Pauwel Kwak

Month Reviewed: February
ABV: 8.10%
Brewery: Brouwerij Bosteels
Country: Belgium
Beer Type: Belgium Strong Ale
2011 Rating: A

Comments:
A thing of beauty. Orange / amber color, tremendous off white head, little lacing.   Fruit, spice,malt & vanilla aroma.  Very sweet - banana, vanilla, malt, bread & yeast taste.  Not a typical Belgium Ale.  Taste improved as the beer warmed - EXCELLENT.  Pauwel Kwak translates to Fat Paul - the guy featured on the label.  Look at the kick-ass glass!  The glass has a rounded bottom - so a stage coach driver could but the glass in his stirrup - late the wooden shoe was designed  so the rest of us cowboys could use the glass

Balashi Chill

Month Reviewed: February
ABV: 5%
Brewery:  Brouwerij Nacional Balashi
Country: Aruba
Beer Type: Pale Lager
2011 Rating: C

Comments:
Brand new- just introduced a few days before we arrived in Aruba.  Balashi's Amstel Bright fighter.  Served in a 7 oz clear bottle.  The bottle is to small for the lime - a lime wedge over powers 7 oz of beer.

Month Reviewed: February
ABV: 5%
Brewery:  Brouwerij Nacional Balashi
Country: Aruba
Beer Type: American Style Lager
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:
Served in 7 oz "Little Kings" bottles.  Aruba's answer to green meanies. - one gulp - give me another!  Clear light yellow gold color, no noticable aroma. Just a typical American style beer.  Would not rate a C+, if I had not been drinking this on the beach in Aruba  :)

Polar Pilsener

Month Reviewed: February
ABV: 5%
Brewery:  Cervecería Polar Los Cortijos
Country: Venezuela
Beer Type: American Style Lager
2011 Rating: C-

Comments:
I guess this is the beer that Hugo Chavez drinks instead of Bud Light.  I would have rated this beer lower…BUT you can't have a bad beer, when your drinking it at the Pelican Pier in Aruba

Westmalle Trappist Dubbel

Month Reviewed: February
ABV: 7%
Brewery:  Brouwerij Westmalle
Country: Belgium
Beer Type: Dubbel
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:
This beer is "one of the 300 beers to drink before you drop".  The Trappist monks have been brewing this beer since 1836.  I hate to diss the monks…but I did not think this beer was that outstanding.   Pours a dark brown with a thin head, not much lacing. Sweet caramel / chocolate  and malt flavor.  A typical Belgium Dubbel.