So, what is better than balancing on the edge of hoppy/sour and the dark side? As far as it goes for beer, it’s a quite entertaining specter of ambivalence. This time around, we’re heading down to the imperial stout-level. Promising visually and the nose definitely doesn’t disappoint either; lots of goodiness going on here.
So, what’s it like? Overall great and clean, as many of Amundsen’s good works are. Heavy, sweet and sirupy, with some hint of raspberries faaaar in the back. (For me: Luckily subtle)
I must admit I prefer barrel to this style, but for a pastry stout to be, this is really nice. Vanilla helps a lot to the chocolate & light coffeish notes. A smooth night-fader, this one.
It’s been a while, so… A Tuesday is as good as any day for a beer or two, especially to accompany the match between France & Spain. Also: Salute to Bonnie Tyler who just passed over to the the other side. What we have at hand here today is an IPA from Finland’s PINTA brewing. Inviting colour and creamy top gets me going, and the nose is lightly fruity, hinting towards lemongrass, hoppy forest-vibes and a tad pineapple.
When it comes to the taste, the beer is very smooth and quite subtle. Creamy mouthfeel, light to medium bodied. Develops in 5-10 seconds, much enhanced on the fruity side. Still, overall subtle profile with mild hoppiness to it. Smooth and delicate more than provoking, to say the least. Which does well on a summertime eve as this.
On Saturday the 18th of April, Lillestrøm was the place to be for those who are interested in beer (particularly the homebrewing-segment, that is). With as many as 34 brewers turning up to serve the 400 attendances for this sold out- event, witch in turn from last year had grown way out of it’s proportions- in a very good way, that is.
The spacious building is a giant leap from last years. There’s some food alternatives by the entrance, as well as seating for those who needs a break. The room where the actual festival takes place is big and open, with high ceiling. Today filled with the many enthusiasts and homebrewers… and with that said: several of the brews served here tonight is on a level with the professionals out there, outstanding quality.
Jørn Søråsen Didriksen, head of Den Gyldne humle (the golden hops) and arranger of said event, was mildly put stoked:
-I’ve found it to be of uttermost importance to focus on the quality of the brewers rather than quantity this year, in order to emphasize the overall quality.
He was more than humbled by how popular the festival has proved to be in it’s mere two-year existence.
-I’m generally not most comfortable at getting positive feedback… But witnessing this result makes me very proud.
The entire festival has upped the ante from last year, with smart lay-out, toilet facilities, chill-out zone and wardrobe solution. The only couple of things that probably will be elevated at next years’ edition (which is already confirmed to take place) would be WiFi-connection + veg alternatives as far as food selection goes.
And there is no doubt that the popularity will be upheld.
A cool brewery I came across in Montreal here. Really nice selection, and a good range of styles. This one at hand, red-pinkish, somewhat misty looks, gives away an instant delicious aroma of wild strawberries. Esthetically appealing with nice head.
Tastewise, it does not disappoint either: delicious layers (organic-tasting) of strawberry cake, perfectly adjusted in terms of sour & sweet. A hint of stonefruity vibes towards the end.
On the very day of Saturday the 22st of November, six beer enthusiasts gathered in the Norwegian metropol, to taste their way through nothing less than 80(!!) beers for this season that we’re now entering: Xmas.
But on the way to people falling like Domino-bricks, we tasted analyzed and rated this bunch of beers. (I will admit it took me about a week until I managed to look through these good (yeah… they actually were!) memories from the past week.
Having since then gone through the forms and calcutated the average ratings from this event (with the parameter in question, instructions being 1 to 6- with 1 being the lowest and 6 the best. The one you find here is the one calculated on the basis of rating from everyone in the panel, with the average being presented.
With several surprising candidates this year. The discussion of what is Xmas beer & what is not, lives on. However: An interesting observation is that some of the breweries, that has the highest rated ones, might also score the lowest point on another, different beer from same brewery. There are many styles blending into the market, but the panel were also surprised by several of the more classic approach to the seasonal segment. Be that the herbal/floral features of «Hvit Jul» from the masters at Nøgne Ø, the cherrylike boozyness in Haandbryggeriet’s barrel aged deliciousness being«Wild Hunt», grains & caramel from Berentsen’s outstanding «Julefnugg» or the fudge’n barrel from Amundsen’s «BA sticky little fingers»: There should be a Xmas beer to each and everyone’s liking herein.
The coolest factor this year was: We conducted a blind test! So, in all fairness gents & ladies-
I hereby present you with:
🎅The Archbeer Xmas panel 2025!🧑🎄
PARTICIPANTS:
Andreas Thorsteinsen, Daniel Brochs, Sofia Christin Lindén, Matthew Garnham, Maria Kristine Burheim og Idar Burheim (ratings beneath are randomized for privacy)
Once again, the cult that is Nøgne Ø friends teamed up to celebrate.
This time it’s the every Second-annual release of the always-looked forward-to/sought after imperial stout Dark Horizon from the legendary from Grimstad, Norway. The one at hand is the 9th edition of the series, and it comes in two different ltd. versions: one aged in Tokaj barrels and the other on whisky barrels, contributing to a smooth underline of heat.
The event itself is so well thought through and worked to perfection by the organizers- all the while as it has the personal character and charm which the attendances appreciate so much, intact. From the first time to 2025, the food selection has undergone a vast improvement, especially taking allergens in consideration- yet maintaining a focus on elegant taste.
I find that this years version is back to DH in it’s prime: Full-bodied, spanning from bitter coffee to (non-dominant) caramel and chocolate. The texture is splendid and velvety, the density executed to perfection. (Goes for both variants)
Judging by the majority of the feedback that I got, it seemed to be the Tokaj edition that walks off with the winning trophy, albeit personally I preferred the whisky one- if one should allow oneself to be a tad nitpicking. Having said that: It’s a close run, this year’s edition is an amazing one. And what a brilliant celebration!
Been curious about this one for a good while, as it‘s been standing there, tempting…
Now, poured in glass, it presents as dark brown beauty w/creamy petite head. Nose is elegant: Chocolate, fig and exotic spices.
Velevety texture, vineous with all the mentioned elements reminiscent in the taste as well. Maturity is perfect, the layers are pure sofistication. Sweet at first, hint of acidity before the subtle, balanced underlying heat sets in. The aftertaste lingers for a long while. I must say, these fine people have perfected the art that is Nordic Noir as well. Splendid.
Damn… The aromas in this one’s carried by the wind, even as I sit down at the table. The bottle just opened is one that I’ve been looking for- and looking forward to- a lot! The legendary Stormaktsporter series from Swedens Närke is a delicate, hard-to-find one, even on home turf. But as I saw they had it at this one pub on my way to Brewskival, it is time for a pit stop.
And boy, was it worth it! Nose is heavily fig, oak and basement-orientated. Very inviting dark colours, smooth little creamy viscosity and head. Mouthfeel is nothing but superb, oaky-sweet chestnut, underlying layer of honey and humid cellar. Deeper in comes the caramelly middle, followed by darker chocolate and a tingelling sense of heat, perfectly suitable for maintaining the balance. Incredible version.
Incredible aroma of figs, coconut, caramel, nutty, bitterness and woody edges. Flat and dark red-brownish visuals, providing much excitement.
This is one of my favourite breweries from the MBCC the first edition after Covid, and I was saddened to hear that they are shut down as of autumn 2024.
So, how does it taste? Well, at first it reminds me of Amager’s legendary Big Old Beautiful, albeit in a much denser and deeper style, with much complexity and many layers. Confectionary, almost marzipan-like velvety middle, solid-bodied and caramelly, with subtle heat rising underneath. Definitely liquid candy, this. I bow to thee, Eighth State.
This one I have been looking forward to for ages! And it’s an instant mouth-gasm. Beautiful, deep red visuals. Beautiful, clean honey-orientated nose. Insaaanely clean, a cascade of floral deliciousness: All the best berries in the world in a bottle! Stored 8 months on bourbon barrels,all is intact here: each and every berry shines through- enhanced by the highest quality honey imaginable. Top of the notch, this. Absolutely sublime.
