from the skies

It's still a strange week, cloudy and dusty outside.  The Mars dust is mostly gone, but you still work up a thirst just being on the street.  I'm not sure how much of the desert was deposited in Norway, if any was at all, but the can goes with the recent environmental decoration.  The name too: Apocalyptic Thunder Juice.  Granted, we haven't had thunderstorms, just rain and muddy rain, but it does feel like the gods of weather are trying to send us some kind of message.  Maybe Amundsen has some kind of divine connection.

It's one of the lighter colored NEIPAs, abundantly headed.  It also has a very delicate aroma, although citrus fruit is clearly present.  There's also a little peachiness, perhaps some pineapple sharpness too.  The flavor leans more towards the peach, not a lot of citrus tang, although it has some thickness and fresh-squeezed juice texture.  Like some other NEIPAs, the taste even reaches into melon territory, leaving a very clean and refreshing feeling behind.  It's actually more refreshing than some of the more citric types, which can end up squeezing your throat with their acidity, while this one soothes on the way down like a cool breeze.

Supplier: Labirratorium

Price: €4.55

any excuse

 It turns out it's International Beer Day!  How these little holidays slip up on us.  Rather than a date, it's the first Friday of August, so always ready for a weekend.  Naturally, its origins are in California, home of Anchor and Sierra Nevada, staples of modern brewing.  I did not pick up a beer from either one of those breweries, however.  They were around, but just didn't have the celebratory snap that I thought I should be looking for.  Instead, I have Amundsen's Dessert In A Can, raspberry, caramel, cheesecake version.  That sounds like a party beer to me!

                                    

It's thick looking, although not a lot of head.  Dark brown rather than black, and a definite syrup aroma.  It's a good mouthful, although there isn't a lot of stickiness at first.  Goes right down clean.  The raspberry manages to stay noticeable, riding high on the layers of flavor, over a cool wave of chocolate.  It has a chocolate ice cream sensation to it, refreshing and soothing despite the body and high alcohol content (10.5%).  It would be a fine thing to have on a nocturnal picnic, or an evening backyard barbecue, although with dessert for sure.  A little apple pie, some vanilla ice cream, even just some nice fresh fruit would go right along with this liquid pastry.

                                    

Supplier: Más Que Cervezas

Price: €6.30