It's usually the Scandinavians who boast about the Viking heritage when we want to make boasts about the ancient traditions connected with food, drink or whatever. Well, this is a beer that can claim the same, Old Scatness comes from the Northernmost of the British Isles - Unst in Shetland. If you sail straight ahead from Western Norway, this is where you'll end up. (Well, if you miss, you are in trouble. Particularly if you are dependent on sail and oars!)
The brewery is even called Valhalla in honour of the old heritage, but the beer even has origins before that time. It is brewed with bere malt, bere being an ancient type of barley. At least that is what the back label says.
The result? A golden ale with large bubbles, full of tasty malt. There are elements of ripe fruit - apples and dried apricots - and it is a little spicy, too.
There is a restrained bitterness here, too restrained for this hop addict. But it certainly makes me want to try out more beers from Valhalla. Maybe this even could be of interest for an importer her in Norway? At 4.0% ABV, it could be sold in supermarkets. And the full taste of a beer at this strength is British brewing at its best