It's All About the Beer, Buddy!
G'day! And welcome back!
I've been pretty busy of late, working and not working, and well, when you can't play, it seems that EVERYTHING is work. But now that I have sorted some recreational time, it's time to get back to blogging about my most favourite of things - BEER.
Today, I was thinking about how MANY beers that I've had lately. Really, the last 6 - 7 months have been a plethora of beer beverages that I really couldn't explain all the tastes and aromas from memory. But on the weekend, I did put myself to the test, and I passed, then failed miserably!
Today, we're talking about TIGER BEER
#5. TIGER BEER - Heineken Asia Pacific Breweries
Hey! I'm almost as surprised as you! I thought that Tiger Beer was from someone else, but obviously, once I went to the website, it was not owned by an Asian conglomerate. It's owned by Heineken. Which DOES explain a few things about the beer.
The colour seems very similar to Heineken's favoured brew. Tastes completely different however. Bubbles the same too.
I came across this beer firstly in my home town, and was told to try it by some mates that have been off continent, and onto the Asian mainland. I was excited by it, as I do like some of the Asian brews. Buddha, Kingfisher, Asahi and Sapporo are all really good beers (you may think differently) but I do have a major respect for all of them - because they're beer!
Tiger beer is brewed in Singapore, and with a few in hand on Friday, and the same every Friday this summer, I was at a local pub and downing them like no tomorrow, as the weather was quite warm.
It was developed in 1932 (not far off its centenary!) and it "defied the odds", and created the Asian brew in the process. It was first made by Malaysian Breweries Limited in Singapore, with this fine label...
As you can see, it was with the Royal Air Force that also branded themselves in honour of the Tiger. In 1937, it won it's first international medal (well done!). Apparently Allied servicemen really got a taste for Tiger beer during the war years. In 1945, Tiger Beer released Tiger Cub, a bit less alcoholic than the original, but the original came back after the war with its full flavoured taste that everyone loved.
In 1954, it won it's first Commonwealth Bottled Beer Competition, which apparently put it on the brewers map. In 1965, as Singapore became it's own nation, Tiger was canned, and in 1973, it came out with it's own TV commercial
In the 80's, it expanded out to the world, gaining a confidence around the likes of German, Belgian, English and American beers. In the 90's, the brewery was renamed Asia Pacific Breweries, and came out with it's state-of-the-art brewery.
It then went to Vietnam and China. China being the biggest consumer of beer, right here, right now.
In 1998, it won BIIA's Best Lager Beer in the WORLD award, which says something! Now in Vietnam, Thailand, India, China, Sri Lanka and Mongolia, it is doing pretty well for itself, and has come to our wonderful shores as well.
In 2004, it won the World Beer Cup. And a few years later, celebrated it 75th anniversary.
Now, I managed to do a deal with a lovely establishment near my work, called THE SKYE BAR, in Northbridge, WA. It is $22 for as much TIGER BEER as you can consume for 2 hours, between 7pm and 9pm. If you are in the area, and would like to have a go at how many you can have, please get in touch with me!
Now, let's get to the test.
The colour is great. I do like it because it gives off a crisp colour, not too much bubbles, and can get a good head on it when poured.
The aroma is not as hoppy as I thought it would be, but in the heat of summer, that can sometimes be missed, so I put my nose in the glass a few times, and got that classical real beer smell. Like the old Swan Gold in a way, but unlike it at the same time. Some people say it reminds them of Fosters, the Australian beer that no Australian will drink at home, but overseas they have it by the keg load, and I've seen this first hand.
It IS very tropical though. I would have this beer anywhere is Asia, as it seems to go perfectly with the food and the heat, and Asian culture. It goes great with duck, noodles and rice. And it is very refreshing. Especially on a hot day, and this day that I was drinking it (Friday last), it was an especially hot day. So I was downing them like no-ones business!
The taste... Crisp finish. No aftertaste, even after a good few. The head does seem to fizz away though, and it seems very hard to keep the fizz, as it goes flat if you keep it there for a while. But of course, in hot conditions, you drink it like water.
I just kept on downing them. One after another. A friend of mine said it was a "$h!t beer!" and I would have to disagree. A few other friends from work said that they'd come to the event, only if there was another beer. But I'm pretty sure, when it's boiling hot, and you get as many as you want for two hours, I think that they will be lining up. But that's not to take the props away from this fine beer.
I do like the symbol. I'm into my Chinese horoscopes (yeah, I'm a geek!) and I'm a Tiger, so it works with me.
www.tigerbeer.com/
SO - THE VERDICT
Sight - 7 - I like the colour. I like crispness, and that can come across in the colour
Smell - 7 - I like the smell. Like an old school beer. A hint of tropical
Taste - 7 - I like the taste. The Asian Brewing Process has done well. I downed these one after another.
Feel - 6.5 - the swig was a great swig. I do like it. Not too watery and not too thick
Aftertaste - 6 - nice bitter aftertaste. Some people that I was with however didn't like the aftertaste, hence my score
Pleasure - 7 - like it. It's one of those hot climate type of beers.
Ability - 7 - It's a great seller in the hotter climates and would advise people to give it a go
Encore - 8 - I kept drinking until I was wobbly. SO WOBBLY.
Reputable - 8 - Hey - it's won the best medals.
Purchase - 7 - Definitely one that I would buy for the summer months, and for my friends from the Asian continent (because they asked me to!)
Out of 10 I'll be giving it - a 7 out of 10
I don't care what anyone says. This is a true hot climate beer. And to my friends last Friday night who didn't come to the party, I bet a few dollars that you will be there right beside me this Friday, and you will be as tipsy as I was!
So, thanks for stopping by and having read!
Next time (in the not too distant future!) I will be asking my friends about more of their favourites, especially my international friends.
So until the next beer!
Cheers! And Drink On!
Beer Bud
