Sahti - Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S

Patrick999

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had DFH Sah'tea - while good, I did want to get a more traditional take on the style. Not that I think this is it, mind you, but I still expect this to be good.

Poured into my Leffe goblet, it pours an attractive clear gold. Good head, easily roused. In a drinking vessel like this, it could easily be mistaken for a Belgian pale.

Wow - one hell of a nose on this beer. Huge honey, but not really like sniffing a jar of plain honey you get from the supermarket that comes in a plastic bear container. Hell no, this smells like the expensive raw unheated wildflower honey you get at Whole Foods. I don't get too much of a sense of the botanicals in here, so strong is the honey aroma.

Like most beers that have been brewed with a crapload of honey, Sahti is extremely crisp and mostly dry, with all those fermentable sugars gobbled up. I get very much of the essence of honey, with very little if any of the associated sweetness. This allows for the botanicals to come through on the palate. Strong taste of juniper berries and also a fair bit of bitterness perceived from the Artemis maritima herb, which I am guessing is some relative of Artemisia absinthium (wormwood). Indeed, the taste is dominated by juniper and wormwood - very gin-like beer for the most part, with some echo of absinthe. Spicy alcohol somewhat noticeable from time to time, which makes sense as this is 11%. This is a complicated, interesting beverage.

I like the crisp, lively mouthfeel. You wouldn't think this is some big thick 11% beer.

Well, I am a big fan of this, but if you don't like gin, or a strong essence of honey in your beer, I would definitely steer clear. This isn't a simple "brewed with spices" beer - no, no, the botanicals are not relegated to a supporting role here. Highly suggested for fans of honey, gin, or absinthe. I'd like to have this as a Sahti staple in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2009 01:33:27 | More by Patrick999

logicerror

California

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

04-13-2013 20:08:40 | More by logicerror

RoryOMoore

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -22.7%

01-28-2013 01:37:51 | More by RoryOMoore

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-14-2013 04:46:06 | More by spycow

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3/5  rDev -22.7%

01-09-2013 22:19:28 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

11-28-2012 05:41:22 | More by t0rin0

dfillius

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass
A: Moderate pour yield 1 finger of fizzy off-white head with good retention. Hazy cloudy amber with chunks :-( When I poured remainder of bottle later on, lots of yeast came out with the rest of the bottle.
S: Apple cider vinegar or white balsamic vinegar, slight sherry. Juniper maybe...but it's a stretch.
T: Honey is up front and lasts. Heat, some breadiness, not terribly herbal as I would expect a sahti to be. Juniper? Hard to stomach as it seems hodgepodge and vinegary. A jumbled braggot maybe. I'm wishing for the herbal character of a sahti! After this beer warmed it became much better, and was as follows: some roastiness/earthiness is apparent and probably from the roused yeast. Braggot characteristics meld and become quite nice for that style. Still not much of a sahti. Maybe it includes the ingredients, but not the flavor. Before it warmed, I was leaning towards 1.0. Now I brought it up to a 3.5.
M: Bright, tart, with chewiness. A little heat, but not much for an 11% beer.
O: Pretty good. I wouldn't order another or buy again, but I fairly enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 01:52:11 | More by dfillius

profondo

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

10-06-2012 21:48:37 | More by profondo

DIPADude01

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +22.4%

07-28-2012 18:54:22 | More by DIPADude01

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Gusher upon opening. Pours very cloudy reddish orange color with a small 1 finger off white head with good retention, that reduces to a very thin cap. Some light spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of big honey, grape, pepper, molasses, raisin, herbal, cherry, floral, citrus peel, and yeast spices. Beautiful aromas here with great balance and complexity. Taste of caramel, honey, molasses, pepper, grape, raisin, earth, herbal, floral, citrus peel, banana, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of caramel, molasses, herbal, floral, grape, pepper, and yeast spices on the finish for a while. Great balance of flavors; with absolutely no cloying at all. Medium carbonation and full bodied; with a very nice creamy, slick, and thick mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden at 11%, with only a warming after the finish noticed; definitely a slow sipper. Overall this is a great sahti! It felt a bit unbalanced at first; but it smoothed out as it reached room temperature. Really well done.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 01:40:27 | More by superspak

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 375ml bottle into a Bell's tulip.

A- pours a cloudy, golden with a 2 finger off-white head. Some lacing remains on the glass.

S- crazy sweet honey!

T- lots of honey upfront with some spices that follow.

M- medium body and carbonation. I had no idea this was 11%, very drinkable and mellow for the abv.

O- popped my sahti cherry I believe? Enjoyed this beer, and would not drink often I would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 03:10:51 | More by kawilliams81

polishkaz

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-25-2012 00:24:03 | More by polishkaz

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

04-15-2012 06:53:26 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

SLeffler27

New York

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Sahti is syrupy thick and dark with light cloudiness and a half-inch fine white head that lasts a long time. Lacing forms a thick coating while the beer has legs.

The aroma is dominated by honey with some lemon and floral notes.

The flavor is interesting! Sweet with light malts, honey is clearly present with a light tartness just before a mild, bitter finish. The finish has a clear presence of juniper. Overall, this is reminiscent of a sweet white wine, but there is licorice with warmth.

The palate is slick and almost syrupy with a full body and surprisingly light alcohol. Carbonation is light an lively.

Consumed from a fisheye pint glass, this was a nice surprise, purchased purely out of curiosity, but well worth finding again. Sahti probably goes well with a rich meal, but was good on its own.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 13:21:18 | More by SLeffler27

bminor7

New York

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16.9 oz bottle from either hoosick or half time.

appearance - amber with some suspended detritus, ring of white foam. syrupy consistency.

nose - candi sugar, a little juniper

flavor - candi sugar, dark fruit. some funkiness. iron? no real hop flavor. This may be past its prime since the bottle has been in my posession for at least 2-3 years now.

m - heavy, sticky, but a nice wintertime treat.

overall - probably more interesting fresh. brings a lot of consistency and flavor. somethin like an imperial sahti?

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 21:39:53 | More by bminor7

Stoffel

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-07-2012 04:39:53 | More by Stoffel

jophish17

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

12-24-2011 07:34:02 | More by jophish17

jackie7787

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +16%

12-17-2011 20:19:38 | More by jackie7787

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

12-08-2011 18:07:05 | More by Slatetank

beagle75

Iowa

4/5  rDev +3.1%

12-03-2011 04:12:16 | More by beagle75

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-27-2011 01:39:18 | More by Exiled

corby112

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-22-2011 04:02:58 | More by corby112

Phocion

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle poured into a tulip. Solid finger of off-white frothy head sitting on medium, hazy, burnt orange body. Excellent retention and full, sticky lacing. Very nice looking beer.

Aroma is very full of spices. Honey is predominant, but wormwood, juniper, and spicy rye are all fully evident. Slightly sour yeastiness and caramel malts are also noticeable.

The complicated aroma does not translate quite as well into flavor. Very sweet and sour. Honey completely overwhelms and the only other things that are noticeable are a sharp alcohol flavor and the wormwood.

Medium-bodied and soft carbonation. Very smooth mouthfeel.

Overall, this was drinkable although a bit sweet, but fairly unremarkable and unmemorable. I generally try to rate with style in mind, but in the case of Sahti, I am completely clueless.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 20:13:33 | More by Phocion

dansmcd

Australia

1.93/5  rDev -50.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

A - Golden amber colour with two fingers of eggshell, creamy head with good retention. OK lace.

S - Very intense nose. And very unpleasant. There are the expected juniper twigs and dark berries (blackberries, raspberries) but as if they were totally covered in vomit. Like if my dog had been eating a bush and then followed it up with a meal of strong industrial cleaner and chucked it all up. Add a sweaty feet character and you have it.

T - Thankfully a lot more agreeable (if I hold my nose). Pine needle, honey, juniper, spice and some booze.

M - Quite tart and warming. Moderate carbonation, medium bodied.

O - Tough one to judge. I wanted to like this, but the smell had me dry retching. I just couldnt get past it so I had to drain pour about half and quickly open something else. I cannot see myself going for another sahti in the future, and certainly not this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:45:50 | More by dansmcd

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-18-2011 22:10:59 | More by JAHMUR