Norwegian Wood
HaandBryggeriet

Norwegian WoodNorwegian Wood
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From:
HaandBryggeriet
 
Norway
Style:
Smoked Beer
Ranked #14
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,500
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 10.15%
Reviews:
232
Ratings:
353
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 20, 2022
Added:
Jun 17, 2007
Wants:
  55
Gots:
  29
Brewed with smoked malt, munich malt, crystal and chocolate malt, and spiced with juniper twigs and berries.
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by doremite:
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Rated by doremite from Vermont

4/5  rDev +1.5%

Jun 13, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.48 by desint from Belgium

Jul 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by warpedrevolution from Illinois

Oct 14, 2019
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from 500mL bottle into a tulip. This is from batch 868, bottled 6/19/15.

Appearance: murky amber-brown hue with a finger of frothy ivory foam atop. Muddy, but not unattractive.

Smell: mildly smoky with a bready malt aroma; it's nice, if not particularly complex.

Taste: the smoke is a bit more pronounced in the flavor, backed by a mild malt that's bready but not too sweet. There's also a nice balancing bitterness at the end of this one — I like it.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a huge carbonation and a big creaminess that I really dig.

Overall: this is a good smoked beer. The underlying base reminds me of an altbier, and the smoke adds a lot of character without being overwhelming. I don't know whether, or how much, this bottle's age affected the flavor, but right now it is pretty tasty.
Sep 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.51 by sunnovgoat from California

Jun 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.08 by emerge077 from Illinois

Jun 14, 2019
Photo of Fordcoyote15
Reviewed by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
L - tawny and murky light brown. Not what I was expecting. Head is the whitest I've ever seen in a beer.

S - apple juice. Mesquite bbq. Sweet.

T - smokey, dry, bitter. Potent. Both meaty and peaty smoke.

F - borderline flat. Not sure if intentional or not.

O - not my favorite smoked beer.
Mar 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by _nickg_ from New Jersey

Feb 16, 2018
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from fridge temp at a bottle share. Pours light brown and transparent. Nose is spice and smoke. Taste is sweet, grapes, mint, smoke, and slight bitterness. Almost saison like. Mouthfeel is medium and dry.
Dec 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by NightINgale from Russian Federation

Nov 29, 2017
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle dated 19-06-2015 into the test glass
A - Tawny copper colored, steady carbonation feeds a resilient cap of off white.
S - Smoked grains, a bit of toffee, juniper, spring tobacco
T - Some charred cherry, pine, sweet smoked malts, herbal and autumnal,
M - Medium in body, well carbonated, semi sweet, with a well constructed finish
O - A delight, with some age a well rounded flavor profile.
Nov 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Oct 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by Leiermann from Pennsylvania

Sep 17, 2017
Photo of MikkelHanson
Reviewed by MikkelHanson from Nevada

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
I usually dont like smokey beer or tea. To me the "smokey" taste ends up tasting burnt and ashy. This beer pulls off the smokey flavor perfectly. Its very well done and it has complex flavors. Its thick and would pair well with cheeses and meat. Fantastic beer. I didnt expect it to be that good. Compliments to the brewer. Keep em coming!
Sep 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Sweffin from Wisconsin

Jun 07, 2017
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
with this brew, i double down on my position that these guys are among the best in the world, the very best, and these is nothing else like this out there at all. nice cloudy pale brown to amber color, and a two inch off white head that continues to rise over the rim of the glass, slowly, methodically, and with no intent on resting. aroma here starts with some light campfire smoke and dry mature wood ready to be thrown on to said fire, with a cocoa note, a wild yeast and dry bretty twang, dried fruits like raisins and figs, and a little fresh lemon zest as well, lots happening here. the flavor is well rounded too, with the smoke leading the way but not defining it by any means, wood and citrus swirling around mature but mild bretty weirdness, wild, not so cultured as what we are used to from american brewers, and not without a malt presence beyond the smoked aspect, with chocolate and maybe some wheat in here too. a slight botanical note, piney maybe, sage or tea too, nice with the curious wild complexion. bone dry and insanely effervescent and without any acidity despite the yeast driven nature of the whole thing. bitter smoke and woodsy vibes to finish, just amazing beer thats drinkable for days and madly interesting. these guys dont get one fraction of the love they deserve from the beer geeks. come on guys, this is some special sauce here!!!
Jun 06, 2017
Photo of schlimenhaumer
Reviewed by schlimenhaumer from New York

3.06/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Served in a 500ml bottle at Cardinal in Stavanger, Norway. Batch 997 and bottle notes a best by date of 22 June 2018. Traditional Norwegian Smoked Ale with Juniper Berries.

A: pours a translucent ruby color with a thin off-white head that leaves spotty lacing. Notable sediment suspended evenly throughout the glass

S: caramel malt notes up front with a define smoky character. Some faint juniper in the background

T: similar to the nose, caramel and bready malt up front, followed by a bit of herbal bitterness (not particularly hoppy) with smoke character coming through on the long finish. A unique flavor profile, and I'm glad I got a chance to try this in Norway.

M: medium bodied with minimal carbonation; wet

O: an interesting brew overall, and a new style for me. My first beer from Haandbryggeriet if memory serves, and I'd certainly give them another try for unique brews and styles. B-
May 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by dcmchew from Romania

May 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.16 by redbarnbikes from New York

Mar 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by OompaMentor from Georgia

Jan 07, 2017
Norwegian Wood from HaandBryggeriet
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 353 ratings