I am familiar with the Delirium series from before, and from what I can remember, this is good stuff. What’s on today’s menu is their 25th anniversary “Argentum”, a hopped amber beer. When poured, it’s got a nice look to it; yellow brownish (maaaaybe a hint of red!) visuals and a good head. As far as aromas go, this smells refreshingly fruity with clear hints to citrus. A very clean impression is what I get… I can’t hold it any longer, let’s get to the taste.

Lot’s of bubbles! Carbonation level is great here, very fresh. Medium/full body. Extremely dry! A fruity, floral first impression which soon turns into absolute hop-dominance in form of a stingy bitter outro… A bit too much for my taste really. The aftertaste is just to bitter for my liking. Not eligible for a second purchase, so to speak- will go for another one from the Delirium series in that case.

(Photo: M. K. Burheim)

I’m always a bit exited when it comes to trying a new beer from Sierra Nevada. The brewery has since I first tried their «Pale Ale» and later «Torpedo» as well as «Celebration» + a few others, surprised me with a supreme quality in the whole selection, even though it’s a brewery of their size. At hand this time we have their «Oktoberfest», which would be their interpretation of this famous seasonal brew. Together with them on the team is the German craft brewery Brauhaus Miltenberger, in order to bring the level of expertice to an even higher level. Light and crisp with golden colours, this fine brew is pretty malt-driven with several layers, together with a quite complex fruityness from the hops and with a very fine bitter adjustment at the end. No dissapointment, pretty far from. A right beer for the fest!

A «red ale» states the bottle label. However, this is brown deeming by colour and the fragrance is pointing in the direction of a somewhat fusion-like of the two. There’s that sweetness of a brown ale-aroma, but also traces of fruity hops herein- with a caramel-nutty salty twist to it. A mouthful confirms that salty, but also spiced (and hints of ripe berries) taste which in turn evolves to immensely bitter for a red ale to be towards the end. Full-bodied and lightly carbonated this blends into the aftertaste as well, rounded off with a sweet edge but a bit soap-like. Final verdict: Not balanced enough, even though the taste-elements on their own provides a decent fundament.

Being another band-brew in the craftbeer-scene, it’d always interesting to try these- regardless of whether the band has had much impact on the recipe themselves…so, let’s get down with it. The colour is lightly brown, not so strange as it’s an Amber ale. Pours a big head and nose is rustique of dried fruit, caramel and quite hoppy. Mouth is a bit bland, but pretty sweet/malty, with a hint of liqurice. The taste is a bit hard-to-catch however, as it fades quickly and leaves only alcohol.

Hailing from southern Florida, this dark red beverage leaves an inviting impression, due to it’s beautiful dark red visuals. Pours a small bubbly head, it gives away aromas of fruit, tobacco and roasted malt. As far as taste goes, it has sweet notes of fig, a hint of hay and a mild bitter touch, provided by the Colombus hops herein. Greatly balanced and medium bodied, this is a beer that one definitely could come back for. There’s nothing extreme about it, but a comfortable, tasty beer that might be enjoyed on a summer night as well as later during the year, and I see this pairing well with food such as meats/poultry (if you’re into that, of course) as well as functioning as a more all-around versatile thirst-quencher.

Here we have a beer brewed on an amber ale- recipé, to then be aged in rye whisky barrels. Stating that «contains anything but chicken», the funny decorative bottle/label should make even the most hardcore vegetarian (with a sense of humour) intrigued. (Bottle also rolled in tar & feathers) Well, enough about image, let’s get onto the taste experience here… Nose being sharp bourbon-reference more than anything, the level of carbonization (or lack thereof) makes it all a little flat. Brown and mirky appearance so to speak, this one reminds me of Nøgne Ø’s «Sunturnbrew (although this one is better tasting), for those of you that’ve crossed paths with that one. The funny, priceless label served it’s purpose. The good taste of the Amber/malts are there early, to be dominated by bourbon later. There’s no bitterness to be traced, but some sweetness. The aftertaste is simply watered out whisky/bourbon. Could have had an overall more dry sense, I’m of the perception that it would have helped. However, well-tasting in it’s category, by all means.