Gaztambirra – Let's Learn Beer!

for the pros

by Ceit
March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

Continuing the route of darkness, another nationally made stout. I get raves about Sanfrutos from various sources, although I have not been blown away by their stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been disappointed either, but their beers have been limited to proper, well-made, satisfies, not miracles. Actually, there was a stout on tap at Gaztambirra that did me good, now that I think of it. I should really give Pro Negro a fair shot.

Very promising appearance, black, deep space black in color. It’s slightly plummy in the nose, a little bit scratchy. The drinking part is smooth as silk, though, with a touch of fruit on top of a well-cooked dark chocolate cake. It has a nice feel to it, very balanced and not overly heavy, but also no watery nothing in the mouth. With such a carefully crafted start, it’s no surprise that there isn’t much change from the first sip to the bottom of the bottle; the feel, flavors and overall sensation of the beer remains the same from beginning to end. And maybe this wasn’t a miracle, but it was a damn fine drink.

Supplier: Lambeer

Price: €3.95

beaufrutal

by Ceit
December 12, 2022December 12, 2022

Ah, I remember this one! It’s still not a black beer, but it’s something special – Oso Brewing’s Frutal III, a Berliner Weisse with strawberry and blackcurrant. You’d expect something on the sweet side, but the sour of the weisse really dominates. I got my first taste this summer at Gaztambirra, impressing, although not quite inspiring, my drinking/debating buddies.

It’s a little lighter than I remember, but I might be remembering a late-night beer a little unreliably. It does have the bitter-fruity aroma and the slightly pink head. The beer appears to be full of bubbles and somewhat cloudy. It is a bit wine-y again, with a sharp and bitter tanginess, like cheap wine and grapefruit juice mixed together. It also has a feeling of unsweetened cranberry juice. I don’t really detect any strawberry, but the blackcurrant might be there in the tang. The color is right for the season, but it’s a light and tickly beer, not what I look for an a dark near-winter night. I find my weisses are better suited to a summer evening. Well, looking forward I guess.