Vikerkaar
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room

 

this has become a brewery that whenever i see a new one that i havent had before, i buy it almost without even looking at it, i love what they do and have grown to trust them unequivocally. this is a strong gose type done with rosemary, rhubarb, and the pink salt that is getting more common in these, a cool mix of ingredients to say the least, i would expect nothing less from these guys! not the prettiest brew, quite a bit darker in color than most goses ive had, heady and spirited still, but also pretty hazy, looks dull and maybe old, although i didnt see a date. it smells cool though, definitely a little fuller on the malt and an off dry honey note along with it, some foundational malt heft for sure. rhubarb is obvious, tangy and almost medicinal, accented by the tight bacterial sourness as well as the high mineral content of the salt, mouthwatering. the rosemary is essential oily and complimentary, but sort of running along its own track, sometimes out front, sometimes way behind everything else. the flavor is not really like the nose, its a little more muddled and all together, this is puckery but not too sour all the way through, the salt is lost a little bit to the richer grain i reckon, and the rosemary does have some herbal bitterness that comes on stronger toward the finish. the alcohol ramps everything up a little bit, makes it all pop, and the rhubarb is there the whole way, astringent and fresh and with a subtle berry and lemon note. fun flavors in this, a little rosemary left on my palate after its gone, a little fuller feeling than it needs to be, and maybe past its moment by a little bit, but i love the creativity, the packaging, and the execution of the idea, these guys rule. ive had very little non dark stuff from them, so this was cool!