Hökhålts Sommarale

Brewed by Grebbestad Bryggeri
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Grebbestad, Sweden

(Draught at Akkurat, Stockholm, 17 June 2009) Amber colour with frothy, off-white head. Fruity, hoppy nose with notes of orange peel, mandarin, grapefruit and hints of resin. Fruity taste with orange peel, grapefruit, some grainy malt and a sharp citrussy bitterness in a dry finish. Lots of hops, but not very bitter. Lacking some malt character to balance the hops though. Nice and tasty.

It poured a dark clear golden liquid with a medium foam that left a little bit of lacing on the walls of the glass. The foam slowly receded and left a 1 mm foam on the top of the surface. It had an aroma of grassy hops, most likely English, also some hay and a hint of caramel and malt. My first reaction when I tested it was that it felt very smooth in my mouth. It also left a tingly sensation in my entire mouth, not sure if this was caused by the beer or the fact that I was thirsty. It tasted of grassy hops, hay and caramel, with a low to medium bitterness, with just a little bit of sting to it. Also a hint of metal, but not so much that it had a negative effect on the beer. Felt like a well balanced beer and it worked great in the hot weather, I would happily have a couple more. Too bad it’s only Thursday...

Draught at The Rover, Göteborg
On May 10, 2009
Clear light brown to copper color, big fluffy lasting off-white head. Hoppy, red berries, citrus taste. Malty and floral hoppy scent. Moussy mouthfeel, medium bitterness.

I was in the final jury of the home brew competition, Swedish Championships 2008, where the original beer was declared the according to style winner as a "Brittish light ale" of sort. This seems to be more American though.

Bottle (Stockholm Beer Festival 2009) - Amber in colour. Spicy malt aroma. Fruity taste with caramel and malt.

(Draught at Monk’s Sveavägen, Stockholm, on 2009-07-27) Amber and almost clear. Small white, medium sized and long lasting head. Grassy aroma. Medium bodied and dry palate with medium carbonation. Malts, grass, lightly smoke, salt water, molasses, home brewed beer and bitterness in taste. Malty and bitter aftertaste.

Draught at Bishop’s Arms, Malmö
Light amber color; creamy head. It has a light but nice hop aroma. The flavor is less exciting, there is caramel flavor, a bit too dry, quite strong bitterness. There is not enough body and the final is a bit harsh and very boring.

Draught at Tre små rum, Gothenburg Deep golden with a small, white head. Light aroma with some citrus and butterscotch. Pretty heavy carbonation and light body. Fresh mouthfeel. Some tropical fruits, toffee and pin-needles.

330ml draught, 2008-edition, at Monks Café in Sveavägen. Copper coloured body, slightly cloudy. Tiny, white head. Fresh aroma of juicy malts. Leafy hops and tart fruits in flavour. Short-lived bitter endnotes. Good palate refresher (Stockholm, 03.09.2009).