The 2-4 Days of Christmas Day 16: Hornbeer's Viking Chili Stout

Beer # 264 Viking Chili Stout (Megagrisk)
Hornbeer

Valby, Køpbenhaven, Denmark
Independent Microbrewery
Flavoured Stout 10.0 % ABV 
Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml
$8.20 (Canadian) At LCBO 

Twitter: N/A



Tonight's offering is another beer from Denmark. This Chili Stout, that was awarded Best new beer of 2013, is produced by a small brewery in a suburb of Copenhagen. Formed in 2008, Hornbeer... (I kid you not!) was the brainchild of Gunhild and Jorgen Fogh Rasmussen (I think they are married... not sure). Jorgen was a farmer and a home brewer and decided to take his hobby to a commercial level. Only able to brew 300 L at a time the brewery did very well at first. Their Caribbean Rum Stout won best new beer in Denmark in 2008. However before that first year let out the brewery burnt to the ground. Undaunted, Gunhild and Jorgen rebuilt a much larger space able to produce 2000 HL per year. And more importantly... They made a commitment to brew a greener beer. The new brewery is powered by solar panels and the beer is cooled using geothermal power. They are committed to brewing a CO2 neutral beer. 

So how does a greener beer taste? Let's find out...

Pours a deep dark brown with a perfect tan coloured head made up of small bubbles. The  beer is the same colouration of a Doberman Pinscher. The aroma is heavily roasted barley malt with hints of cocoa, chili powder, and vanilla. First sip gives us the last ingredient of the beer, the licorice. while not overpowering the licorice flavour lends a sweet sharp spike to the beginning of the beer. Very smooth and sweet, slightly creamy on the mouthfeel. The licorice gives way to a slightly sugary vanilla cocoa taste, and the peppers hit you on the finish. never more than a mild warming and a tingle on the tongue and the back of the throat. Aeration ramps up the chilis and makes the smoky malt pop. Finish is a nice lingering warmth.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  6/6  EXCEPTIONAL
Experience:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Christmas Cheer: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL

Final Thoughts:



Of all the beers I have tried this Christmas, This is one of my favourites. It is well balanced, and the additives are balanced and used to achieve an excellent overall product. This beer is smooth silky and delicious and if you can still find a bottle snap it up. I personally would LOVE to make a creme brûlée with this beer; the sweet chocolate and chili heat would pair wonderfully with a creamy custard.


Cheers 

CJT

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