SIREN «008 Odyssey» (8,7%) 5/6

A collab between the front soldiers Siren, who has teamed up with Stillwater and Prairie Artisanal, is what we have here. An exiting, intriguing artwork on the label is good and all that, but the real exitement starts when reading about the contents here. A bunch of different ingredients in this blend, where grapes, blackberries, cherries collides front-to-front with lactose and coffee, creates this fine favourite beer type of mine, Flanders ale. 

Needless to say, it looks striking. Nose is becoming more and more right down towards room temperature. Insanely dark fruit infusion, stingy acidity, lightly spiced and deep subtle sweetness… Right, I’m dying to drink this. 

At first, the berries welcomed midway/far back in my mouth, great balanced tart taste. The berries’ taste span from sweet cherry taste and deep dark raisins, to tart, to oak mateurity, before rounding off with sweet, delicate outro. Amazing stuff! Will definately have again.

 

Photo: M.K. Burheim

FIERCE/AMUNDSEN “Orange scream” (7%) 4/6

Photo: M. K. Brochs

 

This beer is strikingly dark yellow in color and pours a small nice head on top. Almost on the verge to brownish, just on the borderline between dark yellow to light brown, I’d say. 

Judging by the “book” or more correctly in this case, by the box, it seems highly interesting and something that I’ve never tried before… Apparently what we got here is an orange ice cream ale, and being a collab between Amundsen and Fierce, we might just be in for a treat here. This seems to be something that I am more familiar with within the stout- category. 

So, what’s going on in terms of nose? Well, there’s the lights beautiful sweet fruitiness combined with the distinct Caramel& vanilla here… Almost toffee-like. And then, the taste: great freshness at first, in terms of carbonation. 

Then, that sweet sweet caramel comes into the picture, creamy and now even clearer before evolving into fruityness most definably banana, rounded off with a hint of citrusy bitterness that lingers into the aftertaste. 

What a fabulous surprise! And what a great beer. Astonishing stuff, this one.

DE MOLEN «Molenbier» (7,5%) 4/6

MolenbierSo, another one from De Molen is what we are faced with here. The actual beer has a smooth wooden-brown colour to it and pours a small creamy head on top. I am usually very fond of their brews, at least what I have tasted from this brewery so far. This one is a lighter type though, so there’s some degree of excitement “in the air tonight».

With regards to aroma: There’s a fruityness of figs/fig jam, some oak and quite distinct malt character. I find some nuance of coffee too, even more so defined in the taste, which enhances the previously observed wooden impression. There’s also taste of roasted chestnut here, very suitable for this time of the year, at which it’s consumed. Santa would’ve sled right down the chimney for a taste of this.

At first, it’s got a sweet malt-orientated introduction and dried dates, before evolving into more powerful, dark roasted beans and at the end, rounded off with a very hoppy bitterness.

There’s not much bubbly action going on here, but that’s not missed either in this type of beer. Nice one, De Molen!

(Photo: M. Brochs)

FOUNDERS «Doom» (12,4%) 5/6

Founders DoomAs I am familiar with some of their other brews, expectations would be reasonably high from the start here. Adding to that, the fact that this is an Imperial IPA from the brewery’s Barrel aged-series, stakes are dangerously high… First off; the label design is cool. There is a tipsy reaper lurking beneath the beer bottle, all barely visible in this dark artwork. So, let’s get down to the real deal, shall we? A fine, smooth golden look, pouring equally esthetic head in the tulip glass- just a tad mirky… Like watching a still flame. Nose is an incredible blend of hops, resulting in foresty smells, including flowers, spruce and almost caramelish notes of sweetness. I’m incredibly eager to drink this! When the first drop comes in contact with the tongue, there’s maturity fusing with an incredible bitterness, vanilla hints comes into play in the background. It’s quite strong, as one would expect from an imperial IPA to be. Still, very very nice balance of each of the elements featured. The taste lasts for an eternity, like a dark long catacomb from here to the underworld. Pretty astonishing stuff, as I thought.

 

(Photo: M. Brochs)

SUNTORY «Tokyo craft pale ale» (5%) 4/6

Tokyo craft pale aleThis beer is the first one to be reviewed here following last month’s Japan tour. The fragrances are flowery fruity and by looks it is a bright yellow beer which shows rather great degrees of carbonation. More nutty fruit-like with a hint of pears, underlying notes at least. So; what does it taste?  The land of the sun here brings us a fresh crisp pale ale with definite traces of pear and chestnut, boosted with the hefty carbonation. A great representative for Japan’s passion to the art of brewing, this one. It also maintains a quite heavy malty power throughout  the whole mouth feel, leaving a subtle caramelish postludium.  Another reason to love this exiting country!

BIRKENHEAD «Honey blonde» (4,5%) 4/6

Honey blondeA little mirky blonde that let’s the sunbeam sparkle through it’s golden nuance-filtre. Being one of the few first African (craft) beers I try in my life, exitement is definately very high. So; what does it contain? Well, first off: Nose is lightly sweet and mildly fruity… Honey infused. Suitable carbonization and medium bodied, the beer kicks off with a subtle hint of bitter hops, evolving into fruityness and is almost meady in taste- with the first impression being comfortably sweet. The honey shows it’s presence midway through, lasting a good while. Very nice introduction to a new continent!

MORT SUBITE «Witte Lambic» (5,5%) 3/6

Witte lambicThis brewery has an interesting line of fruity ales, which of I’m familiar with a few. Now, this is a new one though- a wit beer, yellow and lightly mirky in looks. The nose reveals very sweet notes of white tea, sugary pineapple and honey. Lightbodied consistency and nice levels of carbonization. Tastewise, it’s very mild but the aromas previously mentioned are enhanced by notes of banana, rounded off by a fruity easy-going hopped postludium. Nice one, would definately be a hit during summer.

ALLENDE «Golden Ale» 3/6

AllendeAroma of wort but leaves a relatively clean visual impression, although a bit blurry. Very sweet nose, also in terms of taste. At first, it seems somewhat a bit weak, but after while the actual taste comes forth to present itself. Light-bodied and light degree of carbonization helps bringing out the malt sweetness, taken in consideration it is a not-so-strong beer, it is quite tasty. The aftertaste is lightly hopped but moreover sweet.

Amboss «Amber» (5%) 3/6

imageA local Zürich-based ale, quite light golden in terms of colour. Produces a nice head when poured. Aroma is kind of an Old English ale, which also is reflected in the taste. At first, a nice touch of distinct bitterness, with a underlying veil from when the malts comes into play. Definitively pilsenermalts used in this one, that emerges properly towards the end.

Nøgne Ø «Summer Sommer» (7,5%) 3/6

imageMedium golden for the eye, with lots of head. Somewhat fruity and sweetish aroma. Less sense of freshness than expected/hoped for, but the sweet fruity features are still present in taste. Subtly bitter undernotes and generally weak tasteexperience in contrary to the expectations, which one should be able to expect from a summerbeer with 7,5 ABV. There are also traces of honey in here.