Kvasir
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware, United States 🇺🇸
Traditional Beer - Kvass Rotating Out of Production|
Score
6.84
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With the help of biomolecular archaeologist Dr. Patrick McGovern, we've re‐created another Ancient Ale, this time from the Nordic climes of Scandinavia.
The recipe for Kvasir was developed with the help of chemical, botanical and pollen evidence taken from a 3,500‐year‐old Danish drinking vessel. The vessel, made of birch bark, was found in the tomb of a leather‐clad woman Dr. Pat says was probably an upper-class dancer or priestess. The analysis pointed to the ingredients used in this unique brew: wheat, lingonberries, cranberries, myrica gale, yarrow, honey and birch syrup.
The base of Kvasir is a toasty red winter wheat, and the bog-grown berries deliver a pungent tartness. While a handful of hops is used, the earthy, bitter counterpunch to the sweet honey and birch syrup comes from the herbs.
The recipe for Kvasir was developed with the help of chemical, botanical and pollen evidence taken from a 3,500‐year‐old Danish drinking vessel. The vessel, made of birch bark, was found in the tomb of a leather‐clad woman Dr. Pat says was probably an upper-class dancer or priestess. The analysis pointed to the ingredients used in this unique brew: wheat, lingonberries, cranberries, myrica gale, yarrow, honey and birch syrup.
The base of Kvasir is a toasty red winter wheat, and the bog-grown berries deliver a pungent tartness. While a handful of hops is used, the earthy, bitter counterpunch to the sweet honey and birch syrup comes from the herbs.
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7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 8
Capped 750 from The Davis Beer Shoppe. Pours light copper with a creamy yellow/beige head. Sort of fruits de bois. Mixed berry/herb. Med body. Cranberry is dominant, but twigs and leaves are discernible. Birch syrup thing I think I find. I’ve a few other Birch syrup ales, so think I know what it is. Wouldn’t go there without the description tho. Finishing rather tart red berry with twig notes. Not bad.
Tried
on 15 Dec 2013
at 17:44
7.2/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Tap at the birch. Pours clear pinkish amber, small fizzy white head, decent lacing. Light aroma of herbs, fruit, honey. Flavor similar, herbal, a bit woody, honey, fruit. Light sweet, bit of bitterness. Light body, medium carbonation. Well masked ABV. Interesting
Tried
from Draft
on 10 Dec 2013
at 18:00
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
750 ml bottle. Aroma is strong in cranberry, chalky sour candy; also, honey, grain, birch syrup coming out as it warms. Pours slightly hazy copper with a dissipating off-white head. Taste starts out sweet before turning tart. Cranberry is the dominant flavor (with a possible interplay with the lingonberries, which I have no clue as to what they may taste like), with the other ingredients there in support. Has a somewhat minty, herbal and grainy flavor. I really appreciate the Ancient Ales lineup, most of them for the historical interest rather than as being examples of truly great beer. This is one of the least interesting ones, I think. Still, it’s always a treat to taste recreations of these ancient recipes.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Nov 2013
at 22:46
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle courtesy of me, thank me very much! Clear light amber color, large bubble head. Aroma of light caramel. Taste is boozy and herbal caramel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Nov 2013
at 18:33
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Pours clear ruby tinted gold into a tulip. White head with good retention recedes leaving spot lacing. Fruity earth aromas. Medium bodied with sweet birch upfront turning to lingon and cranberries in the dry, lasting sour finish. Becomes a bit cloying after a while...
Tried
on 19 Nov 2013
at 14:17
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Draft at the Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax. Poured a relatively flat looking, clear crimson color with virtually no head. Aroma was notes of sweet berries, a very light tartness - cranberry notes. Flavor was sweet berries, some cranberry. A bit too sweet unfortunately, it could have been real good with a bit more carbonation.
Tried
from Draft
on 15 Nov 2013
at 23:47
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle. Pours red with white head. Nose and taste of cranberry juice, honey, earthy malt, birch sap and herbs. Medium body.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Nov 2013
at 16:56
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
On draft at the Rustico Novemberfest 2013. Pours a clear amber with an ecru head. Floral, herbal nose. Flavors of tropical fruits and herbs. Smooth mouthfeel. Almost of a raspberry soda finish.
Tried
from Draft
on 02 Nov 2013
at 12:42