99 bottles of beer on the wall….sometimes it is just time to drink some of them. Dave would say it’s more to make space for new beer but I keep saying, that we will never be able to drink all of our beer if we just keep collecting.

So we randomly go through and see what tingles our taste buds.

First up: Bedaro Bitter by Nynashamns Angbryggeri. 4.5% abv. It has Chinook and  Cascade hops. It was a gift from one of our Swedish airbnb guests! It pours a clear orange amber. It smells like sweet grapes, juicy mango and slightly piney. It tastes like hops-a touch of wheat and slightly stinky feet at first- but that wears off and you are left with bitterpine, citrus, sweet grapes and a touch of bitter/wheat ending. It’s really nice and flavorful for such a normal abv beer. It’s quite  lovely actually. I wish I was drinking it on a hot summer day instead of this crappy, rainy,windy and stormy San Francisco summer night!

Next Up: Tres by Dark Horse Brewing Co-Blueberry Stout. It pours a Dark black with a hint of red. It smells like roasted malt, thick caramel, burnt sugar, and a touch of berries. It tastes like sweet malt, roasted dark coffee beans, bitter dark chocolate, maple syrup and fresh blueberries. This would make a fantastic brunch or breakfast pairing! Mmm mascarpone waffles with pecans and peaches anyone? Delish!

Oppigards- Single Hop Ale. 4.8% abv. Another Swedish Beer! It has a best before date of Oct  2010- always a nice touch. It pours a light hay yellow with a touch of  foam. It smells like slight honey, slightly herbal (maybe anise?), a touch of wheat, and a hint of pine. It is very interesting to smell. I haven’t smelled a beer quite like this. It tastes like pine, wheat and  a dry herbal with a touch of a sweet grape ending. It has much more  flavor than I was expecting. It is a good, light session beer with some interesting flavors going on there.  I would definitely try this beer again!

Next:

Ocean Bryggeriet- Eko Pale Ale- 4.5% abv. Certified Organic. Another gift from our Swedish visitors. It pours a clear brown with a touch of  red resin. It smells like sweet malt, touch of toffee and a hint of  pine forest. It tastes like roasted malt, some cereal, cafe au lait,  and some bitterness on the finish. It doesn’t seem like a Pale Ale. It  seems more like an ESB or a British Ale. It’s too malty for a pale ale. It was decent for what it was offering.

And last bit not least:

Nils Oscar Company- Rokporter- 5.9% abv. Another Swedish one! Best before date of Dec 2012. This pours a pitch black without any foam. It smells like toasted malt, smoke, roasted espresso, vanilla and a touch of caramel. It tastes like roasted malt, burnt espresso, smokey bacon and a nice, smooth very bitter malty ending. It is incredibly malty and bitter for less  than 6%. It is not too smokey either.  I am not a fan of smokey beers and this has the perfect light smokey touch.

So in my order of  favorites of the evening:

1-Tres by Dark Horse Brewing Co-Blueberry Stout

2- Oppigards- Single Hop Ale

3- Bedaro Bitter by Nynashamns Angbryggeri

4-Nils Oscar Company- Rokporter

5- Ocean Bryggeriet- Eko Pale Ale