Grolsch (#56) and Kronenbourg 1664 (#57)

Another "green double" contest on Girl Likes Beer. This time it's Netherlands against France. Should it be football we all know who would've won but when it comes to beers... well, let's see.

The video is also available on YouTube.

Grolsch

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Grolsch brewery (now owned by SABMiller), Netherlands
  
• type of beer: pale lager
• bought in: a supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): standard one but with cool engravings 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (very, very thin), body (light yellow)
  
• the taste: very bitter and not so watery as in smell
  
• the smell: watery hoppiness
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]





Kronenbourg 1664

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Kronenbourg brewery (now owned by Carlsberg), France
  
• type of beer: pale lager
  
• bought in: supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): standard one but with cool engravings
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (very, very thin), body (a bit lighter yellow)
  
• the taste: surprisingly sweet
  
• the smell: watery hoppiness but more damp

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Foster's (#54) and Kirin (#55)

The time has come for my friend Bookie to come back to the podcast. She joins me in a very international episode - beers from far far away. Kampai, mates!

PS. Around 4:30 the funny moment is caused by Bookie taking a bunch of pictures:)

The video is also available on YouTube.

Foster's

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Foster's Group (US license owned by SABMiller while European by Heineken), Australia
  
• type of beer: Australian pale lager
• bought in: a supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (can): standard one 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (very thin), body (golden yellow with sparkles)
  
• the taste: nice and soft with small bitterness finish, watery
  
• the smell: hoppy
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]





Kirin

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Kirin brewing company (part of Mitsubishi keiratsu), Japan
  
• type of beer: kirin lager
  
• bought in: supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): standard one
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (very thin), body (golden yellow with sparkles)
  
• the taste: a bit more bitter than Foster's, watery
  
• the smell: watery hoppy
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Soproni (#53)

If you ever wondered how I get my beers the answer is "It depends". Often I buy them myself, sometimes I get them from my friends (my dearest sponsors to date). That is why today Girl Likes Beer podcast is sponsored by Bookie who brought a Hungarian lager so I could add it to the podcast. I hope you enjoy this episode, it's pretty funny. You'll see why.

The video is also available on YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Heineken Hungaria, Hungary
  
• type of beer: lager
  
• bought in: a supermarket in Budapest, by Bookie
  
• container grade (can): standard one 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (momentary), body (gold yellow)
  
• the taste: slight waterness and slight bitterness towards the end
  
• the smell: fizzy not hoppy
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Weihenstephaner (#52)

After the first "green double" the time has come to try a first wheat beer on Girl Likes Beer podcast. And it's not some ordinary hefe weissbeer, it's made by the oldest brewery in the world. Cool, right?! And the 30th video review. Thank you all for your support!

Weihenstephaner from Girl Likes Beer on Vimeo.

The video is also available on YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Weihenstephan Brewery, Germany
  
• type of beer: hefe weissbeer
  
• bought in: a supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): standard one 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (almost none), body (very foggy, lightweight yellow)
  
• the taste: citrus note
  
• the smell: citrus note
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Pilsner Urquell (#50) and Peroni Nastro Azzurro (#51)

Today I introduce to you the first "green beers" battle called "Green Double". Not to spoil the fun I won't explain what a green beer is for me. The video explains it all.

The video is also available on YouTube.

Pilsner Urquell

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Plzeňský Prazdroj (now owned by SABMiller), Czech Republic
  
• type of beer: lager
• bought in: a supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): standard one 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (almost non existant), body (dark yellow with up-sparkles)
  
• the taste: citrus refreshing with bitter punch
  
• the smell: lemon-orange
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]





Peroni Nastro Azurro

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Peroni brewery (now owned by SABMiller), Italy
  
• type of beer: pale lager
  
• bought in: supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): standard one
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (very thin), body (pale yellow)
  
• the taste: refreshing bitterness
  
• the smell: smell less
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Belhaven (#48) and Wexford (#49)

After an exciting weekend filled with interesting Eastern beers we come back to a more traditional way of reviewing beers. In the third episode of third season I'm about to review two islander beers. One Scottish and one Irish.

The video is also available on YouTube.

Belhaven

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Belhaven brewery, Scotland
  
• type of beer: Scottish Ale
• bought in: a supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (can): big and rounded 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (almost non existant), body (dark orange)
  
• the taste: carmazine
  
• the smell: malty
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]





Wexford

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Greene brewery, Ireland
  
• type of beer: cream ale
  
• bought in: supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (can): standard but with cool widget inside
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (as thick as a cream), body (dark orange)
  
• the taste: creamy but very watery beer
  
• the smell: creamy head smell
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

The Session #32: Eastern Beers Roundup

The Session # 32 is now officially over. So time to sum up your Eastern findings. But before I do that I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for participating in this session. It was my first Session in many ways. First time participant, first time host.
Since I live far away form most of the usual Session participants I thought that Eastern beers would be a good opportunity to look for beer outside of our local area. Let's see what we found:

• Russ from TwinBeer suggests a Saint Botolph's Town with its intriguing flavor of coffee, cocoa and little smoke or rather picks a Swedish beer - Nils Oscar's Rökporter.
  
• Jesse form York Beer Blog takes us to Czech Republic not for a well know Pilsner or Budweiser but for Norbert's Dark brewed in Strahov Monastery. And yes, the monastery looks amazing in the sun.
• A Mzungo called Derrick from Bay Area Beer Runner proves that US and Europe are not the only places to find beer. Kenya is his running and drinking choice for the Friday.
• Baird Beer’s Angry Brown Boy is an well-justified choice of Mario form Brewed for Thought. This Japanese (the name doesn't say that, does it) beer fits perfectly in my expectation of Eastern Beer. So far East, that it ended up being Western. Your Haiku rocks.
  
• Scotland was the next choice. This time by The Beer Nut who picked two beers: Red MacGregor and Glencoe.
• I was expecting Belgium and I was right. Thanks to Devoid form Beer Tasters. First beer in this Session that I have tried. Good pick.
• With a big ocean to his East, Dean from Eat, Drink, Run, Live picks New Zeland beers among which the favorite is Macs Gold. Cool choice cause I really love hobbits. Also I learned that Kiwi is a national symbol of NZ.
• Austrian wheat beer is another interesting choice. This one madey by Andrew from I'll Have a Beer makes me wonder if I can get it here in Poland. Austria is pretty close after all.
  
• Una cerveza por favor says Jay from Brookston Beer Bulletin when chosing Inedit a Spanish beer made in Barcelona. First time I hear of a food beer. Mucho gusto.
• Biere de garde style defines Eastern Beers for Jon from The Brew Site. Thanks to him we discover that France has some interesing beer offering. I tend to forget. Wine closes my eyes.
• Peter from BetterBeerBlog presents Hitachino Nest and Eikoku-Koshu 2002. Tw0 Japanese beers (so far East as in Mario's case), that desapoint (the firs) and come through (the second).
• Kvasnicove beers and more precisely lagers can be found in Czech Republic. Beers Sagas shows which ones are interesting as he is now in Prague. Look for Svijany kvasnicove, Policka brewery and Budvar.
• Asia is a rather popular destination in this Session. Thailand beer called Singha was picked by Juan form Juan's Home Brewery. I'm interesed in his opinion cause I might review this beer in Season 3.
  
• Captain Hops from Beer Haiku Daily took the advice of Alan from A Good Beer Blog and ended up in Italy, at least tehoriticaly.
  
• Alan on the other hand didn't use his own advice and decided to talk about American beers. The good beer of the USA changed his life.
• US beers is sort of followed by Canadian ones. At least in this roundup as Heath from Bottles of Barley picks Trois Pistoles, a dark Belgian-style ale.
• Lew from Seen Through a Glass adds the second country to Iberian peninsula. Portuguese cervejas are as common as wine.
• Thailand, Italy and maybe Syberia (just joking) are Amy's (from Amy Mittelman Brewing Battles Blog) picks.
• Finally we get to a first timer in the Session business (much like me). Jim from Two Parts Rye picks Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale and officially making Japanese beers the most Eastern beers in the world.

If you are wondering what was my country and beer of choice go here. If I missed any contribution please contact me via email (girllikesbeer on Gmail) or on Twitter (twitter.com/girllikesbeer).

I am very happy that I could host the Session #32 and I want to thank all the participants once again. Good job everyone! Cheers!

If you want to participate in the next Session go to I'll Have a Beer blog where Andrew explains in the announcement where the art of framing begins.