The "Hand Brewery" has always been obsessed with the original Scandinavian brew - ale made by farmers, aged in wood, deep, dark, and invariably, naturally, sour. So, when the boys got their famous hands on some oak barrels used for making sherry and rhubarb wine, everyone knew what would happen next ...
Imported to USA by Shelton Brothers.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by Sap from Tucson, AZ, USA who has tried this beer once. (11/6/2008 12:05:47 AM)
"Batch 49, Brewed October 2006; Sampled November 2008
A reasonable pour easily produces a three-finger thick, tan colored head. The beer is quite a bit darker than I was expecting with a deeply blackened, concentrated amber color. When held up to the light the beer shows a fairly clear, deep red / concentrated cranberry color. The aroma is nicely sour with a solid funkiness to it as well as well as a solid oak contribution. Sour notes of tamarind, red-wine vinegar and sour berry notes up front are offset by a spicy oak note towards the finish. I like that the sourness here is both acetic and lactic in character, there is also a nice funkiness to this beer with light notes of mustard, some acetone and a touch of mustiness. As my nose gets used to this some bright cherry notes start to become noticeable, the oak takes on a nutty note as well as accentuating a spiciness that make some nasal warming character (even a bit too hot at times) a bit more noticeable.
Tart and dry up front, though it seems to pick up a touch of sweetness that is just faintly noticeable towards the middle. This has a medium heft to it that is akin to a Flemish like sour; the light acetic notes also contribute to this. The oak character is a bit more mellow than the aroma would have suggested, still there is a nice light tannic character here, a touch of spicy oak, and perhaps even a touch of butterscotch. I like how the tartness here brings out flavors of red-wine vinegar, perhaps a touch of balsamic, some raspberry touches and some pale cherry notes. This has a nice malty backbone that contributes a solid caramel note, a nice nutty note (almost sherry leaning at times) and a solid, soft toasted grain character.
This is a nice example of a Sour Brown; it captures the richness yet quaffability that is requisite of the style. Definitely quite tasty!"
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
9/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.2)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[2] Review by Sigmund from Hafrsfjord, Norway who has tried this beer once. (8/25/2008 5:48:45 PM)
"500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%. Vintage 2006, bottled March 2008, BB March 2010. (This beer is also imported to USA by Shelton Brothers.) Cloudy dark reddish brown colour, big tan head. Intense aroma of red wine vinegar and oak. The flavour is VERY sour (too sour), with oaky notes and a sharp and lemony finish. Some hops in the finish, but overall the malts and hops are very subdued - this is really all about acidity and oak. Still an interesting beer, and definitely something out of the ordinary. The alcohol is well hidden. If the average pale lager drinker Joe would sample this beer, he would probably be killed by the shock."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.5)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
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(4.2)
