The Dank Dane
Amager Bryghus

Copenhagen 24/4 2016. 50 cl bottle from Gunnar Madsen Vinhandel, Østerbrogade, Kbh. Ø. Some sort of giant backpacker with hops for a beard working hard on destroying the Golden Gate on the label.

Pours hazy golden amber with a yellowish head. Stable. Settles as a thin layer of foam stretching to cover the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is not as distinct as many other IPAs from Amager. Pleasant enough. Exotic fruit - a little subdued - with some bitter sour citric notes. Some fermented fruit rummaging in the background. Aroma gets stronger as the beer gets warmer.

Medium strong carbonation and a watery palate. Lively and tingling texture.

Flavor is lightly sweet followed by a good and distinct bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste. Semi dry finish.

Quite nice. Now I can use the expression "Dank as a Dane" with a clear conscience.

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium, slightly hazy coppery amber, with a half finger white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dry caramel malt, citrus and lightly piney hops, light dried tropical fruit, orange, and grapefruit. Flavor follows, with lightly caramel malt, citrus and piney hops, orange, grapefruit and lemon, dried mixed tropical and stone fruit, rye with a little rye tartness. Finishes with rye, citrus and citrus rind, lingering citrus hops. Medium bodied with light creaminess and sharp carbonation. Well, this one is a mystery. Both the hops and malt taste tired. This was supposed to have been brewed up to 2016 and there is no indication of this ale on the Amager website. The bottle was manufactured in 2015, and all evidence is that although this just showed up in the Seattle market, this might be a "Shelton Special" from a warehouse somewhere. If it is from this year, it was not handled well. Fortunately, it has aged as well as possible for the ABV. The hop bill is still interesting, but has light oxidation. The aroma is very big caramel, but the flavor is more in line with a caramel, wheat and rye profile that the bottle lists. The rye now dominates the flavor and the caramel is mild, leaving the tired hops a little stark on the finish. This is interesting and as usual for Amager, well made, but I wouldn't recommend buying it now if there is no date on the bottle. I hope this is a poorly handled, somewhat old bottle. If it is truly an IPA from 2016 at an ABV of 6.5, it's inexcusable for it to be distributed. Still drinkable and I liked the rye malt, but tastes tired.

 

Darker, golden orange in color. Hazy. Orange, pine bitterness and melon. Maybe some rye fruitiness. Light bodied and delicate in flavor. On the malty side. Slick feel. Taste is on the old school IPA side. It's OK

 

Outstanding! This IPA pours a golden amber hue with sticky lacing. Aroma of mango and pineapple on the nose and the same taste on the palate. Such a nice long lingering bitterness that satisfies immeasurably. I am so bummed out to know as soon as I discovered this Gem that it is being retired. I hit the Beer Menu to find out what was left in my area and scooped up another 7 bottles.

On tap at Pizzeria Paradiso/Georgetown. Served in a small nonic glass.

A - Neither clear nor orange juice cloudy - 3.0
S - Very aromatic. The best characteristic of this beer. Too bad. 4.25
T - Dank tasting, maybe too malty - 3.75
MF - Medium body with a mildly dry finish. 3.75

500 ml bottle, no bottled on date present. Cases of this stuff just landed at the local beer store recently, so I'm hoping it is fresh despite being listed as retired on BeerAdvocate. My first beer from Amager Bryghus, and a collaboration effort with Cellarmaker. Bottle lists a 6.90% abv. Appealing artwork. "Rye & Wheat IPA".

Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.

A - Pours a burnt golden sunset orange body, with lots of tiny flecks of dark sediment floating about. One finger of frothy soapy white head that leaves excellent scattered lacing throughout. Appears aptly carbonated. Looks very nice for the style.

S - A pleasant aroma, with good floral earthy hop presence, but i can feel that the bready caramel malts are beginning to pull toward the front. Hops are floral & soapy - not piney, bitter, resinous, or "dank" smelling (at this point, at least). Still, the aroma is pleasant and inviting.

T - Taste follows the nose: lots of bright floral hops, feels a bit like Mosaic, with bready caramel malts struggling for first place. Hops are floral, with good earthy bitterness that mingles with the rye, but i wouldn't say it's overly bitter, resinous, or "dank". Was expecting more of a bitterness bomb here than floral hops. Only slightly piney & resinous. Notes of juicy citrus stone fruits - grapefruit, mango, peach, nectarine, mandarin orange, papaya, pineapple. Hops feel bright, juicy, & fresh, but the malt presence feels like it is beginning to creep, which makes me question this beer's age, though perhaps it is just the wheat / rye blend taking it's natural effect. Not overly dry or grainy like how i normally interpret rye beers.

M - Feel is smooth, crisp, creamy, Medium-bodied with good crisp carbonation. Semi-juicy stone fruit lingering on the palate. The malt bill plays it's part.

Overall, some bottle dating would be nice next time to judge the age of this IPA. Doesn't taste too old, but the malt feels like it is definitely creeping, indicative of some age. Either way, a very nice IPA, but i feel like this probably isn't even close to being representative of either Amager or Cellarmaker's true brewing capabilities. And definitely not a bargain at $10.99 for a a 1 pint 0.9 fl oz bottle. Thanks Shelton Brothers.

Amager Bryghus / Cellarmaker The Dank Dane -----4/5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap ar Murphy’s Law. Hazy orange with a tall and fluffy white head. Crisp and bitter, with notes of citrus, pine and caramel Smooth moutfeel.