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I was absolutely delighted to see that Einstök had come out with another variation for me to try. I suspect there are several kinds that I just haven't been able to find in my area, as I'm pretty far from Iceland itself. I still think that if relatively bland beers from Honduras can make it to my local beer slinger, surely the entire repertoire of Einstök can also make the journey, right?
The clear, mahogany beer is darker than it looks in the pictures, and the off-white head isn't as overwhelming after a bit. A goodly amount of lacing is left in its wake, and the nice little swirl of bubbles left on top remind me why I like the look of beer. The aroma is not strong (if I recall, these Icelandic beers are all pretty shy with their scent) but I think I smell dark fruit and spices.
First sip is an assault to the taste buds. I don't mean that necessarily in a bad way, but the shy smell did not prepare me for the onslaught of sweet malt, dark fruit, earth, spices, and possibly even chocolate. It's a lot to just jump out at you, and I figure subsequent sips will get a lot better, now that I'm properly prepared. But, a swig is what I do next.
First sip is an assault to the taste buds. I don't mean that necessarily in a bad way, but the shy smell did not prepare me for the onslaught of sweet malt, dark fruit, earth, spices, and possibly even chocolate. It's a lot to just jump out at you, and I figure subsequent sips will get a lot better, now that I'm properly prepared. But, a swig is what I do next.
Tip-in is sweet malt and dark fruits with a hint of cinnamon. The middle erupts into a smooth dark fruit-laden creek that trickles with spice highlights and chocolate lowlights down the throat. The finish is nutty and scorched wood as bitterness finally shows itself.
Bottom Line: Pretty good, but it could use a lot more balance.
2.75/5
