BREWER: Einstök Ölgerd, Northeastern Region, Iceland

STYLE: White Ale

ABV: 5.2%

VESSEL: 33cl brown bottle

TWITTER: @EinstokBeer

INSTAGRAM: einstok

DATE OF POST: 5th March 2021

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Einstok had a bit of work to do to get me on side. See the last brew of theirs we reviewed fell flat on its face, well for me anyway.

But it is a clean slate we start with as always and I was instantly in a better place before I had even opened the beer. The packaging is clean, crisp and tidy. And I’ll cut to straight to the beer as this theme very much continues into the drinking. The taste is clean, crisp  and tidy too and may I add, oh so refreshing! Should I find myself in colder Icelandic climes I’m not too sure I would want to put my frozen hands on one but in warmer parts of the world with the sun blazing down this beer would slip down magnificently!!!

The label mentions that this ale is brewed with orange peel and coriander. Not necessarily unusual for a white ale but was it obvious in the taste? Well the orange peel was, though not prominent, it was definitely there. As for the coriander well, I’d say there was definitely a herb tone going on for sure but not necessarily of the coriander variety for me.

All in all a well presented and quaffable brew.

Jymi’s Rating: 74%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Many beers’ success is in their upfront punch. They have an obvious USP, which is how they flood the market. However, White Ale from Einstok, is subtle; there’s no two ways about it. But in this case subtle is not bad. Far from it in fact. Subtle in this case is a winner…

White Ale has an elderflower hint in the nose and this continues into the drinking. I know, elderflower mentioned in the same sentence as a beer sounds horrifying. Try not to think elderflower cordial though. Think more at the bittersweet end of the elderflower spectrum and then you’ll start to get an idea of where WA sits.

The crispness of this beer is something to be admired too. It floats on the palate and gives a nice mouthfeel. The Icelandic water certainly seems to add something special.

While WA won’t be to everyone’s liking, and while it may be subtle, don’t be fooled into assuming this is the shy retiring type of beer. That’s simply not the case. It’s different and it has it’s place. WA is definitely a beer that I’d reach for again and I would enjoy every last moment that I shared with it!

Sammy’s Rating: 84%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 79% 

MOB review next weekend: COTSWOLD IPA by COTSWOLD BREW CO.

@museonbooze