Baladin Nora

Brewed by Le Baladin
Style: Traditional Ale
Piozzo, Italy

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

Thick white head that dissapates very very quickly. A small white lacing remains on the surface, and sides. Lemon and ginger aroma, with a very mild flavor. Just the perfect amount of subtle ginger...which I’ve experienced as overpowering other beers. Almost no noticeable hop character, and no bitterness. Undertand this beer is all about the spices, but a bit of subtle hop aroma might be nice. Clearly unfiltered, and a hazy, murky appearance. Overall, very interesting, and very different....but also enjoyable and refreshing.

Draft. Rich Os. Very murky amber body. Head is short, white and frothy, mostly diminishing. Aroma of coriander, ginger, grain, citrus, flowers and caramel. Hints of honey, pear. The flavor is moderately sweet and lightly bitter. It finishes lightly sweet with a nice lingering tartness. Very dry. There’s also this sensation that the beer is sprinkled with white pepper, the same taste you get from Baladin’s Waylan. Medium body with a smooth texture. Lively carbonation. The more beers I have from this brewery, the more I am impressed. Complex. Sophisticated. Great balance. This is one interesting and unique beer.

My foray into traditional ales continues. Crazy, spicy aroma. Definite ginger, a nutmeg like smell, and a floral aroma. Gold, slightly orange in color, white head. Very hazy, and unfiltered, with particulate matter all throughout the beer. The flavor: sweet, sugary, honey, toffee like at first, then ginger and other spices manifest themselves. The finish is purely ginger, and spices like nutmeg, clove. (That must be what myrrh tastes like). Medium, thick mouthfeel, lightly syrupy. I love the adventure of these traditonal ales, or recreations of ancient beers. This guy is a very intersting beer in its own right.

Draft at Bavarian Lodge as "Birrifico le Baladin Nora." Advertised as Egyptian style beer. Could this become a style all its own? I kind of liked this one, after all. Cloudy coppery IPA color in glass. Thin head. Spicy smell, but light and pleasant. Taste is equally subdued. Not much "normal" beer taste, so you need to build a new set of standards. Spicy notes of lemongrass and a carved wooden pipe bowl. Impressions of Belgian coriander, maybe there’s a Belgian yeast. Bit of banana weizen flavor in the middle. Perhaps this is even a spontaneous ferment? Unusual spice mix never gets in the way, just gives an impression of a beer made in the time before hops.

750ml bottle with dinner at an Italian restaurant. Hazy golden color with a medium white head and pretty good lacing. Aroma is spicy and fruity with some malt and grain. Flavor starts as pale malt, then honey, with a spicy finish that I would guess comes from the myrrh and ginger. Average carbonation and fairly dry palate, seems to have been bottle conditioned. Some fine sediment remains at the end. Not bad stuff. Forza Italia!

750 ml bottle courtesy of Dave on his trip to italy The aroma is spicy and fruity citrus it is weird smells like a lager somewhat Pours a hazey orange with a big frothy white head The taste is herbal medicinal and apple even though it is only 6.8abv there is a mild alcohol finish

Bottle 75 cl. Large fizzy white head that mostly lasted. Good display of lacework. Cloudy golden color. Aroma of spice, grass, citrus, floral, mild perfume and good counter toasted malt and caramel. Medium bodied with an average carbonation and mild dry texture. Moderated bitter and sweet flavor. Lingering mild bitter citrus like fresh finish.

Golden with haze. Totally unique herbal aroma is like an herb garden. Fruitiness from esters with pear, bitter orange. Very nice aroma. Spritzy body is refreshing with lots of apples. Strongly herbal but is not medicinal. Dry leafy herb finish. Prominent orange and a bit resinous.