LINDEMANS “Cassis” (3,5%) 4/6

Photo: M.K.Brochs

 

I am familiar with this type of beer and this brew especially, but I haven’t tried this year‘s edition yet. What we have here is a fruit Lambic Belgian beer with a nose giving clear references to blueberry and blackberry, highly fruity and somehow sweet smell. It pours a big, deep red head- on the verge to red wine both in looks and colour. 

So, what does it taste like? For starters, it starts off mighty sweet before turning into that proper face-twisting Lambic-style, giving references to berries of the kinds red currant and black currant. I get real shivers down my spine midway through the mouthful here! A delicious, acidic twist to this fruit punch. Albeit and OD of fruity taste, it is easy to say that the beer though seems somehow young, in the terms of ageing. Perhaps it’d not lack much at all, had it been aged another half year in oakbarrels. Still, a very nice and summery drink which I could have again.

Lindheim «Farmer’s Reserve: Sour Cherry 2014» 5/6

Lindheim Sour CherryI’ve stored this one for a couple of years, so it is with great exitement that I now approach it. Beautiful red-brown looks, pours a creamy head on top and a distinct smell of ripe cherries- we’re in for a treat here! The nose also hints towards a real sour brew. What are we waiting for? Let’s dive in!

At first, I’m struck by this very wide fruity spectre of tastes, before my face twists & melts off. The first impression is this flawless variety of mature berries, heavily domineres by cheery-taste. Then, a crazy acidity entwines with the fruityness, corroding it’s way through the palate and down the throat.

Almost a sting when it reaches the top, before slowly letting you off the hook. Eventually, it showcases a smooth outro, with a sweet, strawberry-like aftertaste which lies there and lingers. Very very nice indeed.

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.

NØGNE Ø «Norsk høst» (4,5%) 3/6

Norsk høstOutstandingly fresh! With it’s bright yellow looks, this beer rounds off this years’ summertimes in the uttermost great manner. Fruity nose of pineapple and some vague hint of lemon. Distinguishable pineapple in taste too, infused with passion fruit. Good carbonisation-levels. A bit mild, but still spectacularly good taste, very refreshing. Shortlived acidic aftertaste with no traces of hops at all.

ROHOZEC «Malina» (5%) 1/6

MalinaAt first,   the colour combined with the strong aromatic fumes, gives way to hope. What we’re faced with here seems to be a rather pleasant, fruity raspberry-twist… According to the nose, that is. Together with the pinkish red visual impression, and th fact that there’s references to rasperry candy here, would suit a fruit beer like the one at hand nicely. So, let’s get down to it… How does this thing taste? Immediately after filling the mouth with the first mouthful, the sense of disgust is inevitable. Absolutely horrid! Not just weak in taste, but the sip actually tastes repulsive, even though the taste itself is bland. There’s a bitterness from a bad, watered-out industrial lager going on here, but with an extra dimension of failed mild acidity. More like a taste equal to the smell of sour socks. Never to be repeated.

FM «Hopsan» (6,5%) 4/6

HopsanYellowbrownish, golden colour, on the verge of Amber. Half cm head, great carbonization. Nose is highly floral, hoppy forest-like. Sweet, lots of fruityness far out there, before the bitterness from the hops takes charge. Rich texture. On the 2nd mouthful, thehops produces a much more fruity, citrus-orientated direction. The bitterness is everything but overwhelming- moreover very fruity. The lightly hoppyness leaves slowly, leaving a very slight fruity, acidic outro.

TO ØL «Panzer Grenadier» (9,1%) 5/6

imageVisuals: Yellow and mirky- almost light brown and pours a smooth hat. According to the nose, what we’re faced with here is citric fruits of green apple-delicacy, and of course- as expected, sweetness from pommegrenade. Delicious fruity taste, that evolves into somewhat lightly acidic nuances, eventually landing in a bed of apples at the end, a distinct taste of green apples. The beer is aged on winebarrels, providing a nice, angle. Both sweet and eventually a great touch of mildly sour, this refreshener is a medium-bodied but full-tasting masterpiece from To Øl. The distinct ending ending is also a nice feature, and great lasting. This one works all round the year, a great, special fruit beer with identity.

Ugly Duck «Funk You» (6,5%) 4/6

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Light yellow and inviting, this beer has a great pre-impression already by it’s aroma- with noticeably sour, albeit delicious fruity nose. The Brett is definately there! Tastewise, we land in some citric orchard here, hinting towards green apples, citrus fruit, heavily malt-affected and last but not least, a funny label description, this is a winner at any given time of the year. Mildly extreme and well tasty, this is a great tasting slap-in-the-face which warms for a while.

Van Honsebrouck «Bacchus» (5,8%) 5/6

BacchusDark rubyred colour, pours a nice pink head. Nose is ripe wild cherries in abundance, delicious. Taste is first sweet, then subtly acidic & fruit-driven, with a young edge to it. Quite light-bodied texture, and longlasting. Sour, great aftertaste.

Haandbryggeriet «Krekling» (7%) 3/6

krekling_3_6_smallDark ruby colour, almost brownish. Pours large head. Nose is acidic as hell, heather and currants is what I get here. Not as sour as expected, but more taste of soil. There’s sour hints in the back, lots of fruit with a rather dry aftertaste. Surprisingly thin bodied.