Haandbryggeriet Odin’s Tipple

Brewed by Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
Style: Imperial Stout
Drammen, Norway

Bottle… Pours pitch black with a small, creamy, brown head. Decent retention. The aroma releases waves of dark, unsweetened chocolate, dry leather, coal, campfire smoke and blueberries. Full-bodied with a raspy mouthfeel and gentle carbonation. The flavor is a blend of dark, unsweetened chocolate, blackberries and blueberries. Finishes sweet, carbonous, and then dry.

16oz bottle. I was really shocked by this beer. Not at all what I was expecting. This is amazing amazing stuff. Pours a deep black with a modest but gorgeous deep tan head with long retention. The nose at first is very heavy on alcohol. As it warms notes of smoke and leather and deep dark chocolate come out. Still a bit alcohol heavy. Flavor is incredibly balanced, among the best I have had. Very malty, those who want hops should look elsewhere. However the malt complexity here is astonishing. You get a bit of fruitiness up front perhaps from the wild yeast. The middle of this beer is dominated by huge chocolate and soy notes. Finishes with a very mild but deep smokiness and a hint of roast. This is very original and very very good. Highly recommended.

Bottled. Body is jet black, with a fingerthick, brown foamy head on top. Burnt coffee and dark chocolate on the nose. A tart berry-ish sourness too, and a faint scent of pepper and alcohol. Strong malt body, heavily roasted with notes of coffee-ground, bitter chocolate and salty licorice. Underneath a fruity acidity, and a distintct note of lactic acids. Full-bodied. Smooth and creamy in the mouth. Malt-bitterness in the finish. A tasty and quite unusual one, but a tad too far on the sour side for my likings.

Bottle. Pours a deep oily black with the darkest tan head I have ever seen. Chocolate, roasted grain and dark fruit aroma. Cherry, chocolate, roasted grain and soy sauce taste. Very complex and thick.

Bottle. Dark black pour with a thin, dark brown head that quickly fizzled away. Roasty aroma of chocolate and licorice. Big flavor; roasted malt, chocolate, burnt oak, with black currants in the finish. Despite all these big flavors, still quite drinkable. Thinner mouthfeel than I was expecting.

Pitch black pour with a very small, thin head. Heavy roasted barley, coffee and chocolate. A very little red wine/tannic aroma. Chocolate, coffee and heavy malt flavor. There is a definite wine character to this, and oddly enough, I would add sake. Not sure if it’s rice or that strain of yeast. Ample bitterness, but not from hops. Solid.

Name: Odin’s Tipple
Date: August 06, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Hop City, Atlanta
Appearance: pours thick and black, fine brown head, thick and viscous on the side of the glass, glossy mirrored surface, sudsy lace
Aroma: sweet dark malt aroma, sweet licorice, light peppery alcohol
Body: big body
Flavor: rich dark chocolate flavor, balancing hops, dry roasted, dark caramel adds a touch of sweetness
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

16.9 oz bottle. Inky brown with a smooth tan head. Nose is dark roast, molasses, caramel, grass and faint smoke. Coating full body with a tingle and a buzz; somewhat oily. Taste is heavy on the dark side with molasses, espresso, black olive and prune. Dryish finish with lime peel, walnuts and alcohol. A good sipper.