Nørrebro Bryghus - Dronning Louises Hvid Jul

ENG : Queen Louises White Christmas.

Not one I have had the pleasure ? to try before but the bottle caught my eye while in the local supermarket. I have one wish, I wish they would put some of these brews in normal sized bottles, well depending on the beer of course. Seeing it is friday and the weekend I think it's safe to crack this open. Blurb roughly translated below….

Queen Louises White Christmas is a refreshing light relation (wtf ?) to the dark christmas season. A christmas blond brewed for the people that wish an alternative to the dark traditional heavy christmas beer, but pursue a wish to serve a rich beer that has body and character enough to complement the Danish christmas dinner. (serving suggestions followed but sod that, i detest that shit written on beer labels)

Righty ho ho ho, on we go….

Very pungent waft of malt, spice and a little minuscule hint of hops when popping the cork and pouring.

Hvid jul pours clear golden with a frothy white head. Sweet intake with malt, wheat, caramel, a hint of black pepper and herbs while it finishes dry, malty and mildly bitter. In the aftertaste I'm reminded of my youth sucking on a barley sugar, though not as sweet combined with more malt. A light mouthfeel to this without being watery.

Ok, this beer confuses me. Take the bottles label away and I would not guess this was a seasonal brew as it is one that I would have no problem drinking in the height of summer. Very simplistic compared to the usual seasonal brews and not a huge amount going on with it, maybe that is the point ? I do have a gripe, why label this one with a christmas brew label when you have a couple of other christmas brews out already at the same time (julebryg and stjernestund). Stop that shit please, it's milking it too far..unless your name is Thisted Bryghus.

Summing up, I did enjoy this one and as said would have no problem drinking this again if labelled properly. It is worth a try, like the brewdog in the last post if you want a change of pace from the heavily spiced seasonals that are out just now.

This scored a generous 5.5/10 on the ' the north bridge is falling down, falling down' Beerometer.

Abv : 6.8%
Where to buy CPH : Føtex.

Cairngorm - Trade Winds

On the descent now with this batch of Cairngorms. I'm pretty sure I've seen this on draught in town before in Charlies Bar a good while back though I passed on it, will I regret it ?...

Trade Winds is a blond ale. A nice hoppy floral aroma wafts out when uncapped. Pours a clear gold with a creamy medium white head.

A lot of citrus fruit, hops and a little malt in the background on the intake with a mild dry bitter finish. The aftertaste is dominated by elderflower and a small touch of honey.

There is nothing that complex over this beer but it certainly put a smile on my face. What an idiot for passing on the draught ! Very fresh tasting summer beer and I'd have no second thoughts if the opportunity arose to get a few more bottles in.

All the conditions were right when drinking this, maybe need to revisit when it's lashing down and miserable.

This scored 7/10 on my 'saving the best to second last ?' beerometer.

Alc : 4.3%
Where to buy CPH : Abigails british food shop in town has a selection of Cairngorms in that are not listed in the web shop though I can't remember if this was among them.

Cairngorm - Sheepshaggers Gold

My wife, good lady that she is, came home all happy and told me she brought home a new beer for me. Well, what is it ? 'Ehhmmmm... Pabst Blue Ribbon, you want it now as it's cold ?' Sure, as I'd just finished Nessie's Monster Mash.  Ok, so I drank it and the wife could see a totally blank expression on my noggin. 'not good ?' Well a bit of malt and a real funked up aftertaste. Which brings me to a point...

Who in their right mind would buy this slop in Denmark for 10kr a bottle over a whole load of better beers for the same or lesser price ? I just don't get it.

On to the beer which is obviously aimed for the Welsh market :)

Awww no, not again...

Pure dead Continental man !

This Continental Style Blond Ale pours golden with a fluffy white head. I get a light sweet malt and caramel on the intake while in the aftertaste a weird funky sour tasting lemon, and not a particular nice lemon at that. Low bitterness. I'm not impressed at all with this so it's only 3.5/10 on the maybe pabst ain't so bad after all beerometer.

Alc : 4.5%
Where to buy : Unknown

Cairngorm - Cairngorm Gold

Heading to halfway down this range trail I come to..sorry I can't help myself.

A small annoyance, why do some, this one included as it's on the blurb the bottle, write and it normally means a lager/pils etc 'continental styled beer' ? To me, that could mean anything,  I'd ask which continent for one then which style ?

You would not go into a shop and reply if asked what you were looking for 'ohh I'm right in the mood for a continental styled beer'. What an utter nonsense it is ! Just tell me on the bottle what the beer style is and if it's a German, Belgian, American, Scottish, Danish, English or Timbuktuan inspired brew then let people know.

On to this Blond Ale, if someone said this was a lager I would not even argue...Pours golden with a medium white creamy head. Light malts with a discreet fruity background. Next to no bitterness and hardly any aftertaste to make you think about it. Not a whole lot going on with this, it's easy to drink and a bit too watery. A bit of a duffer, very average and only reached a limp 4/10 on the beerometer.

Alc : 4.5%
Where to buy : Unknown at time of writing.