Haandbryggeriet Haandbakk

Brewed by Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Drammen, Norway

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Appearance: The Haandbakk pours pretty dark. In fact, it’s almost black with a very subtle warm red color when held up to a bright light. It pours into the glass with a decent sized light tan (with red hued) head that hangs around for a pretty good while. There is a really impressive amount of lacing that grips the sides of the glass nicely. Smell: As this beer begins to warm it opens up about as nicely as any beer I’ve had. There’s a very tart smell of cherries and sour granny smith apple that comes right at you. There are also some immediate aromas of red wine and sweet balsamic vinegar; the latter being a sort of typical flavor I get from dark sour ales. Somehow in the back of this one, too, is a nice bit of grape bubblegum. Taste: The tartness hits you right away and carries with it a nice bouquet of tart cherries and granny smith apple. It is followed soon by the vinegar components and the oakiness of the barrels this beer is aged in. In many ways, this is what I had hoped the Avery Brabant would have tasted like. I should probably mention that the 8.5% ABV is just kicking my tail right now. Pretty unusual if you ask me. Mouthfeel: Well, like most sour ales, Haandbakk just devours the tongue immediately. There is sourness, along with a very good balance of flavors that makes this a really enjoyable sour to drink. It reminds me a lot of the Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, but with a bit more funk on the backend. Overall: Admittedly, I’m just starting to get into sour ales. I can say that I really enjoyed this one a lot – more than the Avery Brabant. The major comparison I have thus far is that it’s very close to the Jolly Pumpkin La Roja I had a few weeks back. It’s fairly easy to drink, but is probably more suitable for sharing. The next time I drink this one I’d definitely love to pair it with some good soft cheese.

2010 vintage pours a park brown with almost zero carbonation. Smells of sour cherries and some other dark fruits. A nice sour taste up front with a little more malt than most sours I’ve had. A pretty reasonable finish too, at first I wasn’t impressed, but the more I drink the better it gets.

@ Haand festival. Pour dark/"light black", with no head. Aroma of balsamic vinegar, and slightly spicy. Taste is a little sour and bitter. Average body, with an average carb.

Thanks to Travlr. Pours dark ruby brown with no head. Aroma is very flemish with oaky vanilla notes, balsamic, yogurt, caramel, deeper fruity notes, cherries and maybe some plums. Medium tart. Taste is balsamic, yogurt, lacto acid, vinegar, bacteria, semi tart and some sweeter fruits behind.

Bottel courtesy of travlr! Pours deep amber/brownish/cola with no head. Aroma: Loads of lacto bacteria.funky notes, sour notes, tart, cardboard, musty, sweet caramel, malty sweet, reminds me somewhat of a oude bruin, green apples, apple cider vinegar. Taste: Low carbonation, quite acidic, tart, lemon, apple cider vinegar, brett, lacto, berries, some bitter fruity notes, dry, acetone.

500mL thanks to Travlr. Clear deep mahogany with red highlights with bubbles and no head. Vinaigrette nose with acetobacter and raspberry vinegar. Oh no. Taste is acetic, hot, mouth watering salty vinaigrette. Full on acetic palate. Red wine vinous and mild chocolate compete with salad dressing. Sort of an unsuccessful Oude Bruin. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

No head, brown to black beer. Lactic acid, acetic acid, fruity (red fruit), earthy notes. Wood, slighlty roasted, lactic acid, and a tad of acetic. Vinous character. Quite slick, bit oily, certainly not light bodied, despite the acid thinning. Definitely styled on Rodenbakk, sorry, Bach. Alexander, that is, not Johann Sebastian.

Reminds me of Rodenbach. There is also Rodenbach yeast used in this beer. haandBAKK comes from rodenBACH. Refreshing, sour and well balanced

(bottle) pours a clear ruby-brown colour with no head. aroma of cherries and blackberries, vanilla, bread dough, slightly oxidised with a hint of lemon and blackcurrant. flavour is balsamic vinegar and blackberries, slightly vinous, with notes of wood and light alcohol, finish is dry and slightly tart. medium-bodied with very soft carbonation.

Bottle @ ACBF 2012: bordeaux, very dark, almost brown, no head, very tart, lots of cherries, berries & red wine vinegar, taste is very tart cherries, berries, lots of red wine vinegar, brett, strongly vinous, acidic finish but also a slight touch of sweetness to be found here, slight berry jam and even a hint of jam, body is solid sour malts, feels close to flat, lovely vinegary beer

Aroma is deep sour red fruits, some barn. Impressive. Flavour is deep sour red fruit and brett, yet very smooth. Awesome.