One of my favourite Swedish beers of 2009 is making a comeback this year – with a twist.
Nils Oscar Saison was a personal beery highlight of last year – a spicy brew with countryside aromas of hay and peppery fruit delivered in a stylish 75cl bottle.
It flew off the shelves of the Systembolaget so fast that the Swedish alcohol monopoly asked for another saison this year. The Nils Oscar brewery in Nyköping was happy to oblige and so just 4,200 bottles will go on sale from June 1st.
And the twist? This year Nils Oscar is using the ‘trendy’ Sorachi Ace hop which gives beers very distinct lemony flavours and aromas. Only last week I tried the new Brooklyn Sorachi Ace and raved about it!
Sorachi Ace is a hop that comes from Japan, although those being used in this year’s Nils Oscar Saison are grown in the US. The brewery has just released the following teaser:
“The beer’s complex aroma is strengthened with smells of juniper and coriander and the yeast is from Belgium, although the beer is more hoppy in character than the traditional Belgium style”.
With an ABV of 6.9% the brewery recommends this unfiltered saison can be drunk either fresh or cellared for several years.
At 99 SEK per 75 cl bottle (SB article number 11762-01) it won’t be hanging around very long so make sure you’re ready on June 1st. I know I’ll be – just give me a few minutes headstart, OK?!
The 2009 was probably the best beer I’ve ever had. Maan, I’m looking forward to this one.
I knew you’d be happy at this bit of news Jakob!
I was really dissapointed with Nils Oscar Saison last year. It felt rather dull with a very low carbonation for the style… it could have been a bad bottle though.