Beer Reviews by SIGMUND

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# Beer Origin Style Score Date
6801 Oslo Mikrobryggeri Bitter Norway Bitter 3.7

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

On tap at the brewpub. Served at correct cellar temperature. Deep golden to amber colour, creamy head, leaves a nice lacing. Moderate but nice aroma of toffee and butterscotch. Flavour is moderately malty and mellow with "dusty" hops (East Kent Goldings). Some bitterness in the finish / aftertaste. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to make it stand out from your average bitter either.

Sep 21, 2006
03:40:21 PM
6802 Oslo Mikrobryggeri Export Norway Strong Lager 3.4

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

On tap at the brewpub. Served too cold. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy. Moderate head. Strong (and I mean REALLY strong) aroma of butterscotch / diacetyl - some hate it but I like it! Flavour is moderately malty with some butterscotch notes, some hops in the finish, but not very interesting.

Sep 21, 2006
03:34:21 PM
6803 Oslo Mikrobryggeri Hefe-Weizen Norway Hefeweizen 3.4

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

On tap at the brewpub. Very pale colour, nearly crystal clear, appearance more of a Kristallweizen than a Hefe. Served with a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass, not IN the beer, T.G. Moderate head. Typical weissbier aroma: citrus, banana and cloves. The aroma was somewhat "disturbed" by the fact that the brewer was cleaning the brewing vessels with the door open while I was there, a strong wort aroma filled the brewpub, but that’s a rather charming part of the game IMO. The flavour is more citrussy / lemony than most German weissbiers. Light bodied and refreshing, a very moderate bitterness in the finish. An okay thirstquencher, but certainly no masterpiece.

Sep 21, 2006
03:28:21 PM
6804 Atna Økologisk Export Norway Strong Lager 3.3

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

330 ml green bottle, Vinmonopolet. Batch # 13, bottling # 2. Organic, bottle conditioned, unfiltered and unpasteurized. A traditional Norwegian "Export" is a golden Euro strong lager or pale bock - this one is the first I’ve had that is not filtered & pasteurized. Pours muddy golden brown with a decent head. Okay grassy and hoppy aroma, some fruity notes too. Flavour is yeasty and slightly spicy with decent hops, but also some strange and sweetish alcoholic notes in the finish. Worth a try, but not worth the price.

Sep 14, 2006
06:16:14 PM
6805 Schneider Weisse Tap 7: Schneider Weisse Original Germany Hefeweizen 4.1

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

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget). Cloudy / muddy brownish colour, large and lasting off-white head. Lovely hefeweizen aroma, full of ripe bananas and cloves, also notes of other spices, leather and tropical fruits. Flavour is zesty and mildly spicy, some citrus, and even decent hops for a h.w. Very nice!

Sep 13, 2006
06:25:13 PM
6806 Het Happitel Watou Dubbel Belgium Abbey Dubbel 4.2

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

330 ml bottle, as "Kapittel Watou Dubbel" (no "Het" anymore), bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Chestnut colour, large light tan head. Lovely caramel aroma, also hops and dark fruits, hints of sherry, spices and oak. Flavour has also caramel sweetness with lightly roasted malts and moderate oaky and spicy elements, nice. Moderate hops in the finish. A pleasant beer to drink, will appeal to people with a "sweet tooth".

Jul 27, 2006
05:28:27 PM
6807 Marks & Spencer Bière Blanche Belgium Witbier 3.5

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

500 ml bottle, bought in a store at Cambridge train station, and drunk from the bottle (hidden in the paper bag, of course) just outside the station (I was not arrested). I still had time to notice that the beer was cloudy and pale, like a witbier should be. Aroma and flavour of a decent standard witbier, no worse than Hoegaarden.

Jul 26, 2006
05:41:26 PM
6808 Hartmann Felsentrunk Landbier Germany Vienna / Amber Lager 3.1

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

On tap, served by Bjørn Hansen, "the crazy Dane from Gentofte" (more about him: see "Hansen EF-Domstols Øl"), at Gladmatfestivalen, Stavanger, as "Hartmann Felsentrunk Landbier". The Hansen 0.5 liter glass (quite good looking) was included in the rather steep price of the beer! The original Hartmann Felsentrunk Landbier swingtop bottle was exhibited on the counter, and when I asked for it, Hansen claimed that this was the beer he actually had on tap. (He also had the paler EF-Domstols Øl). The colour was right, amber with a moderate head, but I did not get the faintest hint of smoke! The beer looked, smelled and tasted like a standard Danish "Classic". Moderate hops and some caramel malts in both aroma and flavour. OKish, but in no way remarkable.

Jul 26, 2006
05:22:26 PM
6809 Bornem Double Belgium Abbey Dubbel 3.8

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

330 ml stubby bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Pours with an enormous and lasting creamy greyish light tan head, underneath the head a reddish brown beer very slowly appears. Pleasant and quite strong fruity and yeasty aroma, notes of bakery, spices and ensilage too. Flavour is sweet and fruity, notes of caramel malts and mild spices too, slightly acidic finish. Good beer.

Jul 25, 2006
05:35:25 PM
6810 Het Kapittel Watou Pater Belgium Belgian Ale 3.8

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

330 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark, as "Kapittel Watou Pater" (no "Het" on the label anymore). ABV is 6.0%. Clear and beautiful reddish brown colour, large and lasting light tan head. Nice malty aroma with notes of caramel and bakery, hints of wood, Christmas spices and dark fruits. Flavour is malty sweet but also fruity and zesty, quite nice. Some spices in the background. Definitely not a bad beer, but a tad too sweet to make me ecstatic.

Jul 25, 2006
04:28:25 PM
6811 Grauballe Enebær Stout Denmark Stout 4.4

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Mahlers Vinhandel, Frederikshavn, Denmark. Unfiltered. Nearly black colour, large and creamy tan head. Lovely aroma of juniper berries first and foremost, roast malts and dark chocolate in the background. Flavour of roast malts, coffee and dark chocolate, maybe some liquorice too, the juniper berries are around but are not dominant. Moderately sweet, some faint acidic notes in the finish. Fairly bitter aftertaste, both from the roastiness and the hops. An excellent stout in my book, with an unusual but successful addition of juniper berries.

Jul 24, 2006
04:57:24 PM
6812 Het Kappitel Watou Blond Belgium Belgian Ale 3.7

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

330 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark, as "Kapittel Watou Blond". "Het" seems no longer to be part of the beer’s name, or have they different labels for different countries? Anyway, the beer pours hazy golden with a large head. Typical Belgian blond ale elements in the aroma: Yeasty, fruity, spicy, oaky, hints of barnyard. Flavour is mildly spicy and hoppy on a moderately sweet and malty background. Not a "big" beer, but nice.

Jul 24, 2006
03:21:24 PM
6813 Poperings Hommel Bier Belgium Belgian Strong Ale 3.7

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

250 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Slightly hazy pale golden colour, large head. Nice hoppy aroma, some yeasty and wheaty notes too, hints of citrus and pineapple. Flavour has dominant hoppy notes but not much else, relatively tart and bitter finish. Alcohol is well hidden, a refreshing beer despite its strength.

Jul 23, 2006
05:55:23 PM
6814 Trégor Sant Patern / Saint Paterne France Spiced Beer 3.8

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Mahlers Vinhandel, Frederikshavn, Denmark. Hazy golden to amber colour, moderate white head. Very nice yeasty, fruity and spicy aroma. Started drinking it too cold, but spices and herbs (various), moderate malts and fairly decent hops come through. Refreshing and pleasant, fairly dry. Not a bad beer.

Jul 23, 2006
12:08:23 PM
6815 Gambrinus Desítka Svetlé 10° Czech Republic Bohemian / Czech Pilsener 3.0

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

Draught at an "Irish" theme pub in Prague. Waitress said plato was 10 when I asked. Hope I’m rating the right beer. Golden colour, low head. Malt and fruits aroma. Moderately malty pale lager, low bitterness. Easy drinking, but unremarkable.

Jul 23, 2006
09:59:23 AM
6816 Hansa Premium Norway Pale Lager 3.0

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

Rerate: Quite successful pale lager. Some wheat malts are used in addition to the barley, giving the beer just a little of the dry freshness you find in a wheat beer. Too weak on the hops though.

Jul 23, 2006
09:35:23 AM
6817 St. Idesbald Brune Belgium Abbey Dubbel 3.5

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

330 ml bottle, as St. Idesbald Dubbel. Some say this is the same beer as Duinen Dubbel. ABV was 8%. Bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Pours deep copper coloured with floaties, large off-white head. Sweetish malty aroma with caramel and some oak. Flavour is malty sweet and spicy with plenty of caramel, some hops, oak and alcohol in the finish. Moderately warming mouthfeel. A bit too sweet for me.

Jul 22, 2006
06:43:22 PM
6818 Fraoch Heather Ale United Kingdom Ale 3.6

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Mahlers Vinhandel, Frederikshavn, Denmark. My first heather ale. Cloudy honey coloured, moderate head. Nice aroma of heather flowers and heather honey, notes of earth, peat and fresh sea air too. Flavour is earthy and moderately herbal, but not quite as exciting as I hoped - still good, though. Mouthfeel is maybe a bit thin, the beer is fairly dry but some heather honey notes shine through. A moderate herbal bitterness in the aftertaste. Also sampled cask conditioned at The Three Judges, Glasgow. Golden / deep golden colour. Nice aroma of heather flowers and fruits, hints of oak. Fruity and flowery flavour.

Jul 22, 2006
03:39:22 PM
6819 Malheur 12 Belgium Belgian Strong Ale 3.9

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

250 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Hazy dark brown colour, large tan head. Pleasant aroma of dark malts, hops, chocolate, oak and bakery. Flavour is heavy dark malts, sweet, oaky and spicy. Hoppy finish. Warming mouthfeel as expected from a 12% ABV beer, there’s a certain "raw" and alcoholic edge (not entirely pleasant) that probably would benefit from a few years in a cellar. Powerful stuff, with a potential for improvement!

Jul 20, 2006
08:24:20 PM
6820 Jopen Hoppenbier Netherlands Belgian Ale 3.7

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

300 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. ABV is 6.8%. Top fermented blonde ale, brewed since 1994, allegedly replicated from a city of Haarlem recipe from 1501. Cloudy golden colour, huge head. Yeasty and fruity aroma, notes of barnyard and rotting/fermenting apples and pears. Flavour and aftertaste are fruity and mildly acidic, hints of oak and spices. Good beer!

Jul 17, 2006
04:29:17 PM
6821 Achel Blond 8 Belgium Belgian Strong Ale 4.0

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

330 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Hazy golden colour, huge white head. Fairly moderate but very nice spicy, wheaty and fruity aroma. Flavour is spicy / peppery and sweet, with distinct bitter hops, hints of oak. Warming mouthfeel, alcohol is evident but not dominant. Another good Trappist!

Jul 17, 2006
03:05:17 PM
6822 Melbourn Brothers Cherry United Kingdom Fruit Lambic 4.1

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

355 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. A British spontaneously fermented cherry "lambic", hmm? Pours with a beautiful cherry red colour and a large and lasting pink head. Intense and beguiling aroma of sweet and sour cherries. Tastes like, duh ..., beer with cherry juice added, maybe because that’s what it actually is? Fairly sweet, reminds me of Lindemans Kriek, but also with a distinct cherry sourness. Low bitterness. Once you get used to the thought of beers tasting more or less like (first class) cherry sodas, this one (like most kriek lambics) actually taste GOOD! No, I wouldn’t want every beer to taste like this one. But it is a nice change of pace, and certainly worth a try!

Jul 17, 2006
02:10:17 PM
6823 Ringnes Juleøl (klasse F) Norway Vienna / Amber Lager 4.0

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

330 ml bottle. Dark amber colour, pleasant aroma, hints of liquorice and spices. Excellent with traditional Scandinavian Yule/Christmas fare. This version (sold in Norway in Vinmonopolet stores only) is the way to go.

Jul 16, 2006
06:33:16 PM
6824 Ringnes Juleøl (klasse D) Norway Vienna / Amber Lager 3.1

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

330 ml bottle. "Klasse D" means it's the grocery store version (= ABV < 4.75%) of their Yule/Christmas beer. Reddish brown colour, good head. Moderate toffee sweetness, moderately spiced flavour: cloves, cardamom, nutmeg. Not too bad, but of course it’s watery compared to the "klasse F" Juleøl.

Jul 16, 2006
06:24:16 PM
6825 Suomenlinnan Helsinki-Portteri Finland Porter 3.5

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

On tap at the brewpub, which is situated in a listed building at the former Swedish (later Russian and Finnish) military island stronghold Sveaborg (since 1918 Suomenlinna) near Helsinki - now a UNESCO world heritage site. As I had this porter after the good Coyet Ale, my expectations were high (which normally, as in this case, leads to disappointment). Good to moderate head, pitch black. Coffee aroma with hints of fruit. Strangely sweet and fruity flavour. Some roast bitterness in the aftertaste.

Jul 16, 2006
06:01:16 PM