This coming week will se the arrival in western Canada of Martin Jensen, the brewer behind, and the face on the label of, the beers of Raasted Bryghus of Denmark.

According to info culled from the website of Delancy Direct, Martin will be visiting Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina over the course of a one week visit, hosting events that are both trade only and open to the general public. (Please see Delancy’s website for details.)

I had a chance to sample three of Martin’s beers this past week and awarded each a most respectably scoring. The Vinter tastes to me like schwarzbier tending a bit towards a Baltic porter, with an appealing aroma reminiscent of hot chocolate left to cool and a flavour marked by notes of burnt toast, liquorice and mild dark chocolate. The Imperial Stout is a bit on the light and thin tasting side for the style, although at 9% alcohol hardly a gentle and unassuming beer. It offers a yeast nose underscored by notes of chocolate biscuits and fresh hops, followed by a palate containing roasty flavours of 90% cocoa content chocolate and espresso, with American hop characteristics rising throughout the taste. And finally, although presented as an IPA, I would characterize Grilløl instead as a very good pale ale, with 5% alcohol, a fragrantly nutty-fruity aroma and a well-integrated nutty-citrusy bitterness that rises through the taste to a dryish and bitter finish.

But you needn’t take my word for any of this. Go out to see Martin when he comes to town and taste for yourself!

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