Haandbryggeriet Dark Force
This is another of the Norwegian beers that Ben and I found at the Blue Light. This is a “double extreme imperial wheat stout” and according to the blurb on the back of the label is the only beer of its kind. I’m a bit disappointed in the Star Wars reference “…in a land far, far, away…” because it just sounds dumb and terribly outdated, but I guess if that is where they found their motivation I’ll let it pass. Problem is I’m having trouble not picturing four dudes sitting around a brew kettle dressed as Storm Troopers and speaking wookie. Nevertheless, this is a unique brew and I am anxious to try it.
Right off the bat I am surprised by the color. I was expecting a light to moderate brown hue, but it pours dark black with a caramel head. The head retention is quite impressive and could create a tremendous head-stache if you really got your upper lip in the glass. The smell does little to mask the alcohol content as it is very pronounced . That combined with the thick milk chocolate aroma makes this brew’s aroma comparable to Kahlua (sort of). I am also picking up some cherry but not with every whiff. The taste is soft and coffee-like. I would say this is an extremely subdued version of Terrapin’s Wake ‘n Bake. I can’t discern any wheat qualities but I guess the stout characteristics are covering them up, if they are intended to be there at all. Most of the flavor is experienced at the front of the tongue and then disappears toward the back. The great thing about this beer is the aftertaste. It tastes exactly like Hershey’s milk chocolate, amazing! I’m not sure what the brewers were going for. The style and presentation are strange at best but in my opinion the taste makes this beer worth trying.
Categories: Beer Reviews, Haandbryggeriet, Stout
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