Nørrebro Bryghus Red and Brown

I made my first trip to Denmark a couple of months ago, and while there had a quick lunchtime peek in a supermarket and grabbed a few bottles. Two of those, chosen at random, were from Nørrebro Bryghus. It's about time I got them out of the way so!

The King's Country Brown is a rich mahogany/chestnut brown with an aroma that gives a slight touch of cloves, cherry jam and cinnamon. It's equally interesting in the mouth, providing licks of plum jam and raisins. Quite fruity really, with a yeasty edge and something reminiscent of marzipan. The finish is slightly roasty with a dark chocolate bitterness. This is a strange and complex beer. There's a zestiness that sits oddly with the dark, dried fruitiness and bitter chocolate flavours. At the time of drinking, it reminded me a bit of Old Peculiar, but then I haven't had one of those in a couple of years. Despite not being sure where this was going, it was certainly moreish.

The other beer was the Ravnsborg Rød, a hazy and slightly orange-tinted amber. Considering this beer has amarillo hops in it, the aroma was more delicate than I expected, being a very light, biscuity base with a resinous hop aroma. Not like the grapefruity amarillo I know and sometimes love. The flavour has a pleasent soft carmel undertone and a slightly fruity zing, almost sorbet-like. The amarillo could be making a show in the finish with gentle grapefruit notes on the back of the tongue. This becomes more prominent as the glass goes down. Interesting combination of sparkly sweet going down with a dry bitter finish. Is there a slight chocolate flavour too? Not bad.

I think I'd like to try the other beers, and preferably on tap. Unfortunately we didn't win the contract that would have made me a regular visitor to Copenhagen, so I'll have to do it the hard way.