Thursday, December 31, 2009

New kid on the block

A new Norwegian craft brewery has been started in Florø in western Norway. The little Kinn brewery had its first batches of beer ready for sale earlier this month. According to the brewery's website, the first beers are two Christmas beers (Julefred 4.7% and 6.5%) and Pilegrim, a pale ale with 4.7% alcohol.

As I visited Naboen during the Christmas days, the excellent Bergen pub had started selling draughted Pilegrim. It is available on the new handpump replacing the Haandbryggeriet beers that were available there earlier this year. Of course, I had to try out this new beer.

Pilegrim Pale Ale is a cloudy amber beer with a lasting, medium sized head. In the nose there are hints of hops, but otherwise very little aroma. The beer is medium bodied, and the hoppyness follows through in the mouth. The aftertaste is very bitter, and I feel it should have been more balanced. Still, it is the first attempt from Kinn brewery, and it is a qualified effort. I am looking forward to trying more of the brewery's beers, but right now Norwegian craft brewers like Nøgne Ø, Haandbryggeriet and Ægir have better offers than Pilegrim from Kinn. And of course: Kudos to Naboen for making a new beer from a new brewery available.

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