Brewery: Omnipollo
Country: Sweden
Size: 33cl
ABV: 8%
Price: 37kr
Systembolaget: 31186
The beer Fatamorgana has a name that is steeped in magic. The term fata morgana refers to a mirage or optical illusion formed on the horizon which were often mistaken for magical spells in medieval times. These spells were supposedly performed by Morgana Le Fay, a famous sorceress who created these false images to lure sailors to their deaths. We now know that it is in air passing through different temperatures that causes these effects, but still the magic lives on through the name. This has been a favourite of mine for quite some time so when the occasion arose to add it into a tasting, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
The beer was hazy straw yellow in colour with sediment evident. It had a heavy body and head had a hard time forming in any substantial way. The cloudiness made the carbonation hard to judge just from looks alone. One sniff and the aromas just hit you like a tropical brick to the face. This is big pineapple hop juice in a glass. There were also notes of sweet wheat, yeast and grapefruit peel. The warming alcohol wafted into the nostril and was rather noticeable. On the tongue it had big hop hits, with the fresh grapefruit peel coming through strong. It was quite drying, with the hops sucking in the cheeks slightly. In the aftertaste the big peel bitterness keeps going, rolling around the mouth. The oat and wheat character takes a back seat as the hops take the starring role. The alcohol potency was almost slightly too much to make it completely balanced if I had to find a small fault with it. Every sip just begs you to go back for more and find something new in its complex taste profile.
This is an excellent beer, make no mistake. Every facet of the beer works, from its lovely body through to its juicy aromas and delectable bitterness left on the palate. Omnipollo have tapped into that mystical power to create a delicious beer that should be on everyones list of beers to try. Find it, buy it, enjoy it!