Prenzlauer Berg

Brewery: Põhjala Brewery

Supplier: Beer52

A special brew from this Estonian brewery, this one being a Berliner Weisse with the addition of Raspberries and Lactose. The hops they use are the standard Hallertau Blanc, and it has the additions of oats and spelt in the malt bill. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A light amber colour with hints of a plum red, especially when held to the light, sort of like a murky rosé. The head is a pure whie colour but thins to a lase practically at pouring. 

Aroma: Raspberries with some sour hints, a little bit of yogurt and vinegar in the back. 

Flavour: Some lovely red berry sour notes with some fresh juicy notes, a little bit of vinegar. 

Body: Light and refreshing, turning really dry and tart in the back.

Aftertaste: The sour notes turns into much more of a yogurt notes, but the red berry notes prevail throughout. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, I'm biased to a sour, and this one is a lovely fruity one with nicely complementing yoghurt note.

Price Range: Another from the Beer52 box, so about £1.10 for a 330ml bottle; but this is obviously not the price you would normally pay. I like this a lot, and the price is fantastic, but it wouldn't be one you have a lot of.

Food Pairings: Would be great on a warm sunny day with a fresh salad that has a lot of salty cheese like feta.

Hop Hunter IPA

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beer52

Another year-round beer from this famous Californian brewery. This one being one of their five core IPAs, what makes this different is that they use "Farm Distilled Hop Oil" made by on-site steam distilling wet Cascade, Centennial, and CTZ hops to get pure hop oil. It also used other hops including Bravo, Cascade, Crystal, and Simcoe; along with a little bit of Oats in the malt bill. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A pale colour, with a bit of gold when held to the light. The head is medium and pure white, but thins to a few bubbles.

Aroma: There's a deep, funky apricot hop note, pleasant and a little different. 

Flavour: That same apricot note you find in the nose you get in the front, but this fades into a little bit more of a bitterness similer to the apricot pit with some sweet resin. Througout, there is an underlying sweet malt note. 

Body: A good body, but not too much that it's not refreshing, dry in the back.

Aftertaste: Some more cereal and some sharp citrus hops.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, a nice an hoppy IPA with some less common notes.

Price Range: The box of 10 beers was only £10.95 so that amounts to about £1.10 for a 355ml bottle; this obviously not the price you would normally pay. At this price, and more, it's a really good deal.

Food Pairings: I think the apricot hops would go well with lamb, and as it's a fresh beer, charing on the meat would be good. So I would say something like a barbequed lamb burger.

Russian Rouble

Brewery: Flipside Brewery

Supplier: Beer Hawk

This looks like the typical CAMRA brewery, the old style of English brewing, and is located in Nottinghamshire. This is a core beer from them and is their version of an Imperial Russian Stout. I served this just below room temperature.

Appearance: A dark brown/black coulor, barely any light penetrates even at the sides. The head is medium, with a milk chocolate colour, but thins to a trace in the sides over time.

Aroma: Not much aroma, some roasted and some smoked notes in the back.

Flavour: A little sweet metalic notes on the front, there's a also a little bit of fresh plum.

Body: For such a heavy stout, this is very light and fresh. 

Aftertaste: There are some dry oak notes with some sweeter roasted notes. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 5, not bad, but just like a standard British stout you'd find in a pub.

Price Range: The last of the Mystery box set, so about £1.50 for a 500ml bottle; a good price for most beers, including this one. If it was on in a local pub I wouldn't mind getting it.

Food Pairings: I would say some spicy chicken wings.

Hopfenkönig

Brewery: Schloss Eggenberg

Supplier: Beer Hawk

From this centuries-old Austrian brewery run by a family for 8 generations; this is one of their core beers, a Pilsner with lots of hops (hence the name "Hop King"). Not much else I could find about this. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A very pale yellow colour, very slightly cloudy. The head is pure white, but thins to practically nothing. 

Aroma: Smells like a sharp larger, with some soapy notes.

Flavour: Note much flavour in the front, just a little malt sugar notes.

Body: Quite light, but reasonbly full for a lager. 

Aftertaste: The afternote is much more flavourful with more intense sugar barley notes and some light fruity/grape hop profiles. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, simple, but really easy to drink - like any good lager.

Price Range: Another of the Mystery box, so about £1.50 for a 330ml bottle; it's a good price, and I would definitely get this again for casual drinks.

Food Pairings: It's quite a full-bodied lager so I wouldn't mind pairing it with something a bit more full, as it's an easy drinker I would pair it with easy drinking food such as nachos.