Category Archives: Beer

Svend’s Beer Rating System

I wanted to write a bit about my beer rating system, as I’ve now been using it for a while without any explanation, and it’s not necessarily obvious to anyone else what the different numbers mean.

The system is not very different from the “official” Camra rating system, but in case you’re not familiar with that one either, here’s a full description of how my system works.

Rated 1-5. The ratings go from 1 to 5. I don’t give any half marks. If a beer seems to be “on the border” between two scores, I’ll just have to make that more of an effort to decide which one it really belongs to.

1 – This score is reserved for undrinkable beers. I’ve not given this more than once or twice so far, and it’s normally a case of a poor beer in a poor condition.

2 – Two is a score for beers I don’t like, but I can finish them. They are beers that I would gladly never drink again. It might happen, though, that I’ve given a beer 2, and then come across it at a later date where it fares better, simply because it’s been cared for better.

3 – Three is by far the most common score. This is probably also the widest. It covers beers that I like, but that don’t blow my socks off. Some might just be nice, inoffensive beers. Maybe a cold, crisp lager on a warm day by the sea. Others might be interesting beers with lots of flavour and ambition, but don’t quite work well enough to make a 4.

4 – On a good day you might have a couple of fours. Especially at a beer festival or an excellent pub where the beers have been expertly cared for, and served in pristine condition.

5 – Fives are rare. They should be. If they weren’t the system wouldn’t be very useful, as it wouldn’t be able to single out those beers that go the extra mile, past decent, through lovely and all the way to amazing.

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 10

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(Rating system: 1-5. 1: undrinkable. 2: not nice. 3: decent/good. 4: extremely good. 5: one of the best I’ve ever had. Read more about my rating system)

Hamerton – Pentonville 4
To Øl – Black Malts & Body Salts 2
Tyskie – Tyskie 2
St Omer – St Omer 2
Brass Castle – Hazelnut Mild 4
Buxton – Moor Top 3
Siren – Broken Dream 4
Brooklyn – East India Pale Ale 3
Margaritaville Brewing Co – Land Shark 3
Yuengling – Oktoberfest 3
Tampa Bay Brewing Co – Reef Donkey 4
Bold City – Duke’s 3
Shipyard – Chamberlain Pale Ale 3
Shock Top – Pumpkin Wheat 3
Shipyard – Export 3
Shipyard – American Pale Ale 3
Blue Moon – Harvest Pumpkin Ale 3
New Belgium – Fat Tire 3
Leffe – Brune 4
New Belgium – Snapshot 3
Shipyard – American Pale Ale 4
Red Hook – Long Hammer IPA 3
Samuel Smith – Oatmeal Stout 3
New Belgium – Fat Tire (tap) 2
Boatswain – Chocolate Stout 3
Harpoon – IPA 3
Terrapin – Hopsecutioner 3
Florida Beer Co – Gaspar’s Porter 4
Dunedin – Red Head 3
Dunedin – Apricot Ale 4
Green Bench – French Oak 2
Coppertail Brewing – Night Swim 4
Green Bench – Coffee Pot Bayou 3
Cigar City – Hotter Than Helles 3
Darwin Cirka 1926 – Tangerine Wheat 4
7venth Sun – FYA 3
Oskar Blues – Old Chub 4
Shock Top – Belgian White 3
Weyerbacher – Blithering Idiot 4
Daddy Brews – Black Sheep 4
Funky Buddha – OP Porter 3
Funky Buddha – Hop Gun 4
Funky Buddha – Floridian 3
Funky Buddha – No Crusts (Peanut Butter and Jelly) 3
Funky Buddha – Banana Split 3
Funky Buddha – Extra Ordinary Bitter 4
Funky Buddha – Fuhgeddaboudit Red 4
Wynwood – Pops Porter 4
Boulder – Shake 3
Due South – Calling All Cars 3
Monk In The Trunk – Organic Amber Ale 3
Miami Brewing Co – Big Rod (coconut blonde) 4
Cigar City – Maduro (brown ale) 4
Milton – Tiki 4
Milton – Sparta 4
York Brewery – Horatio Nelson 4
Thwaites – Handsome Devil 3
Munkebo – Hermod (English pale ale) 3
Gudenådalens – Brown Ale 4
Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri – Weiss 4
Kissmeyer – Two Front Teeth 3
Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri – Damn Dark Stout 3
Kaiserdom – Dark Lager Beer 3
Milestone – Plot And Treason 4
Milestone – Green Man 3
Milton – Pegasus 4
Milton – Nero 5
By The Horns – Diamond Geezer 4
City Of Cambridge – Parkers Piece 3
Amber – Kozlak 3
Tring – Side Pocket For A Toad 4
Crafty Beers – The Carpenter’s Cask 3
Brandon Brewery – Rusty Bucket 3
Banks’s – Mild 3
Wychwood – Piledriver 2
Marks And Spencer – Italian Lager 2
Monty’s – Sunshine 3
Celt – Dark Age 3
Monty’s – Old Jailhouse 3

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 09

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(Rating system: 1-5. 1: undrinkable. 2: not nice. 3: decent/good. 4: extremely good. 5: one of the best I’ve ever had. Read more about my rating system)

Dunham – Chocolate Cherry Mild 4
Tring – Kotuku 4
Tring – Armadillo 4
Tring – Kiwi 4
Vale – Black Swan Mild 4
Batemans – Barley Biscuit Beer 4
Batemans – Black & White 3
Svaneke Bryghus – Liquorice Stout 5
Stewart Brewing – Embra 4
Hammerton – N1 3
Hammerton – Pentonville 4
St Austell – Proper Job 4
Fuller’s – London Pride 3
St Andrews Brewing Co – India Pale Ale 4
St Austell – Admiral’s Ale 3
Dunham – Chocolate Cherry Mild 3
Wentworth – The Full Malty 3
Windsor & Eton – 811 3
Downton – German Pale Ale 3
Titanic – Plum Porter 4
Harviestoun – Schiehallion 3
Rudgate Brewery – Ruby Mild 4
Ørbæk – Midgårds Øl 4
Thornbridge – Wild Swan 3
Brixton – Effra Ale 4
Titanic – Plum Porter 4
Samuel Adams – Boston Lager 3
Pivovar Velké Popovice – Kozel Premium Lager 2
Black Sheep – Best Bitter 1
Hammerton – N1 3
8 Sail Brewery – Victorian Porter 3
Kona Brewing Co – Big Wave 3
Peroni – Peroni 2
Fuller’s – London Pride 3
Moorhouse – Black Cat 4
St Peter’s – Mild 4
St Peter’s – Golden Ale 3
St Peter’s – Best Bitter 3
Burton Bridge Brewery – Bramble Stout 4
Brasserie Dubuisson – Bush 4
Hogs Back – TEA 3
Castle Rock – Harvest Pale 4
London Fields – Hackney Hopster 3
Stod Fold – Gold 3
Sierra Nevada – Pale Ale 3

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 08

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(Rating system: 1-5. 1: undrinkable. 2: not nice. 3: decent/good. 4: extremely good. 5: one of the best I’ve ever had. Read more about my rating system)

Shepherd Neame – Whitstable Bay 2
Wold Top – Scarborough Fair IPA 3
The Langton Brewery – Bullseye Stout 5
Samuel Smith – Extra Stout 3
Mighty Oak – Oscar Wilde 4
Thornbridge – Jaipur 4
Hopback – Summer Lightning 4
Magic Rock – Chinook 5
Magic Rock – Carnival 4
Black Sheep – All Creatures Bright & Beautiful 4
Ringwood – Old Thumper 3
Shepherd Neame – India Pale Ale 2
Rogue – Voodoo 3
Tring – Death Or Glory 4
Surrey Hills – Shere Drop 5
Magic Rock – Carnival 3
Kirkby Lonsdale – Single Track 2
Strathaven Ales – Craigmill Mild 3
Flowerpots – Flowerpots Bitter 4
Bullmastiff – Welsh Black 4
Bristol Beer Factory – Nova 3
Battledown – Cheltenham SPA 2
Wantsum – Black Prince 4
The Langton Brewery – Scarecrow 4
Hart Family Brewers – No 3 3
Hoggleys – Mill Lane Mild 3
Hoegaarden – Hoegaarden 3
Thisted Bryghus – Mr Bock 3
Grimbergen – Double–Ambrée 3
Check Brewer – Dansk Pilsner 2
Thisted Bryghus – Mrs Brown 3
Grimbergen – Blonde 3
Hancock – Black Lager 3
Viborg Bryghus – Hærvejs Lyng 3
Viborg Bryghus – Scottish Ale 4
Viborg Bryghus – Ulrik Wilbek Dubbel 3
Randers Bryghus – Sort 4
Fuller’s – 1845 3
Fuller’s – Summer Ale 3
Thwaites – 13 Guns 4
Cwrw Llyn – Cochyn 4
Conwy Brewery – Minera Mountain 4
Big Hand – Bastion 4
Great Orme – Cambria 3

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 07

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(Rating system: 1-5. 1: undrinkable. 2: not nice. 3: decent/good. 4: extremely good. 5: one of the best I’ve ever had. Read more about my rating system)

Holdens – Black Country Mild 4
Heavy Industry – Nelson’s Eye 5
Arkell – The Master 3
Gun Dog – Lord Barker 4
Founders – Rübæus 3
Menabrea – Menabrea 2
Fuller’s – London Pride 3
Nottingham – Foundry Mild 3
Banks and Taylor’s – Hitchin Old Dark 3
Milestone – Sao Paulo Porter 4
Moonshine – Harvest Moon Mild 5
Lord Conrad’s – Muddy Duck 4
Revolutions – Go Go 4
Revolutions – Favourite Shirts 5
Tapped Brew Co – MoJo 4
Hardknott – Continuum 4
Arbor – M Bomb 3
Camden – Hells 2
Earls – IPA II 2
Cerveceria Mexicana – Amber Ale 2
Moncada Brewery – Notting Hill Summer 5
Flowerpots – Flowerpots Bitter 5
Castle Rock – Skylark 3
Tring – Kotuku 4
Skagen Bryghus – Skagen Hyld 3
Skagen Bryghus – Drachmann 4
Skagen Bryghus – Grillstarter 3
Skagen Bryghus – Skawskum 5
Skagen Bryghus – Bundgarn 5
Fuller’s – Black Cab 4
Svaneke Bryghus – Stout 4
Ørbæk – Lakrids Stout 4
Indslev Bryggeri – Mørk Hvede 3
Thisted Bryghus – Stenøl 5
Løkken Bryghus – Stygge Krumpen 3
Nibe Bryghus – Dark Ale 4
De Jyske Bryghuse – Monsieur Le Detective 3
Fur – Alverdens Casper Ale 4
Thisted Bryghus – Tripel 3

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 06

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(Rating system: 1-5. 1: undrinkable. 2: not nice. 3: decent/good. 4: extremely good. 5: one of the best I’ve ever had. Read more about my rating system)

Moorhouse – Pride Of Pendle 4
Goddards – Ale Of Wight 3
Goddards – Fuggle–Dee–Dum 3
Island Brewery – Nipper Bitter 3
Titanic – Iceberg 3
Moorhouse – Blonde Witch 4
Yates – The Taverner’s Ale 3
Goddards – Duck’s Folly 4
Yates – Undercliff Experience 4
Yates – Buddle Brew 3
Yates – Dark Side Of The Wight 5
Yates – Holy Joe 3
Yates – YPA 3
Island Brewery – Yachtsman’s Ale 3
Banks’s Park – Cereal Thriller 2
Marston’s – EPA 3
Otter – Ale 3
Darkstar – Revelation 4
Adnams – Lighthouse 3
Einstök – White Ale 3
Hepworth – Sussex Golden Ale 3
Einstök – Toasted Porter 4
Siren – Caribbean Chocolate Cake 4
Crouch Vale – Blackwater Mild 4
Summer Wine Brewery – Ten Malt Porter 4
De Halve Maan – Straffe Hendrik 4
Weird Beard – Mariana Trench 4
Thwaites – Nutty Black 4
Grafters – Darker Side Of The Moon 4
Adnams – Southwold Summer IPA 3
Ellenberg’s Brewery – Bock 4
Ellenberg’s Brewery – Ale No. 1 3
Great Oakley – Welland Valley Mild 5
North Yorkshire Brewing – Eng Ale Land 4
Chouffe – Chouffe 4
Mont d’Or – Blanche 3
Affligem – Affligem 3
Moulin Des Moines – Castagnor 4
Leffe – Printemps Ambre 3
Mont d’Or – Dorée 3
Langton Gargouille – La Canante 5
Les Deux Fréres – Blanche 3

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 05

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(Rating system: 1-5. 1: undrinkable. 2: not nice. 3: decent/good. 4: extremely good. 5: one of the best I’ve ever had. Read more about my rating system)

Latimer Ales – Dark Mild 4
Ministry Of Beer – Red Tape 3
Froth Blowers – Monsoon Mild 3
Beowulf – Dark Raven 3
Acorn – Butter Bump 3
Black Country Ales – Pig On The Wall 3
Toll End – Little Devil Stout 3
Wentworth – Imperial Ale 2
Burton Bridge – XL Mild 3
Sambrooks – Archer Mild 3
Tring – Kotuku 4
Colchester – Metropolis 4
Titanic – Firkin Mild 4
Banks’s – Mild 3
Oakham – Citra 4
Bath – Gem 4
Signature Brew – Sssnakepit 3
Shiny Brewing Co – New Wheels 3
Hambleton – Yorkshire Best Bitter 3
To Øl – By Udder Means 4
Five Points Brewing – Five Points Pale 4
Hopback Brewery – Entire Stout 4
Kent Brewery – Altered States 3
The Brewery – Newcastle Brown Ale 3
Ilkley Brewery – Mary Jane 4
Andwell Brewing Co – Red IPA 3
Fyne Ales – Vital Spark 5
BlackBar – Longhair BPA 3
Tom Smith Ales – Tom’s Tipple 4
Burning Sky – Plateau 3
Lord Conrad’s – Zulu Dawn 3
Crafty Beers – Sauvignon Blonde 3
Goldmark – Ebony Mild 3
Crafty Beers – Mild Mannered 4
Enville – Ginger 3
Fat Cat – Meow Mild 4
Golden Triangle – Red Square 3
B & T – Shefford Mild 3
Highland – Orkney Best 3
Kissingate – Gardenia Mild 3
Shalford – 1913 Mild 4
Poppyland – Stewkey Gose 2
East London – Orchid 4
Bexar County – Texas Pecan Coffee Mild 3
Bank Top – Dark Mild 4
Brentwood – Marvellous Maple Mild 4
Broughton – Greenmantle 3
New Plassey – Midnight Mild 4
Mighty Oak – Oscar Wilde 4
Elgood’s – Black Dog 4
Dominion – A Mild With No Name 3
Castor – Castorware 3
Milton – Medusa 3
Son Of Sid – Muck Cart Mild 4
Greene King – XX Mild 2
Harveys – Prince Of Denmark 3
Great Heck – Black Jesus 4
Fyne Ales – Highlander 3
Adnams – Cambridge Beer Festival Special 4
Ørbæk – Hunting Beer 4
Willemoes – Belgisk Ale 3
Rækker Mølle – Sorte Per 3
Ørbæk – Dark Horse 4
Pivovar – 1795 Dark 3
Havant – Forgotten 4
Flipside – Farthing Mild 3
Wolf – Woild Moild 3
Goddards – Scrumdiggity Bitter 3

Beowulf – Dark Raven review

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Going through a list of 16 Ales on at The Wellington, Birmingham, looking them all up to see if there were other milds than the tellingly named Monsoon Mild, I was beginning to lose hope towards the end. However, number 16 was the Dark Raven from Beowulf, and their website explained that it was a traditional mild. It sounded promising and when I saw it poured it increased my expectations. It was a deep brown with a nicely tan head. The smell added to the joy, with sweet roasted and caramel overtones. The only slight disappointment, helped on by the now very high expectations, was the taste. While it had some roasted caramel and fruity characteristics, it was dominated by a bitterness that I felt was drowning out the best parts of its flavour. Maybe it is just too strong at 4.5%. It’s still a nice beer, but after seeing and smelling it, though before taking my first sip, I thought it might have been one of my favourites. It is not. There’s a long way from this to a Welsh Black (Great Orme) or Oscar Wilde (Mighty Oak). However, I’m glad of every new mild I discover, not least during Mild Month May.

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Category Archives: Beer

Svend’s Beer Rating System

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 10

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 09

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 08

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 07

Svend’s Beer Log 2014 06

Beowulf – Dark Raven review