Skal
Akademia Brewing Company

Not for me.

L: Super hazy, orange color, large white head, great lacing
S: Earthy, musty, wheat
T: Citrus up front, earthy flavor comes in but gives way to a doughy finish.
F: Medium to light, good carbonation
O: A decent representation if you are into this style. Lots of flavor.

Rich golden amber in a goblet, with a lightly hazy opalescence. The head forms a fluffy white half inch and deposits a thick curtain of lacing.

Fruity spice is delicate and complex. Definitely a strong nod towards musty farmhouse aromas, yet not quite there.

There is a mild balance of bitterness, in partnership with sweetness. And a hint of sourness for contrast. A wheat flavor forms the backdrop to lots of herbal goodness. Dried orchard fruit leads to a long finish that builds with warmth. The lingering dryness is welcome.

The body is very light, with a silky texture and slight alcohol within expectations. Fine carbonation adds a pleasant scrubbing sensation.

This is an excellent drinking beer and went well with a variety of meals during a long weekend. Perfect for a Hazy-hot-humid evening while rain decides if it will stick around. This beer showcases how Kveik can shine.

 

This was a little bit of good and a little bit of not so good...

But nonetheless it was an enjoyable experience. A nice light colored brew that strangely has a 'Miller Lite' smell - quite strange. Mouthfeel was light-bodied and the taste was both malty and hoppy, though the hop bitterness was expertly muted. Overall, this is really a solid beer, a great witbier to have at this time of year...

A gift from Steven and Hannah Barrow. Thanks!

This offering from Akademia Brewing Company, Athens, Georgia is my second example of a beer brewed with Kveik yeast, the Norwegian equivalent of Farmhouse/Saison yeast. While this might not be technically correct it's an easy way to relate the concept. Kveik is a Norwegian dialect word for yeast so referring to it as Kveik yeast is like saying yeast yeast. Enough of that, go online and check it out if you want more information. Now to the beer....

Pours a cloudy deep gold/pale amber producing 2+ inches of dense, somewhat lasting, glowing white head that recedes to a thin surface cap and collar leaving behind only a few motes and strings of lace on the sides of the glass. A delicate aroma greets the nostrils: musty and earthy with hints of citrus, tropical fruits, peach and apple in a background of wheat, pale malt, something Belgian candy sugar like and a hint of white bread. Taste is doughy with orange, dried apple, spice and earthy herbal hints. The wheat is much less discernible than in the nose. A little on the sweet side up front it dries in the finish with a light fruity and bitter, rapidly diminishing, rather flat and thinly astringent aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation, crisp, smooth and slightly juicy. Very easy to drink.

Ehh it’s fine. I was expecting better but it’s still a nice drink to just sit and enjoy I guess. The taste isn’t exceptional but it’s fine. I probably wouldn’t get again.

Appearance: Hazy, straw gold. Snow white frothy head with good retention
Aroma: Fruity esters of pears, apricot and hint of banana
Taste: Estery with pears, apricot hint of banana and clove. Restrained bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Soft and light bodied. Low carbonation. Finish is short & dry.

This beer utilizes the unique Kveik yeast. The result is a wheat beer that does not taste quite like a Hefeweizen nor quite like a Belgian Witbier. It does not really fit into the Belgian Witbier category that well. You will not find the peppery/spicy coriander aroma and flavors. Some of the flavors and aromas are a little challenging to nail down. It is light and thirst quenching; but not without some character. Well executed. Very much worth the try if you are in Atlanta or Athens areas.