A Flowery Song

Background: Product of Norway.

Appearance: Pours a deep brown with a dense, creamy head that displays excellent retention.

Nose: Fruity and earthy. Slightly vinous and chocolatey.

Taste: The barest touch of sweet creaminess under a ton of rich earthiness, dark roasted coffee, dusty cocoa, and some dark stewed fruit. Dry, earthy, lingering finish.

Overall: It's nice, but on the expensive side.

Background: This recreation of a traditional farmhouse ale from Norway is brewed from wood-smoked malt and spiced with juniper branches and berries.

Appearance: Opaque medium brown, foams enthusiastically and the tan head exhibits great retention.

Smell: Spicy pine scents from the juniper, subtle smoke seems to grow in intensity as you take additional sniffs. Hints of dark malt and slight dried fruit aromas.

Taste: Smoke may seem subdued in the nose, but it comes through here with a vengeance. Hefty wood smoke flavour is the first and last thing you taste. Vague fruitiness sliding into juniper comes through in the middle. A hint of meatiness is almost gamy; slight sour yeast character. Besides the smoke, the long finish also contains a resiny reminder of the juniper.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and medium-bodied, high carbonation and a tongue-coating tingly sensation from the juniper resins.

Drinkability: I love this beer. It's bold and assertive, with sufficient complexity to keep the beer geeks happy.