Amager Sundby Stout

Brewed by Amager Bryghus
Style: Stout
Kastrup, Denmark

Black colored body with a light tan head. The nose is light milk chocolate with some coffee roast. There is also some light hints of plum. The taste is lightly roasted with some coffee and cola flavors. There is also some raw soybean and milk chocolate in the finish. The body is lightly carbonated and that fits perfectly for this style. Oh man, this is very tasty and delicious with it’s roast character. My only complaint is that it is a little pricey.

500 ml bottle poured a clear deep dark brown with a small lasting tan head. Aromas of bitter chocolate, coffee, vanilla citrus and light roastiness. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of dark chocolate, mocha, vanilla, light citrus and light rtoastiness with a smooth lingering chocolatey finish.

Aroma is very complex and fine. Notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, wood barrels and a hint of smoke. Dark brown, nearly black color, foamy brownish head. Flavor is full of roasted malt, notes of coffee, wood barrels and hops. Very dry bitter, roasty end. Perfect.

I don’t speak Danish or Norwegian or any of the languages native to that area of the world, aka Scandinavia. As an ignorant Anglo-Saxon, I have no doubt that I am butchering the pronunciation of the names of breweries and beers that come from these beer friendly countries. While a proud past history of brewing decorates the Danish history books, it is only until recently that, much like the rest of the world, inspired individuals tired of the same old tasteless beers have set out on a noble quest for flavor and diversity. As a result, there has been an explosion of craft brewers in Denmark brewing amazing beers. A cold country needs a soul-warming stout, and Amager Bryghus offers just that with their Sundby Stout, a Classic Danish Stout by their description.

He broke the day with a generous pour of still black night, broken only by a velveteen tan head. Fading to a constellation of fragile khaki bubbles, a thick ringlet looms along the edge of his domain. Always one to tempt fate, I give my glass a few swirls which produces desired aggravation and a fierce crackling of lace. If one looks at the night sky closely, there is no solid black, but a swirling cauldron of blacks. Tart prunes smack me around like a pathetic rag doll; there is an intense level of lactic acidity in the Sundby Stout and I am digging it. Dry dark chocolates dance beneath a tart prunish sky while cream, half & half, and vanilla root mingle like long lost lovers. A touch of mulchy dankness bespeaks a decade’s old untouched rainforest floor even as dried raisins and black licorice root are cooked into volcanic ashy bitterness. As I prepare myself to dive deep into his looming depths, his tart lactic acidity wastes no time in grabbing me by the scruff of my neck and plunging me into a vividly exciting brew. Thin and clean with perfectly balanced medium weight, the top of my tongue is jolted awake by a deluge of tart lactic acidity and tart prune juice concentrate. Even his finish lingers with a daring lactic twang, and I love it. As his lactic acidity and tart prunes permeate, dry burnt toast and licorice root highlight charred wood as I bite into dark chocolate covered espresso beans. His soft mouthfeel draws me ever deeper into his lair, and I find myself unconsciously slowing down as I near the woeful end of my glass. Dry black chocolates linger in my breath along with a faint floral touch. Some might find the sour lactic acidity highlighted by tart prune juice concentrate jarring, but he could be anything but. Every stretch of his deep black palate was an artisanal love affair I never wanted to end.

There is nothing more I can say that I haven’t said already. Find this beer, sup, and all things will becomes crystal clear.

Bottled (thanks Papsoe & Theis). Black colour with mediumsized brown head, which vanishes quite fast though. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, hops and roasted malts along with mild caramel and nuts. Flavour is nuts, roasted malts, smoked wet wood, coffee and some slight chocolate. Leaves nice burnt wet wood in aftertaste. Pleasant.

ÅBF, 6.2%. Fruity roasted aroma. Good roasted flavour. Mild and nice. Black colour, very small head. Very nice. Good coffee aftertaste.

BB, april 08. Dark color, huge head, keeps gushing out of the bottle. Good aroma of balanced chocolat, roasted malt, coffee, dried fruit, soft yeast. Malty taste, dried fruit, raisin. Very soft and complex. Very nice, almost like a belgian dubbel.

Bottle@Home. Strong aroma, chocolate but also fruity. Black colour, light brown head, good lace. Light sweet, roasted malts, pretty bitter, well hopped. Strong flavours, great balance.