We got hold of 9 selected beers that’s available in E-mart
store in Seoul and had this beer tasting thing which was, frankly, a nice way
to spend our Saturday afternoon. We
also recorded the conversation and included that in our first BeerCast although it is only
half of the actual talk we had. You can find the link to the podcast here, or
at the very end of this post.
7 Brau @ 2600won (IPA)
Cheapest Indian Pale Ale(IPA) in the market, has the
expected characteristic of an IPA but not as hoppy as any other IPA we have
tasted before. It has a sweetness to begin with followed by the bitterness of hops,
however, the taste does not last as long as you would want it. With 5.5% alcohol
level, it is lower than other IPA’s we have tasted.
Final Verdict: It’s cheap beer. The taste reminds you of
that.
Canned in Korea, and if our Korean isn’t as shit, the company is German.
Indiga @ 4,900won (IPA)
Beautiful off white head, beautiful color, much more fruiter
than 7 Brau and overall has more complexity to its taste. The balance between
the sweetness of the malt to the bitterness of hops is better, has a long
lasting hoppy after taste and if we can trust our taste buds, has a hint of
bananas. It certainly has herby flavor
and since this is the most widely found IPA’s in beer pubs, we would certainly
go for it, given that the options aren’t many.
Final Verdict: It’s double the price of the one we previously
mentioned but has a superior taste. If the money isn’t an issue, this is a good
choice. But considering Ballast Point IPA costs 5000won, we will have to give
it to Ballast Point’s IPA instead although it is not as finding an Indiga.
Bottled in California by Lost Coast Brewery. Has the Hindu
god Ganesha depicted in the bottle label. He looks retarded in the picture, if
we were to be honest.
Samuel (Sam) Adams Boston Lager @ 3,700won (Lager)
The only lager we had on the table that day but probably the
best lager you can find in Korea. It’s available in most beer places. As
expected, not herby or no general fruitiness, no bananas, no citrusy feel, just
plain old lager. Aroma isn’t strong either but compared to other lagers hanging
around in the market has more complexity to both its taste and favor. There is
a certain hoppy after taste but since we tried out an IPA before we sipped into
this, it naturally felt somewhat watery (compared to an IPA, of course)
Final Verdict: It’s Johannes’s second best lager of all
time, so that should answer the question. He knows.
Bottled in Boston by Boston Brewery, the biggest micro-brewery
in US.
Smithwicks @ 2600won (Irish Ale)
Rusty off-white head, brown in color, not much aroma (bit of
roasted malt maybe) and pretty watery, Smithwicks was easily the lightest beer
we had on our table. No hoppy aftertaste nor flavorful, it’s simply a drink
that goes down with food (Johannes suggests something fatty).
Final Verdict: Meets the “Johannes Standard” but I wouldn’t think
about picking it up if i had options.
Guinness Original @ 3,950won (Stout)
Deep dark texture, roasty aroma, creamy and has the flavor
of roasted barley (as expected). Hops aren’t that apparent. One of the better
Stouts you find in Korea.
Final Verdict: try drinking it draft, it is creamier and bit
dryer. Good for people who are calorie conscious.
Bottled somewhere in Dublin lol.
Beautiful golden color with white head, has a distinct aroma
of hops, is surprisingly sweet in the beginning. Has a citrusy, applely flavor to
it. With 8.5 percent alcohol content, it is a beer that’s definitely strong.
Verdict: Taking note that it’s from Belgium and noting in
the price, Johannes feels that it’s price to taste ratio does not really add
up. I thought the beer was refreshingly good. And yeah, we both started getting
tipsy after we had this.
Useless Fact: the name Duvel is actually a Flemish
corruption of the word Devil, after someone expressed the beer as a “Devil of a
beer” after tasting the first experimental batch. Uses hops that are used both
in Ale and Lager and is in a way, inspired by both types. It undergoes a
sequence of warm (top fermentation, categorized as ale)and cold fermentation
(categorized as lager) but is lies in the category of Ale because it uses the
yeast that is used to produce ale. The malt used in the beer is typically used
in Lagers thus producing the common Lager-like blonde color.
Hoegaarden @ 2,280won (Belgium Witbier or “Wheat” Ale)
Beautiful head, off yellow color (lighter than most beers)
with a general fruitiness in its taste. Hint of coriander and has a tarty feel
to it. Nothing much to say really, it’s a beer that stands out from most beer
you get in Korea. Easy to drink.Smooth.
Final Verdict: For the price it demands, taste it provides
and the ease to find it, it is definitely a beer we would go for. Perfect for a
hot summer day.
Bottled in Korea.
Weihenstephaner @ 3500won (German Weissbier, Wheat Ale)
The Winner
Fruitier, stronger in flavor and has better aroma and
general complexity than a Hoegaarden. The beer produces a mix of fruity flavors
(plum, bubblegum and apples) which tastes really good. Johannes kept explaining
how the beer has a banana flavor to it, but I couldn’t really taste anything
close. It seems most people actually do. Weird. (I checked the flavor again
later, and yes, it has a hint of banana flavor. I had to clean that palate really
well to notice it)
Final Verdict: The best beer we had that day. The price is
reasonable considering that flavors it packs in. Like how Arsene Wenger calls
his players as “top top top class”, this is a “top top top beer” for us.
Nest Beer @ 8900won (Wheat Ale)
The Japanese beer does pack a lot of fruity flavors and is
sweater than the beers we had before. It has a longer after taste, the hops are
apparent but once you start considering how much you pay for it, everything
crumbles down to ground zero. Having
said that, the beer was one of the better beers we had that day. I guess, all
wheat Ales are fantastic.
Final Verdict: Japan brews the best beers in Asia.
Undoubtedly. But regarding Nest Beer, that’s
the last time we’re splashing any cash on that.
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