Wielka Sila
Wielka Sila
Style: Euro Strong Lager
ABV: 12%
Origin: Biržai, Lithuania
Pours a deep golden color with an slightly tan head that disipates quickly. Little visible carbonation.
Smells of caramel, candied fruit and earthy notes of barley and wet hay.
Taste is strong and very sweet with malted barley and notes of caramel and fruity (most notably apple-ish) flavors. Mild hops and a hint of alcohol in the aftertaste. Hard to believe it could get any better, but it does as it warms close to room temperature!
Mouthfeel is a medium to heavy body with only a slight presence of carbonation. A slight burn, as expected from the high ABV.
If I didn't know better, I would have thought this was an English Barleywine. The sweetness, strength of flavor and heavy body would certainly suggest that it was a barleywine ale, but it is a strong, high-fermentation lager. I'm amazed that this beer is priced at under $2.50 for a 16.9 oz. bottle. The grist bill must be enormous for such a heavy, flavorful brew! At 12% ABV, I'm sure its recent popularity stems from those who just want a quick, cheap buzz. However, this is definitely a beer worthy of attention for its quality, complexity and unique character. This beer has just hit the very top of my list of favorite brews!
From the importer website:
Brewed by Polish license and authentic 16th-century Polish recipe used in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Orange-gold. The smell is of rich full caramel malt. The hops are very balanced, giving it a mild floral flavor with some spice, but very understated. Not overly yeasty - again, very balanced. The taste is of fruity esters in a rich caramel brew. Alcohol flavor is not prevalent despite being 12% ABV. Overall, the flavor is outstanding. Naturally fermented.
Style description: Euro Strong Lager
Importer website: Aiko Importers
Style: Euro Strong Lager
ABV: 12%
Origin: Biržai, Lithuania
Pours a deep golden color with an slightly tan head that disipates quickly. Little visible carbonation.
Smells of caramel, candied fruit and earthy notes of barley and wet hay.
Taste is strong and very sweet with malted barley and notes of caramel and fruity (most notably apple-ish) flavors. Mild hops and a hint of alcohol in the aftertaste. Hard to believe it could get any better, but it does as it warms close to room temperature!
Mouthfeel is a medium to heavy body with only a slight presence of carbonation. A slight burn, as expected from the high ABV.
If I didn't know better, I would have thought this was an English Barleywine. The sweetness, strength of flavor and heavy body would certainly suggest that it was a barleywine ale, but it is a strong, high-fermentation lager. I'm amazed that this beer is priced at under $2.50 for a 16.9 oz. bottle. The grist bill must be enormous for such a heavy, flavorful brew! At 12% ABV, I'm sure its recent popularity stems from those who just want a quick, cheap buzz. However, this is definitely a beer worthy of attention for its quality, complexity and unique character. This beer has just hit the very top of my list of favorite brews!
From the importer website:
Brewed by Polish license and authentic 16th-century Polish recipe used in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Orange-gold. The smell is of rich full caramel malt. The hops are very balanced, giving it a mild floral flavor with some spice, but very understated. Not overly yeasty - again, very balanced. The taste is of fruity esters in a rich caramel brew. Alcohol flavor is not prevalent despite being 12% ABV. Overall, the flavor is outstanding. Naturally fermented.
Style description: Euro Strong Lager
Importer website: Aiko Importers
Kauno - Kvietinis Tamsusis
Kauno - Kvietinis Tamsusis
Style: Dunkelweizen
ABV: 5.0%
Origin: Kaunas, Lithuania
"A dark wheat beer with 5.0% alcohol by volume. Made from pure water, extra wheat, light and caramel barley malts, using top fermentation yeasts and three types of hops. Made without the use of High Gravity Technology." - Kauno website
Style description: Dunkelweizen
Link to product website: Kauno
Style: Dunkelweizen
ABV: 5.0%
Origin: Kaunas, Lithuania
"A dark wheat beer with 5.0% alcohol by volume. Made from pure water, extra wheat, light and caramel barley malts, using top fermentation yeasts and three types of hops. Made without the use of High Gravity Technology." - Kauno website
Style description: Dunkelweizen
Link to product website: Kauno
Volfas Engleman - Porteris (Imperial Porter)
Volfas Engleman - Porteris (Imperial Porter)
Style: Baltic Porter ABV: 6.0% Origin: Kaunas, Lithuania "From its grand history, Volfas Engelman inherited a rich dark beer aptly named Imperial Porter. The combination of hops and roasted malt gives this beer a dark mahogany color and an unforgetable taste. Usually, porter style beers are thick and heavy. This one is different. Only 6.0% ABV. Its unique taste and color comes from a perfect combination of components; light Lithuanian Pilsner and German Caramel Cara Red malts together with a duet of Perle and Magnum hops. Volfas Engleman Imperial Porter is enjoyable and easy to drink. Guests at the Hansa Day Festival couldn't agree more - they (especially the foreign guests) drank so much of the beer that on the last day of the festival, the vendors ran out of beer and the brewery was completely tapped out!" - Volfas Engleman website Style description: Baltic Porter Link to product website: Volfas Engelman |
Volfas Engleman - Pilzeno
Volfas Engleman - Pilzeno
Style: Euro Pale Lager ABV: 4.7% Origin: Kaunas, Lithuania "This product is one of the historical Volfas Engleman heritage beers. The brewery produced a beer with such a name during the interwar period as well. Pilzeno beer was the most popular beer among all that the brewery of that time was producing. The sales of this beer made 62% of all the sales of interwar enterprise beer. Lithuanian light malt of supreme quality is employed in the production of Pilzeno beer and an abundance of hops give richness to the taste. These consist of Czech aroma hops and several types of German hops. This unique combination of hops made it possible to create the unrepeatable aroma and taste of this beer, which really shines out in the market." - Volfas Engleman website Style Description: Euro Pale Lager Link to product website: Volfas Engelman |