Skadi
Ölvisholt Brugghús

March 23rd, 2016 - We're enjoying this within view of a waterfall here in Iceland, and while it's sweet, it has a nice, homey flavor to it that matches the landscape of Iceland's craggy moonscape. The nose has a good spicy and herbal scent, with lots of coriander and banana. The flavor is more herbal than spice, with white grape and an assertive bitterness, and a long aftertaste that finally lets the spice on the aroma shine alongside some floral and potpourri.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a hazy amber colour. Smells a bit funky, yeasty, spicy, and a little sweet. Tastes slightly fruity and tart, slightly roastedness/smokiness, and a spicy bitterness at the end.

As is protocol with farmhouse ales, be weary of bottle sediment when pouring. You wouldn't want to tarnish that polished, deep bronze complexion. Skadi is a good looking beer alright, albeit considerably dark for a Saison - not to mention flat; the foam that lasts can hardly be called a head.

This is a style that typically makes itself known in the nose; the yeast required is distinctively spicy, fruity and fragrant. But this aroma isn't all that remarkable. In fact, the fruit esters that are present register as relatively rich and dried, like those of a Bock, and similarly blended with a hint of ethanol.

What's true for the first two observations is true for the taste: it's nice, but not to style. A beer judge wouldn't be so forgiving of this toasty, smooth, honeyed, nutty, almost lagered-like maltiness and the lack of blatant fruit esters. Blindfolded, I wouldn't know what to guess it...

Style constrictions aside, Skadi is an easy-to-like beer. While the strength (7.5%) is immediately apparent, the taste has an intensity to match and ends on an almost anise-like note. There's little of the usual orchard fruits (peach, apple, pear) but spiced, honeyed grain fills the gap nicely.

Saison (or "farmhouse ale") is an inherently broad category that allows plenty of room for interpretation. That being said, I've never tasted one quite like Skadi. It's a decidedly Icelandic take on the style that's "colder", seemingly lagered version that's very light on those typical 'sunny summer day' characteristics.

 

Purchased from Vinbudin Reykjavik. Pours a generous head in a red wine glass; two fingers after one minute. Dark amber color. Very estery, but well balanced with a nice, sour aftertaste. Me alewifie likes this one - and she's picky. Earthy, yeasty smell. Delicious. Sparkles in the mouth; quite carbonated.

 

Brought back from Iceland in February 2015, 330 ml bottle opened & poured into a Innis & Gunn glass. I pour it carefully but there is still a massive foamy head. Golden orange in colour with a white head that eventually settles down. Aromas of caramel & malt. Tastes of caramel and strong alcohol, not very well hidden. Feels overly carbonated, might explain some of the excessive foamy head. Overall I'm not even halfway through it, but I'm not loving it, and would pass on a second.