If you know me or of me, you will know I like beer. Over the last few years I have been collecting photos of every new beer I have.
I now have over 2,000 individual beers photographed and have realised that many beers that I assumed I have photos of, I haven't.

This blog will be therefore be an account of my quest for new beers to photo and how I enjoyed them (or not).
My email is ralphgant@sky.com.

Thursday 16 January 2020

Belgian, Christmas Beers 2019, Part Two

This is the second part of the Belgian Christmas Beers, there are a few Christmas Beers to do after this one but not meny.

La Binchoise, Spéciale Noël from Belgium

La Binchoise, Spéciale Noël, Belgium La Binchoise, Spéciale Noël, Belgium

8.5% cloudy amber in colour with no head, it had a sweet aroma and a strong sweet taste.

Haacht, Tongerlo Christmas from Belgium

Haacht, Tongerlo Christmas, Belgium Haacht, Tongerlo Christmas, Belgium

7.0% pale amber in colour with a thin head, a sweet caramel malt aroma, the taste is slightly sweet.

Brunehaut, Abbaye de Saint-Martin Cuvée de Noël from Belgium

Brunehaut, Abbaye de Saint-Martin Cuvée de Noël, Belgium Brunehaut, Abbaye de Saint-Martin Cuvée de Noël, Belgium

8.0% deep amber in colour with a thin head, fruity christmas cake aroma, slightly bitter fruit cake taste, another fabulous drink.

John Martin, Gordon Xmas from Belgium

John Martin, Gordon Xmas, Belgium John Martin, Gordon Xmas, Belgium

8.8% deep ruby red with a very thin head, roasted malt and port aroma, complex taste of roast malt, toffee, coffee, almost sweet sherry, very festive, like a Christmas party in your mouth. Absolutely loved it, the commercial description says "Created in the thirties, Gordon Xmas initiated the tradition of Christmas brews" I wish they were all this good.

But remember, just because I thought it was fantastic doesn't mean everyone will like it but in my opinion, if you are going to try a Xmas beer it should be different from the norm and taste festive.

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Belgian, Christmas Beers 2019, Part One

I have started the Christmas Beers for England and Germany, so it's about time I started on the Belgian Beers. There is one difference with these beers though, the strength, the majority of the Belgian Christmas Beers seem to be very strong.

Grimbergen, Winter Hiver from Belgium

Grimbergen, Winter Hiver, Belgium Grimbergen, Winter Hiver, with Glass

6.5% brown in colour with a thin head, a deep sweet malt aroma and a sweet fruity christmas taste.

Schäff-Bräu, Altmühltaler Winterbier from Belgium

Schäff-Bräu, Altmühltaler Winterbier, Belgium Schäff-Bräu, Altmühltaler Winterbier, Belgium

5.8% deep gold in colour with a thin head, malty aroma and the taste wasn't that christmasy either.

St Bernardus, Christmas Ale from Belgium

St Bernardus, Christmas Ale, Belgium St Bernardus, Christmas Ale, Belgium

10.0% dark brown colour with a nice head, a fruity malt aroma and the taste was strong but nice.

Dubuisson, Bush de Noël from Belgium

Dubuisson, Bush de Noël, Belgium Dubuisson, Bush de Noël, Belgium

12.0% amber in colour with a poor head, sweet scented aroma, strong fizzy alcoholic taste

Tuesday 14 January 2020

German, Christmas Beers 2019, Part Two

Lets keep going with the German Christmas Beers, I still have a few more to do.

Part One of German Christmas Beers is here.

Hacker Pschorr, Superior from Germany

Hacker Pschorr, Superior, Germany Hacker Pschorr, Superior, Germany

6.0% gold in colour with a poor head, malt aroma, the taste is malt and hopps, very ordinary.

Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei, Winterfestbier from Germany

Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei, Winterfestbier, Germany Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei, Winterfestbier, Germany

5.3% gold in colour with a nice head, malt aroma the taste is also malt, not very festive.

Hofbräu München, Winterzwickl from Germany

Hofbräu München, Winterzwickl, Germany Hofbräu München, Winterzwickl, Germany

5.5% deep amber in colour with a good head, sweet malt aroma and a creamy fruity taste.

Herrnbrau, Weihnachtsbier from Germany

Herrnbrau, Weihnachtsbier, Germany Herrnbrau, Weihnachtsbier, Germany

6.0% gold in colour with a nice head, some caramel in the aroma, and a sweetish taste.

Monday 13 January 2020

German, Christmas Beers 2019, Part One

So much from the English Christmas Beers for now, let's move on to the German Christmas Beers, I have had about as many of them as the others. As with the others I will have to split this all up, into groups of four beers at a time.

Tucher, Christkindlesmarkt Bier from Germany

Tucher, Christkindlesmarkt Bier, Germany Tucher, Christkindlesmarkt Bier, Germany

6.0% gold in colour with a nice head, malt aroma and taste, not too bad.

Graf Toerring, Wintermärzen from Germany

Graf Toerring, Wintermärzen, Germany Graf Toerring, Wintermärzen, Germany

6.1% amber in colour with a nice head, a caramel malt aroma, slightly sweet caramel and spice taste.

Hofmühl, Wintermärze from Germany

Hofmühl, Wintermärzen, Germany Hofmühl, Wintermärzen, Germany

5.4% gold in colour with a nice head, some caramel in the aroma, the taste was nice but not very christmassy.

Kulmbacher, Mönchshof Weihnachts Bier from Germany

Kulmbacher, Mönchshof Weihnachts Bier, Germany Kulmbacher, Mönchshof Weihnachts Bier, Germany

5.6% amber in colour with a nie head, malt aroma and a bitter malt taste.

Sunday 12 January 2020

English, Christmas Beers 2019, Part Two

Following on from part one, next we have part two, again these are just the English Beers, remember we still have Germany and Belgium to come. Maybe move on to the German beers next.

Hogs Back, Advent Ale from England

Hogs Back, Advent Ale, England Hogs Back, Advent Ale, England

4.4% black in colour with no head, a fruity aroma and a fruity caramel malt taste.

Samuel Smith's, Winter Welcome Ale 2019/2020 from England

Samuel Smith's, Winter Welcome Ale 2019/2020, England Samuel Smith's, Winter Welcome Ale 2019/2020, England

6.0% deep amber in colour with a thin head, fruity malt aroma, slightly bitter with malt, toffee, fruit and hops taste. One of my favorites had it many times over the 30 years.

Hatherwood, Winter Special from England


Hatherwood, Winter Special, England Hatherwood, Winter Special, England

5.0% amber in colour with a poor head, it had a sweet spicy aroma, the taste was a sweet fruity enjoyable christmas drink.

Cotleigh, Red Nose Reinbeer from England

Cotleigh, Red Nose Reinbeer, England Cotleigh, Red Nose Reinbeer, England

5.0% deep amber in colour with a good head, a fruity toffee aroma and the taste was very similar.

Still more to come.