The Wenceslaus Report #2

Okay, I realize somewhere way back in the first WR I said #2 was going to be about Hobgoblin Ale and Wells Bombardier. Change of plan: those are getting bumped to #3.

For our 2nd installment, we're going with an animal theme: Tiger Lager, brewed in Singapore by Asia Pacific Breweries, and Lion Stout, brewed in Sri Lanka by Lion Brewery.

I tried the Tiger Lager first (in fact, I'm drinking it right now. This post is a work in progress...). I got a bit of an orange scent after pouring. Tiger has a nice creamy head that's not too thick, and the beer itself is a pale golden color that reminds me of Coors (although much better tasting, not that I have anything particular against Coors, which will do in a pinch). After my first sip, I caught myself abruptly wondering whether I had actually taken one. There is not a single scrap of bitter in this beer, which is a very odd sensation for me. Most of the beer I drink is bitter to the point of leaving you nasty and hateful messages on your voicemail. But not Tiger; much like the animal, it just seems to hang around, making you wonder whether it's there or not, until it springs from the foliage with a nice, mellow finish that is almost wheaty in texture. A very pleasant surprise, and an excellent beer for the summertime heat. Highly recommended! It ain't cheap, though...$8.99 for a 6-pack, on sale from $10.99. (Interesting fact: according to the Weekly Blog of all the Beer in Asia, only 10 living people know the recipe to brew Tiger beer. Nothing like a little mystery in your beer, eh?)

Lion Stout is rather more up-front than Tiger (as one would expect). As I was pouring, I noticed immediately the chocolaty foam rising in a thick wave, much darker in color than the creamy white head of a Guinness or Murphy's. Sure enough, the first sniff smelled more than a bit like a chocolate mocha. The first sip was soft and easy, like the tread of the big cat's paw. The following pulls were smooth as well, with a slightly syrupy finish, like most top-fermented stouts. Not as crisp as a Guinness, with a lazier attitude; but at 8% alcohol, it packs a bigger punch. A few of these will leave you feeling like you've been smacked with that big cat's paw! I can see myself using this, like Guinness, as a breakfast beer: it would pair very nicely with a plate of steak and eggs. Not quite as exotic as Tiger Lager, but still very drinkable indeed. Pricey as well, however...same as the Tiger.

So there you go. Enjoy!