Gotlandsdricka - Jester King Craft Brewery

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to SamuelJackson45 for dharing this 750ml. When opened initially, it was a gusher so the bottle was recapped and sort of forgotten about. Having a second go at this for a review. It pours into a snifter a hazy color of gold with more than a finger of off-white cap that fades to a thin film atop leaving patches of lace sticking to the glass.

The aroma is a mixture of smoke and farmhouse funky yeast. Quite earthy with some plastic-like phenolics mixing with a bit of fruity ester. The smoke aspect is mildly beefy with hints of minerals. As it warms up an some focus comes away from the smoke, a bit if citrus to floral hops are present.

The taste is beefy with smoke. Initially the smoke is a bit awkward when combined with the fruity alcohol and spicy yeast component. However, as more sips are taken, it starts to blend together and go from tolerable to curiously enjoyable. At times there is almost a minty feel to this perhaps from the hops with a bit of fruity rind flavors. The aftertaste includes some earthen aspect and yeasty spices that draw out a bit of a mineral flavor.

This is a medium to lighter bodied brew with an effervescent level of prickly, lively carbonation. The alcohol is well integrated and the level of carbonation helps to move and blend the flavors. This is a curious and diffrent sort of brew. I admittedly researched this style prior to gettin the chance to try it and i was expecting a juniper inclusion that seemed absent here. I gotta admit, the lack of juniper character might be the reason I enjoyed this. Throwing juniper into this mix would have been a trainwreck im sure. This isnt a beer I see myself getting thirsty for or craving. However, i wouldnt avoid having it again sometime either.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 01:59:25 | More by stakem

zillo043068

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-25-2013 00:40:56 | More by zillo043068

pauldevay

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +23%

05-21-2013 18:43:11 | More by pauldevay

ericwa1154

Texas

3/5  rDev -18%

05-20-2013 20:29:14 | More by ericwa1154

JamLand

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%

05-19-2013 21:10:11 | More by JamLand

Pesci

Texas

1/5  rDev -72.7%

05-16-2013 23:02:41 | More by Pesci

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%

05-16-2013 01:23:30 | More by calcnerd

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

a very clean golden yellow pour with 3 fingers of head and TONS of fizzy bubbles rocketing up the stem of the center of the glass like it's a highway! smells very funky.. band aids comes first to mind, hay, chipotle. smells nice and spicy/smoky. a lot of the band aid flavor pulls through up front, with a nice chipotle pepper finish.. also in the mix i'm getting a really floral flavor.. like flower petals.. very subtle. really digging this one. light body with high carbonation makes this very drinkable. the dryness from the smoked flavors also makes it perfect for hot days like today.

overall i give this a 4. it's a solid beer, and so far one of the best i've had from this brewery. i do love rauchbiers, and this is pretty much one, except i've never had one with these ingredients.. sweet gale and juniper? also the different woods used to smoke these grains are an excellent touch!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:38:20 | More by facundoCNB

csfcmitchell

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-09-2013 17:10:18 | More by csfcmitchell

Auror

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-03-2013 18:00:41 | More by Auror

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-03-2013 11:44:28 | More by jaasen64

captainbearcat

Illinois

5/5  rDev +36.6%

04-21-2013 21:15:33 | More by captainbearcat

Clonies720

Texas

5/5  rDev +36.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Jester King Gotlandsdricka 750ml bottled poured into 1 liter Hofbrau stein. This beer is the result of research into the types of beer that the Vikings might have brewed. Jester King presents their interpretation.

Appearance: Hazy straw yellow color. Thick and fluffy two-finger head.

Aroma: Starts off with an spicy, herbal, and earthy aroma. It develops into fresh cut grass and lemon . Finally, it transforms into a type of berry (juniper?) with a touch of smoked malts.

Taste: It is like delicious, smoked ribs in liquid form. A strange type of bitterness that is hop-like in nature, but tastes as though it comes from a different source. Not unpleasant, but just different. I believe the "sweet gale" ingredient may play a role in that.

Mouthfeel: Very dry from start to finish. This is a highly carbonated beer, probably being the 1st or 2nd most carbonated beer I've ever had. Body is creamy and full with a chewy finish.

Overall: Definitely an intriguing beer. This will pair amazing with some BBQ and/or smoked rack of ribs. Will definitely buy again when I get the urge to pillage a neighboring city.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 22:11:24 | More by Clonies720

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

4/5  rDev +9.3%

04-09-2013 03:12:55 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

trebbates

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -24.9%

04-07-2013 22:10:55 | More by trebbates

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.79/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Found this at Hunger Mountain Coop in Vermont, somehow they got a few Jester King beers.

Big quickly rising fizzy head rises instead of fading, light lacing, hazy golden straw color, tons of bubbles rising

Nose interesting, the sweet gale and juniper are nice, good smoked malt aromas, beach wood smoke, light toasty pilsner malt, light maple smoked bacon.

Taste more smoked malts, beach wood smoke, light toasty smoke pilsner, little sweet sticky malt but semi crisp, floral effervescent, then nice sweet gale, light hint if juniper and bitterness. Light maple smoked bacon again. Finish is little sticky but drier, more smoked malt and bacon, sticky sweet malts syrupy like and bacon again, more light sweet gale.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied but sticky, effervescent lots of carb.

Overall very interesting and unique, pretty well done but a bit too much residual sugar somehow even with all that carbonation it brings. The smoked malts are nice, as well as sweet gale, juniper is barely detectable mostly and it could have used a bit more bitterness I think. but still a very unique and tasty beer to try.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 12:35:53 | More by jlindros

richkrull

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%

03-31-2013 22:23:05 | More by richkrull

t0rin0

California

2.25/5  rDev -38.5%

03-28-2013 04:03:12 | More by t0rin0

cosmonick

Indiana

2.5/5  rDev -31.7%

03-28-2013 03:30:18 | More by cosmonick

Jamison85

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +29.8%

03-27-2013 14:56:42 | More by Jamison85

Magery

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +9.3%

03-27-2013 01:10:43 | More by Magery

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

03-25-2013 03:27:37 | More by SmellsofMahagony

crob3888

California

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%

03-23-2013 04:24:56 | More by crob3888

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-yellow with a big finger of frothy white head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Grainy malts, smoke, Belgian yeast, coriander, pepper, juniper, other herbs and spices, farmhouse esters, lemon zest.

T - Grainy and lightly bready malts, smoke, Belgian yeast, coriander, pepper, juniper, other herbs and spices, farmhouse flavors, lemon zest, vanilla.

M - Medium bodied with moderate-heavy carbonation. Smooth with a spicy, estery, and smokey finish.

D - Nice smoked saison. Good balance of smoke, spices, and yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:26:19 | More by ngeunit1

nzerbe

New York

2.75/5  rDev -24.9%

03-16-2013 13:37:55 | More by nzerbe