Lava
Ölvisholt Brugghús

LavaLava
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From:
Ölvisholt Brugghús
 
Iceland
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.4%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 10.49%
Reviews:
203
Ratings:
582
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 29, 2020
Added:
Dec 01, 2008
Wants:
  58
Gots:
  61
The active volcano Hekla is visible from the brewhouse door and occasionally, eruptions are visible from the Ölvisholt farm. The illustration resembles the view from the brewhouse door when an eruption occurs. Full-bodied, pitch black beer with a dense brown head. Richly flavored with notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt and smoke.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beer_HOPper:
Photo of Beer_HOPper
Reviewed by Beer_HOPper

4.16/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
On Tap at 38 Degrees poured into a goblet. I wanted to try something else besides my usual Pliney. So, the server recommended this, not the bartender.

Appearance: Very dark brown to black, 1 finger head and some lace, looks delicious.

Smell: smoke, nuts, malt, was hard to detect.

Taste and feel: sweet, smoky chocolate syrup, no carbonation, medium body, smoke lingers into finish, a little creamy made this seem thick, a slight bitter finish. After settling for 10 minutes, the smoke really comes out, reminds me of Islay Scotch whisky. I was shockingly surprised, unique!

Overall: this was like drinking a very good, sweet & smoky BBQ steak sauce. An end of night beer, one and done in a good way.
Sep 02, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.27 by Insomniac from Canada (ON)

Nov 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.3 by Archfiend from Illinois

Oct 03, 2020
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

3.34/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
March 24th, 2016 - Bursting with lava on the label, this beer bursts with smoke in the flavor. It's a little bit like Iceland's rauchbier, with a huge puff of smoke in the aroma, and ham, though not as deep as the style it might be imitating. The flavor is a tad sweeter than the aroma, with plenty of smoke and ham here too, but pared back compared to the aroma. The long aftertaste echoes these flavors, but with some mashed pea taste and body, and just a slight flavor of toasted coconut. The flavor is much better than the aroma, though still appreciably smoke riddled.
May 11, 2020
 
Rated: 4.83 by porterman66 from Massachusetts

Sep 29, 2019
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

4.56/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L- Inky black, not a photon gets through even though the base-corners when held directly in front of a halogen bulb. Pours with 5mm super-fine bubble dark tan head, very slowly receding.
S- Deeply toasty, somewhat smokey molasses. Grains roasted until almost dark - I don't know, but it's pungent.
T- Woah! Ultra toasted, with very heavy layers of smoke flavour and rich strong espresso coffee. There is a distinct richness, it isn't sweetness, but it's perhaps a parallel from the high ABV%. Possibly the biggest flavour (and I mean flavour, not feel or %strength) of any beer I've had. It just bull-dozes across the palate. - Also I want to be clear, I can find zero out of place or out of balance here.
F- It's a beast of a beer. It's clearly more suited to cooler climates and months than hotter climes. To me it's a classic slow-sipping winter-warmer.
O- Wow, mega-smoke, toast, coffee. A huge polished presence. Nothing else I drink tonight will even register on my palate after this monster.
Bought at Reykjavik Duty Free on departure. IsK1499/(£9.80) for a 750ml bottle. BB: 25/June/2022. I'd looked across town to find this during my stay but failed, even at the major downtown liquor store (vinbudin nr the harbour).
p.s. Yes, I intentionally held this one back a week or two so it'd be my 666th rating - it felt appropriate together with the fiery gate to the volcanic fury theme. The empty bottle weighs c600gms, so a full one = about 1.35Kg, plan packing your hand-luggage accordingly! (Apparently such bottles of beer are NOT allowed on departing flights that connect to destination).
Sep 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by Guinnsslvr from Illinois

May 10, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Midnight black in color.

Khaki head; nice lacing throughout.

Smoky nose, not overbearing. Hint of cream.

Thick mouthfeel; almost like a milkshake.

The taste is very subtle for a smoked beer, letting a mocha latte flavor wash over your tongue. Seriously chocolate-y, cream-y & roast-y. Delicious. Slight booziness on the back end.

I'm blown away.
May 01, 2019
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

4.14/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lightproof black colored beer with a small brown colored head.

Smells strongly of berries. Smells boozy and sweet with a strong scent of chocolate syrup. There is a distinct strong raspberry scent. Lesser scents of smoke, coffee and medicine. Intensely aromatic.

Starts out SMOKEY! Very smoky and sweet to start. Mildly sweet with the taste of smoked berries. Mild bitterness but that isn't a big part of the taste. Taste of salt.

Mouthfeel is thick.

Overall a unique beer. Best beer that tastes like smoked berries I have ever had.
Mar 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4.8 by bmaggot from Lithuania

Feb 03, 2019
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.84/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
Glad to try my second from Iceland, but I wish my bottle had been younger... or not aged so long on the shelf.
I got a pretty good Looker, black as spades and an inviting foam. Smells told me my copy was different, as the smoke in mine is more subdued than many reviewers indicated. Tastes remind me more of an English Old Ale than a rich RIS; like a blending of a young with an old stout (again, perhaps some deterioration in my copy.) Feel slips further; not chewy, which is the characteristic I usually need to go back to a RIS.

While I'm not keen on spending this much for even a RIS, I'm particularly not keen when I don't get a fresh copy.
But that is no fault of the brewer, who I find interesting. The brewmaster is female and Lava is a game winning cash cow (this RIS has 7 times more BA ratings than Olvisholt's next most rated). And besides, having a volcano in your backyard (or nearly so) is different. My side mission is to try different brewers' wares. And Olvisholt certainly qualifies.
Dec 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.74 by Helgi from Iceland

Nov 11, 2018
Photo of Buck89
Reviewed by Buck89 from Tennessee

4.19/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a snifter. An opaque dark brown color with a thick and persistent dark tan head. Chocolate dominated the aroma, but it was nicely complex with some smoke, charred wood, roasted grains, and floral hops. The taste followed this pattern. Great dark chocolate flavor in this beer. The smoke was there but was restrained and supported the roasted notes well. This was all balanced by a firm floral bitterness expected in an RIS. Medium-bodied with a slightly sweet finish. Overall a fantastic beer that went down way too easy.
Sep 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Aug 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.46 by zotzot from Vermont

Jul 26, 2018
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

4.02/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look - black syrup with no real head
Smell - Smokey toasted malts
Taste - very Smokey, toasted malts slight cocoa
Feel - fairly thin with a light carb
Overall - pretty good if you like smoked beers
Jul 19, 2018
Photo of BenHoppy
Reviewed by BenHoppy from Michigan

3.73/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark, creamy, and easily drinkable for 9% RIS but smokiness was very mild. I would've preffered a stronger Smokey flavor. Nevertheless best Iceland beer I've had to date.
Jul 08, 2018
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

4.21/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Purchased from the duty free at the airport in Keflavik on a recent trip to Iceland.

Appearance - Pours a dark chocolate brown with two fingers of creamy tan head.

Smell - Roasted malts, earthy and leafy hops, smoky aroma, hint of dark fruits, woody char, and cocoa.

Taste - Smoky roasted malt flavours along with bitterness from the earthy & leafy hops. Lingering bitterness and flavours of smoke/charred wood. Subtle touch of dark fruits.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full bodied with light to moderate carbonation. There is a warmth, I suspect from the alcohol. Smooth finish.

Overall - A well executed RIS that utilizes the smoke flavour to its advantage. Considering that craft beer production in Iceland is still in its infancy, I'm highly impressed by the quality in the execution of this brew.
Jul 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.96 by npendres from Wisconsin

May 09, 2018
Photo of ArrogantB
Reviewed by ArrogantB from Colorado

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle shared by a friend. Dark black, almost no head. Aroma is a tinge of smoke. The smoke dances on teh flavor but there is also a nice malty sweetness to this. I usually do not like smoked beers but this was kind of tasty.
Apr 07, 2018
Lava from Ölvisholt Brugghús
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 582 ratings