Grans: Julebrygg – One of life’s amusing contradictions

Sometimes life’s surprises are amusing in a contradictory sort of way. And for me at least, drinking Grans Julebrygg is one of those occasions. As a background to those unfamiliar with Grans products, the company is one of Norway’s larger beverage producers and well…their beers can be total drain pours (see my Ratebeer rating for Grans Lade Gaards Mørk Lager). But Grans Julebrygg is a definite hit and, in my opinion, one of the most flavorful low ABV Christmas beers put out by a Norwegian macro-brewery. As Ratebeer’s ClubGonzo rightfully points out, Grans Julebrygg is “a definite Christmas beer by Scandinavian standards, while still being very original in style, compared to the Norwegian market”. 

The Julebrygg experience begins with a dark amber color and a robust, foamy beige head. Wow, the lacing is solid! Is this really a Grans product? Giving it a whiff reveals a powerful array of sweet malts, caramel, and lots of raisins – certainly more potent than other julebryggs out there. Is ask again, is this really a Grans product? Overall, the taste pretty well balanced and closely resembles the aroma; Lots of dried fruit – primarily raisins, along with some bready, malty, and caramel flavors. The mouthfeel is a bit too watery for a julebrygg, although the carbonation is pretty active.

So, finally, I’ve found a Grans product that I can actually drink, but also one that I can thoroughly enjoy and for a reasonable price.  Overall, Grans Julebrygg is a really good value and an amusing contradiction to some of their other products.

Links

Ratebeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/grans-julebrygg/18638/

 

Grans Bryggeri: http://www.grans.no/

Image credits

VG: http://vgb.no/

Ægir: God Jul (7 percent ABV) – Subtle and delicate

Ægir’s brewery is nestled in the tiny and majestic fjord town of Flåm, Norway, and the brewery’s arrival to the scene there really completed Flåm as an attractive tourist destination. Ægir’s brews are noteworthy for their subtleness; indeed, it often takes a very perceptive palate to identify all the particularities in Ægir’s flavor complexes, as compared to Nøgne Ø’s more “in your face” approach, or so it seems. Both qualities are good, but this difference is why I sometimes prefer Nøgne Ø’s brews: You don’t have to work as hard to draw out and identify the different tastes. 

So, on Christmas Eve, my wife and I decided to take some time to enjoy an Ægir God Jul 7 percent ABV version, and what a treat this one is. Life in the glass begins with a dark amber pour, culminating in a tall and well-retained off-white head. Rolling it around in the glass produces a matrix of sticky laces. In terms of appearance, Ægir’s God Jul is a very attractive brew. 

Taking a whiff reveals a very subtle and Christmassy aroma with an ample amount of complexity: think orange peel, bubblegum, and a hint of spice. The alcohol presence becomes more distinct as the beer warms. The mouthfeel is oily, with medium carbonation. On the palate, the flavors are again very subtle and one has to work a bit to separate them. Bubblegum and orange peel are definitely front and center, followed by some sort of Christmassy spice. The finish is dry, slightly bitter with just a touch of warmth from the alcohol. As the beer’s temperature rises a bit, the orange peel seems to transition into more of a banana flavor, as identified by a number of others on Ratebeer. However, the increased temperature also throws off the balance, making the finish a bit too bitter and boozy to adequately compliment the other flavors. So, be sure to drink this thing at around 8 to 10 Celsius (46-50 f). 

Overall, Ægir’s God Jul rivals any of the Christmas beer’s I’ve sampled this year. It’s highly complex, but in a subtle and delicate manner. In contrast to some of the other Christmas beers I’ve had, the spicy background in God Jul’s aroma and taste really gives it a holiday feel without undermining some of the other flavors. At the right temperature, it is an incredibly well-balanced brew and I’m happy to have a few of these in the cellar.

Links

Ratebeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/aegir-julebrygg-70-green-label/95525/

 

Ægir: http://www.flamsbrygga.no/

Image credits

Beer Sagas: http://beersagas.blogspot.com/2011/11/taste-of-christmas.html

Hansa: Julebrygg (4.7%) – Finally, the Holiday Season has Arrived

Scandinavia is home to the origins of Christmas beer, and thankfully, the Vikings that settled in England took that tradition with them. While the origins of “Jule Øl” are not specifically tied to Christmas, today we associate Christmas beer with darker lagers and stouts, along with the smells and tastes of ginger and cinnamon, to name a few. Hansa’s “Julebrygg” hails from one of the three Scandinavian countries, namely Norway, and is a style especially suitable for Christmas, namely a dunkel. However, unless you happen to live in Norway and are accustomed to sampling the flavors of this particular Hansa around the time of Christmas, there is nothing else about Hansa's Julebrygg that really speaks to Christmas. 

Life outside the bottle begins with a respectable beige head and an enticing deep brown color. Julebrygg's head imparts clingy and thin lacing. The aroma whispers of sweet malts and raisins – quite impressive really from such an ordinary beer. The overall taste is definitely on the sweeter side, with hints of dark fruits and caramel – what I would expect from a dunkel. Julebrygg's mouth feel is watery, giving it a mildly refreshing character. 

Overall, Hansa's Julebrygg is a very solid, well-balanced dunkel. However, there’s really nothing inherently Christmassy about this beer outside the context of living in Norway and drinking a lot of these around Christmas time. That said, Hansa’s Julebrygg is something I look forward to every year.

Links

Hansa Julebrygg on Ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hansa-ekstra-vellagret-julebrygg-47/52943/114361/