Kestrel Super Premium
Brookfield Brewing Co

 

16.9oz can purchased...somewhere in Spokane about a month ago. There's a best-by date stamped on the bottom of the can: April 22, 2026. "Born in Scotland" is prominent on the can. Less prominent is "produced in France for Brooksfield Drinks, Bedford..." At this point it's much ballyhooed Scottishness is pretty sketchy.

Poured into a 16oz can glass, this was a clear, slightly dark golden shade of amber, with about 3/4" of an off-white head. That dropped to a very thin ring VERY quickly.

Malty, sweet aroma. Little bit of herbal, bitter hop aroma.

Flavor much like the nose. Big, crude, cereal grain sweetness up front. Herbal hops bitterness deep in the background, as is the high abv. I suspect I'll wake up to a headache.

Medium bodied. Mouthfeel is a little flabby for an presumably easy drinking lager. Certainly not crisp.

This is not something to drink on a warm day, in case the big 9% on the label didn't make that clear. Its not awful, but the abv doesn't come through in the taste (if that's your jam), it's not particularly refreshing, and it's not a particularly good tasting beer, so there's no real reason to track it down.

 

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. PPours a medium golden amber with a one finger white head that dissipates to a thin film with good lacing.Aroma of lightly caramel malt, faint citrus hops, lemon and an identifiable spicy note like allspice. Flavor is caramel malt, mild grassy hops, orange with mixed citrus and toffee. Odd light astringency in the finish which seems to be independent of hopping. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. "Super" and "Premium" are always red flags for a beer that trying too hard, but a 9% European lager was just too different to not try; hoping for a continental version of a malt liquor. It is more similar in profile to some of the Eastern European high ABV beers that seem to be for drinking under a trestle in a brown paper bag (well, like malt liquor). I have to hand it to this one, though, it's quite drinkable for all that with the caramel malt really making it work. There is a vague fruitiness reminiscent of a Belgian yeast, but not as delicate as that classic yeast. Solid kick from the high ABV, but probably not going into my regular rotation. Better than expected. The phrase "embodiment of the validity and integrity of the Holy Brewing Method" is an intriguing and ultimately mysterious statement. Worth a try for entertainment value.