05 - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu: Original Munich Beer ********

München is a really pleasant beer, the flavour is rich and the colour is golden. The head disappeared much more quickly than any of the other beers I have tasted so far, but that slight disappointment is made up for by the rich tones of this beer.

I do not call this a full rich beer because I must admit that my anticipation of this beer exceeded its ability to deliver, for all that I like about it. There was still something missing, not much but something. München is a drinkers beer. It is enjoyable from the first to the last.

I would drink this with a good German Sausage or even a hot Peperoni.

Next: Dortmunder Actien-Brauerei's Original Draft.

04 - Erdinger Weissbrau: Kristall ********

Kristall is a lovely clean, crisp wheat beer from Bayern in Germany. This is a very enjoyable drink from the first pour to the last drop. With a tendency to perhaps be a little heady, this is easily forgiven as soon as the beer touches the lips. The flavor is difficult to describe as Krystall does not possess any outstanding features, this is not a criticism as this beer is so well rounded that it can only be described in terms of a classic wheat beer. There were no weaknesses that I could taste.

I am tempted to compare Krystall to a good savignon blanc. I truly enjoyed this beer and was disappointed when the bottle was empty. It would go well with almost anything, but I would especially like to have this beer with a nice salt-water fish. Erdinger’s Krystall is definitely a keeper, I look forward to tasting the other beers this family owned brewery has to offer.

Next: We stay in Barvaria to try “Original Munich Beer” by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

03 - Barron's Brewing Co: 88 Balls Lager

This is a cheap Belgian beer and the operative word is cheap. 88 Balls is a watery lager that would have impressed me much more when I was 18 and was looking for a full strength beer that I could drink all night. It tries hard to be sprightly but falls short. It is a very drinkable beer and there are no real causes to be critical of it, but it is that is more likely to be pumped from the stomach at the end of the night rather than a beer to be savoured.

The price of this beer is about right. It sells locally for $3.20 a 330ml stubby or $33 per carton. It will never be a serious beer and the manufacturer knows it as can be determined by the name “88 Balls.” This beer would go well with a hamburger with the lot and a cup of chips.

Next Beer: Erdinger Weissbrau’s Kristall from Germany (I may be spending a bit of time in Germany – it’s a dirty job but somebody has got to do it.)

02 - Bateman's: Victory Ale

This is a flavoursome beer with a nice aroma of hops. It has a sweet and slightly spicy flavour that is reminiscent of a caramelised onion though not as strong. This is one of the better English beers that I have tasted, and is a credit to the small family owned Bateman's Brewery.

It is not a beer for binging on, but would be a good beer to drink with friends on a cold night by the fireplace. 2 or 3 would be enough especially with a 6.0% alcohol content. I enjoyed this beer with a fruit curry, but it would go well with any stew or English styled curry

Next: Barron's Brewing Co's - 88 Balls Lager (I'm hoping the cheap price [24 for $33] is not reflective of the taste)

01 - Thwaites: Liberation ~ Premium AleThis

This Beer is a fairly sublte English ale with a hint of sweetness the bottle claims is toffee. I am not usually a fan of English beer, as I have found that most of their dark ales and stouts are a bit like being smacked in the face with a moldering tree branch, but this is one I quite like.

There is only a slight after taste that seems to linger long enough to remind you that you were drinking and its time to order your next one.It calls itself "a beer to be remembered" and I agree it is. I will not drink this beer often, but I will be drinking it again.

Next: Another treasure from the UK, Bateman's Victory Ale