This is very, very smooth and easy to drink, all the normal porter notes of chocolate and coffee bit as also a bit of vanilla, the smokiness is subtle and blends in well and doesn't overpower it at all. Not much fizziness and it works here, makes it smooth and creamy. A really nice porter.
Runner-up: Hungary (Rothbeer Pyromania) Quite a dark beer, it's pretty smoky hence the name, which made me worry it might have concentrated on the smokiness to much and it would be overpowering, but it wasn't and worked well. A little bit of sweetness, maybe sort of toffee tasting and a decent maltiness. Nice beer.
Third place: Portugal (Sagres)
I like Sagres - very light, tasty, very easy to drink. A little bit of fruitiness, tiny hint of maltiness. Also reminds me of a particularly good lad's holiday in Portugal back in 2009 when I was both newly single with all the benefits that brought, and also spent an evening in Algarve Addick's Floyds Bar, so bonus points there!!
Last place: Austria (Schremser Roggen Bio Bier) I wasn't a fan. Had a weird cloudiness and odd flavour that both had the same feeling I think I'd get if someone swilled a teabag around an ale for 30 seconds before handing it to me. No one likes cold tea, especially mixed with beer.
- France (Kronenbourg 1664) v Poland (Tyskie) - Czech Republic (Pivovar Herold Black Lager) v Portugal (Sagres) - Wales v Turkey (Efes Draft) - Iceland (Einstock Toasted Porter) v Ireland (Guinness Original) - Germany (Hacker Pschorr Anno 1417 Keller Bier) v Slovakia (Zlaty Bazant) - Belgium (St Bernardus Abt 12) v Croatia (Zmajska Pivovara Porter) - Switzerland (1936 Biere) v Italy (Birra Moretti) - England (Wychwood Ruby Rooster) v Hungary (Rothbeer Pyromania)
On the corner of London Road and South Park. Sorry, I've no idea where the post office is - I never look out for post offices when I'm in a strange town ;-)
France (Kronenbourg 1664) v Poland (Tyskie) Two lagers at the same sort of level - ubiquitous, nothing special, but actually a bit nicer than quite a few of the standard lagers around. Tyskie has a little bit more maltiness and character, and is nicer though in my opinion so it's all over for the hosts. Winner: Poland (Tyskie)
Czech Republic (Pivovar Herold Black Lager) v Portugal (Sagres) Sagres is a nice lager which deservedly got one of the best third place beers and went through, but the group winning Czech effort is a far superior beer. More interesting, far more flavour, and actually crisper than the straight lager. A thrashing for the Portuguese. Winner: Czech Republic (Pivovar Herold Black Lager)
Wales (Brains SA Gold) v Turkey (Efes Draft) I like the Efes Draft, it's very easy drinking - nice sweetness to it through a strong honey flavour and very easy to drink. But nothing is stopping Wales at the moment - the Brains is a lovely, tasty and very refreshing ale, presumably made with good team spirit and organisation. Winner: Wales (Brains SA Gold)
Ireland (Guinness Original) v Iceland (Einstok Toasted Porter) Probably down to the format, but like a few of the Last 16 match ups, this is a decent beer v a very good beer. For a nation with only 120 professional brewers (I might have made that up), Iceland are impressing a lot in this competition, and cause an upset of sorts by putting out the more famous brewing nation of Ireland and their more famous 'black stuff'. Winner: Iceland (Einstok Toasted Porter)
Germany (Hacker Pschorr Anno 1417 Keller Bier) v Slovakia (Zlaty Bazant) The Zlaty Bazant is a good lager - a light, as the 'Golden Pheasant' name suggests, crisp pilsner type beer. But the German effort is predictably good for such a good brewing nation - cloudier than the Slovak effort with a stronger flavour, but the flavours are good ones and so the Germans are through. Winner: Germany (Hacker Pschorr Anno 1417 Keller Bier)
Belgium (St Bernardus Abt 12) v Croatia (Zmajska Pivovara Porter) The Croatian porter is a solid effort and did well in a strong group. It's got good flavours if a little bit over-smoky. However the Belgian beer is a bit more special - more complex flavours, smoother, and quite simply tastier. It's through to an intriguing Quarter final v Germany. Winner: Belgium (St Bernardus Abt 12)
Italy (Birra Moretti) v Switzerland (1936 Biere) The Italian beer plays a safe game, a bit boring but a good effort, light if a little watery. Decent and well organised, but not a classic Italian effort. The Swiss have played above themselves however, they didn't really expect much more than just getting here but have played this wrll with a lovely beer, extremely crisp, summery and so easy to drink. Winner: Switzerland (1936 Biere)
England (Wychwood Ruby Rooster) v Hungary (Rothbeer Pyromania) Two decent if unspectacular beers, and this is a really close game as a result. England have not played to the potential of their individual players in the tournament (i.e. I picked a random beer I'd not had rather than picking one I know I like), but it's a decent red ale wuth solod flavours and an ease of drinking. Hungary however did better than I thought they would - it's a nice, smoky, quite dark beer. It's close, but England uncharacteristically win through on penalties. Winner: England (Wychwood Ruby Rooster)
Definitely looking like you should've got the £40 case of the Swiss stuff.
Maybe!!
We have a few new beers for the Quarters - so far it's:
Poland (Lech) v Czech Republic (Pilsner Urquell) Wales (TBC, I may have got hold of a Tiny Rebel Cwtch) v Iceland (Einstok White Beer) Belgium (Rochefort 8) v Germany (TBC) Switzerland (1936 Biere) v England (Beavertown Smog Rocket Porter)
Comments
Winner: Iceland (Einstok Toasted Porter)
This is very, very smooth and easy to drink, all the normal porter notes of chocolate and coffee bit as also a bit of vanilla, the smokiness is subtle and blends in well and doesn't overpower it at all.
Not much fizziness and it works here, makes it smooth and creamy.
A really nice porter.
Runner-up: Hungary (Rothbeer Pyromania)
Quite a dark beer, it's pretty smoky hence the name, which made me worry it might have concentrated on the smokiness to much and it would be overpowering, but it wasn't and worked well.
A little bit of sweetness, maybe sort of toffee tasting and a decent maltiness.
Nice beer.
Third place: Portugal (Sagres)
I like Sagres - very light, tasty, very easy to drink.
A little bit of fruitiness, tiny hint of maltiness.
Also reminds me of a particularly good lad's holiday in Portugal back in 2009 when I was both newly single with all the benefits that brought, and also spent an evening in Algarve Addick's Floyds Bar, so bonus points there!!
Last place: Austria (Schremser Roggen Bio Bier)
I wasn't a fan.
Had a weird cloudiness and odd flavour that both had the same feeling I think I'd get if someone swilled a teabag around an ale for 30 seconds before handing it to me.
No one likes cold tea, especially mixed with beer.
- France (Kronenbourg 1664) v Poland (Tyskie)
- Czech Republic (Pivovar Herold Black Lager) v Portugal (Sagres)
- Wales v Turkey (Efes Draft)
- Iceland (Einstock Toasted Porter) v Ireland (Guinness Original)
- Germany (Hacker Pschorr Anno 1417 Keller Bier) v Slovakia (Zlaty Bazant)
- Belgium (St Bernardus Abt 12) v Croatia (Zmajska Pivovara Porter)
- Switzerland (1936 Biere) v Italy (Birra Moretti)
- England (Wychwood Ruby Rooster) v Hungary (Rothbeer Pyromania)
So smooth.
Another reason I want to go to Iceland now!!
(shop)
beersofeurope.co.uk/einstok-toasted-porter
The one by the post office?
France (Kronenbourg 1664) v Poland (Tyskie)
Two lagers at the same sort of level - ubiquitous, nothing special, but actually a bit nicer than quite a few of the standard lagers around. Tyskie has a little bit more maltiness and character, and is nicer though in my opinion so it's all over for the hosts.
Winner: Poland (Tyskie)
Czech Republic (Pivovar Herold Black Lager) v Portugal (Sagres)
Sagres is a nice lager which deservedly got one of the best third place beers and went through, but the group winning Czech effort is a far superior beer.
More interesting, far more flavour, and actually crisper than the straight lager.
A thrashing for the Portuguese.
Winner: Czech Republic (Pivovar Herold Black Lager)
I have loads in my fridge
Wales (Brains SA Gold) v Turkey (Efes Draft)
I like the Efes Draft, it's very easy drinking - nice sweetness to it through a strong honey flavour and very easy to drink. But nothing is stopping Wales at the moment - the Brains is a lovely, tasty and very refreshing ale, presumably made with good team spirit and organisation.
Winner: Wales (Brains SA Gold)
Ireland (Guinness Original) v Iceland (Einstok Toasted Porter)
Probably down to the format, but like a few of the Last 16 match ups, this is a decent beer v a very good beer.
For a nation with only 120 professional brewers (I might have made that up), Iceland are impressing a lot in this competition, and cause an upset of sorts by putting out the more famous brewing nation of Ireland and their more famous 'black stuff'.
Winner: Iceland (Einstok Toasted Porter)
Germany (Hacker Pschorr Anno 1417 Keller Bier) v Slovakia (Zlaty Bazant)
The Zlaty Bazant is a good lager - a light, as the 'Golden Pheasant' name suggests, crisp pilsner type beer. But the German effort is predictably good for such a good brewing nation - cloudier than the Slovak effort with a stronger flavour, but the flavours are good ones and so the Germans are through.
Winner: Germany (Hacker Pschorr Anno 1417 Keller Bier)
Belgium (St Bernardus Abt 12) v Croatia (Zmajska Pivovara Porter)
The Croatian porter is a solid effort and did well in a strong group. It's got good flavours if a little bit over-smoky. However the Belgian beer is a bit more special - more complex flavours, smoother, and quite simply tastier.
It's through to an intriguing Quarter final v Germany.
Winner: Belgium (St Bernardus Abt 12)
It's a good idea though, might see what I can find tomorrow.
Italy (Birra Moretti) v Switzerland (1936 Biere)
The Italian beer plays a safe game, a bit boring but a good effort, light if a little watery. Decent and well organised, but not a classic Italian effort.
The Swiss have played above themselves however, they didn't really expect much more than just getting here but have played this wrll with a lovely beer, extremely crisp, summery and so easy to drink.
Winner: Switzerland (1936 Biere)
England (Wychwood Ruby Rooster) v Hungary (Rothbeer Pyromania)
Two decent if unspectacular beers, and this is a really close game as a result.
England have not played to the potential of their individual players in the tournament (i.e. I picked a random beer I'd not had rather than picking one I know I like), but it's a decent red ale wuth solod flavours and an ease of drinking.
Hungary however did better than I thought they would - it's a nice, smoky, quite dark beer.
It's close, but England uncharacteristically win through on penalties.
Winner: England (Wychwood Ruby Rooster)
Poland v Czech Republic
Wales v Iceland
Belgium v Germany
Switzerland v England.
Switzerland will have to stay the same though!!
Would probably do the semi finals as an average of the two beers.
We have a few new beers for the Quarters - so far it's:
Poland (Lech) v Czech Republic (Pilsner Urquell)
Wales (TBC, I may have got hold of a Tiny Rebel Cwtch) v Iceland (Einstok White Beer)
Belgium (Rochefort 8) v Germany (TBC)
Switzerland (1936 Biere) v England (Beavertown Smog Rocket Porter)
I'd recommend a lambic for the final but that's probably pushing it too far haha