Ölands Gammeldags Svagdricka
Ölands Gårdsbryggeri

”Svagdricka” or small beer is a traditional Swedish beer style: A dark lager is brewed, but the fermentation is interrupted by the addition of saccharine or sugar. The result is a very (very!) sweet, dark beer with lots of malt and almost no bitterness or alcohol at all. It is traditionally served with simple home cooking and mostly drunk by oldies.

Anyway… When poured, the beer develops a gigantic beige airy head. It sinks down slowly. The colour of the beer is somewhat hazy dark amber-brown.

The smell is malty, sweet and a bit prickling. There are roasted fruity notes, some sour yeast and a chemical touch of soap.

The taste is extremely sweet (as it should be). The body is very low. There are soap-y chemical notes, some lightly roasted malt, caramel and a hint of American hoppy hops. The aftertaste is also sweet with some fruity notes. Those chemical notes are there, too. Maybe a touch of broth, too?

The carbonation is strong with microscopic bubbles.

I am used to the Svagdricka from the Carlsberg/Pripps conglomerate and that one is darker, more roasted and it lacks the odd notes of old fashioned soap. I am not convinced of this one...