Gesik
HammerHeart Brewing Company

Gesik Sahti, Northern European-style Juniper ale, brewed by traditional methods. 7.6% alc. by volume. Lino Lakes, MN.

Highly clouded, crimson hued, slim, amber-toned head.

In the nose: Requisite Hammerheart smoked malt kicks it off, slightly spicy mixed with juniper. Summer sausage.

In the mouth: there we have Hammerheart at their game, being most uncompromising and iconoclastic. No hops at all. Just enough of the berries. Mild on the palate, but tasty and well-balanced, finely crafted. Medium/light-ish bodied. Whoever put those twigs in my beer knows what they're doing. Smoked malt provides appropriate balance and flavor. Very nice.

There's a bunch of tiny type on the bottle to give us some insight into the beer. Very tiny. Maybe they'll put it on the website one day.

750 mL bottle. Pours a deep amber with a medium tan head. Smells of smokey and earthy malts. Deep caramel. Some green and herbaceous notes that I thought would have screamed juniper, but they don't. Tastes of those same green and herbal characteristics right up front. Caramel malt with low sweetness. Nutty and toasty malts. Some of that smoke flavor builds into the finish. It's very bitter in the back end, but not a hop bitterness. Medium body. Very interesting beer. I didn't know what to expect, but I'm really enjoying this. The kind of beer I could sit outside on a cold night and sip.

 

Poured from a 750 ml waxed bottle into a Hammerheart tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep brownish amber. Moderate amount of bubbles and about a finger of off white head that settles into a thin patchy layer.

Smell: A smokey and fairly fruity aroma with a scent of smoke, juniper, and biscuit. Good upfront scent of smoked malt. Hints of juniper fruit. Malt hints of caramel, biscuit, and grains along with some yeast. A pretty good aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a smokey and fruity taste with notes of smoke, juniper, and biscuit. Good taste of juniper fruit. Notes of smoked malt along with some toast, caramel, biscuit, grains, and nuts along with yeast. A very solid taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Pretty smooth.

Overall: A very good take on a Sahti. Nice blend of juniper and smoked malt flavor.

Smokey just like every other HammerHeart beer. Dark brown color that is cloudy. A large head forms and quickly settles. Fruity juniper hits the nose first but is quickly overcome by smoke. Likewise in the flavor. Starts of with a nice mild fruitiness until smoke takes over but finishes with a touch of sweetness. The body feels a bit thin. Nice carbonation.