Yellowbrownish, 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.
Ugly Duck «Funk You» (6,5%) 4/6
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.
Hardknott «Code Black» (5,6%) 3/6
A black IPA is what we’re confronted with here, quite mild as British IPAs tend to be. The carbonation is way too intense, producing a large head, not only when pouring but even in mouth, by each sip. The aroma gives little, but some traces of the liqurice and coffee. Besides that, I find it hard to get much. That also goes for the taste, even though there’s clearer references to roasted malts and fruity hops… For a split second, that is. Somehow thin bodied, I find little generosity even hops-wise here. Gives little way to aftertaste- despite well-tastyness, it is too shortlasting & a tad bland for my taste.
Amager/Against The Grain «The Great Big Kentucky Sausage Fest» (7,7%) 4/6
This Imperial brown ale is mirky oakbrown by colour. Nice head which is quickly disappearing. Fruity/nut-like taste with Nutella/Toffee’ish notes, perhaps a tad too cold at time of consumption, as it is first & foremost bitterness that I get, although one can sense some sweetness here too- mainly from coffee, light chocolate and hazelnut. Very dry and longlasting. Goes through a variety of fases, from almost acidic bitter to sweet.
Haandbryggeriet «Vinter» (7%) 5/6
Mirky and strictly yellow in colour- more so than golden, but little (if any) sedimentation. High level of carbonization produces large head when pouring. Lightly fruity aroma, not overdone in any way… Hints of citrus. Taste is fruity, more and more so for each sip. Starts off in a light manner, quickly becomes definable and eventually, an orange grows inside your mouth. Strong fruity taste, but also very clean, comfortable fruityness which is longlasting. Nice long aftertaste of orange too. A leader amongst the saisons I’ve tasted yet.
Amboss «Amber» (5%) 3/6
A 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.
To øl «Yeastus Christ Supersour» (7,4%) 4/6
Vince&Gus «Anticosmic IPA» (7%) 3/6
Brewed for 1349’s appearance at Hellfest, this IPA seems to have more a UK than US orientation. The colour is somewhere between dark red and dark yellow. Pours very little head. The nose is fruity notes, Heavily maltorientated with a delicious taste and small degree of bitterness. More like an English IPA for sure, however a bit shortlasting… Quick flash of hops before the malts take over. Wish it’d lay longer on the tongue. But for a homebrew to be, this is fantastic.