CENTRALBRYGGERIET, Tappar Finas Pale Ale. 4.8% alcohol This is labeled STARKÖL, but it's less than 5% alcohol. What? I have also noticed a trend in Swedish breweries that their labels are SO PRETENTIOUS. For example, this one says (loosely translated): "A modern craft brewery with roots in Swedish beer history." *furious jerk-off motion* So this stuff is made with corn, oats, wheat, and coriander (which is dried cilantro). That sounds really similar to one of my favorite beers, Lost Coast Brewery's Great White. I'm looking forward to this. Let's rock it. Well... shit! This is, hands down, THE most hops I have tasted since I've come here. I feel like CENTRALBRYGGERIET made this beer on a fucking dare. Can't taste the coriander or any of the grains; it's all hops, all the time. For some background on why hops are so common in beer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops "In addition to adding flavor to beer, hops are also used in brewing for their antibacterial effect over less desirable microorganisms and for many purported benefits, including balancing the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, contributing a variety of desirable flavors and aromas. Historically, traditional herb combinations for beers were believed to have been abandoned when beers made with hops were noticed to be less prone to spoilage." More Fun Hops Facts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops "Hops are also used in herbal medicine in a way similar to valerian, as a treatment for anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. A pillow filled with hops is a popular folk remedy for sleeplessness, and animal research has shown a sedative effect. The relaxing effect of hops may be due, in part, to the specific degradation product from alpha acids, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, as demonstrated from nighttime consumption of non-alcoholic beer. 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol is structurally similar to tert-amyl alcohol which was historically used as an anesthetic." Still, as my friend Xoe memorably said, hoppy beer tastes like "mulled fartwater." Give me some of that alcopop cider shit over this any day. D
