Beer Testing - Round 18 (The Indian Challenge)

Up next, 3 beers from India.

Defending Champ

Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL

Going for its 4th win, with a score of 8.95/10.

Challenger 1

Name: Kingfisher Premium Lager

Origin: India

Alcohol: 4.8%

Price: USD2.55/bottle USD0.77/100mL

A skunky smell, even worse than Heineken. Aromas of corned beef?? Watery. Final score 5.05/10.

Challenger 2

Name: Cobra

Origin: India

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD2.03/can USD0.62/100mL

Minimal smell, minimal taste, minimal comments. Basically like expensive carbonated water. Final score 5.5/10.

Challenger 3

Name: Raj

Origin: India

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD2.39/can USD0.72/100mL

A light floral scent with a slight chocolately taste? The best out of the three challengers, but still not great. Final score 5.65/10.

I suppose these light lagers are good for the hot Indian weather, and I imagine they would go well with a curry. But apart from these two scenarios, I can't picture myself ordering a Raj next time I'm out at the bar on a Friday night. Another easy victory for Asahi "The Master" Pilsner.

Beer Testing - Round 17 (European Tall Boys)

We put up a European onslaught to see if any of them could take down the champ.

Defending Champ

Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL

Looking strong with a score of 8.95/10, this beer is up for its 3rd title defense.

Challenger 1:

Name: Warsteiner Premium Dunkel

Origin: Germany

Alcohol: 4.8%

Price: USD2.03/can USD0.41/100mL

Dunkel is a dark beer. Smooth and malty, but one-dimensional. Final score 6.5/10.

Challenger 2:

Name: Ozujsko Pivo

Origin: Croatia

Alcohol: 5.2%

Price: USD2.50/can USD0.50/100mL

Dating all the way back to 1893, it claims to be the "most favourite Croation beer." It has a clean start, but sharp, unexpected aftertaste that kind of slaps you in the face. Final score a stinging 6/10.

Challenger 3:

Name: Estrella Damm

Origin: Barcelona, Spain

Alcohol: 4.6%

Price: USD2.03/can USD0.41/100mL

Nice looking can, but that's about all it has going for it. Weak foam on the pour. Smells watery, tastes watery, and is overly carbonated. Final score 5.5/10.

Challenger 4:

Name: Stiegl Bier

Origin: Salzburg, Austria

Alcohol: 4.9%

Price: USD2.51/can USD0.50/100mL

I really dig the can graphic, but that's about it. Lacks flavour, and has a bitter finish. Final score 5.95/10.

Challenger 5:

Name: Bass Pale Ale

Origin: Luton, England

Alcohol: 5.1%

Price:

A nice amber colour, with a caramel aroma. Smooth and malty. A solid score of 7/10.

Challenger 6:

Name: Radeberger Pilsner

Origin: Germany

Alcohol: 4.8%

Price: USD2.19/can USD0.44/100mL

A sweet candy floral scent, with a light honey taste. Final score 6.3/10.

Challenger 7:

Name: Pilsner Urquell

Origin: Pilsen, Czech Republic

Alcohol: 4.4%

Price: USD2.64/can USD0.53/100mL

Smells like a mild Heineken. Has a toasted taste, like Veuve Clicquot champagne. Caramel on the tip of the tongue. Final score 6.1/10.

Challenger 8:

Name: Faxe Royal Strong

Origin: Denmark

Alcohol: 8%

Price: USD2.35/can USD0.47/100mL

Not much to say about this one. Light, watery, and fizzy, with a strong alcohol taste. Final score 5.3/10.

With no real strong competition, Asahi "The Master" Pilsner wins again.

Native

Westcoast Native art is amazing. This is under the Granville St. bridge.

Girls, Girls, Girls

A dying breed - I kinda forgot we still have one or two of these in Vancouver down on Granville St. - the old arcade/girlie movie combo. Never actually been in one, but that signage is dope! And someone actually still plays pinball!?!

Stripped

Say it ain't so! A downtown Vancouver institution, The Cecil was home to one of the city's most legendary strip clubs (and the food wasn't bad either). The landmark 101 year old hotel, prior to being a "peeler bar" (yes, this is what Canadians call strip clubs), was the gathering place for many writers, artists, poets, musicians, and environmentalists back in the day. It is scheduled to be demolished as part of a larger neighbourhood redevelopment. Many entertaining Friday nights were had here with the boys during our college days. If I close my eyes, I can still smell the stale beer and cigarette smoke lingering in the air, and hear the chants of "Shower! Shower!" echoing off the walls, while the DJ asks, "Who wants to see one more dance?" I do...

Beer Testing - Round 16 (The Sweetness)

Next we put 3 "sweet" tasting beers to the challenge.

Defending Champ

Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL

Back to back title defenses, scoring 8.95/10 in its last outing.

Challenger 1:

Name: St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale

Origin: Montreal, Canada

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD2.00/bottle USD0.59/100mL

Good head of foam and nice apricot scent. Starts out sweet, and ends slightly bitter. Overall though, a simple, refreshing summer beer. Final score 6.9/10.

Challenger 2:

Name: Fuller's Organic Honey Dew

Origin: London, England

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD4.10/bottle USD0.73/100mL

Looking at the bottle design, we had high hopes for this one, but were disappointed. It was not sweet smelling or tasting at all. In fact, it smelled like butter and just tasted weird. Final score 5.15/10.

Challenger 3:

Name: St. Peter's Honey Porter

Origin: Suffolk, England

Alcohol: 4.5%

Price: USD4.72/can USD0.94/100mL

It's at least the nicest looking bottle of beer we've had so far, with its unique oval flask shape. Definitely a strong honey aroma, with hints of chocolate and coffee. Nice complex flavour. Final score 7.3/10.

Again, some decent challengers, but Asahi "The Master" Pilsner maintains the title.

Beer Testing - Round 15 (Kelowna Challenge)

Back at home, this was the first of several rounds of beer testing done with my brother. We put a local B.C. brewery with 3 different contenders to the challenge.

Defending Champ

Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL

This is the first title defense since the impressive victory at the last Royal Rumble Japan, scoring 8.95/10.

Challenger 1:

Name: Tree Brewing Co. Kelowna Pilsner

Origin: Kelowna, B.C., Canada

Alcohol: 4.8%

Price: USD2.05/can USD0.41/100mL

A pleasant aroma, but a bit fizzy and a sharp bitter bite. However, it does get better after letting it settle down for a minute. Final score 7/10.

Challenger 2:

Name: Tree Brewing Co. Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale

Origin: Kelowna, B.C., Canada

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD2.21/can USD0.44/100mL

A medium bodied beer, it has a smooth, malty flavour that lingers. Final score 7.1/10.

Challenger 3:

Name: Tree Brewing Co. Cutthroat Pale Ale

Origin: Kelowna, B.C., Canada

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD2.21/can USD0.44/100mL

With a nice thick head on the pour, it has a pleasant floral aroma with hints of pine, and a full, rich flavour. Final score 6.95/10.

While all 3 challengers were solid performers, none were able to come close to taking the crown. Asahi "The Master" Pilsner keeps the title.

Stick To The Original

I'm back in Vancouver, so I need to catch up on junk food and crappy instant meals. Found this hiding in the cupboard:

I like mac 'n' cheese, and I like pizza, so this seemed to be a no brainer. Two minutes in the microwave later though, the "extreme pizza" tasted like "extreme garbage". Toss that.

Moving Violations

Those table legs sticking out the back look potentially really painful..

p.s. Why does everyone in China LOVE those welding mask/visors??

Road Rage

On our way to the train station, our taxi driver (on the left) gets cut off and is stopped by a motorcycle. The biker comes over and accuses our driver of cutting him off a while back (which he didn't). It quickly escalates into a full fledged, in-your-face argument. Our guy wants to kick his ass, while the motorcycle rider nonchalantly gets on his phone and I guess is calling for backup or something. Meanwhile, a crowd is gathering, and we're thinking, "Great, here we go.." AND, we were gonna miss our bus. Eventually however, we were able to persuade the driver to get back in the car and continue on. Just another day in China..