Sauna Beer
Ursa Minor Brewing

A - Pours a dark golden body, mostly clear, with a solid white head that fades to a fat cap, and ferocious lacing.

S - Nose has strong pine, a bit of lemony citrus beneath, and herbaceousness.

T - Plus is the lovely lemon fruit notes, the pine sharpness, but minus is a dill mustard savory note that makes the creaminess of the brew land a bit like sandwich, which is not what I favor in a beer. The result is still drinkable, but not sought.

M - Moderate weight and decent carbonation, just a touch of drying, but a bit of slickness that detracts.

O - A mixed bag that I would avoid in the future, but which I can see the promise of, nevertheless.

Called a Scandinavian Pale Ale on Crowler. Its pours a mostly clear golden color with a white fresh head. Smell had a funky yeast mixed with citrus and pine hops. Taste was fruity with som tropical and spruce/pine hops. Very drinkable to the point of being session, nicely balanced with hops to malt.

 

The brewery calls this a "Scandinavian Pale Ale". That's not a style here on BA, so I guess "Belgian Pale Ale" is close enough? The beer doesn't have the yeasty character of a Belgian Pale Ale. They say they're using Norwegian yeast, and it's obviously a bit different from the smell/taste of the Belgian stuff.

Ursa Minor is proud of using all Minnesota malts and hops in this beer, the Norwegian yeast, and then they throw in spruce tips. You want a northern Minnesota beer, this is it. It's quite a tasty brew, with a very distinctive flavor.