Koreb Miodowe (#90)

This week I continue with Polish beers. I bought Koreb in a farmer's market on a New Town marketplace in Warsaw. And...

My thoughts on the beer... I am glad I did.

Wschowskie Malinowe (#81)

First micro-brewed Polish beer on Girl Likes Beer podcast. We're getting fancy. Sort of. There's some funny moment in the video so I suggest you watch it.

Cheers!

This video is also available on YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Edi brewery, Poland
  
• type of beer: raspberry ale
  
• bought in: farmer's market in Zamość
  
• container grade (bottle): regular bottle

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (fat and very, very, very big), body (pastel gold)
  
• the taste: strong bitterness covered with a nice layer of raspberries
  
• the smell: raspberries
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Imperial Pumking (#74)

And I am back. Welcome to season 4 of Girl Likes Beer podcast. There are (or there will be) some few minor changes but not many.

I want to apologize for the delay. I really though I could start season 4 a month ago but this turned out to be impossible. I am really glad you were willing to wait. Enjoy the first episode! Cheers:)

The review is also available on YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Southern Tier Brewing , USA
  
• type of beer: pumpkin ale
  
• bought in: gift from Chad
  
• container grade (bottle): thick and strong bottle
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (none or actually I forgot about it), body (awesome orange like Irn Bru)
  
• the taste: strong, cleaning like
  
• the smell: pumpkins with honey
  

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]

Biere de Beloeil (#39)

Today I review the last beer from Belgium. The last at least this year. And definitely the last from the batch brought by my friend Ania. The beer is a strong pale ale called Biere de Beloeil.

The review is also available on blip.tv and YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: brasserie Dupont, Belgium
  
• type of beer: strong pale ale
  
• bought in: Belgium by a friend
  
• container grade (bottle): champagne/cider type 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (darkish white, typical ale, creamy), body (orange, light brandy like color, I agree to tea)
  
• the taste: quite sweet
  
• the smell: malty and also very nice
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

I'll have another one but maybe not right away...

Pauwel Kwak (#37)

Today I try a Belgium beer called Pauwel Kwak which is famous for its special beer glass. If you don't know what it is you can read about it here or just fast forward the video to 1:30. Enjoy!

Let's look at the review, shall we...

The video is also available on YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Bosteels brewery, Belgium
  
• type of beer: amber ale
  
• bought in: Belgium by a friend
  
• container grade (bottle): a regular small 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (airy and nice), body (amber picked from the sea)
  
• the taste: gassy, from refreshing to malty to bitter
  
• the smell: light ale smell (or smale if you will)
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

I'll have another one but maybe not right away...

Leffe blonde (#35) and bruine (#36)

In this episode I try something new. I'm comparing two different beers of the same beer brand. The brand is of Belgium origin of course. Slowly but surely the Belgium months are coming to an end. Just a few left.

Leffe blonde and bruine from Girl Likes Beer on Vimeo.

The review is also available on blip.tv and YouTube.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Stella Artois brewery (InBev), Belgium
  
• type of beer: premium ales, Abbey beers
  
• bought in: brought by a friend from Brussels
  
• container grade (bottle): regular 
  

Leffe blonde

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (small and white) body (light honey)
  
• the taste: honey and citrus note with a bitter aftertaste
• the smell: honey mixed with citrus
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

I'll have another one but maybe not right away...

Leffe bruine

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (dark and creamy) body (cherry going into caramel)
  
• the taste: malty
  
• the smell: heavy caramel
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Whatever I guess...

Rodenbach (#34)

In today's episode I'm trying a red ale from Belgium called Rodenbach. Trying the beer but also trying not to spill it all over me. You've got to see it for yourself.

Let's look at the review, shall we...

Rodenbach from Girl Likes Beer on Vimeo.

The review is also available on YouTube and blip.tv.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Rodenbach brewery, Belgium
  
• type of beer: red ale
  
• bought in: brought by a friend from Brussels
  
• container grade (bottle): regular 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (dark and creamy) body (dark ruby)
  
• the taste: cherry taste all the way with a slight sour aftertaste
  
• the smell: very fruity aroma (with cherry and plum components) not like beer at all
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

I'll have another one and another one...

Gulden Draak (#32)

Today you will have a chance to see an interesting beer. Belgium one but you already knew that. Gulden Draak (meaning Golden Dragon) was rated as 1998's best tasting beer in the world by American Tasting Institute (now know as the Culinary Institute of America).

Let's look at the review, shall we...

Gulden Draak from Girl Likes Beer on Vimeo.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Belgium
  
• type of beer: dark ale
  
• bought in: brought by a friend from Brussels
  
• container grade (bottle): painted white small and all in all interesting 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head & body (Irish coffee like)
  
• the taste: a bit citrus with surprising bitter creamy finish
  
• the smell: fruity aroma like forest fruits
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

I'll have another one but maybe not right away...

De Koninck (#29)

The time has come. I am announcing Belgium months. Through April, May and probably June I will review several Belgium beers, one of each major style. The first one to go is a Belgium ale called De Koninck from an Antwerpian brewery.

Let's look at the review, shall we...


De Koninck from Girl Likes Beer on Vimeo.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Brouwerij De Koninck, Belgium
  
• type of beer: Belgium ale
  
• bought in: brought by a friend from Brussels
  
• container grade (bottle): normal and standard 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (small, light and not creamy), body (bronze and copper style)
  
• the taste: gassy with metallic aftertaste
  
• the smell: honey note with something mysterious
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

Whatever I guess...

Palm (#23) "Here I come"

The rethinking time is over. I am back with video reviews. New and improved. Or at least I think so. The first 2009 video review brings us closer to the Belgium as I try to see if the Belgium ales are fruity or not. The beer in question is called Palm. I wanted to tell its story in the video but I was so nervous - hope you won't notice that;) - that I forgot. So here it is. I found it on the Palm breweries site.

1364 Charles IV, Emperor of Germany, obliged brewers to use hops when brewing beer according to the "Novus Modus Fermentandi Cervisiam".
With this decree Brabant, as opposed to the county of Flanders, which was governed by the French king, was made to use hops. The French king proclaimed the "gruit" duty which prescribed spices but no hops. Hops keep beer from turning sour. That is why the beer quality improved significantly in Brabant. The bacteriostatic effect of hops makes the yeast flora take the upper hand: this is how "top-fermented beers" come about. Top yeasts, called Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, are active at ambient temperature and rise to the top by the end of the fermentation, they give the beer more taste and aroma.

In 1904 the Belgian brewery schools organised a competition to improve Belgian beer. The task was to brew a heavier beer with 5 percent alcohol. The brewers of Brabant named this beer Speciale Belge and gave their brands the prefix ‘Special(e)’ or the suffix ‘Ale’. Many brands fell by the wayside, but Palm became the market leader. The Special Belge is amber coloured and has a common alcohol volume of 5,2 %. They are brewed according to the infusion method. The main ingredients are the brewing water rich in minerals and the light coloured malts of maritime barley. The beer is slightly hopped with soft aroma hops. Adding "top yeasts" results in a fruity, full beer with a fine bitter sweet balance. After the first fermentation the "young" tastes will refine and the typical tenderness will develop during the maturation process. Cooling the beer off to 0°C after maturation causes the turbidity that is later filtered out of the beer.

So let's look at Palm more closely.


Palm review from Girl Likes Beer on Vimeo.

1. [PRE-REVIEW]

• brewery: Palm breweries, since 1747
  
• type of beer: ale
  
• bought in: @ supermarket in Warsaw
  
• container grade (bottle): a nice small dark bottle 
  

2. [REVIEW]

• the looks: head (dark and quite thick), body (light amber)
  
• the taste: hoppy
  
• the smell: malty
  

3. [RECOMMENDATION]

I'll have another one but maybe not right away.