X6 - Brooklyn East India Pale Ale

Wow! This is right up my alley! When I put my nose in the glas the sensors in my brain screams - hallelulja! This has a deep, lovely, complex nose with notes of sweet hops/flowers, smoke, ginger and orange jam. Very, very good. Voluptuous in the very best sense!
The taste is gorgeously creamy with freshness all over the palate and with notes of sweet oranges, ginger and some smoky notes. Long, lovely finish with a balanced bitterness. A great beer!

96p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

X5 - Shepherd Neame Spitfire

The nose is cool, somewhat foursquare with some balsamic notes and dry honey, earth and roasted onions. It is though a little anonymous.

The taste is better than then the nose with dried fruits and a nice bitterness. Fairly long finish with a nice dry twist. This is satisfying, but not much more.

82p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

No 30 - Bitburger

A fine, light but persisent nose with notes of earth and wet stones, some dried fruits and a nice summery feeling. Not that deep but it is good.
The taste is fresh, cool and easy to gulp down on a hot summers day. But it is better than your average pils - this actually taste something. Good hoppy notes and fine yellow fruit. Very fine bitterness in the finish. Very nice.

87p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

No 29 - Duvel

Deep, fine, very good nose with intense notes of yellow tomatoes, orange peel, hay and a touch of ginger. Very, very good. Some smoky notes. Deep.

The taste is big and fresh with a lovely bitterness and notes of lemoncello, smoke and cookie dough. Very long and dry. Gets better and better in the glas. Great!

93p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

And here is someone that seems to like Duvel even more than me...

No 28 - Samuel Adams Boston Lager

The nose is cool and very enjoyable with notes of fudge, dry honey and some orange peel. Very fresh and pure. This is a perennial favourite of mine. Touch of sweet malt. Very good.
The taste is fresh and fine with lovely balance, bitterness and sweet fruit. Long, dry finish. It is not the most complex of beers, but it is very well made and it hits my sweet spots when I am in the mood for a good lager!

91p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

No 27 - Butcombe Gold Bitter

A deep, rich, earthy nose with notes of dried fruits, cookie dough, dried flowers and some wooden notes. Very, very good. It smells like an old, traditionell english pub! And I like that!

The taste is tight and intense with a lovely bitterness and sweet yellow fruit. Long finish with a perfect balance. Very, very good. Very easy to drink a few pints of this one...

95p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

No 26 - St. Bernardus Tripel

The St. Bernardus Wit (No 25) was a great beer so my hopes were up for their Tripel - and boy did it follow up!

The nose is amazingly deep, creamy and just awesome with notes of hay, orange peel, muscovado sugar, dried apricots and white chocolate. Just a beautiful, haunting nose. I could sit and sniff this for hours!

The taste follow up the nose with gorgeous fruit, beautiful freshness and a long, long finish. Notes of orange peel, dried pineapple and some smoky notes. Breathtakingly beautiful! This one flirts with perfection.

98p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)

No 25 - St. Bernardus Wit

A stunningly fine, elegant nose with lots of sweet herbs, lemon and lime peels and a gorgeous summer flowery note. Very, very good. A touch of freshly cut grass comes forward after a while. Just wonderful!

The taste is light, elegant and fresh but it is more narrow than the nose. A fine bitterness in the finish. Some yellow fruit. The taste is good but it doesn´t really follow up the stunning nose. Alas, a great beer!

90p   (tasted from bottle - 2010/11)