Garún Icelandic Stout NR.19
Borg Brugghús
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #279 - ABV:
- 11.5%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,255 - Avg:
- 4.29 | pDev: 7.69%
- Reviews:
- 54
- Ratings:
- From:
- Borg Brugghús
- Iceland
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 29
- Gots
- 48
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class
Notes:
Garún is named for the strong and brave heroine of one of Iceland's most popular folktales "The deacon of Dark River (Myrká)." A tale of ghosts, undying love, and life triumphing over death told against the backdrop of elements essential to Iceland's character: ice, snow, and flooding waters whirling dark and mysterious. The same elements that inspire this rich, intense, bold and swirlingly varied Icelandic stout.
Garún is a dark aura of intense richness and haunting aroma with notes of chocolate, licorice and coffee. Skál!
Garún is a dark aura of intense richness and haunting aroma with notes of chocolate, licorice and coffee. Skál!
Reviews: 54
| Ratings: 239
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4.27/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L- Inky black, thin dark tan head, not a single photon of light seems to pass through this beer.
S- Toasty, roasty, puddingy, deep.
T- Wow! Deep, *intense* coffee and chocolate. Super pungent, a thing of wonder!
F- Rich, deep, but even at 11.5% not OTT.
O- Wow, intense chocolate coffee stout. A beauty of a beast of a beer.
I visited the Vinbudin (state liquor store) in Reykjavik, my wife loves stout and chose this and I got to try it (briefly!).
No visible BB on the cap, lable or glass, but from the major liquor store in town.
532 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L- Inky black, thin dark tan head, not a single photon of light seems to pass through this beer.
S- Toasty, roasty, puddingy, deep.
T- Wow! Deep, *intense* coffee and chocolate. Super pungent, a thing of wonder!
F- Rich, deep, but even at 11.5% not OTT.
O- Wow, intense chocolate coffee stout. A beauty of a beast of a beer.
I visited the Vinbudin (state liquor store) in Reykjavik, my wife loves stout and chose this and I got to try it (briefly!).
No visible BB on the cap, lable or glass, but from the major liquor store in town.
532 characters
4.17/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Unknown vintage; drank 7/13/14 @ Bangers & Lace.
Black hue.
Dark khaki head; a curtain of lace.
Black licorice, fresh earth & bakers chocolate nose.
Thick, sticky mouthfeel.
Black licorice, candle wax & fresh earth flavors, with a bitter bakers chocolate finish.
Enjoyable, but pull up your big boy pants.
317 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Unknown vintage; drank 7/13/14 @ Bangers & Lace.
Black hue.
Dark khaki head; a curtain of lace.
Black licorice, fresh earth & bakers chocolate nose.
Thick, sticky mouthfeel.
Black licorice, candle wax & fresh earth flavors, with a bitter bakers chocolate finish.
Enjoyable, but pull up your big boy pants.
317 characters
4.23/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A surprisingly great stout for a reasonable price. Had this sitting in my basement 2+ years - shared 4 ways, so just a taste. Pours a moderately thick black with short lived mocha head - no cloudiness but too dense for light to pass. Aroma is up front roasted coffee, dark chocolate, but definite licorice without being over powering. Do get a sense of the booze on the nose also.
Taste sweet coffee, chocolate, licorice with a little char on the finish - ends with a slightly boozy full biitersweetness balancing out very nicely.
532 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A surprisingly great stout for a reasonable price. Had this sitting in my basement 2+ years - shared 4 ways, so just a taste. Pours a moderately thick black with short lived mocha head - no cloudiness but too dense for light to pass. Aroma is up front roasted coffee, dark chocolate, but definite licorice without being over powering. Do get a sense of the booze on the nose also.
Taste sweet coffee, chocolate, licorice with a little char on the finish - ends with a slightly boozy full biitersweetness balancing out very nicely.
532 characters
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2018 bottle. Tan head. Black color.
This is the expedition stout of Iceland. Coffee, roasted malts, chocolate, cocoa, and licorice. Full bodied. Thick. A very nice stout!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2018 bottle. Tan head. Black color.
This is the expedition stout of Iceland. Coffee, roasted malts, chocolate, cocoa, and licorice. Full bodied. Thick. A very nice stout!
172 characters
4.41/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to my friend Johann for bring this back to the states after his recent journey back to the homeland.
This is an outstanding stout. Hints of licorice, coffee and cocoa balanced out by a smooth finish and mouthfeel. Very happy to have tried it. Makes me want to go trekking in Iceland.
293 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to my friend Johann for bring this back to the states after his recent journey back to the homeland.
This is an outstanding stout. Hints of licorice, coffee and cocoa balanced out by a smooth finish and mouthfeel. Very happy to have tried it. Makes me want to go trekking in Iceland.
293 characters
4.11/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look - black thin syrup with slight lacing and slight disappearing film
Smell - very very slight dark roasted malts
Taste - black licorice booze and dark malts
Feel - pretty thin with a light carbonation
Overall - fantastic strong beer
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look - black thin syrup with slight lacing and slight disappearing film
Smell - very very slight dark roasted malts
Taste - black licorice booze and dark malts
Feel - pretty thin with a light carbonation
Overall - fantastic strong beer
235 characters
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Enjoyed in Iceland
Black color, decent head
Nose plenty of dark chocolate, little roasty, fudge, cocoa, little dark fruits
Taste dark thick fudge, dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted coffee, some roasty char and little charred burnt roast slight acrid, fair bitterness, little licorice
Mouth thick chewy nice fizzy carb, touch of alcohol tingle
339 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Enjoyed in Iceland
Black color, decent head
Nose plenty of dark chocolate, little roasty, fudge, cocoa, little dark fruits
Taste dark thick fudge, dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted coffee, some roasty char and little charred burnt roast slight acrid, fair bitterness, little licorice
Mouth thick chewy nice fizzy carb, touch of alcohol tingle
339 characters
4.06/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sable brown beer with a fine head the color of chocolate frosting pulled back to leave a healthy ring and good lacing.
Faint grapes with some ash - interesting but lacks some punch.
Taste follows nose but with an unexpected herbal quality supplanting the typical sweetness. Alcohol and coffee finish.
Smooth and full with the expected warming from the alcohol.
Nicely done but strangely not picking up any of the licorice influences the brewers assert and that I have experienced with American Imperial Stouts.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sable brown beer with a fine head the color of chocolate frosting pulled back to leave a healthy ring and good lacing.
Faint grapes with some ash - interesting but lacks some punch.
Taste follows nose but with an unexpected herbal quality supplanting the typical sweetness. Alcohol and coffee finish.
Smooth and full with the expected warming from the alcohol.
Nicely done but strangely not picking up any of the licorice influences the brewers assert and that I have experienced with American Imperial Stouts.
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3.84/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark fruits, roast, and molasses on the nose. Fairly standard for a stout, although the nose implies more single-digit ABV porter than big, bold imperial stout.
Roasty and bitter on the palate. Dark fruit and grapes. Char and burnt toast, toffee, and blackstrap molasses. Peppery and earthy rye.
Big and bold, but very smooth. Flavor profile more matches up with a robust porter or stout, but it's an excellent beer with plenty of depth.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark fruits, roast, and molasses on the nose. Fairly standard for a stout, although the nose implies more single-digit ABV porter than big, bold imperial stout.
Roasty and bitter on the palate. Dark fruit and grapes. Char and burnt toast, toffee, and blackstrap molasses. Peppery and earthy rye.
Big and bold, but very smooth. Flavor profile more matches up with a robust porter or stout, but it's an excellent beer with plenty of depth.
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3.54/5 rDev -17.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Opaque black color. Creamy brown 2 finger head, lasting around 5-10 minutes, with no legs and swirl reaction but strong lacing. Flavors of dark grains, prunes, raisins, clove, wood, spices, coffee, and herbal hops. Slick and oily medium to full body with light carbonation. Strong strength finish, rich deep roasted and dark fruity feel, with a soft smoky Rauchbier and light barrel effect. Good intensity, balance, and complexity. Alcohol is well hidden. Overall very good quality craft.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Opaque black color. Creamy brown 2 finger head, lasting around 5-10 minutes, with no legs and swirl reaction but strong lacing. Flavors of dark grains, prunes, raisins, clove, wood, spices, coffee, and herbal hops. Slick and oily medium to full body with light carbonation. Strong strength finish, rich deep roasted and dark fruity feel, with a soft smoky Rauchbier and light barrel effect. Good intensity, balance, and complexity. Alcohol is well hidden. Overall very good quality craft.
488 characters
3.84/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Borg Brugghus 'Garun Icelandic Stout 19' @ 11.5% , served from a 330 ml bottle purchased for $4.30
A-pour is a dark cola brown from the bottle to a near black in the glass with a quick dissapating tan head leaving a minimal lace ring along the snifter
S-sweet
T-sweet & strong , bold boozey big swallow
MF-mild carbonation , big full body
Ov-big beer from Iceland
prost LampertLand
381 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Borg Brugghus 'Garun Icelandic Stout 19' @ 11.5% , served from a 330 ml bottle purchased for $4.30
A-pour is a dark cola brown from the bottle to a near black in the glass with a quick dissapating tan head leaving a minimal lace ring along the snifter
S-sweet
T-sweet & strong , bold boozey big swallow
MF-mild carbonation , big full body
Ov-big beer from Iceland
prost LampertLand
381 characters
4.21/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours as black as the soil of Iceland, with a small tan head that dissipates fairly quickly.
S: Subdued roasted malt and chocolate, some black licorice and notes of smoke.
T: Roasted malt, chocolate covered cherry with a little tartness. Notes of black licorice and smoke.
F: Creamy but a bit of prickly carbonation with a pretty syrupy full body.
O: A very nice stout
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours as black as the soil of Iceland, with a small tan head that dissipates fairly quickly.
S: Subdued roasted malt and chocolate, some black licorice and notes of smoke.
T: Roasted malt, chocolate covered cherry with a little tartness. Notes of black licorice and smoke.
F: Creamy but a bit of prickly carbonation with a pretty syrupy full body.
O: A very nice stout
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4.21/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Really nice find in the Reykjavik airport. Dark and intense, yet at the same time well balanced. Very smooth and drinkable, no burn despite the high alcohol content.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Really nice find in the Reykjavik airport. Dark and intense, yet at the same time well balanced. Very smooth and drinkable, no burn despite the high alcohol content.
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4.24/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the bottle into a tulip/globe glass.
Deep opaque and walnut brown body color, with a simple straight forward two finger head off classic tan and fine bubbles. Settles to a nice bowled crown on top of the brew. A simple good solid looking stout.
Excellent nose. Smoked malts with touches of roast character. Hints light firewood and a little touch of coffee bean roast mixing in. Touches a faint chocolate angle that isn't quite noticeable.
Palate is just nice and delictable. A chewy malt bill with hinting dark roast and flirts with char on first sip. Large fruit esters and almost wine like flavors in the mid palate, combining with excellent milk chocolate and light soft acidity. Fruity tones of raspberry and blueberry hit all over the palate. Milky but full bodied malt depth that coats with a real nice balancing sweetness all over. A punch of little tannic dryness, but nothing that detracts terribly.
A real classic rich and just delicious warming imperial stout, with excellent fruit hinting quality. Love the hinting fruit thickness on this brew.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the bottle into a tulip/globe glass.
Deep opaque and walnut brown body color, with a simple straight forward two finger head off classic tan and fine bubbles. Settles to a nice bowled crown on top of the brew. A simple good solid looking stout.
Excellent nose. Smoked malts with touches of roast character. Hints light firewood and a little touch of coffee bean roast mixing in. Touches a faint chocolate angle that isn't quite noticeable.
Palate is just nice and delictable. A chewy malt bill with hinting dark roast and flirts with char on first sip. Large fruit esters and almost wine like flavors in the mid palate, combining with excellent milk chocolate and light soft acidity. Fruity tones of raspberry and blueberry hit all over the palate. Milky but full bodied malt depth that coats with a real nice balancing sweetness all over. A punch of little tannic dryness, but nothing that detracts terribly.
A real classic rich and just delicious warming imperial stout, with excellent fruit hinting quality. Love the hinting fruit thickness on this brew.
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4.54/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look: Pours dark brown with visible viscosity to form a black body with a one-finger dark-brown head.
Smell: Mild for the class with black coffee, malt, and fresh topsoil all forward.
Taste: Smooth and dry with smoke, black coffee, dark chocolate and roast grain all forward. Sips like a nice espresso with sweet malt on the back rounding out and finishing the palate nicely.
Feel: Super smooth and creamy with light carbonation, moderate syrup lingers on the tongue with every sip.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look: Pours dark brown with visible viscosity to form a black body with a one-finger dark-brown head.
Smell: Mild for the class with black coffee, malt, and fresh topsoil all forward.
Taste: Smooth and dry with smoke, black coffee, dark chocolate and roast grain all forward. Sips like a nice espresso with sweet malt on the back rounding out and finishing the palate nicely.
Feel: Super smooth and creamy with light carbonation, moderate syrup lingers on the tongue with every sip.
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4.04/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very opaque dark brown/black. Dark beige foam but poor head retention. Smells like molasses and tobacco. The taste starts very sweet with chocolate and coffee character but the warmth of the alcohol is quickly felt by the palate, along with a distinctive roastiness and a thorough after taste.
This a great beer, maybe one my favorite imperial stout.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very opaque dark brown/black. Dark beige foam but poor head retention. Smells like molasses and tobacco. The taste starts very sweet with chocolate and coffee character but the warmth of the alcohol is quickly felt by the palate, along with a distinctive roastiness and a thorough after taste.
This a great beer, maybe one my favorite imperial stout.
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4.28/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle from 2015. Served in a snifter glass. One of the several bottles I bought home from my trip...
Pours a dark black body, one finger thick brown head, tons of retention, bits of lacing. Smell is rich licorice, baker's chocolate, mild roast, espresso, cocoa powder, touch of smoke, dark fruit and trace burnt oak. Flavour follows, a nice complex mixture of chocolate, cocoa, espresso, roast. Not as much licorice as the nose would have. A bit of milk chocolate sweetness also, it's not a giant acrid bomb. Mouthfeel is medium full bodied, substantial, perfect medium carbonation for the style, easy to sip on, slight dry earth and toasted oak on the finish. A nice complex big stout with a great mouthfeel to it that brings me back to my times traipsing around Reykjavik and the southeastern parts of the island.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle from 2015. Served in a snifter glass. One of the several bottles I bought home from my trip...
Pours a dark black body, one finger thick brown head, tons of retention, bits of lacing. Smell is rich licorice, baker's chocolate, mild roast, espresso, cocoa powder, touch of smoke, dark fruit and trace burnt oak. Flavour follows, a nice complex mixture of chocolate, cocoa, espresso, roast. Not as much licorice as the nose would have. A bit of milk chocolate sweetness also, it's not a giant acrid bomb. Mouthfeel is medium full bodied, substantial, perfect medium carbonation for the style, easy to sip on, slight dry earth and toasted oak on the finish. A nice complex big stout with a great mouthfeel to it that brings me back to my times traipsing around Reykjavik and the southeastern parts of the island.
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4.36/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This a good reason to visit Iceland for sure. Screw the potential for icebergs and volcanos. I would buy this beer over and over again. Smooth, tasty and just very very good.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This a good reason to visit Iceland for sure. Screw the potential for icebergs and volcanos. I would buy this beer over and over again. Smooth, tasty and just very very good.
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4.75/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This is an amazing beer. I picked up a bottle at Spirit of Seymour asa last minute impulse buy amd I'm glad I did. Despite the heavy ABV, this has a nice creamy off-white head and a thick black body. It poured like oil. The aroma is chocolatey and boozy but the flavour and mouth feel is amazing. I had it as my first beer of the night (probably a mistake) so I benefitted from a clean palettte. I will definately get this one again if I see it.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This is an amazing beer. I picked up a bottle at Spirit of Seymour asa last minute impulse buy amd I'm glad I did. Despite the heavy ABV, this has a nice creamy off-white head and a thick black body. It poured like oil. The aroma is chocolatey and boozy but the flavour and mouth feel is amazing. I had it as my first beer of the night (probably a mistake) so I benefitted from a clean palettte. I will definately get this one again if I see it.
445 characters
3.64/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Jet black, small brown head with moderate retention & no lacing
S: Roasted malt, syrup, licorice, hints of dried fruit
F: Medium bodied, a little bit sticky, minimal carbonation, mild alcohol burn. Somewhat creamy; Surprisingly smooth for such a high abv stout.
T: Black coffee prominent, followed by licorice, sweet caramel balances out the bitterness, and finished with spiced rum
O: Good all around no BS stout. Not very complex. Suprisingly smooth for 11.5% abv
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look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Jet black, small brown head with moderate retention & no lacing
S: Roasted malt, syrup, licorice, hints of dried fruit
F: Medium bodied, a little bit sticky, minimal carbonation, mild alcohol burn. Somewhat creamy; Surprisingly smooth for such a high abv stout.
T: Black coffee prominent, followed by licorice, sweet caramel balances out the bitterness, and finished with spiced rum
O: Good all around no BS stout. Not very complex. Suprisingly smooth for 11.5% abv
477 characters
4.31/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From the 330 ml. bottle Lot no. 012027. Sampled on June 27, 2016. My first beer from Iceland.
The pour is jet black but there is not a lot of head.
The aroma has an abundance of dark roasted caramel, black licorice, dark fruit, and some alcohol.
Full body and also creamy.
The taste has the same pointed dark malt and dark fruit character with the booze still in the mix. There is a semi-dry finish. I bet this one could sit for a couple years and still be good..
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From the 330 ml. bottle Lot no. 012027. Sampled on June 27, 2016. My first beer from Iceland.
The pour is jet black but there is not a lot of head.
The aroma has an abundance of dark roasted caramel, black licorice, dark fruit, and some alcohol.
Full body and also creamy.
The taste has the same pointed dark malt and dark fruit character with the booze still in the mix. There is a semi-dry finish. I bet this one could sit for a couple years and still be good..
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4.09/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500mL on tap into a pint glass at Micro Bar in Reykjavik
A: Pitch black with a one-finger tan head
S: Tons of cocoa, dark malts, licorice and coffee
T: Matches the nose, primarily cocoa with licorice in second place and dark malts/caramel/coffee to finish
M: Full-bodied, quite bitter with noticeable alcohol
O: Impressive. This would definitely drink well during the endless nights but was enjoyable during the midnite sun also. I just wish it were a bit less alcoholic/bitter
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500mL on tap into a pint glass at Micro Bar in Reykjavik
A: Pitch black with a one-finger tan head
S: Tons of cocoa, dark malts, licorice and coffee
T: Matches the nose, primarily cocoa with licorice in second place and dark malts/caramel/coffee to finish
M: Full-bodied, quite bitter with noticeable alcohol
O: Impressive. This would definitely drink well during the endless nights but was enjoyable during the midnite sun also. I just wish it were a bit less alcoholic/bitter
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4.24/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Wow-- I was all over the map in the individual ratings.
This looks good in a glass. Super dark. Not much head though.
Smells sweet and chocolately.
The taste is something amazing. Bursting with malt and chocolate, there's a pleasant bitterness to offset. Mostly, though, it's the 11.5% alcohol trying to push through. You can tell it is there, lurking, but you're still tempted to gulp the entire bottle down.
The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. For me, this could have used a bit of extra carbonation.
Overall, the taste trumps the other characteristics, and the final rating improves the overall score.
1) It's great to find an Icelandic beer, at all, and
2) It's great to have found a really good one. Skál!!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Wow-- I was all over the map in the individual ratings.
This looks good in a glass. Super dark. Not much head though.
Smells sweet and chocolately.
The taste is something amazing. Bursting with malt and chocolate, there's a pleasant bitterness to offset. Mostly, though, it's the 11.5% alcohol trying to push through. You can tell it is there, lurking, but you're still tempted to gulp the entire bottle down.
The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. For me, this could have used a bit of extra carbonation.
Overall, the taste trumps the other characteristics, and the final rating improves the overall score.
1) It's great to find an Icelandic beer, at all, and
2) It's great to have found a really good one. Skál!!
713 characters
4.45/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a stein here at Bjor Gardurinn.
Appearance: Thin motor oil with a subtle fan head rising to maybe half a finger's length. Drops quick after one sip or maybe before the first sip.
Smell: Light alcohol vanilla and mocha tones.
Taste: This is where the brew gets points and I do mean points...complex sweet cocoa and hints of light rum. Light coffee...and a little spiced cinnamon.
Mouth: medium carbonation, but intensely sticky and paired with beef ribs and the taste offsets everything and stick
Overall: I keep getting amazed at the bar. On tap and on point...Salud!
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a stein here at Bjor Gardurinn.
Appearance: Thin motor oil with a subtle fan head rising to maybe half a finger's length. Drops quick after one sip or maybe before the first sip.
Smell: Light alcohol vanilla and mocha tones.
Taste: This is where the brew gets points and I do mean points...complex sweet cocoa and hints of light rum. Light coffee...and a little spiced cinnamon.
Mouth: medium carbonation, but intensely sticky and paired with beef ribs and the taste offsets everything and stick
Overall: I keep getting amazed at the bar. On tap and on point...Salud!
586 characters
4.24/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours an opaque thick viscous jet black in color with light to moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and very faint dark cola brown highlights. The beer has a finger tall dense foamy very dark mocha head that slowly reduces to a large patch of mottled thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark roasted malts and dark malts with moderate aromas of licorice and dark chocolate. Light notes of freshly brewed coffee.
T: Upfront there is a moderate to strong flavor of dark malts and dark roasted malts with a hint of charred malts. There is a moderate amount of dark chocolate and caramel sweetness. That is followed by light to moderate flavors of freshly brewed coffee and licorice. Moderate amounts of roasty bitterness which fades away pretty quickly with a lingering sweet licorice sweetness.
M: Slightly less than full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.
O: Pretty easy to drink with very well hidden alcohol - though this is definitely a beer that needs to be enjoyed and sipped slowly. Very enjoyable with big bold flavors and a moderate amount of sweetness - nice amounts of complexity.
1,299 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours an opaque thick viscous jet black in color with light to moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and very faint dark cola brown highlights. The beer has a finger tall dense foamy very dark mocha head that slowly reduces to a large patch of mottled thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark roasted malts and dark malts with moderate aromas of licorice and dark chocolate. Light notes of freshly brewed coffee.
T: Upfront there is a moderate to strong flavor of dark malts and dark roasted malts with a hint of charred malts. There is a moderate amount of dark chocolate and caramel sweetness. That is followed by light to moderate flavors of freshly brewed coffee and licorice. Moderate amounts of roasty bitterness which fades away pretty quickly with a lingering sweet licorice sweetness.
M: Slightly less than full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.
O: Pretty easy to drink with very well hidden alcohol - though this is definitely a beer that needs to be enjoyed and sipped slowly. Very enjoyable with big bold flavors and a moderate amount of sweetness - nice amounts of complexity.
1,299 characters
Garún Icelandic Stout NR.19 from Borg Brugghús
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
239 ratings
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