Beer - #227 - Einstök - Icelandic Toasted Porter

Well if you're going to make a beer in Iceland why not a Toasted Porter. This is the third of three I have, of the four they make. I'll settle with 75% of their output.

Einstök Ölgerð Brewed at Viking Ölgerd, this on in the Style of a  Porter and in the somewhat romantically named Akureyri, Iceland

With clear notes of espresso, dark chocolate and a hint of authentic Icelandic coffee, this Porter is dark and rich, offering a medium body that is robust, yet smooth on the palate and easy to drink. There’s no need to be afraid of the dark anymore.

Same 330ml bottle, 6%ABV or 1.6 standard drinks.

Of the three I saved this to last, and hopefully it'll end on a high-note.

Ah yes, the dark chocolate aroma on opening portends well. thick and dark pour with loads of carbonation delivering a small mocha brown head with persistence. Fantastic chocolate coffee aroma in abundance. FTW!

Rich smokey taste, slightly bitter and a really long finish, missing the bit in the middle perhaps, but a nice profile of taste in this. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Head has disappeared (I might have drunk it) and there is no lacing in the glass. Neither of these matter as this is a glass of pleasure and joy,

The pdubyah-o-meter got all enthusiastic and leap with joy to an 8 - this is very good, and I'm glad I had this last, and not as a lead in to the others. I'd like it either to be sweeter or possibly more aggressive with the bitterness just a touch, but it's awfully good as it is.

Related articles

• Einstök Tasting Notes (alehut.wordpress.com)


• Beer - #225 - Einstök - Icelandic White Ale (pdubyah.com)


• Beer - #226 - Einstök - Icelandic Pale Ale (pdubyah.com)

Beer - #226 - Einstök - Icelandic Pale Ale

Outlandish that we can get Icelandic beer in New Zealand. This one Einstök Icelandic Pale Ale

Einstök Ölgerð Brewed at Viking Ölgerd in the style of an  American Pale Ale in the almost tropical sounding - Akureyri, Iceland

330 ml bottle, 5.6% ABV which is 1.45 standard drink units.

American and Bavarian craft come together with the finest Icelandic water to create the Viking version of the Pale Ale, where robust hoppiness meets smooth malty undertones. Cascade hops give it the American character, while Northern Brewer hops add just enough bitterness to make this Ale refreshingly Icelandic.

Hopefully better than than White beer that i started with. Which wasn't 'bad' it just wasn't 'good'.

Cascade Hops : Flavor Profile: Who doesn’t love a good grapefruit aroma and taste in their IPA? As one of the “three C hops,” the cascade hop is notorious for providing this character to both the flavor and aroma of a beer. Floral and spice accents are also seen with this variety which sees most of its usage in Pale Ales, India Pale Ales, and an occasional Lager.

Aroma is one of sweet more than hop. Orange brown on pouring with a minimalist head, but it's a stayer. Much more powerful caramel malt type aroma now.

Seems over carbonated, and that dashes the taste. Which is a strange thing. It's not like a pale ale taste I had before, it's sort of, kind of, spicy caramel thing. It's also very fleeting.

So whilst there is a bit of an upfront taste it's all upfront and no middle and a quick finish. But you can pick the hop profile if you pick and delve a bit.

Lack of head and lacing in this glass too. It's important.

Similar to the White beer I had prior to this it carries a lot of disappointment, and arbitrarily the pdubyah-o-meter gets to the same 6 on the scale of things that I made up, making it 'average'.

A pity really, there is a lot of thought and work in the marketing of this, but it's what's inside that matters. So to recap, though it might have been hoppier, it wasn't, thought it might have a malt carry, it didn't, but it drinks clean even if it's a bit thin and short.

Related articles

• Beer - #225 - Einstök - Icelandic White Ale (pdubyah.com)

Beer - #225 - Einstök - Icelandic White Ale

Iceland! Beer! New Zealand! No idea how you join those dots.

Einstök Ölgerð Brewed at Viking Ölgerd of course in the Style of a  Belgian White (Witbier) in the exotic sounding Akureyri, Iceland.

A 5.25 ABV beer, in a 300ml bottle, making it about 1.35 standard drink units.

Brewed in the centuries-old Belgian tradition, our White Ale features the complex flavors of the classic witbier, including orange peel and coriander – all brewed with pure Icelandic water that delivers a cool smoothness that is flavorful and refreshingly drinkable.

And I'm looking forward to to it, because Iceland, and because Iceland!

Certainly fruit orange aroma on opening. Pale golden yellow, slightly cloudy, decent head. Aroma moves to a muted yeasty note. Nicely carbonated too. On looks and pour it's a winner.

The flavour is muted too. Bit of orange perhaps, but little else. Visually though head still there, lacing present, it has all the makings of an enjoyable drink.

What isn't present is an indicator of alcohol, but it isn't carrying much.

Disappointing, this. I would have liked a stronger carry of flavour, or ideally flavours. The aroma is kind of yeasty, the drink is mostly bubbles in the mouth, there isn't front or middle note and there is no carry, so I'd describe this as thin,

It does compare to other White beers I've had but it's not a front runner, and it isn't something that I'd be keen to recommend, apart from, well, Iceland!

An inoffensive beer than, the pdubyah-o-meter randomly thinks it 6, or average, on the arbitrary scale of things, and you're not missing out if you avoid it.

Related articles

• Einstök Tasting Notes (alehut.wordpress.com)