Troll Palanfrina

Brewed by Birrificio Troll
Style: Traditional Ale
Vernante, Italy

This is a stunningly simple, elegant and understated beer. It may become one of my favorites. My first glass was at room temperature and it was delectable. There are three forms of chestnut in this beer and they invoke a smooth, smoky velvetness that I have never experienced before. Quite spectacular.

Got a bottle of this online after reading about the brewery and the beer. Aroma: The initial whiff didn’t say much but as the glass came up to temperature it released wonderful soft nutty notes that brought to mind eating roasted chestnuts. Appearance: Poured into a wine glass, the beer is a deep subtle ruby brown that is quite dark but not opaque. The pour offered a rather nice dense head that remained for quite a while and then settled into a little bit around the edges. Flavor: At first taste the beer was sweet but by no means overly so. As the beer warmed to temperature, the distinct nuttiness came through and was quite enjoyable. Kept you coming back for another sip often. Palate: There was a nice even mouthfeel and full bodied sweetness that had shown through but didn’t leave you needing to drink water between every sip like some other specialty beers. Quite enjoyable. Overall I would have to say that this is an excellent beer that everyone should try once. If I would have had a piece of chocolate cake to go with it it would have only been that much better. If you see it get yourself a bottle and enjoy it with friends.

If a chestnut nut brown is traditional, then this is a traditional ale. Otherwise, it’s a damned fine nut brown ale. Bottle from State Line. Deep brown pour with 2-finger khaki head. Aroma is roasty dark malt, nuts, cinnamon, brown sugar, slight hops. The taste is dark malty, rich, very nuttywith mid-palate figgy and brown sugar notes and an ever-so-slight rauchy note at culmination. As expected, the bottom of my glass showed a large sediment layer. This beer has more nuts than a clown convention, and is one of the more unique styles i have ever encountered.

Bottle from Cap Ale House, thanks to maniac for sourcing this one out. Pours a very deep burgundy and brown, slight head fades. Aroma delightfully grapey with a hint of oak. Flavor is tons of fruit, particularly grape, plums, a touch of apricot, and a touch of floral perfume on the finish. Great stuff.

Bottle from Capital Ale House - Innsbrook. Shared with Kinz, his wife and friend. Hazy dark brown body with a medium creamy light brown head and just a little bit of sediment. Sweet sugary caramel and wood aroma. Sweet fruity flavor, some light caramel and a very soft nutty ending.

Bottle. Torben Matthews tasting. Nice head with good duration. Color is brown. Aroma and taste are nuts, sugar, malt and caramel. Very well balanced. Best chestnut beer I have had.

Bottle from Boboski, thanks! Roasted coffee, nuts, and light dough in the aroma. Dark brown body. Very creamy palate lies under tasted of creamy coffee, nuttiness, and lots of malt. This brew was a really nice suprise.

Bottle. Creamy off-white good mostly lasting hwead. Dark amber colour. Heavy malty and moderate hoppy aroma. Nutty. Heavy bitter flavor. Long powerfull heavy bitter finish. Chocolate and nutty (chestnut) notes. Creamy palate. Really wonderfull.