It's All About the Beer Buddy!

G'day! And welcome back!

Today, I'm going to share with you and experience that I had earlier this year, in my European summer. It's called:

THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE!

This is when I was in The Netherlands earlier this year, on my trip around Europe. I had a ball. It's something that you definitely have to try when over there!

THE FULL HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE

Hey there guys and gals! Welcome back to me drinking around the world and giving you some reviews of some of the best and worst beers around the planet, as well as give you some awesome pics from where I've been, and this time it's to the Heineken Brouwerij in Amsterdam. It was a great experience

This was only 3 stops away from me in Zeeburg, where I was staying at the Stayokay Hostel there, which by the way, is getting a pretty good prop! Check my TripAdvisor profile to know what I mean!

The bus ride was quick, and because I bought the ticket from the hostel, I got to go straight through, as the line was pretty long, as you can see from the first photo on this blog page.

Walking through, they showed the history, and the building is well set up for the tourists, as the start and end points you land in the Heineken shop. The tour is excellent - I mean 5 stars, as it's very interactive and you get a couple of half-pints included in the tour, and you get to keep the arm band (which I still have on!)

The history is told to you through interactive screens and actors playing parts of the history of the company. As you can see below, there are a number of small displays throughout the route of the tour.

Heineken have won several awards, and some that are well known around the world, some are for keys to cities, and others are very unique

The Gold Medal of Honour is one such unique award

You get to this room (below) and we had one of the tour guides tell us about the ingredients one by one, with bringing some out in bowls to get the aromas of each.

 Here are some more of the interactive parts of the tour. From the projector in a vat, to the walk around through the stable (yes there was a real horse in there too!)

HORSEY!!!

 To seeing this stuff - all getting mixed in - the "stuff" being the hops and water here

 And if you wanted to give the brewer a hand, you could put some of the ingredients in this hand driven machine to get the good bits out! :)

So many things to do and see, but the best bit is the "Heineken Experience Ride" which you get put into a roller coaster simulation room, complete with water splashes, wind, moving floorboards, interactive movie and handlebars! A great time!

During the tour, you got to see how well Heineken market their product, and how they get sponsorships for the biggest sporting events and the biggest festival events in the world. It is the world's number one beer.

You also get to see Heineken's influence in sports, especially rugby and football. They have signed shoes from Messi, Maldini, Cahill and a few others who have been sponsored in some way by Heineken

There was even an area where you chose kick or scrum! Unfortunately the scrum machine was broken, but I got 3 out of 3 in the kick simulator... Too bad I'm too old to be a wallaby!

As you can see I had a great time. At the top of the building, you had a great view of Amsterdam, and you got your two mini pints!

Great day had - and I recommend doing it if you're in Amsterdam! As you can see, I took a few photos this time. I was very glad I did it. And I got to drink beer at the end.

Like I said, ended in the Heineken store, and they do have some great clothing and accessories, and I got myself a beanie. So when you're in Amsterdam, get a ticket and do this. It's worth it!

So until next time...

Cheers! And drink on!

It's All About the Beer Buddy!

G'day! And welcome back!

Today, I'm going to share with you and experience that I had earlier this year, in my European summer. It's called:

THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE!

This is when I was in The Netherlands earlier this year, on my trip around Europe. I had a ball. It's something that you definitely have to try when over there!

THE FULL HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE

Hey there guys and gals! Welcome back to me drinking around the world and giving you some reviews of some of the best and worst beers around the planet, as well as give you some awesome pics from where I've been, and this time it's to the Heineken Brouwerij in Amsterdam. It was a great experience

This was only 3 stops away from me in Zeeburg, where I was staying at the Stayokay Hostel there, which by the way, is getting a pretty good prop! Check my TripAdvisor profile to know what I mean!

The bus ride was quick, and because I bought the ticket from the hostel, I got to go straight through, as the line was pretty long, as you can see from the first photo on this blog page.

Walking through, they showed the history, and the building is well set up for the tourists, as the start and end points you land in the Heineken shop. The tour is excellent - I mean 5 stars, as it's very interactive and you get a couple of half-pints included in the tour, and you get to keep the arm band (which I still have on!)

The history is told to you through interactive screens and actors playing parts of the history of the company. As you can see below, there are a number of small displays throughout the route of the tour.

Heineken have won several awards, and some that are well known around the world, some are for keys to cities, and others are very unique

The Gold Medal of Honour is one such unique award

You get to this room (below) and we had one of the tour guides tell us about the ingredients one by one, with bringing some out in bowls to get the aromas of each.

 Here are some more of the interactive parts of the tour. From the projector in a vat, to the walk around through the stable (yes there was a real horse in there too!)

HORSEY!!!

 To seeing this stuff - all getting mixed in - the "stuff" being the hops and water here

 And if you wanted to give the brewer a hand, you could put some of the ingredients in this hand driven machine to get the good bits out! :)

So many things to do and see, but the best bit is the "Heineken Experience Ride" which you get put into a roller coaster simulation room, complete with water splashes, wind, moving floorboards, interactive movie and handlebars! A great time!

During the tour, you got to see how well Heineken market their product, and how they get sponsorships for the biggest sporting events and the biggest festival events in the world. It is the world's number one beer.

You also get to see Heineken's influence in sports, especially rugby and football. They have signed shoes from Messi, Maldini, Cahill and a few others who have been sponsored in some way by Heineken

There was even an area where you chose kick or scrum! Unfortunately the scrum machine was broken, but I got 3 out of 3 in the kick simulator... Too bad I'm too old to be a wallaby!

As you can see I had a great time. At the top of the building, you had a great view of Amsterdam, and you got your two mini pints!

Great day had - and I recommend doing it if you're in Amsterdam! As you can see, I took a few photos this time. I was very glad I did it. And I got to drink beer at the end.

Like I said, ended in the Heineken store, and they do have some great clothing and accessories, and I got myself a beanie. So when you're in Amsterdam, get a ticket and do this. It's worth it!

So until next time...

Cheers! And drink on!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BEER BUDDY POSTER!!!

Just thought that I'd put this up from a question that I asked Google...

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/different-types-of-beer-2014-12?r=US&IR=T

It's All About The Beer Buddy!

Hello all, and here we go again. Once again I am trying to put my palate to every brand of beer, and feel and hear about all the wonderful and not-so-wonderful experiences that everyone on the planet that loves BEER!

I've just been down Harlow Mill, and had a scrumptious chicken schnitzel down there with the cousin, once more, and had a Tetley, but didn't have a chance to judge that one, as I was in a bit of a rush - I have to go to Beat-Herder tomorrow up in Stockport (well, Sawley in Lancashire really) and that goes for 4 days, so I stocked up on a few beers the day before, namely today's brew, yesterday's and a few for the next week, which I will review when I get back from the continent, on my Euro Trip.

So again. Here we go... I've decided that it's time to get another review under the belt of this here Beer Bud. So let's do this... and this one has got a bit of a kick to it!

4. Innes & Gunn Rum Finish - Alc.Vol 6.8%

And I'm pretty impressed already. I took the top off, lovely little bottle. Only 330ml, so I'm thinking this HAS to be good due to the size. And it is Oak Aged! My my!

The outside of the bottle says "brewed in small batches - handcrafted Scottish beer"... 

SCOTTISH? OK this is my first Scottish beer. Joy to the world! Made and bottled in Edinburgh, each bottle has the stamp and the signature of brewers, with each carefully matured for exactly 57 days, in old rum barrels, which gives it an apparent different taste. "A full bodied Scottish beer bursting with fruit and spicy notes"...

The pour - this is a gorgeous ruby red (and those who know me, know I love red-heads!). There isn't much of a head, which is good, but the colour is amazing. Not too fizzy either.

The taste is like something I have never ever tasted before. Just because of this, it makes it one of the beers that I will search for in the future. The nose is very rum influenced due to the barrels, but it's not overpowering. Spicy flavours! It really is growing on me! I think if I had few of these I would be walking myself home! I'd say this is a meal for rich meats. Maybe duck, and may I even say quail?

The blurb on the back says it's been matured over the finest rum-infused American Oak heartwood. I think whatever they are using, it's certainly making a fine impression on me! It does have a nice rum aftertaste. I don't mind an aftertaste that's like this. It is rather a strong aftertaste though, and lingers in your mouth for a while. It goes straight to your head though, so watch out how many you drink, especially that the alcohol content is 6.8%!!!!

Just another fine beer you can have with cheese - Lord 'a' Mercy! Two now! This beer tasting reviewing thingamie is going to make me fat! I have a vaporizer with me, and the flavours of muffin and this beer compliment each other well. So I'm even thinking this as a dessert beer? Maybe?

Down to judgement!

So here goes...

• Sight - 8 - I like rubies. I like ruby red's even better. There's not too much fizz, and not a lot of head, which means more beer.
• Smell - 7.5 - Strong rum, influences
• Taste - 7.5 - good drop, with heavy undertones of spice
• Feel - 7 - Not bad, not too thick or thin
• Aftertaste - 7 - I like the rum aftertaste on this, but watch your breathe!
• Pleasure - 7.5 - I do like it, and would tell people to have one
• Ability - 7 - this is for the conneissuers, with the rum ability
• Encore - 6 - I could, just to get absolutely plonkered with mates
• Reputable - 5 - it's coming up, more work to be done
• Purchase - 6 - Yeah I'd definitely buying a few of these in the future, just because of the potency, and the aftertaste

So out of 10 I give it - 7.5 out of 10

Now go out and buy one of these, and I dare you to have more than 3, and stay sane and walk in a straight line

Looking forward to the next drop

Cheers! And drink on!

Beer Bud