Gotlandsdricke

Brewed by Some Farmer in Gotland
Style: Traditional Ale
Gotland, Sweden

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

Well...how do you describe this... In the "old days" at Medeltidsveckan, you you get a sample here and there for a litte coin. Then it was not allowed to sell it, but they gave you one every time you bought bun ( that you gave back). Nowdays you can get a sample if you know any farmer at Gotland. It usually contains juniper and have a hazy orange something colour. The most experienced farmers make really good Gotlandsdricku. After working there some years I have tasted some really good :-)

Different brews can vary wildly in style. From deep brown and tart to light and Wit-like. Very much an acquired taste and generally not appreciated by anyone except the islanders themselves. I have a story I’d like to share. Back in the days of the cold war I was doing military service on the island. On new years eve about 20 or so of us had to stay while all the others went to celebrate with friends and family. Somehow one of the locals managed to conjure up about 40 liters of "dricke". We made a campfire on the beach looking out over a wintery Baltic sea and had one hell of a party. The evening ended with everyone not from the island (except me) being very sick. That is dricke for you, dangerous stuff! 

From a plastic bottle. Generously shared by cquiroga. Cloudy, light caramel colored pour with a wispy head of off-white. Fruity nose of pears, apples, and coconut milk, along with hints of muscat grapes and musty leather. Lots of fruity esters and a honey like sweetness provide an almost "juice"-like base, funked up with some barnyard notes and peppery phenols. Medium light bodied, lightly carbonated mouthfeel with a gentle, tingling effervescence. Sweet white grape and waterchestnut flavors up front, along with some ripened pear. A mild smokey nuttiness tries to peek in, but is drowned out by the light fruits and horsey funk. The wildness of the beer seems to have taken over some of the other spice nuances; it would be enlightening to try a fresh example side-by-side. Thanks for the rare treat, Chris!

Bottle @ Dr. Bill’s. The brewer name kicks ass. Poured a hazy amber color with no head. Dry spiced aroma with notes of fruit and leather. The flavor was tart and fruity. Big leather and notes of pear. Light tingle of carbonation on the tongue.

UPDATED: MAR 24, 2007 Courtesy of omhper and drank as a horizontal alongside Jackelsdricka for comparison. Pours mahogany and more or less still with no bubbles and only a hint of tingliness on the tongue. Smells strongly of juniper with hints of spruce, birch and mineral water. Taste is like a gin might be if it were a fermented beverage with loads of juniper and lots of booziness. Some hints of smoke are also present. Palate is very thick and reminds me of the heavy mineral waters of Europe. Finishes along the lines of sassafras. Very different from everything else I tried during this tasting that included sahtis, and lots of traditional Scandanavian beers. If sahti and lambic are the grandparents of beer, this is their great grand parent. Thanks again for this rare treat!

Plastic bottle from omhper (big thanks, I’ll try getting you some new sahti’s for this one!). Hazy nutbrown colour, no head. Aroma is freshly cut juniperwood along with some spiced and xylitolish hints. Flavour is the same. Very refreshing! The bottle got lots of preassure in it so while letting a bit of it out, I also poured a small sample. Rest of the bottle is to be saved for PBF2007. Hides the alcohol very well!

Fresh sample, brewed by my friend’s mom for a wedding. Sampled in a very traditional plastic mug ;-) Hazy orange, no head but residual bubbles. Huge aroma, yeasts, esters, fruit (not dark malty types) and a slight almost lambic-like funkiness. Taste is upfront sour, yeasty with a definite alcohol presence. Not sure if I can pick out the juniper.. Palate is rich, sticky with a loong finish. There is no carbonation. This is great stuff, really happy to have tried it.

1 year old stored in plastic bottle - Thanks a lot Per for bringing it to Denmark!!
Pours hazy orange with no head. Lots of smoke, tar and ropes in the aroma with hints of sweet orange. Very odd and very extreme! Dry flavor with lots of smoke and fruit. Very weird and very interesting but a little too much in the long run. Still very fun to taste!