A 'Post Modern Classic' is a bit of a oxymoron, but you can understand where they want the beer to be. In the future, still being sold, and being sold by the dozen. 

I do like the colour. It's a bit darker than some of the IPA's that I've had, especially the Aussie ones. The clarity is very high, and there isn't too much fizz. I like that. 

The taste - okay... I think that this needs to be sold in Australia. If it isn't, it should be. I could have this with prawns or fish, especially something cooked on the BBQ, with some dill and lemon, salmon. You could also have it with good street tucker, like the markets or street stalls in Asia and Europe. 

Great to have in the arvo (afternoon for all you non-Aussies), with some chips, or even with tapas. 

The blurb...

PUNK ON TOUR - available in bottle, can or on draft. I haven't seen it on draft yet, but I have to "high tail it" to one of their bars to experience it. And they have been opening 50 bars - and counting. BrewDog do have others that I will be trying, such as the Doodlebug, Stone, Mikkeller, Oskar Blues, and the Paradox, which I have heard is a belter. 

Well, here comes the grading. I will be grading this out of 10, like all my drinks, as a 5 or a 100 are just not worth it...

So here are what I will be grading my drinks on:

• Sight - The colour, the fizz, the pour, the head
• Smell - the aromas, the scents
• Taste - the first taste, which to me is most important
• Feel - the feel in the mouth and on the tongue, temperature
• Aftertaste - the taste after you have swallowed
• Pleasure - the feel of the beer after the above has happened, if it makes you smile
• Ability - where it could go, who could drink it, and what you could drink it with, can you smoke with it
• Encore - whether you could have it again or not
• Reputable - If it's got a reputation, or new, or needs more empty bottles
• Purchase - If it's easy to get, or if it has to be imported

So here goes...

• Sight - 7 - looks the goods, head was fluffy, colour vibrant and clear
• Smell - 7.5 - fascinating, with citrus obvious
• Taste - 7.5 - good drop
• Feel - 6 - thought it a bit weak
• Aftertaste - 7 - nice, no unusual flavours
• Pleasure - 7.5 - I do like it, and would tell people to have one
• Ability - 8 - this does have a great ability to become a large beer
• Encore - 6 - I could, but it would have to be a rather hot day
• Reputable - 5 - it's coming up, more work to be done
• Purchase - 5 - first time I've seen it, but I'm sure it won't be the last

Rating out of 10 - I've given it a 7 out of 10

BrewDog Punk IPA GONE!

This can be a bolter. I'm very happy to have had this crisp ale. And I do look forward to having it in the future. I can say that I certainly am a fan of the first BrewDog Breweries PLC that I have tasted. 

So get out there to experience one of these.

I like it, I'm sure you will too.

I am looking forward to the next drop

Please comment on YOUR experiences with this beer, and any of the drinks that I judge. Your input is required and respected. 

Cheers! And drink on!

Wazza