Lava - Ölvisholt Brugghús

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

My first Icelandic find is a smoked stout? Sometimes fortune does indeed smile upon us tickers... Anyway, this stuff pours a straight obsidian topped by a strong finger of light sienna foam. The nose comprises dark smoke, roasted malts, and what may or may not be some dark coffee. The taste brings in more of the same, though now the darkness beneath the smoke is more varied: roasted malts, molasses, coffee, and dark chocolate. Combined with the dark, almost peat-y smoke, this is one of the blackest, most metal beers that's ever graced my tongue. The body is a strong medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, a nice, deep, dark smoked stout, one certainly worthy to bear the name of such a powerful manifestation of our planet's inner mechanisms.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 14:52:52 | More by TMoney2591

daliandragon

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Definitely my first beer from Iceland, although I had to go to Ohio to find it. Smoked Icelandic RIS named after the nearby mountain and it's molten flame, game on. Looks the part with a thin creamy head atop an obsidian chunk. The nose is smoky, starting with porkfat and ending in a familiar peat bog.

The taste is a pleasant melange. The smoke hits first, along with a dark rich malt flavor, colored with baker's chocolate and dark fruit notes. There is steady hop presence down to the aftertaste, along with a moderate dose of booze. The texture is thick and luxuriant, and very smooth throughout, despite the abv. This is an awesome stout with plenty of character, and real aggressive smoke flavor. Not cheap but highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 01:48:11 | More by daliandragon

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.6/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My first beer from Iceland I believe

Pours mahogany with 2 fingers of mocha head. Some head retention & lacing

S: Carob, smokeyness, dark fruit

T: Follows the nose, much smokeyness, dryness, a hint of cherry taffy , & some woody hops up front. Smokeyness, dark fruit & carob rule the day as this warms. Finishes smokey with some dark fruit & a bit more taffy & boozeyness

MF: Thick, low carbonation, warming

Maybe a bit too smokey to drink all the time, but a nice one to take the chill out of the air, worth a go...

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 06:21:36 | More by russpowell

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz served in a snifter.

A - Pours opaque with a creamy tan head that forms a thin wispy ceiling of micro-bubbles.

S - Roasted malts, burnt cocoa smoked peat, charred wood, sharp prunes, cedar and pine sap.

T - Bakers chocolate, rich roasted coffee, roasted black malts, licorice, smoked wood, dry bitter cocoa at the end, finishes with a solid dose of woody pine.

M - Light side of full bodied, smooth carbonation, creamy body.

Very balanced and the addition of the smoke gives it a little edge. The smoke shows up heavier in the nose while the malts really shine in the flavor and meld well with the smoke. Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:39:06 | More by StaveHooks

peabody

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out coffee black with just a hint of off-white suds. Lacing here.
Smell is nutty chocolate and coffee with a slight yeast/alcohol burn in the nose.
Taste is smokey for sure but not a fake smoke/liquid smoke. The alcohol is hidden very well here.
Mouthfeel is very clean after the smoke leaves the palate.
Overall I like this RIS and usually I don't like smoked anything. I have only tried Smoked Porters and this is my first Smoked RIS. Pretty nice except for the cost. 10 bucks for a pint.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 03:16:25 | More by peabody

DoubleJ

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Showing some Brazilians that there was craft beer available to purchase from Iceland, we took the plunge and added a bottle to our purchase and later tasted. From a 500 ml bottle, on to the beer:

No surpise, black is color of this Icelandic stout. Next....the smell. Licorice and a touch of cocoa hit, and surprising a smokiness that reminds me more of smoked Gouda cheese than smoked meat. The taste does follow much like the taste, with a few subtle changes. Licorice is still the main theme of the beer, roasty and cocoa notes hitting around. The smoked gouda note is replaced of a vague yet still appetizing soft smoked note. A thick stout being nearly heavy bodied, which you can attribute to the 9.4% ABV, but you'd be hard pressed to find much of it as it's hidden well.

Volcanoes and a serious banking crisis have put Iceland on the map in recent years. With Einstok and Olvisholt exporting beer to the US recently, perhaps it's time to add craft beer to the list.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 05:00:39 | More by DoubleJ

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16.9 oz bottle, no bottled-on date, poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

A- It looks goddamn awesome, pours pitch black, a rough pour produces a huge two-inch head, thick and cake-like, light mocha brown in color, good retention and nice lacing.

S- Interesting aroma, lots of the expected chocolate cake and roasted malt, but also a nicely integrated meaty campfire smokiness.

T- Chocolatey sweetness and roasted malt, alcohol is more noticeable here, although still marginally so. The chocolate, booze and a bit of dried fig flavors contribute to a mild sweetness that competes with a roasty, charred wood and smoke flavor.

M- Medium-to-full bodied, has a nice smooth feel.

O- A very good beer overall, the smoke and chocolate work nicely together, it's also cool to try such a good beer from Iceland, although it's a bit pricey for the same reason. Still, definitely pick this up if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 21:40:01 | More by WillCarrera

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first Icelandic beer, and one I've been wanting to try for a while. Quite an interesting beer- very dry, but big, and with a pronounced smokiness that is subtle enough to play well with the roastiness, licorice, and chocolate notes and noticeable enough to provide a unique element to the stout. There is also a nice ashiness that works well with the smoke. Lava indeed. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 02:17:37 | More by Georgiabeer

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

In a Delirium glass. Pitch black color with almost a finger of tan head. Looks great.
Strong chocolate smell with roasted malt in the background. Hint of burnt wood.
Silky/creamy texture. Burnt taste, roasted malt, chocolate and burnt again. Tasty.
Low carbonation and a heavier body.
Outstanding, a pleasure to have.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 18:17:31 | More by Fatehunter

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

my first icelandic beer, cool! good stuff too. it pours a cloudy chocolate brown color with a fair bit of carbonation creating a two inch off white head. its got a nice smokey malt smell, with some cocoa and clever yeast behind it. almost smells like a s'more. the taste isnt as sweet at the nose. the smoke flavor is pretty pronounced, and the chocolate from the nose comes through in the taste as well. the alcohol taste is pretty strong here, but it cuts through the thick smokey malt flavor nicely to leave a reasonably clean finish for a beer of this style. the feel is a little over carbonated at first, but it settles down as it warms. the body is huge, made bigger by the yeast sediment, but i had no problem with a bomber of this. id be curious to try more beers from iceland, hopefully they wont be as expensive as this one was. thats the only reason i wouldnt buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 22:40:25 | More by StonedTrippin

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampling a cellar temp bottle of this brew poured at cellar temperature into a snifter.
Beer pours a deep oil black hue with no light passing through the glass. Creamy tan head of .5 cm foams up and fades gradually to a sturdy edge layer.
ARoma is roasted malt and molasses, with some smokey burnt wood and a bit of dark cocoa as well. I dont get any hops in this brew and the booze is also well hidden.
First sip reveals a smooth silky textured brew that is fairly thick and features gentle rolling carbonation.
Flavor is deep roasted malt and smoke. I also get dark chocolate bar and a bit of molasses. Again no real hops, but there is a little warm booze on each swallow that heats up my throat and belly as it travels downward.
Even with the warming booze the beer is remarkably easy to drink and I find myself moving through the snifter quickly as I type these notes.
Certainly a robust brew that isnt for the light hearted, I would enjoy this with some smoked cheese and crackers in front of a fireplace on a cold snowy night. It is still pretty great tonite though too!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 05:08:51 | More by sulldaddy

Brenden

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a thick inky black, perhaps some light creeping in just at the edges, very much appropriate for the style. A nice, compact but fairly sizable tan head displays good retention and leaves equally good lacing on the glass.
Peat and smoke lie in the foreground the whole way without detracting from the nature of the brew as an RIS or going charred or astringent. It's just a nice addition of smoke in an otherwise good stout, with all the bigness the style should have. It's not as huge, bold and heavy as its American counterparts, but it's very balanced without lacking. Malts lay a solid backbone with a roasty element and never fade. It offers the dark cocoa notes I would expect with a touch of dark fruits.
This beer is full-bodied but not too heavy. Some may want an RIS to go down like molasses and sit like a cement block, but this beer offers a nice, even, balanced, smooth feel.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 13:31:46 | More by Brenden

Beer_HOPper

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at 38 Degrees poured into a goblet. I wanted to try something else besides my usual Pliney. So, the server recommended this, not the bartender.

Appearance: Very dark brown to black, 1 finger head and some lace, looks delicious.

Smell: smoke, nuts, malt, was hard to detect.

Taste and feel: sweet, smoky chocolate syrup, no carbonation, medium body, smoke lingers into finish, a little creamy made this seem thick, a slight bitter finish. After settling for 10 minutes, the smoke really comes out, reminds me of Islay Scotch whisky. I was shockingly surprised, unique!

Overall: this was like drinking a very good, sweet & smoky BBQ steak sauce. An end of night beer, one and done in a good way.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2012 01:44:18 | More by Beer_HOPper

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got this one last summer but let it sit for a year.

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
Best Before 14 September 2013

APPEARANCE: A black pour yields a two finger, medium looking, very fizzy, tan head with decent retention. Head fades to a half wisp and ring. Jet black body with higher levels of carbonation. A half wisp and ring remain but leave no lacing down the glass. Thick and dark, but a little too carbonated and fizzy.

SMELL: Some roasted and smoky malts with a touch of dark chocolate. A strong licorice anise aroma as well, and more coffee and chocolate come out as it sits. Nice, but not quite bold enough to be memorable.

TASTE: Roasted malts and licorice anise up front, with some smoky malts through the middle into a bitter chocolate and coffee finish. Bold and lingering aftertaste of smoky, roasted malts, dark, bitter chocolate and coffee/espresso flavors. Bigger flavors and more impressive than the nose.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy smooth on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes slightly sticky. A touch of heat lingers, but well measured.

OVERALL: It started out a little average, but ended up working out quite nicely. Bolder flavors with enough complexity make this a worthy drink. Something I'd gladly drink again. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 20:06:35 | More by Jeffo

Naugros

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

I was really excited to see a beer from Iceland on my local beer store's shelves and even more so to find out it was a smoked stout.

Got it home and poured it into my Raspy nonick glass and watched as the head rose, sizzled a little and went bye-bye entirely. The color is nice though, almost black in the glass with ruddy edges, the pour looked to be a really dark coppery brown.

The smell is mostly smoke and roast. Smells a lot like a rausch without being overbearing in the burnt-down building smell. A touch of floral hops will give a nice counterpoint if you're looking for it.

Lots of flavor and the smoke is the star. If you don't like smoked beers then you can skip this, but it's not a ton of smoke. Not quite as subtle as Sam Adams' Cinder Bock or Weyerbacher's Fireside, but not as aggressive as Victory's Otto or anything by Aecht Schlenkerla. Other flavors include red wine (the dark, chewy stuff), cola, some spice (which might just be alcohol burn disguised by the other flavors) and bitter dark fruit.

The body is a bit lacking, thin and watery with a touch of satin that makes it slide down your throat...but so does water. Maybe some oatmeal would help here or a larger grain bill, but the 9.4% is sneaky enough as it is without raising it.

Not horrible and with a reworking to increase the body, this would be a very nice beer, it's just too thin for a stout. However, I do leave impressed that a stout this thin can manage to balance the flavors it dumps on you.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 00:41:37 | More by Naugros

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My first Icelandic beer!

This pours out a pitch black with about 3 fingers of dark brown/mocha tan head.

The aroma has a little smoke, but not much and a good deal of roasted malt and dark chocolate with a hint of vanilla.

The taste has a lot of charred/roasted malt along with the slightly bitter and slightly sweet dark chocolate notes. There is more smoke in the taste than the aroma, but still not a lot. It's a blend of meaty smoke as well as camp or bonfire. Right at the end there is a little vanilla that ties it all together.

The mouthfeel is extremely creamy and this is a very rich and full-bodied beer.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this beer, but at $12 for a bottle smaller than a bomber it is a bit too steep. I know imports are more expensive, but still. If you can find it though pick it up.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 01:35:55 | More by JohnnyMc

shivtim

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Found on tap at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia. Served in a tulip. Very dark, opaque black with a slight deep brown head. Looks great. Good lacing.
Nose is intense campfire smoke. Strong malt and molasses. More smoked goodness. Taste is similar... fantastic smoke flavor, strong malt. Very good.
Mouthfeel is foamy and rich. Great beer all around. Would definitely get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 03:06:41 | More by shivtim

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Recieved in the 2012 CANBIF from liamt07. Thanks for the Iceland tick, dude!

Appearance. Pours a deep dark brown, pretty much black with a finger of creamy tan head.

Smell. Chocolate and campfire, some dark roasty malts and a little bit briney smelling.

Taste. Sweet chocolate, roasty malts, anise and smokey wood.

Mouthfeel. Medium-full body with low carbonation.

Overall. I like the smoke in this but the sweetness was a little too much for me.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:42:57 | More by Rutager

Bung

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml. Picked up at Brawleys.
It's black, only some light around the brown edges. A light tan head, pretty thin layer.

Aroma, roast and some meaty smoke. Some anise and faint hops.

Taste, Earthy roast malt, caramel, dark chocolate and peat smoke. It is very well in balance. Leans to less bitter like many Scandenavian big beers. I like it. Smokey cocoa finish, just a tinge of anise.

I'd say not quite full bodied. Maybe just a tad thinner than one might expect. About a creamy carbonation. Alcohol is pretty well hidden. No problem finishing the whole 500ml.

Another good brew from the pseudo region. Not quite up to the Odin's Tipple, but a very good smoked imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 03:47:08 | More by Bung

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Good starting head, but it dies quickly to only rim bubbles. Minute spotty lace on the glass. Inky black color where no light shines through.

Relatively mild aroma for an Imperial Stout. Some cocoa, some alcohol, otherwise rather pallid.

The flavor is more impressive than the smell. Neutral body with a higher than expected carbonation level. The flavor starts soft, but comes through in swallow where an oily alcohol presence is combined with a decent hop bite and a dark chocolate taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 01:23:35 | More by smcolw

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black in the glass. One finger light brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma a pleasant roasted malt, chocolate, wood smoke and mild dark fruit. Taste follows with roasted malt, smoke, chocolate, dark dried fruit; finishes with light hop bitterness, smoke, malt and a hint of chocolate, nice. Well integrated and flavorful. Medium bodied with light creaminess. An excellent smoked imperial Russian stout. The high ABV is well hidden. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 00:33:28 | More by LiquidAmber

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours nearly black in color with a tall tan head. It’s certainly smokey. There is quite a bit of roasted malt and a touch of salted nuts. Pretty simple and straightforward aroma. A light sweetness on the palate; some toffee and a bit of chocolate to go with lots of roasted malt and smoke. There is a slight alcohol flavor in the background.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 23:46:26 | More by womencantsail

n2185

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours black with a finger of tan head that fades into a tbin ring with no lacing.

S: lots of smoked meat and campfire notes on the nose with undertones of roasted malts and bitter chocolate.

T: similar to the aroma, tons of smokey flavors with roasted malts and bitter cocoa.

M: medium-heavy body with medium carbonation, this beer is surprisingly light-bodied for the style, but it works well with the smoke flavors

O: a good beer overall. Not terribly complex, but quite tasty and enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 01:16:00 | More by n2185

Cresant

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this 1 pt .9 oz. brown bottle into a Sierra Nevada Hops Glass. No date. The body was brown/black with a rich tan head. Specks of lace remained.

The smell was of Band-Aids and molasses. Chocolate and hints of smoke. I was expecting more smoke, but there was enough.

The taste was gentle roasted malts and a nice lingering bitter aftertaste. Very nicely balanced. Understated smoke and lightly sweet. Chocolate and a bit salty.Very well hidden alcohol. All the characteristics seem to work very well here.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied and silky.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 13:20:54 | More by Cresant

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shared this one with aasher during his wedding week in Destin, FL! Served from bottle into a Boulevard tulip. Poured a massively dark brown with a half finger light tan head that subsided to minimal amount quickly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt, smoke, smoked meat, and dark fruit. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, smoke, ham, and wood. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. There was quite a bit of smokiness going on in this one. Makes sense since this brew is called ‘Lava’. It was fairly well balanced, but wasn’t the best from the style. Worth trying if you get the chance, but I doubt I would go out of my way to do so again.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 11:02:22 | More by thagr81us