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!