This week’s Thursday bier tasting featured 3 interesting biers.
First up was Grottenbier Bruin, which is a newish bier from St. Bernardus Brouwerij (famed for the wonderful St. Bernardus Abt 12 ). This bier is a 6.7% Abbey Dubbel, and it is claimed to have been aged in the Caves of Kanne, Belgium.
The bier pours a dirty brown with a small pale head that leaves behind some lacing. The aroma is quite unexpected – sour candy, banana bread, barnyard, violets and hint of heather honey. It is surprisingly light on the palate with a floral finish and a hint of bitterness. The taste is lavender, camomile, honey, candi sugar, violets and a hint of citrus. This was quite enjoyable, unexpected and unique.
The next bier was Kinn Svartekunst F.E.D.I.R.E.S.P. from Norwegian brewery Kinn Bryggeri. A shout must go out to my Norwegian friend Bernt who gave me a couple of bottles of this in a beer trade. This bier is a 10% ABV stout that is described as a “Foreign Extra Double Imperial Russian Export Stout Porter”.
This bier is a dark brown with a small chocolate head that leaves some lacing. The aroma is chocolate, oak and liquorice. It is medium bodied with a bitter roast finish. The taste is coffee, oak, burnt sugar, with hints of liquorice and chocolate. I found this bier a touch harsh, perhaps it would mellow a little with age.
The final bier was Brad’s contribution, Palo Santo Marron from Dogfish Head Brewery. in Delaware, USA. This is a 12% malty brown ale aged on the wood of the Palo Santo tree from Paraguay.
This bier is ruby black with a reasonable chocolate head. The aroma is sandalwood, oak, chocolate, raisins, cherry and brown sugar. It has a creamy mouthfeel and is full bodied with a smooth, slightly umami finish featuring lots of wood and some roast. The taste is cocoa, toasted malt, oak, aniseed and dark dried fruits. I really enjoyed this beer – for me this was definitely the highlight of the evening.