I smell the stout, but struggle to find the smoked stout. Great looking bottle with the erupting volcano on it which is one of the three things that I know about Iceland. This beer has no real head rising up, just a thin ring around the edge of the glass. It pours DARK, but not the darkest I’ve ever seen. The light on my phone can shine through a solid half centimeter or so around the edge. Robust, roasted, malty, slick, ashy taste failing to wow me. Lots of taste, but void of that campfire smoked meat taste I like so much. I’m glad I got a 750 mL bottle, which happens to be 9.4% abv, because since there isn’t going to be a taste payoff, there had better be an inebriation payoff = increases units of happiness. This beer has a big taste with legitimate rights to their use of the word smoke, but it’s not for everyone. I look forward to Olvisholts next take of another smokebeer. And, no silt! Maybe I’m being too nice on this one. Final Overall Happiness factor: 4 Smokestacks
| Brewer | Ölvisholt Brugghús |
| Beer Name | LAVA Smoked Imperial Stout |
| Brewer’s Description | Lava hefur algjöra sérstöðu í bjórframleiðslu hér á landi og reyndar á heimsvísu. Lava er kolsvart öl en liturinn kemur frá dökkristuðu malti sem hefur verið brennt á svipaðan hátt og kaffibaunir. Markmið bruggmeistarans var að gera bjór sem hefði mikla sérstöðu. Upphaflega var Lava framleiddur fyrir Svíþjóð en ákveðið var eftir að framleiðsla hófst að setja Lava í reynslusölu hjá ATVR sem gekk vonum framar. Lava er eins og gott vín, hann batnar á flöskunni í 3 ár sé hann geymdur á köldum stað. |
| Food Pairings | Hangikjöt |
| Brewer Location | Selfoss, Iceland |
| Alcohol content by volume | 9.4% |
| IBU (International Bitterness Units) | |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 6.75 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 2 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | N |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 2 |
| Overall Happiness: 1 – 7 (low – high) | 4 |
Brewer’s description translation: Lava has a very special place in the beer production in this country and indeed globally. Lava is kolsvart ale the color turns from dark roasted malt which has been roasted in a similar manner as coffee beans. The goal of the Master’s Brewery was making beer that had unique. Originally produced for Lava Sweden but it was decided after production began putting Lava experience in sales Monopoly that went beyond expectations. Lava is like a good wine, it improves the bottle for 3 years if it is stored in a cool place.
Learn more Icelandic words at:
SmokeBeerMinistry 