Valkyrie
Enegren Brewing Company

One of the best ambers I’ve had. Good taste without being “heavy” or “sticky”. More effervescent than most dark beers. Slugs down easy.

 

Pours a brown color with a minimal head that lasts quite a while. Aroma of spices and dark fruit. Taste is tangy fruit, breads and roasted malts. Enjoyable.

 

 

Pours beautiful deep rich amber, some lovely red hues in it; lightly browned white head, good retention and some initial lacing.

Nose is pleasantly malt with good toasted bread character, gentle hop aroma; earthy with a light herbal character.

Taste is malt forward but so well balanced with toasted bread crust, just so perfect; same pleasant hops in taste; mostly earthy; with slight little grassiness going on.

Body is medium; good depth; seemingly both smooth and rich at the same time, it tows that line between malt and drinkability so well; moderate smooth bitterness.

Scored a pour of this on tap at Craft in Reno.

Pours super pretty. Very rich vibrant alt/amber style and color, even good clarity for something darker in color. If its not broke I'm a break it kind of guy. Sizeable 2/3" off white head. The aroma was that of a malty amber caramel and toffee like pleasure.

The taste has a hop quotient sufficient to keep the amber caramel toffee thing from feeling heavy in the mouthfeel, same to be said with the carbonation. Makes the beer drink lighter than its appearance. Its like a better Alaskan Amber. Giving a smidge of dark rye bread feels, barely any sweetness. Just the slightest hit of chocolate malt to it. Enjoyable enough. Appearance and mouthfeel are the high spots. Even manages to finish leaning dry and crisp, another thing you didn't see coming based off the pretty yet dark appearance.

As far as altbiers go, this might as well be top tier. Not a wowing style but you gotta respect when it appears to be well made. Tasted plenty fresh to me.

 

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz can dated 04/23/24 to a can glass at fridge temp.
The body is red/brown, not hazy but dark enough to only pass some light. A big off-white head that overflowed the glass probably due to an overly aggressive pour.
Smells of sweet and musty. Wet composting leaves with sugar on top.
The flavor is similar. Musty, dry, hops trying to poke through.
The mouthfeel is light. Carbonation cleans that out well though.
A nice malt excursion.

Valkyrie - from Enegren. 12 fl oz can, purchased as part of a BA/Untapped package from Half Time from Mamaroneck, NY, 10/07/24, $ 5.15 (Including shipping and tax), $ 0.429/fl oz. Reviewed 22/07/24 (Review 3326). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on bottom of can “CANNED ON 04/30/2024 PROSIT!”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 45.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 58.8 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.5
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, ruby, and clear.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.7 cm, aggressive center pour), beige, high density with a rocky top, average retention, leaving a 1.0 – 1.7 cm undulating crown and cap.
Lacing – Good. Wide band of near microscopic to tiny bubbles, with short, blunt stalactites and a few narrow columns connecting to the remaining head.
Aroma – 3.5 – Weak malty and sweet. No yeast, no hops, no alcohol (6.2 % ABV, according to the label).
Flavor – 4.25 – Malty and lightly sweet. No yeast, no hops, no alcohol. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; watery; lively carbonation.
Final Impression and summation: 4.25 Very good Murican take on a classic German style.

 

Poured from a 12 oz can dated 4/30/2024 into a Rastal glass.
L - Pours a dark amber color with a medium sized tan head.
S - Smells and rye bread and malt.
T - Tastes of caramel and bread.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Very tasty Altbier.

 

 

 

Picked up a 12oz can at a Total Wine in San Diego canned on 10/20/2023. Considering I was in Düsseldorf a few weeks ago, I’m excited to try an American representation of the style. About halfway through I’d say this is on par with the average Altbier in Düsseldorf, which is still great. Difficult to get close to Schumacher. Sweet and rich with a slight earthiness and almost smoked quality. Extremely enjoyable and really impressive for an American Altbier!

No canned on date. Served in a pinot noir glass.

A: Pleasing dark amber hue with 1-finger light beige foamy head with good retention and thin line of sticky lacing.

S: Extreme dark bread crust, a little melanoidin heavy for me, and burnt medium caramel malty aromas.

T: Flavor is strong Munich malt bread crust and melanoidin with a dull, medium-intensity bitterness and no alcohol presence with long bready-burnt caramel aftertaste.

M: Light-medium body with medium-high carbonation to give a dry finish.

O: I enjoyed Valkyrie but I think the Munich malt component is a bit melanoidin-heavy to the point of hurting drinkability.

Poured into a red solo cup. Amber looking. Off white head.
Nose has a faint malt biscuit aroma.
Taste is roasty malt biscuit. There's a good hint of caramel on the backside.
The body is decent.
This is a good beer.