HaandBryggeriet Barrel Aged Porter

Its cold outside...so cold that I decided to take the Norwegian route this evening...

 HaandBryrgeriet Barrel Aged porter is just that...except it was aged in Akevitt barrels. I have never had Akevitt, but my understanding is that Norwegians drink it to "keep warm"...in other words, it should be strong stuff. When I opened this thing up, it was silent. Not a good sign. However, I was immediately hit with the aroma of (what I believe to be) Akevitt...strong spicy booze (think of cheap cologne).  The good news is that despite the lack of carbonation and the incredibly strong Akevitt aroma, this beer is drinks very smoothly. It is definitely a porter and drinks as such...dark and sticky, but with a pleasant sweetness. Now, keep in mind that the Akevitt is still there...its just not overpowering, but the flavor is obvious, and it mellows with warmth. But beware: you have to get past the smell of it. It seriously smells like a creepy Russian gangster. Picture this: a dirty 2nd gen. Range Rover, blaring techno at an obscene volume...it pulls up and a Russian gangster hops out. Slicked back hair. Gold chain. Chest hair poking out of his silk button-down...now imagine taking a whiff of him. Cheap cologne and sweat...that's what this beer smells like. That said, if you are looking for a strange dark beer, this is it...if you are just looking to drink something that is damn good, then move right along...

ohtheguilt Ba score 3.5 out of 5.0