Drink global

Last week’s Uncorked featured wines from visiting countries competing in the World Cup, and this week we turn to those competing for soccer glory who are better-known for beer than wine.

Exploring international beers through a World Cup lens yielded some interesting surprises as it pertains to where certain beers are brewed.

The 330ml bottle of Grolsch in our market, for example, is still brewed in the Netherlands, while the 473ml can is brewed in Canada.

Want a beer from Japan? The Asahi Super Dry 500ml cans in our market is brewed in Italy, of all places.

Fancy a cerveza? The Corona sold in our market is brewed in Canada.

Perhaps there’s a parallel to be drawn with the World Cup, where a player doesn’t have to be born in the country for whom they play (although legal citizenship in said country is a requirement).

Adding to the confusion on the beer front is that while the six beers reviewed this week are indeed brewed in World Cup-participating nations, they aren’t necessarily owned by companies in said countries.

I’ve included ownership info in the reviews so you’ll see what I mean…

The Grolsch Premium Pilsner (Netherlands — $2.68/330ml bottle, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is medium gold in colour with a white head, aromatically bringing malt notes along with muted herbal, bread dough and pear notes.

It’s dry and light-plus-bodied, with decent malt coming with bread dough and herbal notes, modest hops and a short-ish finish (it’s five per cent alcohol).

It seems as if it could be a bit fresher (a scan of the bottle found a best-before date of June 23 of this year). Owned by Japanese company Asahi Breweries. 2.5/5

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The Kozel Premium Lager (Czech Republic — $2.97/500ml can, beer vendors, Liquor Marts) is pale gold and clear in appearance, with a bright note or cracked wheat on the nose that comes with fresh malt, biscuit/bread dough and some subtle grassy notes.

It’s dry and light-plus bodied, delivering delightful grainy and malty flavours with some subtle grassy notes, modest hops and, at 4.6 per cent alcohol, a crisp, clean finish.

A great value, particularly while it’s on sale until the end of June (regular $3.42, which is still a steal). Also owned by Asahi Breweries. 3.5/5

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The Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin IPA (Oxfordshire, England — $3.39/500ml can, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is pale copper and clear in appearance, with a resinous note on the nose that comes with grassy, roasted malt, grapefruit pith and secondary caramel notes.

It’s dry, medium-bodied and robust, bringing the grainy, resinous and grassy notes, secondary malt flavours and more modest citrus and chalky notes that keep things interesting.

While the can boasts “an intense tropical explosion of zesty oranges, grapefruit, honey and juicy bitterness,” IPA fans will find it relatively tame compared to the dank, super juicy and higher- alcohol North American examples (the Hobgoblin’s a modest five per cent alcohol).

Owned by Carlsberg Britvic, a U.K. subsidiary of Danish brewer Carlsberg. 3.5/5

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The Modelo Negra (Mexico — $3.39/355ml bottle, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is medium caramel in appearance with a modest white head, this dunkel-style brew brings rich malt aromas along with brown sugar, dried fruit, caramel and hints of honey and spice.

It’s a medium-bodied and off-dry brew, with a rounder texture and sweet malt, dried fruit, brown sugar and caramel flavours as well as some toasted nuts before the short-ish finish (it’s 5.3 per cent alcohol).

Brewed in Mexico, but owned by Belgian drinks powerhouse Anheuser-Busch InBev, which also owns Corona and Pacifico. 3/5

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The Tennent’s Scotch Ale (Scotland — $3.49/330ml bottle, Liquor Marts and beer vendors) is medium copper-gold in appearance, with roasted malt, caramel, toffee/Tootsie Roll and chalky aromas.

It’s off-dry and medium-bodied, bringing the Tootsie Roll and sweet roasted malt flavours with more modest dried fruit notes as well as subtle spice and chalky components.

At nine per cent alcohol it’s got quite a punchy finish — something the Scottish squad will be hoping for on the pitch.

Owned by Irish company C&C Group, which also owns Scottish brewery Innis & Gunn and Magners cider. 4/5

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Medium copper and slightly hazy in appearance, the Brasserie Silly La Divine (Belgium — $4.66/330ml bottle, select beer vendors) brings an earthy component aromatically along with complex dried fruit, slightly sweet malt, balsamic and orange peel notes on the nose.

It’s mainly dry and medium-bodied, with that earthy, almost-savoury note delivered with dried dark fruit, orange peel, spice, cherry and herbal flavours. There’s modest bitterness, bright carbonation and, at 9.5 per cent alcohol, a long and very warm finish.

A powerhouse brew made by an independent, family owned Belgian brewery; available at select beer vendors. 4.5/5

winnipegfreepress.com/bensigurdson