Akevitt Porter (Barrel-Aged Porter) - HaandBryggeriet

CampusCrew

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

apperance: deep dark brown, almost ebony

smell: deep dark malts. heavy coffee, woodsy

taste: wow, very ipresseive depth of flavors. vanilla, oak, sublt smoke

mouthfeel: full bodied

drinkability: I want this again period. fantastic beer and it wowed me even after just drinking a dreanuaght for the first time.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 18:48:01 | More by CampusCrew

avalon07

South Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Poured from a bottle to an imperial pint glass. Had a dark brown/blackish color and a thick consistency. There was a quarter inch of tan-colored, foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Surprisingly, not much lacing at all.

S: A subtle aroma of malt, chocolate, and alcohol.

T: Tasted of chocolate, malt, hints of coffee, and alcohol - presumably from the aquavit. A nicely complex, robust flavor.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a dry finish. Full-bodied, but not in an obnoxious way.

D: One of the most drinkable American porters I've had in a long time.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 12:09:56 | More by avalon07

nickfl

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pours with one finger of medium-brown head that rests on top of a completely opaque black body. The foam settles fairly quickly and leaves only minor lace.

S - A rich aroma of brown malts with notes of toffee and some caramel. A spicy, woody character in the background with some licorice, coffee, smoke, and perhaps a bit of juniper.

T - Smoky, toffee flavored malt character up front with notes of chocolate and allspice. The rich, brown malt character intensifies in the middle with more chocolate and a hint of coffee as well as a spicy, smoky character. Finishes with lots of chocolate and light hop character, balanced by moderate hop and malt bitterness as well as herbal notes of juniper, rosemary, and cloves. The spicy character intensifies in the aftertaste as the roasted grain fades into the background and develops a surprisingly liquor-like herbal bitterness that compliments the lingering alcoholic warmth.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish with some alcoholic warmth.

D - First off, this beer gets the award for most extreme barrel aging project ever. It really impresses me that these guys are able, time and again, to take trends form the world of American craft brewing and make them something completely their own. The idea of aging a beer in Aquavit barrels is a perfectly progression of the barrel aging trend for a Norwegian brewery; and what's more, it isn't just a gimmick, it actually works! The spicy, herbal, harsh character of Aquavit is perfectly integrated into the beer. It is very subtle in the aroma and the initial impression of the flavor, but then it builds slowly throughout the finish until it bursts forth in the aftertaste with a lingering bitter, spicy warmth that is shockingly reminiscent of the actual spirit. I have never cared for Aquavit; it is harsh, foul, stomach dissolving stuff. However it adds an interesting and enticing depth to this beer. It seems like the best barrel aged beers are able to capture the essence of the spirit while making it more drinkable than the straight liquor and allowing the base beer to shine through. Haand Bryggeriet Barrel Aged Porter is as successful in this respect as only a handful of other barrel aged beers have managed to be.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2010 05:59:25 | More by nickfl

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Whoa, this is one heavenly beer, mmm mm! Poured with a thick foamy frothy fluffy light brown head and a tiny bit of lace. Color is an opaque brownish black. Aroma is malt roast burnt sugar ( can't smell some of other stuff as my snooter don't work so well). Flavor is absolutely divine: Very rich traditionally classic sweet (but not overly so) porter. Body is thick full and round with the perfect carbonation - just enough fizz to balance the sweet fullness of the liquid. Very satifying. The Norwegians have given us another sublime product that easily goes with another that is near and dear the the hearts of us here in Wisconsin, the cheese slicer. Bravo to our brothers!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 21:59:41 | More by drpimento

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch # 225
Appears a dense midnight toned black with a small tan cap that slowly fades away into a mild film and hearty collar. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of cocoa, vanilla, raisins, brown sugar, port wine, and floral notes.
Taste is of the aromas with a remarkable flavor with a port wine, warming, vanilla, caramel, mild smoke, and cream. Perfect.
Mouthfeel is full bodied, warming, smooth, and lip smacking with residual sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2010 02:07:22 | More by weeare138

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.

Batch 225, bottled 9/15/09. Another gem acquired on a side-trip to State Line (well worth, it, I tells ya!). It pours a very nice black-brown topped by a thick finger or so of tan froth. The nose comprises chocolate, booze (similar to bourbon), oak, vanilla, caramel, molasses, roasted malts, blackened biscuits, and charred wheat. Very nice. The taste encompasses all of the above, adding in some honey-covered biscuits as well. The booziness adds a decisive burn, but it is not unbearable, nor is it really all that bad at all. It's all lovely concoction. The body is lighter than expected, a solid medium, with a light carbonation and a very smooth and creamy feel. Overall, a wonderful (wow, I never thought I'd say wonderful again...) brew, one I wish had many of. Get some!

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 01:17:05 | More by TMoney2591

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottle from a bottle shop in Melbourne recommended and demanded that we visit by Volcanicbeat. He insisted we try this beer and I was quite excited to do so based on the hype. Needless to say it was worth it. From notes.

A - Poured black with good carbonation. One finger of brown head. Spotty lace and a film of retention.

S - Sweet spirit aromas, vanilla, oak, aftershave? Something really inviting and nice. Sweet. Just really great smelling.

T - Chocolate, sweetness. Light spirit note, wood, vanilla. Really, really tasty.

M - Mild carbonation, medium to full body and a sweet finish.

O/D - I wrote 'Christ that's good!' So smooth and flavourful. A fantastic beer with lot's of great spirit flavour that has clearly worked with with the base Porter. Lovely.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 10:42:57 | More by tbeckett

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle, Batch #225, bottled 9/15/2009. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch brown head. Head retention and lacing are both decent. Aroma is chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, dark fruit and some oak. It's a mostly sweet and strong aroma. There's a lot going on with the taste of this brew! I can taste roasted malt, licorice, caramel, smoke, oak, dark fruit, herbs, vanilla and chocolate. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's slick and creamy with good carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good, it's smooth and just plain goes down easy. I think this is a very enjoyable brew, I've liked the other beers I've had from HaandBryggeriet in the past, and this one is likely the best one I've tried from them.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 23:19:00 | More by bluejacket74

UCLABrewN84

California

4.47/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 288
Total bottles: 3240
Bottled 7/23/10

Pours a pitch black with a 2 inch khaki head that fades to a small cap. Good rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. There is some sediment floating in this beer after the pour. Smells of roasted dark malts, coffee, and some spices. Taste is of rich coffee, roasted dark malt, and slight cocoa powder on the finish. Very subtle bitterness on the palate after each sip. Good mouthfeel with a great level of carbonation that is bubbly yet smooth. Overall, this is a very tasty beer. I have never had Akevitt but I have read that it is a spirit with spices and herbs. I get some hints of that in the smell and taste of this beer but it is definitely in the background of a very good porter by itself.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 04:02:14 | More by UCLABrewN84

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into tulip 16/1/12

A near black with just a little cola at the edges, nice dark two fingers of foam retains quite well but only leaves a few polka dots of lace

S some smokey peat, dark chocolate, a little licorice, juniper maybe some spruce too, overripe cherry, and a little booze. smells pretty earthy and complex

T a little smokier then the nose with more herbal notes, maybe even a little chocolate mint, quite woody but burnt, and this mixes with everything I smell, again pretty complex tasty dark roast

M sticky and pretty full bodied just enough bubbles and a strong lingering aftertaste of herbal burnt char, the aftertaste is better then it sounds

O I loved this one for sure, big bold flavors and smell with a complexity too match

another winner from these guys, this ones up there with Odins Tipple and that's some pretty elite company, I like the barrels imprint on this beer very interesting stuff. this ones worth aging I need more

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 22:37:17 | More by wordemupg

gford217

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500mL bottle, batch 225, listed as 10% ABV.

Pours a dark, viscous black that shows hardly any light and has a small but thick tan head that hangs on as a healthy collar but leaves only spotty lacing.

The aroma is really big - plenty of the underlying porter showing through with sweet chocolate malts and roasted coffee. But the barrel character is what really sets it apart with the herbal spiciness mixing in with the sweet chocolaty aroma.

The taste is just as unique as the nose as the first taste I get has to be from the liquor. I've never had aquavit but that first sip is like a shot of a heavily spiced liqueur. The porter holds up very well underneath with lots of smooth rich chocolate and roasted malts. The finish is a mix of cocoa, spices and booze with a solid burn going down.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and highly carbonated, which might be one of my few gripes. It seems to sit a little too lightly on the palate, but that's really nitpicking.

This is one of the most creative uses of barrels I've ever had and the underlying beer is more than up to the task. It's got everything you'd want in a porter with the barrel presence adding all the right complexity. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 04:08:58 | More by gford217

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an effervescent mahogany with 3 fingers of mocha colored head.Nice lacing & better head retention

S: Roasty malt, caramel & hazel nut & mocha, some dark cherry & figs

T: Roasty grain, cocoa, mocha & a bit of charred grain. Dryness comes through as this warms, along some peppery spice/hops, plus coffee & charred grain. Finishes dry, slightly twangy, with some mocha & charred grain, some woody dryness & a bit of warming booze

MF: Medium bodied, creamy, somewhat warming

A very nice barrel aged porter that is bit different, helping it to stand out a bit. This is still in great shape with 2 years of age on it. One of the better Shelton Bro Imports I've had

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 01:58:49 | More by russpowell

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Will pour a five finger brown head that fades quickly to a thin layer, leaving traces of lace. Black color, no highlights, ton of yeast left in bottle. Good carbonation and heavy bodied. Chocolate and oak nose. Flavor is roasted chocolate, smooth, higher ABV is hidden. Batch #225, bottled Sep 9, 2009. This ages well. Pricey at $11.95 for a 500ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 22:17:43 | More by jdhilt

GbVDave

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a DT tulip.

Batch 225
Total Bottles 2160
Bottled 15.09.09
10% Alc./Vol.

A: Pours a completely opaque pitch black with 1 1/2 fingers of creamy dark mocha colored foam on top. Retention was excellent and tons of sticky lace decorated the inside of the glass.

S: Very fragrant nose of heavily roasted malt, espresso, herbs, dark fruit, chocolate, and home made spirits.

T: See above. Spicy and herbal with a tiny touch of alcohol. Dark chocolate, pine, dark fruit, espresso, mint, and juniper.

M: Bitter and slick with a pleasant bitterness brought on by the spices/hops/alcohol.

D: Such an interesting beer! Very earthy and natural. Excellent combination of flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 13:19:41 | More by GbVDave

brownbeer

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with a brown head, very intruiging.

Dark, rich aromas of black licorice, cherry, wood, bakers chocolate, and a notable hoppiness.

The flavors are dry, woody and chocolaty, green hops, caramel, dark vanilla, and smoke.

This is an amazing, complex beer, worth trying and being suprised by. Haand does a great job, we love these guys.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2010 01:06:08 | More by brownbeer

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a 500 ml brown bottle, batch #356. The bottle tries to foam over upon uncapping, and a tall tight spongy mocha head fills most of the glass at first. When the head eventually recedes and the glass can be topped up the body reveals itself as an intense opaque pitch black with a thick cap remaining.

Aroma reveals treacle, licorice, alcohol warmth, earthy wood, dried figs and black currants.

Molasses sweetness up front in the flavour, figs and dates, some boozy warmth, oaky wood, with rum and raisins on the finish. Also picking up notes of cafe au lait and light milky chocolate.

Full-bodied mouthfeel, full creamy smooth texture, moderate texture. A great porter that all strikes me also greater than the sum of its parts, all of which are rather formidable to start with. Rather amazing in fact, this is certainly one of the best porters I've had in quite some time, and shall be stocking up on more.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 03:22:11 | More by IronDjinn

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

GLASS: Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 55 degrees
BATCH: 225 BOTTLED ON: 15.09.09 TOTAL BOTTLES: 2160

This one pours up a nicely impressive black color. Two-fingers of loose, chocolate brown colored foam sit on top. The retention is okay and the lacing is good, but fairly slippery.

Lots of the expected porter notes are in this nose. Big hints of dark roasted malts. A fair amount of coffee beans and a decent showing of chocolates. Nice hints of oak and some interesting herbal notes are here, as well. There is almost a 'neutral grain spirit' kind of scent here also, but it's very faint.

The porter flavors follow the nose and are quite tasty, but then I've come to expect that from the brewers at HaandBryggeriet. They make some damn fine beers.
Along with all of that chocolate/coffee/roasty goodness though is a little something extra. A mild hint of grain alcohol, along with a good dose of herbs. Caraway is easily spotted, along with fennel and anise and a light hint of cumin. This is very interesting, to say the least. Nicely complex.

This is full-bodied with a nice, medium level of carbonation. It is smooth and deliciously creamy, just like a good porter should be.
Nice.

The 10.00%abv is very warming, within this beer. It's a very tasty beer, but I believe that a little will go a long way.
Definitely something to be on the lookout for, if you've never had it.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 05:06:06 | More by coldmeat23

soulgrowl

United Kingdom (England)

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

It's starting to get cold and dark in London again – no time like the present to start drinking the kind of strong, rich stouts that made me fall in love with beer in the first place. Akevitt Porter has a thick, dark chocolate black body with a very shy, milk chocolatey head of small but volatile bubbles. Rich with oak and dark malts, the aroma is a mine of chocolate, malted milk, coffee, molasses, figs, vanilla, walnuts, caramel, spiced with plenty of caraway, anise, tobacco, and floral hops. Increasingly smoky as it warms, and very interesting; the akavit is not subtle but well-incorporated with the base malt aromas. Tangy and earthy on the palate, with a crisp caraway entrance and a long, luscious chocolate finish. Juicy and rich yet sharp and bitter, this one balances coffee, citrus, licorice, oak, and red wine – and yet it isn't quite as complex as the nose led me to believe. Even so, it's tremendously mouthwatering and a wonderful nightcap for a cold late summer evening. Possibly an excellent match for game, assuredly for chocolate and blue cheese.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 20:43:57 | More by soulgrowl

cleverbeername

Nevada

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

50* bordeaux glass

A great lace, 2 fingers plus, got four on an aggressive pour. tan/ light coffe brown head, beer is glassy black/blue/green

S smokey, malty, little yeast and dirt. menthol,liqourish, and anise notes are present

T sublte aquavit is present through front, mid, and back of taste. traditional malt and smokey porter flavors, but there is the anise and almost euclyptous flavors too. very floral. menthol and mint too.

M think and full bodied, but in euro fashion. good balance and great acid

D would buy again any time, a treat for the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 01:01:37 | More by cleverbeername

Urbancaver

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark drk brown with a nice tan head. Looks very appealing appearance. Smells roasty and nutty and very wonderful. The nose is top notch. Tastes Nutty and roasty. Lots of great malt characteristics. Overall one of my favourite porters! Something i would love to have again

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 01:17:16 | More by Urbancaver

Bung

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml July 2010 bottling.
Murky dark brown pour with a wonderful brown layer of foam. Retained really well.

Roast, chocolate milk, some boozy oak. Some earthy yeast tones.

Taste, a big beefy roasty with dark chocolate beast. Coffee, cocoa and peat later. The barrel is really a subtle complementary.

Almost creamy smooth, coats well enough. Not too warm either. This drank easy for the size.

Right up my alley, an excellent example to me. The dark brews from Mr. Haand are fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 02:18:33 | More by Bung

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Quite an amazing pour: initially, it looks like it's not going to form a head at all, just leaving some yellowish-brown turbulent bubbles in the top of the deep, brown-black body. But then tiny bubbles start to nucleate forming a rich, chocolate-brown head of very fine film. This eventually settles out a little, but it's still creamy when it's filmy. Body is rich and full, leaving powdery static carbonation when swirled. Lacing is excellent. Looks like a fantastic beer.

Nose is intense, with big roasty high-cocoa chocolate characters, and savoury, slightly spicy characters of cardamom, aniseed and caraway seed. There's a hint of booze to it too, but it mellows into a nutty amaretto sort of character. Really quite unique and incredibly pleasant and complex.

Taste is a little lighter and less complex, but it has such a length on the palate, lending sweet chocolate on the front, before smoothly transitioning into a roasted bittersweet finish. Chocolate and cocoa still seem to me the dominant flavours, and some of the spice suggested on the nose has dropped out a little. Still the roastiness has nuanced layers to it, giving some brewed coffee tones above the smoother bitter chocolate notes.

Feel is wonderful, at once slick and light, but with that chewy lingering character that allows the flavours to mellow and develop in the mouth.

Really lovely brew this one, even by the high standards I place on Haand. They really do a good line in "Scandinavian" pseudo-traditional beers, which ironically puts them in the avant garde of the craft beer scene.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 05:50:29 | More by lacqueredmouse

Fladder

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice dark brown color. Dark brown head, somewhat thick with fair retention.

Slightly acrid roast smell with a hint of chocolate.

Pronounced alcohol taste which lightens up the roasted characteristics of the porter a bit too much.
I couldn't taste the barrel aging like I normally can with other barrel-aged beers. This might be due to the use of Aquavit barrels. The taste definitely has some Aquavit-like undertones.

The beer imparts a heavy feeling in the mouth with a subtle smoke flavor. As this aftertaste sunk in, I found it mysteriously appealing.

At first, I thought this beer was rather unimpressive. However, it grew on me. The deep roast supports the alcohol taste into the aftertaste in a very unique way.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2010 21:43:15 | More by Fladder

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very nice idea, Norse farmhouse porter aged in aquavit barrels, and the result is very tasty. Pours black and slightly viscous with a a caramel brown head that fades to a ring and a swirl. That seems fine for a strong barrel aged beer. Smells sweet to start and then with lots of dry licorice notes and a bit of bitter chocolate. I don't smell a lot of caraway or herbs. The taste exhibits more of the caraway and herbal notes, particularly on the finish where you get a big hit of spicy caraway and herbs as well as a dose of alcohol. Almost reminiscent of chili peppers. The rest of the taste is filled out by roasted notes, licorice, and quite a bit of cocoa. Slightly hot, with a nasal clearing effect on the finish. This is an extremely interesting beer that would be perfect in the dead of winter. Fascinating.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 22:52:09 | More by Georgiabeer

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pitch black, viscous pour with a foamy deep brown head. Head fades fairly quickly leaving dark lacing and a centralized miniature Le Brea tar pit carbonation formation.

S - Sweet and roast all the way. Sweet, almost chocolate covered coffee beans and cocoa powder. A sweet milk sugar scent and some gooey malt sweetness. The wooden barrel dryness and notes pushes through.

T - So rich and chocolatey with a dry, bitter roasted coffee flavor. Black coffee, lactose, roasted coffee and semi-sweet chocolate wrapped up together. Dry oak nuances accompany and compliment the dark flavors. This tastes more like a coffee/milk stout than it does a porter. Very robust and packed with flavor.

M - Viscous on the palate, full bodied and rich. Drying and warming. A wonderful mouth here. The abc very well hidden by the way.

O - Dark and delicious, if you love everything that has to do with coffee, chocolate and wooden barrels.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 22:14:05 | More by BeerForMuscle