Beer Report

Qufu, China

I just remembered that pretty much from the beginning of my trip I made it a point to try the beer of the places I go to, so I should try to report on the "findings". So here they are. Unfortunately, there are gaps because I've forgotten some by now (shame, shame). I'll update this one as new candidates come along. :-)

Ferry to Finland:

• Unknown name, beer from one of the Baltic republics;
  comments: I believe it was quite drinkable

Finland:
None I believe - beer there is too expensive for a backpacker!
Russia:

• Baltica No 7 (I think it was, Baltica's are number 1 through 13 or something); comments: I wasn't impressed, sadly one of worst ones so far

Mongolia:
They do beer? Can't remember but I believe I only had vodka and milk liquor there.
China:

• Yanjing (Beijing); comments: Quite a good beer, had a lot of that during my time there


• Qingdao (Qingdao, countrywide); comments: Not surprisingly the best beer in China and probably the best of the trip. I hear the Chinese actually made the German brewing process more efficient and still kept the taste. Wow!


• Qingdao Dark Beer (Qingdao); comments: stronger than regular Qingdao, a bit like German Alt or Eisbock, didn't like it that much but I'm not a big fan of the stronger brews


• Qingdao Gold (Qingdao); comments: I didn't taste much difference with the regular ones but it's more expensive, still a good beer


• Qingdao Natural (Qingdao, only at the brewery I think); comments: A cloudy version of Qingdao without preservatives (if I understood that correctly), so you can only keep it a day or so - ab-so-lute-ly delicious!


• Laoshan (Qingdao, pretty much countrywide); verdict: not impressive, drinkable if necessary


• Hansa Pils (Qufu); comments: Brewed according to German purity laws but not according to German taste, drinkable in emergencies but that's it

Laos:

• Beerlao (nationwide); comments: a lager, nothing special, really, after one glass I didn't want any more but I blame new friends for making me drink much more than that

Cambodia:

• Angkor Beer (nationwide); comments: a light, very light lager, probably decieving because beers here have more alcohol than Chinese beers, not an extremely good beer but very good on a hot afternoon


• Anchor (nationwide); comments: err ... still looking for differences to Angkor Beer, are there any?

I'll try to remember more ... and try more ... :-)