Spitsbergen Pale Ale
Svalbard Bryggeri

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Svalbard Bryggeri
 
Norway
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
4.75%
Score:
+7 ratings needed
Avg:
3.58 | pDev: 6.15%
Ratings:
3 | reviews: 2
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 24, 2025
Added:
Jun 18, 2019
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by Beginner2:
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Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.79/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
At only 28 IBU, this was a very pleasant pale.
Spitsbergen has an interesting best-of-both-worlds tactic with the brewers modeling it after the Burton on Trent (the malty softness, I presume) and then concocting a medley of American hops. Amazingly, Svalbard pulls off these opposite approaches to refreshment and flavor. Had out of a can at 35,000 feet on Norwegian Air after 5 weeks in the UK, this seemed like an appropriate metaphor given that I was going back home. I was going to have a second can, but I had just put myself on a beer diet... and I did manage to restrain myself after a long second thought. But if I was under normal rules, a second can would have been in order. Recommended.

I went on Svalbard's website and see that they brew just south of the North Pole. I do not believe it is possible to inhabit further north long enough to brew. So this is a once in a lifetime experience. I also want to applaud Svalbard's persistence.
But living up there follows the dictate of 3 Floyds: "It's not normal."
Jun 22, 2019
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.68 by travelguy from Ohio

Jan 24, 2025
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Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.28/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
330 ml can, at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Orange colour, moderate white head. Aroma of fruity and floral hops, also notes of caramel. Light bodied. Medium dry flavour, only a hint of caramel, medium bitter hops, but not so much hop flavour besides the bitterness. Still quite refreshing and okay to drink.
Jan 29, 2021