8 Wired - The Big Smoke

Having tried a sample glass of the excellent iStout, which I will blog about when I come across it again, this is not my first encounter with this brewery. You can read the Danish nomadic brewer Søren Eriksen and the brewery here. Might as well get on with this smoked porter, blurb first, small rant after....

Now what is this? A smoked beer?? It really isn’t as crazy as it sounds. 250 years ago virtually all beers were smoked (it’s true, Google it!), but with the dawning of the industrial revolution most of the smoke lifted. However, in the German town of Bamberg the flame has quite literally been kept alive and to this day the town’s brewers produce world renowned beers brewed with their own special rauchmalz (beechwood smoked malt). We’ve taken our best porter recipe and added a good measure of that same Bamberg Rauchmalz. The smoke mingles beautifully with the rich, dark roasted chocolate flavours of the porter without being overpowering. Although it pairs extremely well with smoked seafood, barbeques, strong cheeses and hearty stews, its food friendliness isn’t limited to savouries; chocolate and caramel based deserts are great companions too! Trust us; it really isn’t as crazy as it sounds.

I really dislike all this food pairing blurb on beer bottles nowadays, especially when one states at the end '..or can be enjoyed on its own' What is that all about ? What if you are sitting in some crummy bar with the only food option of beer nuts or crisps..'no wait, they say it can be enjoyed on its own, thank gawd for that'. Stop this nonsense, please.

Light wafts of roast malt, smoke/charred wood and chocolate.

Big Smoke pours black with a thick creamy beige head. Mildly sweet intake with roasted malt, chocolate, a touch of licorice and light smoke while the malty finish is sharp and dry. Licorice, malt and coffee linger in the aftertaste. Lowly carbonated, this has a creamy mouthfeel.

This reminded me a lot of the coisbo - brooklyn fall which i posted not so long ago as in the lightness of the smoke profile. Rightly or wrongly when I see 'smoked' my mind always wanders to Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock which for me is the ultimate smoked beer. In other words I like my smoked beer intense. Otherwise, this is a decent enough porter which I had no problem with. I would drink it again if the opportunity came up but I would not rush out to buy another. Summing up, like the mentioned coisbo, this is another decent gateway for someone wanting to try a lightly smoked beer.

This scored 7/10 on the 'Please Sir, can I have more smoke' Beerometer.

Alc : 6.2%
Where to buy CPH : Kihoskh, Sønder Boulevard 53, Kbh V

Coisbo - Brooklyn Fall

My first encounter with this brewer/y. (website in danish only) This is a smoked beer so as ever I'm looking forward to this...

Mild aroma of smoke, malt and coffee from the pour.

Brooklyn Fall pours clear dark brown with a quick fading beige head. Sweet intake with malt, coffee, caramel, chocolate and mild smoke in the background while the finish has a dry sweetness. Licorice and coffee linger in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is smooth and a tiny bit oily.

I enjoyed this one but there is a few personal gripes. More smoke and less sweet please ! Halfway down the glass and I felt it was all getting a bit samey. Not that I had trouble finishing it nor would say no to another, I just would not rush out and buy one. Personally with smoked beers I like the feeling that I am drinking bonfire with half a kilo of bacon on top while this is more like subdued roasted ham thats been burnt a bit. Summing up, decent enough one to try if you like lightly smoked beer.

This scored 6.5/10 on the 'bacon, you can never have enough' Beerometer.

Alc : 6.5%
Where to buy CPH : Kihoskh, Sønder Boulevard 53, Kbh V

Haandbryggeriet - Norwegian Wood

Continuing the Nordic theme, this one from Norway. Not my first encounter with Haandbryggeriet  as I have tried their Dark Force Imperial Stout before which i thought was tremendous. On to the beer in question which is styled as a Traditional Norwegian Smoked Ale. Blurb below...

Once, every farm in Norway was required by law to brew its own ale. All of that ale had a natural smoky taste because the malt was kilned by fire, and most of it was spiced with juniper berries. Norwegian Wood, a recreation of that traditional style, is made by the "Hand Brewery" - four guys brewing in their spare time, on an absurdly small scale.

Beautiful aroma of smoke, wood, malt and spices from the very lively pour.

Norwegian Wood pours a dense muddy brown with a creamy beige head. Moderately sweet intake with roasted malt, caramel, smoke and juniper berries. The finish is mild hoppy bitter and has a woody dryness. It has a pleasant sweet aftertaste with smoke, caramel and juniper. Quite fizzy and slightly oily mouthfeel.

Not the best looking beer but a very tasty smoked ale and I really enjoyed drinking this one. A lot lighter than I expected. If buying, be careful on the pour or you will end up with a lot of sediment floating about. No problem for me buying and drinking another. One gripe, I thought the carbonation was too high. Summing up, a light and tasty smoked ale which left me very impressed.

This scored perhaps a bit low 7.5/10 on the 'I still have not forgiven them for AHA' Beerometer.

Alc : 6.5%
Where to buy CPH : Kihoskh, Sønder Boulevard 53, Kbh V

Refsvindinge - Prima Landøl

Taking a break from American imports it is time to look at another 'everyday' Danish beer.

Refsvindinge could be called a starting point for craft beer drinkers in Denmark, specifically Ale 16 is the beer that many Danes started their voyage away from the monopolies of the big brewers. It was the first Danish ale I ever tried which back then was a revelation to me and opened my eyes.

Quite similar to Newcastle brown ale and a lot of others I think the quality of it has gone down over the years, perhaps in line with all the E-numbers, whatever else they are adding nowadays and probably using lesser quality ingredients ? It certainly does not taste the same as 'back in the day' though that may be due to the fact that there is a huge choice of better beer out there now.

On to the beer this post is about...This is a smoked pils !

What a great smell. Wafts of bonfire smoke, malt and burnt caramel from the pour.

Prima Landøl pours clear dark gold with a small white head that quickly dissipates. Smoke, malt, caramel and a hint of hops on the intake while it ends with a light bitter smokey finish. Next to nothing in the short aftertaste apart from more smoked malt.  It has a watery and light mouthfeel.

I would have enjoyed this a whole lot more if it was not for being so watery. Nice tasting Danish 'rauchbier' that is a lot more subtle than the German counterparts. Apart from being too watery I have no complaints. I would have no problem buying or drinking this again but I would choose Krenkerup Rauch over this as a Danish alternative, which is very similar and more widely available.

This scored 3.5/10 on the 'smoooooookkkiing' Beerometer.

Alc : 4.6%
Where to buy CPH : Høkeren, Ravnsborggade 13, Kbh N.