Monday, August 20, 2012

Beer tasting 1 of ∞...

Nile Gold

 From the Nile Brewing Company (Uganda)
ABV:  4.8%
Price:  2300 Shillings for 330ml ($0.93)
Full name:  Nile Gold Crystal Malt Lager
History:  The Nile Brewing company is in the city of Jinja which is known as the 'Mouth of the Nile'
Description on bottle:  Nile Gold is a full bodied beer crafted by our internationally qualified brewmaster from only the finest crystal malt, to give you that uniquely rich, satisfying flavor.
Warning on bottle: (1) Not for sale to persons under 18 years)
(2) Alcohol abuse is dangerous to your health.

My first impression was that it was a little pussy beer.  I thought this because it comes in smaller bottles, than most of the beers here.  The main beer that I drink here is Nile Special.  Nile Gold is like the little wimpy sister of Nile Special.  After the first taste I wonder if there are actually hops and barley in this drink.  I checked the ingredients.  They are as follows:  Crystal Malt, Pale Malt, Maize Grits, Hops and Carbon Dioxide.  So, yes there are hops and malt in this pansy drink.  I feel as if I wasted 2300 shillings on this drink...

Well now I know not to buy this again. 


Pilsner Lager

From EABL Group (Kenya)
ABV:  5.5%
Price:  2500 Shillings for 500ml ($1.01)
Warnings on Bottle:  (1) Store in cool dark place (2) Excessive consumption of alcohol is harmful to your health (3) Strictly not for sale to persons under 18 years

My first impression was that it couldn't be any worse than the Nile Gold.  Just as I suspected it was no worse than the Nile Gold.  It had a decent flavor and a high alcohol content for a pils.  While it wasn't the heavy flavor of beer that I have grown accustom to in Germany, it was still good.  I would probably buy this beer again.

Bell



From Uganda Breweries (Uganda, obviously)
ABV:  4.0%
Price:  2500 Shillings for 500ml ($1.01)
History:  (from the label)  Expertly brewed on the shores of Lake Victoria since 1950.  This award winning beer uses only the finest ingredients to capture the true taste of Uganda's heritage.
Warnings on Bottle:  (1) Store in cool dark place (2) Excessive consumption of alcohol is harmful to your health (3) Strictly not for sale to persons under 18 years


I've had this beer before at a cookout.    The main problem with it at the cookout was that the ice the cooler came from a fishery and it made all of the bottles smell like fish (GROSS).  I decided to give it a another try.  Here it goes...  And it still sucks!  Definitely a waste of shillings.  This is the kind of beer that you open at a party, realize that it sucks, and then 'accidentally' forget where you left your beer and get a new better-tasting beer.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Taste test

I have decided that to make the lives of those around me I should do a beer taste test.  I grabbed 7 different local beers (2 of each) and will write a review of each as I go through them.  I have tried 4 of the 7 before, but I wasn't grading them.  I will take pictures of each of them as I try them, and judge them, as well as include some history about the beer (if possible).  I will not do all of these in one day, if I did then the comments about each would get crazier and crazier as the day went on.  I will attempt to complete this taste within the following week, but no promises.

This is going to be a rough job, but someone has to do it.  It might as well be me...

Saturday, August 18, 2012

I blessed the rains

It is a rainy day in Africa so I thought I would post this


I know I haven't posted anything in a while, but I decided today that I would write a food review as well as a beer review of the local drink and cuisine.