No 101 - Carlsberg Elephant (Denmark)

Well, the march to 1001 beers almost came to a halt here. I remember drinking this one in my youth, but to be honest, then I was aiming for the effect it had on me, not the taste. But I can´t remember it tasting this bad!

A medium deep, somewhat sweet nose with notes of sugared water, dry cookie dough, warm gravel and a irritating metallic note. I can live with the nose, but the taste...

is foursquare and metallic with the bitterness and the sultry sweetness all over the place. The finish is medium long (too long!) with a creeping alcohol feeling about it. No way I´m drinking this again - what do one not do for the art...:-)

60p   (tasted from can - 2011/04)

X62 - Oppigårds Spring Ale (Sweden)

Well, down to earth again after the Rodenbach, time for a nice Swedish ale.
A fresh, somewhat sprawling (but not in a negative way) nose with notes of peaches, chewing gum, sweet grapefruit and lime, and a nice balsamic note. A very nice, somewhat low keyed nose but with very good sweetness and character.
The taste is cool, nice and balanced with notes of grapefruit, warm grass, orange peel and some dusty notes. A nice bitterness which ends in a long, dry finish. Very good.

90p   (tasted from bottle - 2011/04)

No 100 - Rodenbach Grand Cru (Belgium)

For the 100th beer in my quest to reach the holy grail of 1001 beers....it had to be something special, and this one proved to be.

The nose is highly strung, and fascinating with notes of detergent, sweet and sour cherrys, old leather, very mature red apples and the haunting scent of a 50 year old champagne. Just lovely! A very elegant creaminess. I could sit with my nose in the glass all night long.

The taste is pungent, intense and one of a kind, with notes of lingonberrys, milk chocolate, sweet and sour cherrys and a champagne vinegary note. Very, very long. Layers upon layers with interesting and fascinating scents. I guess you either love or hate this kind of beer - and I am just madly in love! :-)

98p   (tasted from bottle - 2011/04)