Viking Brewing Abby Normal

Brewed by Viking Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Tripel
Dallas, Wisconsin USA

As mentioned by others, this beer produced a lot of pondering. The green apple quality to the aroma was absolutely overpowering. If you had me blindfolded and this was put under my nose, I would have said it was probably a Wyder’s Cider product, or a green apple Jolly Rancher candy. I thought at first, infection? Some people argued that this was not an infected bottle--there was no excessive pressure, no foaming, no ring in the bottle. But I’ve also heard stories of poor quality control at Viking. I can’t verify them. Perhaps it is just the yeast producing a strong acetaldehydes. What I would say is that this is a beer that I enjoyed trying but I would never buy again unless someone told me it was going to be markedly different. There is a sour apple/pear quality all over it, with malt undertones, and somewhat balanced palate with enough qualities (carbonation, sour, malt body) to keep it interesting. It isn’t as complex as the USSR was, but it is a bit of a curiosity.

the bottle that caused much discussion. is it meant to taste this way? is that why it is ABbyNORMAL? pours a nice ruddy brown with a red tint and a nice appreciative tan head. apples, apples and more apples, we as a group agreed with bu11zeye that they were granny smiths. some grapes, white grapes, not the purple ones. a nd tart. smells like white wine and apple juice. the apple is crazy with a dry tartness. a good pear quality with some spicy yeastiness. finish is dry and powdery.this is not a dubbel, not sure what it is, but it is no dubbel. thanks for sharing this mystery wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a riddle, Patrick.

Light sweet styrian aroma. Surprisingly funky yeast character. Some decent dark malts (special B?) Good estery character. Reminiscent of Dupont yeast? Nice.

Bottle - many thanks to badgerben. Pours dark chestnut color, virtually opaque with a moderate tan head that diminishes mostly and leaves some lacing. Aroma is sweet, brown sugar and dark brown bread. Flavor is sweet and spicy like cinnamon roll with molasses and a floral hop garnish. Medium to full body and mildly carbonated. Nice treat from the midwest!

At the GHBF: Ruby hued with a small tan head and some lace. The aroma has notes of green apple and toasted buttery malts, honey and some candi sugars, and dusty yeast esters. The taste starts with even more apple overtones. I never had a beer with this much fruity character that wasn’t actually a fruit beer! Minor bitters and malt makes it balanced. There is a slight, that’s SLIGHT vegetable undertone that does distract away from the main flavors. The feel is lively not aggressive. This is NOT A DUBBEL, a Single or just a Belgian Ale. I am rating it against those styles. This is so unique that I like it.

22oz bottle. Amber, nice head. Estery, malty, pirckly carbonation. Twangy dark mystery takes on some raisin/chocolate in the end...liquorice as well? I found it fairly complex and drinkable.

Cola colored, some apple and cabbage in the nose. Fresh green apple taste at first but a pretty bland, sugary taste follows. Light bodied, refreshing but rather uninteresting.

Brown. Little vegetable, cabbage flavors. Thin body. Tangy. Like a vinagrette, tin lettuce salad.