May 2009: Ordered this over the internet (with a load more beers) thinking it was from Switzerland, but it is now brewed by Sheperd Neame! Brown 330ml bottle, poured into my ’La Chouffe’ stemmed tulip shaped glass. Typical pale golden pilsner/lager look to it, the white head soon left as normal too. Slight apricot, grapefruit and citrus aroma. There was also some malted biscuits from the bottle in the initial sniff, but that dispersed before the beer had hit the glass. Nothing special here, dry, refreshing and boring. I have read elsewhere that they only use Challenger Hops and a yeast culture imported from Switzerland. It is also supposed to be an all malt brew. I couldn’t pick up any strong malt content, but there are hints in the taste. Fairly thin body, a lightwieght export in my view. Nothing wrong with the beer, ideal for a warm sunny day thirst quencher, but not a classic in any way.

33 cL bottle as Hurlimann Sternbrau Export Bier. Pours clear and golden yellow with a fully gone head. Mild malty aroma. A bit cardboardish flavoured and flat malty to vague bitter. Ends dry and medium bitter. A bit on the boring side.