>>consumers and buyers give their views on the latest launches
Taybeh beer
From: The Alternative Beer Company.
Taybeh Beer is a 5.2% abv lager brewed to a Palestinian recipe. It is produced for the UK market under licence in Belgium because the Middle East conflict prevents direct importation.
Price: £1.85 per bottle
Total score: 35/50
Consumer’s verdict
Steve Hughes, Music Promoter, 43, Windsor
My initial interest in Taybeh Beer, as the only Palestinian beer in the world, was knocked back a bit when I looked at the label. It took me back to the 1970s and labels that used to be on barley wine bottles.
But if the label was old fashioned, the beer certainly wasn’t. A rich golden colour, it had a lively pour and while some beers have a large head, I could drink this one straight away.
The taste was crisp and refreshing, although it left an aftertaste on the back of my throat. But the longer the lager stayed in the glass, the richer the taste became, so I guess it would be good chilled as a summer lager, or as a winter beer.
I’ve tried most imported beers and would happily drink this one again. The fact that it’s a ‘beer for peace’ and a percentage of the price goes to charity wouldn’t influence my choice.
Score: 17/25
Buyer’s verdict
Andrew Hargreaves, trading controller - off-licence, Landmark
A Palestinian premium beer brewed in the German traditional style using top fermenting yeast and cold lagering.
The name in Arabic means delicious, and this product is a distinctive flavoured beer with a clean, crisp taste, but I found it had an unpleasant, lingering, bitter aftertaste.
At 5.2% abv, the same as Stella Artois, it does not offer the same quality performance.
Surprisingly for a premium lager, it comes in a brown bottle (as does Carling and Coors’ Fine Light), whereas for most imported premium lagers, green seems to be the colour. Taybeh’s success, or failure, will very much depend on price positioning and method of distribution compared with the established major brands.
Score: 18/25
Taybeh beer
From: The Alternative Beer Company.
Taybeh Beer is a 5.2% abv lager brewed to a Palestinian recipe. It is produced for the UK market under licence in Belgium because the Middle East conflict prevents direct importation.
Price: £1.85 per bottle
Total score: 35/50
Consumer’s verdict
Steve Hughes, Music Promoter, 43, Windsor
My initial interest in Taybeh Beer, as the only Palestinian beer in the world, was knocked back a bit when I looked at the label. It took me back to the 1970s and labels that used to be on barley wine bottles.
But if the label was old fashioned, the beer certainly wasn’t. A rich golden colour, it had a lively pour and while some beers have a large head, I could drink this one straight away.
The taste was crisp and refreshing, although it left an aftertaste on the back of my throat. But the longer the lager stayed in the glass, the richer the taste became, so I guess it would be good chilled as a summer lager, or as a winter beer.
I’ve tried most imported beers and would happily drink this one again. The fact that it’s a ‘beer for peace’ and a percentage of the price goes to charity wouldn’t influence my choice.
Score: 17/25
Buyer’s verdict
Andrew Hargreaves, trading controller - off-licence, Landmark
A Palestinian premium beer brewed in the German traditional style using top fermenting yeast and cold lagering.
The name in Arabic means delicious, and this product is a distinctive flavoured beer with a clean, crisp taste, but I found it had an unpleasant, lingering, bitter aftertaste.
At 5.2% abv, the same as Stella Artois, it does not offer the same quality performance.
Surprisingly for a premium lager, it comes in a brown bottle (as does Carling and Coors’ Fine Light), whereas for most imported premium lagers, green seems to be the colour. Taybeh’s success, or failure, will very much depend on price positioning and method of distribution compared with the established major brands.
Score: 18/25
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