- Brewed in Halmstad, Sweden
- http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/?query=lager
On my last trip to IKEA, I was glad to see what my friend had told me was true. There is now IKEA branded beer! Reports online suggest that it is brewed by Krönleins Bryggeri, a brewery who also produce a beer for the band KISS, a Stockholm lager and some strong lagers under the brand Three Hearted. Sadly, none of their offerings are favourably rated on the major beer review sites.
I opened both these beers with low expectations, being briefly amused that the bottle caps had graphics that resembled IKEA assembly instructions.
IKEA Öl Mörk Lager (Dark)
- ABV: 4.7%, Style: Euro Dark Lager
- Best Before 28 August 2013
- Served: 330ml bottle poured into a BrewDog stemmed tulip
Look: Dark amber coloured beer with a small off-white head.
Aroma: Damp straw. Very grassy, with so much grain and hay aroma that it smelt a bit like silage. Bit of wet dog in there too.
Taste: Lots of caramel roastiness. With a sweet malt finish.
Mouthfeel: Quite fizzy, but the caramel thickness of this beer coats the mouth in an unpleasant way.
IKEA Öl Ljus Lager (Light)
- ABV: 4.7%, Style: Euro Pale Lager
- Best Before: 20 April 2013
- Served: 330ml bottle poured into a BrewDog tulip
Look: Straw coloured lager with a reasonable fluffy, white head.
Aroma: Low aroma profile generally compared to the dark, a little yeasty with hints of green apple.
Taste: Lager. There’s not much to say about it other than it tastes exactly as you’d expect. Crisp and unrefined with a slight bitter, fruit twang at the end.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied but slick and a bit gaggy.
Overall: I don’t think I would recommend either beer beyond the novelty of the label. Hardly a glowing recommendation I know. I don’t plan to buy these beers again. /5
- 6th March 2013, Sustainable Alcoholic
