As one would with such a hyped item, this beer has been looked forward to consuming a long time. Being one of the pretty difficult ones to get hold off out there, expectations are high when pouring this deep murky yellow perfection in the gloss. Aromas of citric fruits, piney notes and mango strikes the nose instantly, all the way from can into glass. Powerful indeed!

Murky-looking, perfectly carbonated, fresh albeit broad and bold, this masterpiece first teases the palate with a swift sweet brush, before all hell breaks loose- cause that is indeed what happens here. I mean sure, yeah- it’s an incredible double IPA, but the grip that the stingy hop has on the tastebuds cannot be described along anything else than stormy, yet still evolving. It’s one of the best examples of how this style’s mastery can be: Complex, all over the place, multi-dimensional and violent to the palate… Completely insane.

Looong after the swig, it keeps on stinging the back of my tongue, like a swarm of miniature hop-bees, ravaging. And several minutes after, it’s slowly fading out, with a sweet fruity  touch closing. This was actually worth the wait. Supreme.

Photo: M. K. Burheim

Oh heavenly, gorgeous bloodred beverage- what holdst thou in store? Being vaguely familiar with Baghaven through some of their works from before, I’m definetely exited for this one. A vanilla kriek? Sounds terrific to me, love those tastes. And besides the lushious burgundy looks, the nose reveals distinct cherry notes herein. But clearly also sweet, kind vanilla caresses the nostrils, together with subtle, exotic spices. So: What does it taste?

Oh divine, vineous, easygoing smooth beverage! Thou hast me enchanted! High levels of carbonisation, thin/mediumbodied presentation, sweet-teasing intro. Then a superb acidic middle of sour berries follows. Long-lasting, dramatic deliciousness. No alcohol traces at all, just a lot of fruityness going on, culminating in a very subtle cinnamon ending.

Absolutely stunning beer- a must-taste for kriek lovers.

Photo: M. K. Burheim

Why not make it a fully fledged run? Up for grabs is the last version for the eve. For those whom have followed the previous blogs of mine this month, will know that I’m prone to like such beers as this. Still- whether the different characteristics comes into play in a mantionworthy way, is yet to be discovered…

Nose is clearly Bourbon-dominated, with a very, very slight twist of burnt coffee. As for taste, it’s just too smooth to believe. Where one would think that the most boozy of them all (and the most bourbon-ish one of them) would be the the roughest when it comes to edgyness, it’d just not so. Pure silk, little carbonisation (nitro), long sweet taste, with coffee entering midway, but only mildly so. The sour mash bourbon taste is distinctly there, albeit not accompanied by the heat.  It’s just unbelivably smooth.

Incredible. Only my personal note here (I won’t allow my self to rate it lower than the previous two: I prefer them, but they’re all superior. If you get a chance to try either one: Go for it!

Photo: M. K. Burheim

Another one to go from these Bourbon barrel-aged series from Modern Times. Whilst we already know that their stouts prolly are heavy, complex and amazing (not the first time I try one of theirs), I’m exited about this, contrary to the vanilla & coffee version.

Nose is  still vanilla, and less Bourbon than it’s precedessor. And more coffee features.

First off: It’s sweet- even though not as much as the previously mentioned one. A tad more bitter, with massive presence of coffee this time around. Super balanced, and with a suitable, mildly sweet introduction (much emphazised by the almonds), extremely silky smooth coating. Then, striking heat entering after a long break, like 7-8 seconds in. Very dry finish. Stunning as expected.

The aftertaste is mainly coffee and heat, whilst the almonds are still there. Wow. I can’t find the foundation to critizise it/rate it lower than the vanilla one- this sinply a stunningly good imperial stout, yet once again flawless.

Photo: M. K. Burheim

OMG. These guys. Not only am I familiar with them, but when I visited their San Diego venue approx. a month ago, I close to OD’d on their awesome brews… Despite that particular beer-infused eve, the associations that comes to mind are positively dominated: They know stouts. (And hazy IPA’s, for that matter)

On the table today is one of their Devil’s teeth-series. A rather strange coloured can, reminiscing more of one of Paris Hilton’s purses than a hardcore stout, to be honest. Wolf in sheep clothes? I bet. Let’s find out!

Visuals: Black tar-like. Nose is heavily boozy, Bourbon-fronted. Smell is smooth. Diving in…

With X-mas time just around the corner, there’s the Season for some heavy-weight’ers, including some motor-oil stouts like this one. And even in good company, I must say it keeps up; Carbonisation still there, lurking subtly in the back. Distinct supersmooth, oaky whisky-notes, draped in chocolaty layers that dances teasingly around on the palate. Subtle coffee-notes comes in midway here. Fullbodied. Long lasting heat drives this one, all the way to and throughout the aftertaste. Exceptional and phenomenal beer. Goddamnit. Modern Times knows my weak spots, it seems.

I can’t find nothing that pulls it down here. Superb!

Photo: M.K. Burheim

Excitement levels rise to the max here… just buy the visuals on this bottle you know that you’re in store for something really special. As Espen Westum- whom together with wife and myself are to withness this beauty tonight, are all equally exited about this piece of delish. Being acquainted with several of their previous brews, I know this is something good.

First off: Nose is sooo distinct of cinnamon. Ridiculously distinct, straight forward superlicious! Aromatic spices, sweet chocolate vibes… it’s all in here baby. The holy diver of 2019 after that marsmallow handjee of theirs! Can wait no longer…

Christmas pastry doesn’t cover it, although it comes close. It is such clear cinnamon taste that you feel that you’re in the middle of the bakery, hints coffee, broken by traces of ginger and chocolate. Just pure and simple as only these guys at 3 Floyds can stout. Fucking masters. Dumbstruck I am! And grateful.

Incredible balance is needless to say, but even more strange is the fact that carbonation is intact in such a powerful beer. It’s just… perfect. Nothing is to be picked on. Everlasting taste & aftertaste. Live & love in a bottle is what this is.

Photo: M. K. Burheim

Oh my Lord… this yellow mushy refreshment, dressed in a beautiful white head, seems so inviting.

First off: the nose is nothing but extraordinary. Full of fruitiness, mango, oranges, piny/forest-like notes of late summer- let the bells of pleasure chime. On the palate, it works even much different ways. The refreshing elements are of course there, even almost milky intro. Then delish bitterness accompanied by freshness of carbonation transforms, as it entangles with the fruity tastes, before a throwback into absolute bitterness again. A massive angry fruit punch!

The aftertaste is also really bitter, slowly fading. It just goes to show, that some of these Tree House brews are far from overrated, but rather fantastic representatives of the current hip hazy-trend. I for one’ll let myself be led into these seductive vibes… I won’t fight it! Not at all.

Photo: M. K. Burheim

Light yellow colour with a nice head when pouring. The nose gives away hints of the bitterness, but even more so the fruitiness which is promising. Citra- hops is dominant without a doubt. A funny curiosity detail about this one though: Westum made a can for fun, with a joke on the Norwegian economist Jan Blichfeldt (Who wrote a rather revealing article about the so-called new beer trend, showcasing little experimentation/competence in the modern day’s beer scene). Enough about that: what does it actually taste like? The mentioned person of interest claimed that “new age IPAs taste like horse piss” (I don’t know what that tastes like, but ok). Let’s get down to it.

Nice carbonation! Deep delicious fruity vibes of orange, lemon, a tiny hint of grapefruit, evolving into strict bitterness that lasts for a good while. Perfect summertime beer for hot sunt days. Extremely well balanced, double dry hopped Citra madness! (And I’d imagine pretty friggin’ far from horse piss)

After a light tongue tingle, the aftermath is  that but of hops… covered by a feeding fruity outro. Hops is the last thing that gives up. Very very good, yet another stunner from the up-and-rising magician Westum. 

(Photo: M. K. Burheim)

Damn! I’ve looked soooo much forward to this… Several calls & a reservation later (thx 2 the nice bloke @ Bishop arms, Bellmanns gatan), I finally get to taste this dark, mystic-entangled thingy.

Black in color (surprise!), not much carbonation going on here. This sought-after gem. barrel aged rum goodie and 2016 edition promises a lot. Nose is licorice, Deep dark caramellish, burnt & honey. Taste: Not much more carbonization, but delish BA maturity. Pastry-like, warmth and alcoholish candy goodies going on here. A beer for gods!

The sugars definately plays a big role here. Very much sweetness, mostly deriving from the honey. Mildly sourish notes midway, before heading back & fading out in that sweet manner. Nice treat, even at a summer day. Cool experience indeed!

Photo: M. K. Burheim

Having been looking forward to this for a good while, it’s time to crack it open. What we are talking about here is a mead of the best sort- namely a cherry mead from Norwegian fellas Marlobobos megabear. From what I have heard, the expectations that are high is not without reason. Also, judging by the collar when pouring this beauty into the glass, it reminds most about a fine port wine/sherry of sorts, and the fumes are to become religious by…

Absolutely devastating. Cherry-delish. Let’s get down to it!

By the first sip: This is perfection that my wife’s mother would’ve loved, man. Insane wows are what exits my mouth when this goes into it! Absolutely sick. Beautifully silky smooth, deep fruity notes, mainly cherry (of course), but also Christmas pastry-like hints, rounded off by velvety smooth edge. Note to higher powers: If I could swim in this for a lifetime, that’s where I’d be reincarnated, pretty please.

This tremendous joy in the night owes a shout out to M. Loktu & Marlobobos megabear. Cheers!

(Photo: M.K. Burheim)