Jämtlands Bärnsten

Brewed by Jämtlands Bryggeri
Style: Premium Lager
Pilgrimstad, Sweden

Copper color. Nice aroma, some malt, caramel. Good mouthfeel, malty with a strong bitterness developing at the end, not without caramel. Really pleasant.

(Draught@Stockholm Beer Festival 2005) Golden color with a smallish head. Toffeeish maltiness and some diacetyl in the aroma. Quite hoppy, decently malty flavor, but this batch seems a bit spoiled by diacetyl. Medium-bodied, bitter and acidic palate with medium carbonation. Maybe revisit this one later on... (Bottled) Golden color with a small, quite tight head. Some diacetyl in tha aroma with smooth, aromatic hopping. Quite malty, sweet-honeyish flavor with decent, aromatic hopping. Medium-bodied, slicky-sweet palate with low carbonation. A very decent, diacetylic pils. Better than the draught version.

(Bottle 50 cl) Hazy amber colour with a thick, shaving foam like head making this an aesthetic pleasure. Flavourwise this comes very close to your typical British bitter - weird as it is bottom fermented. Malty and fruity with some wee touches of the wheat. Very far from a typical Pilsener. 200403

Golden colour with a thick white head. Clear toffee nose. Jämtlands house yeast character. Hoppy flavour with some fruityness. Quite thick mouthfeel.

Draught at Glenfiddich Warehouse No. 68. Dark golden coloured. Rather hoppy and fruity aroma and flavour. I sensed some buttery and lactic notes in the aroma, but the bartender told me that they were supposed to be there. I doubt.

Keg @ The Ardbeg Room, Stockholm
Maybe the last chance to drink this beer as it is rumored to be discontinued. Not confirmed, though. This is usually my favourite beer from this brewery. This glass, however, was probably old and maybe badly kept. A distict hay aroma and a whole lot of butterscotch in taste. Notes of cardboard indicating some oxidation and no aftertaste whatsoever. Quite disappointed and I’m confused wether I should rate this glass or the way it used to be... It has to be this one, I’m afraid... (Normaly this beer would probably end up with 4+) 4/4/4/3/8 2.3
RERATE Keg @ Stockholm Beer Festival 2005
We have normality! This beer will NOT be discontinued. A well balanced sweet maltiness is here with a distinctive bitterness and a flowery aroma and taste. Some toffe present. Nice and long aftertaste. Nothing wrong with this. Gimme another one!

The Plain Kitchen, Göteborg. Grassy farmland aroma, malts, with fruity hops and mild nutty character. Clear medium-dark amber with thin head. Medium bodied with mild carbonation. Starts with grassy herbal or wheatgrass malt, mild acidity. Great hops presence throughout, with flowers and neutral fruits. Finish is hoppy oils, citrus, ozone, and cat pee. After is light astringent bitter, fruity. Nice ale. Thanks to rickgordon for the sample.

Jämtlands remains one of the best breweries in Sweden and this remains one of their finest. Unfortunately most pubs, even in Jämtland (the region of origin) itself seem to no longer have it on tap and only on bottle. This beer has lots of taste of hops and the colour is none other than bärnsten (amber).