Style: IPA
Brewery: Amundsen Bryggeri
Origin: Norway
Size: 44cl
Alcohol: 6.5%
Price: 39kr
Systembolaget: 13189
Amundsen is Oslo’s biggest brewery and one of Norway’s largest craft breweries. Opening in 2011 as a brew pub, they quickly expanded and now own a 42Hl capacity brewery which opened in 2016. Well known for their massive pastry stouts, Amundsen has built a reputation for quality beers, and it’s always fun to see them getting released in Sweden. I’ve had quite a number of their beers in tastings before, so when I found this skull adorned beer I bought some cans straight away for this tasting.
This was hazy golden in colour with a thick white bubble bath head that held for a long time after pouring. The carbonation and body were both medium in appearance. Aroma wise, there were pretty standard notes of tropical fruit, pine and grapefruit, all culminating in a light and pleasant smell. There was also a big hop pellet note in the aroma, which was unexpected, but wasn’t in any way a negative. A big bitter note instantly hits the tongue when sipped, with grapefruit peel zest and sap tones coming straight from the high hop content. Some apricot was noted as a minor note as the taste developed on the tongue. The aftertaste was long and bitter, with a large grassy note hanging at the back of the mouth.
This was big, bold and well-made, with a robust taste that carried long into the aftertaste, which caters to fans of IPA who enjoy a little more bite in their beer. I thought it was very nice, but maybe a 33cl can would have been better for my taste, but that is only a minor suggesting. This is well worth trying though!