Surtur Nr.8
Borg Brugghús

 

 

Consumed 02/14/2016.

 

 

What's considered perhaps to be the finest beer of Iceland, the Borg brewery put this heavy hitter out in 2012 and captured the attention of stout lovers of their homeland and beyond.

Pouring a viscous and ominous black, the beer patiently layers into the glass, slowly releasing its foamy and frothy head. Eventually, and mocha blanket covers the snifter, wall to wall. Its longevity and concentric lace keeps the ale looking sharp early and often.

Cream, smoke and roast all converge in aroma as each robust scent morphs into the next. Burnt toffee meets dark-roast coffee, dark chocolate, walnuts, campfire and burnt toast. Rising from the depths of robust scents come a tinge of dark fruit, vinous fruit and licorice-type spice; all wrapped in a cocoon of malted milk.

Its lavish taste start with flavors of roast and creamy "milkshake" malt which seem to invite an undercurrent of toffee, caramel and molasses. These greet the bittersweet chocolate upon the middle palate and temper the stronger espresso roast, burnt toast and wood character and its nutty char. Mild campfire notes chase the flavors into finish, dragging with them notions of grilled cherries, currant and grape. A pep of licorice butts up against the beer's spicy-sweet, rum-like alcohol.

Undoubtedly, the stout is full bodied as its velvety texture wraps around the tongue with sheer seduction. Like velvet, the creamy sweetness slowly fades to dryness, careful not to become too abrupt as it shares its alcohol spices and warmth and as the more aggressive roasted edges emerge while the beer dries.

Making it look easy, the stout certainly takes no prisoners with its onslaught of roast. However, its balancing malt sweetness and creaminess support the roast and alcohol to near perfection; surprising the taste buds with fruit and spice for added intrigue.