Beer review: Coisbo Queens Desire (4.8% Denmark: Coisbo Beer)

The Coisbo Queens Desire is a wheat beer, more specifically a Hefeweizen. It's brewed by Coisbo Beer, a Danish micro-brewery founded in 2008. The brewery has received a lot of recognition since, for example winning 1 silver medal and a total of 8 bronze medals at Commonwealth Craft Beer Cup 2014 that was held in Kentucky, USA on May 15-17 2014. The Queen's Desire won the Bronze Medal in the category of Weissbiers, let's see what all the fuzz is about!

Taste: The Coisbo Queens Desire is a light/medium-bodied wheat beer with a surprisingly malty body. In my opinion the beer is closer to a Belgian Witbier than a German Hefeweizen. It offers aromas of sweet malt, citrus, some exotic fruits, slight yeast and finishes with a dryish fruity and wheat aroma with medium hoppiness.

Overall, The Coisbo Queens Desire was a surprise, and no really a positive one I'm afraid. It's described as a Hefeweizen but it's lacking most of the qualities of one, and I would define it more as a Witbier. Even as a Witbier, it offers a surprisingly strong malty body which covers the aromas traditionally present in a wheat beer so the overall impression is quite dull. However, it's definitely an OK beer, I just expected a bit more.

60 Above average

Beer review: Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit (7.6% Belgium/Denmark: De Proefbrouwerij/Mikkeller)

The Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit is a wheat beer, more specifically a Belgian White (Witbier). It's brewed by Mikkeller, a Danish microbrewery founded in 2006 and specializing in collaborations with other breweries. This beer is brewed in collaboration with De Proefbrouwerij, a Belgian brewery founded in 1996. As the name of the beer suggests, it isn't your typical Witbier, let's find out what this means.

Taste: The Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit is a medium-bodied beer. It starts with a fruity taste of orange and citrus and then moves on to deliver a malty wheat body, with aromas of moderate yeast, coriander and finishes with a strong dryish, herbal and citric hoppiness.

Overall, The Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit is exactly what the name suggests. It stands out among the Witbiers, since it offers strong distinct aromas and finishes with a strong hoppy aroma, not common for Witbiers. That's why I'm a bit confused: As an individual beer it's really pleasant and offers a wide range of aromas but as a Witbier, it really doesn't offer the traditional qualities of one. Therefore, it's definitely worth trying since it offers a flavor-rich experience, but if you're looking for a typical Witbier this isn't your choice.

75 Good

Cider review: Somersby Apple Cider (4.5% Denmark/Finland: Carlsberg/Sinebrychoff)

Somersby is among the ten biggest cider brands in the world. Somersby Apple is a sweet apple cider and is originally a brand of the Danish beer company Carlsberg but is brewed for the Finnish markets by Sinebrychoff. Since Somersby is the child of the gigantic Carlsberg corporation, one can expect no home-made qualities from the cider. However, considering the fact that it is among the ten biggest cider brands in the world, the flavor is surprisingly natural. Somersby prides itself in containing only natural flavors and receiving its sweetness from sugar.

Taste: More sour than the pear version of the cider, yet still quite sweet. Refreshing and surprisingly natural considering the bulk nature of the product. Reminiscent of apple juice, although definitely not of home-made one.

Overall, Somersby Apple Cider is a good choice for inebriation purposes for those who prefer the taste of cider over beer. It stands out positively among the selection of bulk ciders in Finnish supermarkets but can't compete with ciders of smaller producers. For connoisseurs it does not offer any exciting taste experiences. More drinkable in large quantities than the pear version, since the apple version is not as sweet.

50 Average

Cider review: Somersby Pear Cider (4.5% Denmark/Finland: Carlsberg/Sinebrychoff)

Somersby is among the ten biggest cider brands in the world. Somersby Pear is a sweet pear cider and is originally a brand of the Danish beer company Carlsberg but is brewedfor the Finnish markets by Sinebrychoff . Since Somersby is the child of the gigantic Carlsberg corporation, one can expect no home-made qualities from the cider. However, considering the fact that it is among the ten biggest cider brands in the world, the flavor is surprisingly natural. Somersby prides itself in containing only natural flavors and receiving its sweetness from sugar.

Taste: Very sweet, yet refreshing and surprisingly natural considering the bulk nature of the product. Reminiscent of pear juice, although definitely not of home-made one.

Overall, Somersby Pear Cider is a good choice for inebriation purposes for those who prefer the taste of cider over beer. It stands out positively among the selection of bulk ciders in Finnish supermarkets but can't compete with ciders of smaller producers. For connoisseurs it does not offer any exciting taste experiences.

50 Average