Gotlandsdricke

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

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Reddish brown and somewhat cloudy in both color and appearance. Creamy, well maintained off white head. Sharp burnt/smoky aroma and flavor with a pronounced alcohol mouthfeel. Interesting yet undeterminable after taste which I assume to be juniper. Moderate carbonation. It’s the opportunity to experience such rare treasures like this that make life so rewarding. Many thanks to Per.

(sampled at Clemati Medeltidskrog, Visby, Sweden) This batch was cloudy and brown with hints of ruby. Very smokey aroma with hints of honey and yeast. Taste is sweet and fruity with some sharp smokey notes. Long, long tasty and very warming finish.

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!

(From Burs) : Sitting in a tree inhaling the intense smoke of a fruit-harboring wood cabin whose fire has just been extinguished by torrential rain...Very humid and woody smoke, impossible to escape from (I’m not necessarily trying to), with a garrulous fruitiness of junipers (real) and apricots (fictive)...Honey impersonations and earthy bitterness rising in the end...Perhaps smokier than a Schlenkerla, an incredibly memorable experience which I hope to relive again...Immense thanks Per!!...

Bottled. Cloudy grey/yellow/brown. Smokey juniper up front, followed up by fruity esters. Smokey flavour from burnt wood. Finishes mild. Bloody interesting and nice!

Update 2002-02-20: The new batch I tried was more fresh, somewhat sparkling from the still ongoing fermentation in the bottle, and beautifully hazy. There are definitely some smokey juniper flavour. The main characteristics of the beer seem intact from the last batch I tried though.
Older comments: This is actually the same version as Oakes tried. It was made on a farm in Stånga on central Gotland. Nut-brown. Non carbonated, sweetish and soft, some bitterness, restrained smokiness, as compared to the few other versions I’ve tried.

Smoky fruity smell, like juniper dropped on a barbecue. Banana ester, burnt applewood, apples. Cloudy orange-brown with no head. Flat medium thick body. Smoky fruity taste, apples, burnt wood. Finish is mild smoky, light burning of the sinuses like standing near a htcdog roast. Smoky after.

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 :-)

Burs version. Hazy orange apperance, almost still looking. Huge smokey aroma. Unique leather/juniper match, extremely meaty. Floral and wheaty (in the small acidity) feel. Apricot and peach pie flavors, a fieldish campfire on the tongue, this is strikingly tasty and demands all your concentration. Very weird as it has this farmhouse character combined with the deep smokiness of strict Bamberg styles. Thin-medium body, low carbonation. This style is a must seek!

Still, as per the style; muddy dark amber (not very attractive, but true to style); aroma: smoke, pear, vanilla, lots of malt. Palate: smokey up front, followed by sweet malts & a late hint of juniper. A lot of rich fruitiness comes through as well, and it finishes slightly tart - complex and delicious.