Beer Reviews by SIGMUND

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# Beer Origin Style Score Date
2976 HaandBryggeriet Mangosus Norway IPA 3.7

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Det Gode Brygg, Kvadrat. ABV is 4.5%. Slightly hazy golden colour, small white head. Aroma of mango and piney hops. Good body for its strength. The flavour has also notes of mango and distinct piney / resinous hops, with a distinct bitter finish. The mango nearly drowns in the bitterness.

Apr 28, 2021
01:44:07 AM
2977 HaandBryggeriet Merry NewYear (2008) Denmark English Barleywine 4.1

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, UK style barleywine, vintage 2008, kindly shared by my beerpal Christian. ABV is 10.6%. Beautiful ruby colour, big off-white to beige head. Strong vinous and oaky aroma, notes of dark dried fruits and caramel. Sweet flavour but not extreme, notes of dark dried fruits and oak again, hoppy bitterness in the finish. A good beer from the (now sadly defunct) Danish HaandBryggeriet.

Oct 9, 2010
12:00:00 PM
2978 HaandBryggeriet Midt I Fleisen Norway Hefeweizen 3.9

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

440 ml can, as HaandBryggeriet Fjelltopp, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%, IBU 10. Very cloudy straw colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of American hops (Citra and Mosaic), notes of citrus and tropical fruits, a hint of spruce, also banana and cloves. Light bodied. Dry and citric flavour, banana and cloves again, a hint of sprucetips, low but noticeable bitterness. Refreshing and enjoyable.

Apr 28, 2021
02:43:25 AM
2979 HaandBryggeriet Nissefar (Jule Ale) Norway Baltic Porter 4.4

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Bottle conditioned, 500 ml. Very dark colour, nearly black. Large brown head. Delightful aroma of roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, prunes, caramel and oak. Flavour is not quite as complex but still good, bitter roasty and coffee notes combined with bittering hops dominate, on a background of dark bitter sweet chocolate, hints of English liquorice. Roasty bitter aftertaste. I’d say Imperial Stout is the closest style here - but maybe it’s not extreme enough. Anyway, this is a very fine effort from Haandbryggeriet. Not a beer for the traditional Scandinavian Christmas dinner, but try it if you have chocolate pudding for dessert - or simply enjoy it on its own!

Nov 9, 2005
09:34:09 AM
2980 HaandBryggeriet Nissemor 4.5% Norway Old Ale 3.5

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of malts and caramel, a hint of mild Christmas spices. The flavour is not too sweet - malts, caramel and mild spices again, a hint of smoke, moderate hops. Decent mouthfeel for a 4.5% beer. A good choice if you want a shot of aquavit at the side.

Dec 8, 2023
05:27:54 PM
2981 HaandBryggeriet Nissemor 6% (Jule Ale) Norway Old Ale 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml brown bottle, Vinmonopolet. Batch #46. Bottle conditioned. Dark brown colour. Huge and creamy long-lasting tan head. Pleasant aroma of roast malts, dried fruits, mild coffee and chocolate. Flavour has also plenty of roast malts, moderately sweet, with coffee and dark bitter chocolate in the long aftertaste. Good beer, but Nissefar is even better

Nov 14, 2006
03:01:14 PM
2982 HaandBryggeriet Norwegian Wood Norway Smoked Ale 3.5

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, bottle conditioned. Brewed with juniper and smoked malts. Dark brown colour, creamy head. The aroma is dominated by smoke (beechwood?) and oak. The flavour is very smokey and woody, with notes of hickory and tar. Dry finish.

Mar 19, 2007
03:16:19 PM
2983 HaandBryggeriet Norwegian Wood (2020-) Norway Rauchbier 3.2

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Moderately hazy reddish brown colour, minimal and shortlived head. Fairly nice aroma of smoked malts, caramel, brown bread and juniper branches. Flavour of smoked malts and juniper, not very sweet.

Apr 25, 2022
05:46:53 PM
2984 HaandBryggeriet Odins Tipple Norway Imperial Stout 3.7

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

500 ml bottle, batch #195, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 11.0%. Pitch black colour, one of the darkest beers I’ve ever seen. Chocolate brown medium-sized creamy head, does not last forever. Unusual aroma of dark malts, coffee, chocolate, liquorice, prunes - some vinous notes too. The mouthfeel is first surprisingly light for such a strong and dark beer, probably due to the acidity. The flavour is very acidic and lemony, which is crashing completely with the other flavour elements: smoke, tar, coffee, liquorice. I’m sorry, but adding wild yeast to this brew was not a good idea. Without the wild yeast it would have been a great beer, now it’s too much on the weird side. Nice try, but won’t buy again.

Mar 18, 2009
08:56:18 PM
2985 HaandBryggeriet Of Wood & Smoke Norway Rauchbier 3.9

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.0%. Brown to dark amber colour, moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of smoked malts, smoked meat and juniper twigs. Slightly warming mouthfeel. The flavour has quite a bit of malty sweetness, notes of caramel, oak, aquavit, dark dried fruits, smoked malts and juniper. Enjoyable.

May 20, 2022
10:57:42 AM
2986 HaandBryggeriet Pale Ale Norway English Pale Ale 3.7

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Orange colour, hazy. Huge head. Very nice hoppy and fruity aroma, some yeasty notes too. Fruity and flowery hoppy flavour, with a moderate bitterness. Quite nice.

Sep 13, 2007
06:04:13 PM
2987 HaandBryggeriet Påskegodt Norway Belgian Ale 3.6

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, batch #28. Bottle conditioned. Very cloudy brownish colour, moderate but lasting off-white head. Pleasant aroma of aromatic hops, hints of cider apples and leather, even some barnyard. Flavour has some malty and brown sugar sweetness, but also a distinct peppery and resinous bitterness. Peppery mouthfeel. Long bitter aftertaste. Will probably improve with age.

Apr 7, 2006
07:23:07 PM
2988 HaandBryggeriet Porter Norway Porter 4.0

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle conditioned, RBESG 2005, Grand Tasting (courtesy of the brewery). Lightly roasty aroma with notes of coffee and dark chocolate, hints of dried fruits. Flavour is fairly dry with a roast malts base, notes of coffee. Moderate carbonation. Nice.

Sep 2, 2005
05:26:02 AM
2989 HaandBryggeriet Romjul Norway Brown Ale 3.4

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, thanks to Ole_R. Like all Haandbryggeriet beers it is bottle conditioned. ABV is 4.5%. Malts include wheat malt and Münchener malt. Batch No. 102. Brewed Oct. 2007, BB date March 2009. Mahogany coloured beer, hazy when the sediment is poured. Moderate beige head. Moderate aroma of malts, bakery and chocolate, hints of spices. The flavour is fruity and slightly acidic, with distinct notes of Münchener malts. The finish is spicy with a sharp bitterness. Not a bad beer, but it somehow seems a bit unbalanced - the flavour elements don’t blend together very well. I am not sure if this is a recipe worth repeating next year.

Jan 12, 2008
07:30:12 PM
2990 HaandBryggeriet Royk Uten Ild (Smoke Without Fire) Norway Smoked Ale 3.6

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Batch #273, ABV is 8%. Very dark brown colour, big and lasting tan head. Nice aroma of smoked malts, bonfires, tar, smoked and cured meat , but also some fruity notes. The flavour is very smoky and ashy, quite dry. Meaty finish.

May 10, 2011
12:00:00 PM
2991 HaandBryggeriet Sen Sommer Ale Norway American Wheat 3.7

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, batch #130, at Parkteatret’s "Beer Day", Oslo. ABV is 6.0%. There are rumours that this really is the very same beer as HaandBryggeriet Påskegodt, but I find that hard to believe - Sen Sommer Ale is sweeter than I remember Påskegodt to have ever been. A side-by-side tasting is needed to settle that question, methinks. Hazy amber to orange colour, moderate head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops. Sweet flavour (slightly too much sweetness) with plenty of fruity hops. Moderately bitter finish.

Oct 2, 2008
03:46:02 PM
2992 HaandBryggeriet Skikkelig Blonde Norway Blonde Ale 3.6

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Helgø Meny Stadionparken. ABV is 4.5%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of mild fruits, yellow plums. Flavour also of mild fruits, a little citrus, smooth malts, moderate bittering hops in the finish. A nice refreshment.

Apr 19, 2024
01:15:09 PM
2993 HaandBryggeriet Southern Cross India Pale Ale Norway IPA 4.0

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar, courtesy of OleR. ABV 6%. Cloudy orange colour, big white head. Strong aroma of piney and resinous hops, a hint of camphorwood, also tropical fruits / passion fruit - excellent! High level of carbonation. Hoppy and peppery flavour, fairly bitter aftertaste. New Zealand hops rule!

Dec 3, 2010
12:00:00 PM
2994 HaandBryggeriet Storweiss (4.5%) Norway Hefeweizen 3.4

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.5%. Hazy pale straw colour, large white head. Aroma of banana, hints of cloves. Light bodied. Banana and some more cloves in the flavour too, some citrus. Noticeable hops.

Jul 12, 2023
10:47:43 PM
2995 HaandBryggeriet Storweiss (5.5%) Norway Hefeweizen 3.1

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Bryne. ABV is 5.5%. Golden colour, nearly clear, small white head. Aroma of yeast, malts and stale jam, hints of cloves and banana. Citric mouthfeel. The flavour is surprisingly bitter and medicinal throughout, some citrus / grapefruit and banana. Drinkable, but overall very disappointing, I expect more from HaandBryggeriet.

Jan 13, 2022
07:16:01 AM
2996 HaandBryggeriet Sumava Norway Dunkel / Dark Lager 3.5

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.0%. Deep brown (nearly black) colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of brown malts, caramel, brown bread. Malty flavour with the same elements, hints of burnt breadcrumbs and prunes, moderate hops.

May 20, 2022
10:17:01 AM
2997 HaandBryggeriet Sundland Kreosot Norway American Black Ale 3.9

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.7%. Pitch black colour, large and lasting brown head. Interesting aroma: smoke, tar, roasted malts and fruity hops. The flavour is roasty and smoked, with fruity hops in the background. Not too bitter. I would probably like it even better with less smoked malts and a little more hops, but then it would be a different beer ... As it is, it is certainly worth sampling.

Feb 22, 2012
12:00:00 PM
2998 HaandBryggeriet Sur Megge Norway Wild Ale 3.6

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Rerate, 500 ml bottle, batch 440, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Slightly hazy orange colour, minimal white head. Typical brettanomyces aroma of farmhouse and white wine vinegar. Low carbonation. Sour but not extreme flavour, typical brettanomyces character. Appetizing. Original rating: Shared bottle at hotel room tasting, thanks to OleR. Hazy deep golden to orange colour. Fresh and vinegary / lemony aroma, notes of brettanomyces, farmhouse and fruit. Medium sour flavour, brett notes. Better than I feared.

Apr 28, 2021
02:49:41 AM
2999 HaandBryggeriet Sure Thing Norway Coffee Stout 4.1

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Sample from can at HaandBryggeriet tasting, Cardinal Pub & Bar. ABV is 7%. Black colour, creamy tan head. Pleasant aroma and flavour of roast malts, dark chocolate and coffee. I tend to prefer stouts where the roast malts alone deliver the coffee flavour, but here the coffee addition is moderate and well balanced. A very good stout!

Apr 28, 2021
02:51:43 AM
3000 HaandBryggeriet Synergy Sour IPA Norway IPA 3.4

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml unlabelled can, from the brewery. Very pale straw colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of citric and spicy hops. Light bodied. Moderately sour flavour, notes of lemons and lactic acid, low bitterness. A nice thirstquencher, no more, no less.

Jun 27, 2024
03:16:20 PM