just right for pillaging

Although summer's winding down, I have a lingering hankering for cooler climes.  That label evokes the winds of the north, which we could use down here a little.  Clean up the atmosphere a bit.

Drive your car by this guy, I dare ya

Viking Gose is a collaboration (of "Teutonic" proportions - ha!) between the German Vormann Brauerei and the Danish The Monarchy, but it says "Product of Germany" so I'm labeling it German.  The description of the brew - smoky, salty and zingy - is enticing.  Let's see if it lives up to the curiosity it piques.

When you get your nose to it, there is a definite odor of smoke, but it's delicate and you have to search for it.  There are some sharper, fruitier notes too, but they come out behind the smoke.  It's lighter than I expect smoky beers to be, but it's a pleasant, inviting color, with a nice fluffy head.  Interestingly, the flavors appear in reverse order to the smell, there being a tangy orangey taste noticeable first, with a little campfire/barbecue sliding in after.  This is a good eating beer, something that would go well with a milder tasting dish.  Some simple grilled meat or an uncomplicated pasta seem like good bets, since the flavor of the beer isn't something that should be ignored or challenged.  The smokiness gets less noticeable as the glass empties, leaving the zesty sweet citrus taste dominant.  Another reason to stay away from strong tasting foods, unless you know they go with heavy, tangy beers. 

Supplier: The Beer Garden
Price: €3.50