Hailing from Drammen, Norway, about a half-hour drive
south of Oslo, Haandbryggeriet brews a very creative line of products, although
not all of them have been big hits with me personally. But Fyr og Flamme (to be
excited, lit. fire and flame) is an awesome brew – one that captures a lot of
the essence of what an IPA should be. For starters, the head nearly explodes
out of the glass when pouring Fyr og Flamme, although the head level is totally
controllable with a delicate pour (unlike their Nissemor that I recently
reviewed). The creamy white head quickly settles to a drinkable level, leaving
a beautiful lacing matrix and a translucent amber body topped by a well
retained white cap. Overall, the appearance predicts a top-notch, highly
refreshing IPA.
The aroma is all business, mostly hops, and totally
awesome: Smells of pine and resin dominate, but are also accompanied by a grapefruit-like
context. Malt references are present, but difficult to discern, which perhaps
detracts just a bit from Fyr og Flamme’s overall appeal, at least for me. It’s also
perhaps a bit less florally when compared to other IPAs, but bouquet notes are definitely
present. The aroma accurately predicts the taste: The assertive piney and
resinous taste is supported by a lighter citrusy background and some spicy
notes. Again, malt references are difficult to pin down. The finish is
sufficiently bitter and somewhat dry. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with
generous amounts of carbonation.
Overall, Fyr og Flamme does a remarkable job when presenting
itself. It’s a near perfect representation of what a resinous and piney IPA
should be like and exemplifies Haandbryggeriet’s capacity to turnout some
amazingly complex and well-balanced brews. If you like IPAs, I can promise you
that Fyr og Flamme will not disappoint you.
Links
Image credits
Bernt Rostad
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