Bärnsten
Jämtlands Bryggeri AB

BärnstenBärnsten
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From:
Jämtlands Bryggeri AB
 
Sweden
Style:
European Dark Lager
ABV:
5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 18.8%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
16
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 18, 2017
Added:
Jan 08, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.34 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Mar 18, 2017
Photo of Wer34truh
Reviewed by Wer34truh from Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Subtle smell and taste. The hops are definitely noticeable for what otherwise is a light lager.

My big problem with Barnsten (and with beers from Jamtland in general) is what I perceive to be an overemphasis on the carbonation. I would definitely prefer lesser carbonation.
Jun 26, 2015
 
Rated: 2 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.08 by Alex-Alkis from Sweden

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by sebastian577 from Sweden

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Brabander from Netherlands

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by the_danish_swede from Sweden

Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JamFuel from Sweden

Sep 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by aztraz from Sweden

Apr 05, 2012
Photo of alex667gbg
Reviewed by alex667gbg from Sweden

4.35/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: This great looking lager has its name from the Swedish word for amber, true and fair.

S: Some hops with a malty, semi-sweet undertone.

T: Malty lager with caramel. Fruity hops and a well balanced. Just a great beer and it is understandable that this beer have won several gold medals in various categories. This is how a potent lager should taste like.

Medium carbonation.

This Jämtlands beer is the first beer I usually recommend friends who are unaware of good beer. This beer is the true cure for the crap-big-beer-drinkers. Most often, it takes only one bottle, and even the most hardcore unbeliever will be cured.

A must try!
Apr 14, 2011
Photo of rarbring
Reviewed by rarbring from Sweden

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A clear amber beer - as it should ("bärnsten" is the Swedish word for amber). An off-white head leaving some lacing.

The smell is deep malty, honey, nuts and grains.

The taste is also dominated by the malt but well balanced with the hoppy bitterness. The beer takes us thru a journey starting with brown sugar, going to brown bread with nuts, some bitter orange marmalade notes and bitter lasting tastes.

Medium carbonation, medium body, a good dry finish.

A very pleasant surprise, crisper, bitterer and less sweet than the average Euro Dark Lager. More like a good bitter. Funnily I felt very little of the wheat that is supposed to be in the malt.
Jul 17, 2010
Photo of Evil_Pidde
Reviewed by Evil_Pidde from Sweden

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A 50 cl short-necked brown bottle with a label in yellow and green and writing in black. There is a picture of amber (bärnsten in swedish).

A: The color is "Bärnsten" (amber in swedish) and the large head is white. The dissipation takes it's time, leaving really nice lacings.

S: Lots of butter, floral hops and caramell malt. Smells very english (in the best of ways).

T: Lots of dry caramell malt. Butter and balanced floral as well as bitter hops. Fruity.

M: Aftertaste lingers for some time and holds weak sweetness but rich bitterness. Body is creamy mediumfull and carbonation is moderate.

D: If you want to drink a great Lager; you should buy one from Jämtland. lf you want to drink one of the best in the world; you should probably drink this one.
Apr 04, 2010
Photo of Bananaman
Reviewed by Bananaman from Sweden

4.31/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Ah, one of the best lagers I've ever had.

The colour is light amber, or "Bärnsten" as we say in Sweden. With a nice white-off head.

The smell is pretty anonymous, but still nice with some clean hoppy tones.

Tastes nicely of grapefruit, butterscotch and a light maltiness. The blend of hops/malts in this one is second to none. Jämtlands Bryggeri have a special tone in most of their beers, and it's quite distinguished. Finishes in a dry, satisfying way. I'd have this one anyday.

Gotta' love the Jämtland brewers. Quality straight trough.
Aug 21, 2008
Photo of JanM
Reviewed by JanM from Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured in a darkish, golden color. The smell was of flowery hops, citrus and other fruits. The taste has a pronounced honey note (which I'm not particularily fond of). There was also notes of syrup, some bread and bitterness. The body had a toffee taste. I'm not sure where to draw the taste line between a dark lager and an ale, but this beer tastes a lot like an ale to me. Having said that it's a competent brew, especially for a Swedish brewer.
Nov 19, 2006
Photo of bark
Reviewed by bark from Sweden

3.96/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The foam is thin and white. The colour is clear amber (“bärnsten” is amber in Swedish).

The smell is full of malt, Challenger hops and a bit sourish.

The carbonation is balanced, long lasting and just right for this kind of beer.

The taste includes the characteristic Jämtlands Bryggeri-elements: A fine dry bitterness, lots of balanced malts and lots of Challenger and maybe some Bramling hops. The aftertaste is bitter and well bodied.

Solid, as expected from these fine brewers!
Oct 02, 2004
Photo of rastaman
Reviewed by rastaman from England

3.94/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Besides the slightly burnt malt character, all you can taste is the hops. Citrusy piney hops. Very hoppy. Bittersweet. Doesn't really taste like a Pilsener, more like an IPA or bitter or something. Very tasty anyway, bitter hoppy finish, enjoyable, but perhaps a bit over the top with hops, still a good little number from a good brewer. Well hopped.
Feb 15, 2003
Bärnsten from Jämtlands Bryggeri AB
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 16 ratings