Valhalla Brewery, Shetland

[Scorrie]

Has anyone on here who classes themselves as having a pretty good idea about beer tasting tried any of Valhallas' bottled beers?

The reason I'm asking is that all their brews seem to have a particularly odd taste to them - to me anyway. Slight musty wet flannels spring to mind. But I persist in drinking it....

Is it just me? I've never had any commercially brewed beer with the same persistent odd flavour before.

 

[Dunfie]

I've never seen their beer anywhere. Do you know if it is available in any of the national supermarkets?

 

[Scorrie]

I've certainly seen it in the Far North of Scotland - possibly in the Co-Op and definitely in independant offies. Can't remember where else :grin:

How about getting onto the brewery (in Baltasond, Unst, Shetland) and getting them to ship a couple of cases down for your group to try?

 

[storm in a teacup]

I know this thread is a bit old but I've just been working up at Thurso and I brought back a few of the Valhalla beers and I think your right the all seemed to have an odd taste, I can't put my finger on it and to be honest I didn't enjoy them that much. One to miss

 

[Farmbrew]

a couple of things it could be...

The water on the island or where they get their beer bottled...it's a bit of a hike from Shetland to the central belt for bottling. I know both Orkney mainland breweries get their beers bottled down "south".

I haven't had a Valhalla brew in a while..last one I has was an "Island Bere"...I may investigate...Dunfie, the Dobbies in Dunfermline stocks loads of Scottish beers and not the usual supermarket stuff either. They even had Colonsay brewery beers in before xmas.

 

[Scorrie]

Bottled on the premises on Unst, could be the water I suppose.
Thinking about it, the taste is very similar to Cairngorm brewerys' Wildcat. I always found that had a similar off taste to it as well. Maybe just my palate? I dunno.

I'll try and find out if the water is adjusted/treated or simply fired into the mash tun after heating - my tap water has a lousy taste to it, lotsa chlorine methinks.

 

[Dunfie]

I will have a look in Dobbies when I am next there. They are a bit steep on prices so I may or may not purchase some if I see it (especially as I have a garage full of perfectly acceptable beer)

 

[abeyptfc]

Bottled on the premises on Unst, could be the water I suppose.
Thinking about it, the taste is very similar to Cairngorm brewerys' Wildcat. I always found that had a similar off taste to it as well. Maybe just my palate? I dunno.

I'll try and find out if the water is adjusted/treated or simply fired into the mash tun after heating - my tap water has a lousy taste to it, lotsa chlorine methinks.

is it cairngorm brewery that do the sheepsha66er ale? its f'n disgusting, dunno what animals urine is in it, daft folk like me and tourists will buy it cos its a funny name and they dont care how it tastes!

 

[Dunfie]

a couple of things it could be...

The water on the island or where they get their beer bottled...it's a bit of a hike from Shetland to the central belt for bottling. I know both Orkney mainland breweries get their beers bottled down "south".

I haven't had a Valhalla brew in a while..last one I has was an "Island Bere"...I may investigate...Dunfie, the Dobbies in Dunfermline stocks loads of Scottish beers and not the usual supermarket stuff either. They even had Colonsay brewery beers in before xmas.

I have just been up at Dobbies and they didn't have any Valhalla beers. I did see the Colonsay beers but at £3.25 a bottle I thought I would give it a miss and stick to my homebrew.