Lips Of Faith - Sahti
22 oz bottle into red wine glass. Pours clear, close to the color new, polished copper. Thin, one-finger off-white head lasts for a minute or two before settling into some soapy bubble islands on the surface. Nose rings with clear caramel, with an underlying citrusy fruitiness pairing up politely to dance. Not much to say beyond that. Taste is marked by clean caramel up front, a bit of depth from the rye perhaps, sweet, with the bright citrus from the spice additions and hops moving in quickly as well. A reserved piny, even herbal note rounds out the experience, very much in the background, tweaking what would otherwise be a fairly standard amber only a little. Finish carries a light bitterness that lingers only a little, more citrus notes as well. Mouthfeel is medium to medium-light in body, moderate in carbonation, well-rounded. Fits nicely. Drinkability is good as well - not a bold beer, but one that could easily become a part of a long, enjoyable night if one so chose. I've had other Sahtis that were much more authentic, so were I to grade strictly on that, the score would be much lower. Still, I found the taste enjoyable and quite drinkable with a bowl of cold Soba noodles, and the score reflects that.