Author: dpatrickryan

BAPBAP Vertigo – American IPA at 6% ABV | 59 IBU (€3.75 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, hint of coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Mango, Summit, and Sorachi Ace. Not without its charms, but certainly nothing memorable. France is certainly ahead of Spain when it comes to beer, but they’ve got a ways to go. (13/20)

This will be my 5,770th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Heineken España El Aguila Sin Filtrar – Euro Pale Lager at 5.5% ABV (€0.99 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 21-Dec-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet malt, mild grassy hops, faint herbal. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Ugh: yes, I bought a Heineken product. I feel dirty. Straight-up macro lager with just a little haze to justify the “unfiltered’ moniker. (12/20)

This will be my 5,769th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cruzcampo Cruzcampo Gran Reserva – Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager at 6.4% ABV (€0.99 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 31-Jan-2025, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet pale malt, hints of fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Better than the basic Cruzcampo, that’s for sure, and only partly because of the higher ABV. On the other hand, Spain is definitely lagging in the craft beer arena, and it’s obviously going to take some time and effort to dislodge macro production when this is considered edgy. (12/20)

This will be my 5,768th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hijos de Rivera Estrella Galacia Cerveza Especial – Helles Lager at 5.5% ABV (€0.82 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, packaged on 25-Jan-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance:  with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet grains, toasted bread, light grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short grassy finish. (3/5)

Pretty basic, but, hey, it was €0.82. (11/20)

This will be my 5,767th unique Untappd check-in.

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

La Sagra Brew S.L. Carrefour Sensation Rubia Sin Filtrar – Golden Ale at 5% ABV (€0.95 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 11-Dec-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 19-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy/muddy pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, fruit, cereal grains, grassy hops. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

I mean, I don’t hate this – and I’ve certainly paid a lot more for a lot worse. (13/20)

This will be my 5,765th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bavaria Brewery 8.6 Extreme – Malt Liquor at 8.6% ABV (€2.00 at Carrefour City, 500 ml, packaged on 3-Jan-2024, best before 7-Jan-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 16-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a short, short-lived off-white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet muddled fruit, floral, doughy yeast, solvent. (5/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sticky warming finish. (3/5)

I suppose that since I had zero expectations here, I technically can’t claim to be disappointed. And I can’t say there’s damage here, in that I’m not detecting actual off notes. But, this is a boozy muddled fruit and floral mess, reminiscent of dish soap-laced vodka, which is to say: gas station hobo beer at its finest. (Fine, I got it at a supermarket, but the point remains.) Look, if you want to get fucked up for ten bucks, no judgement, this is your friend. Otherwise, you might want to avoid this. (11/20)

This will be my 5,761st unique Untappd check-in.

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Castelain La Charnue Triple – Tripel at 8% ABV (€1.84 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, packaged on 6-Oct-2023, best before 1-Oct-2024, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 16-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: candi sugar, floral grainy malt, Belgian esters, oranges, earth. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweet mildly warming finish. (3/5)

It kind of hits the targets for the style, but it’s really too sweet. And for that matter, it feels a bit clumsy throughout. I guess it’s fairly drinkable for the ABV, but it’s otherwise lacking in most categories. (13/20)

This will be my 5,760th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Goudale La Goudale – Bière de Garde at 7.2% ABV (€2.31 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, best before 31-Jul-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 16-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grainy malt, Belgian esters, oranges, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly funky mildly warming finish. (4/5)

A surprisingly good farmhouse-style ale with light Belgian esters and earthy notes leading to a slightly funky finish. Nice complexity without being overwhelming, and the higher ABV is handled well. (16/20)

This will be my 5,758th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Van Steenberge St. Stefanus Blonde – Belgian Blond Ale at 7% ABV (€3.47 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, best before 10-May-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 15-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: clove, Belgian esters, cereal grains, hint of banana. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

I don’t get gushers very often these days, but this was one, and I marked down the appearance slightly as a result. Other than that, it’s a fairly typical Belgian Blond, albeit one that does a decent job of hiding its somewhat higher than normal ABV. Decent. (14/20)

This will be my 5,756th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

H-West B.V. Koenigsbier (Carrefour) – Blond Ale at 4% ABV (€0.87 at Carrefour City, 500 ml, best before 1-Jul-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 15-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to nothing, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grass, sweet grains, slight diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, high carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

€0.87 and worth every penny. It’s not actually bad, but it’s almost aggressively boring. Which is to say, I didn’t finish it. (12/20)

This will be my 5,755th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com