Calvinus beer, a Swiss reformer from the lakes of Geneva

Calvinus beer

http://www.calvinus.ch/

Brewed by “Les Frères Papinot” (Brauerei Locher Appenzeller Bier)
Switzerland

Calvinus beers have been brewed by the Papinot brothers of Geneva (“Les Frères Papinot”) under the umbrella of the small scale, but popular, family run Locher Brewery in Appenzell for over 15 years. So even though it is classed as a Geneva bier, at the moment this is strictly not quite true.

Having said that though the recipes and brewing methods are taken directly from Geneva, and the name gives reference to Calvin the protestant reformer, a man with strong links to the city.

Beautiful Alpine spring waters are used in the brewing process with organically grown barley, hops and yeast. There are three types of Calvinus beers: light, wheat and dark.

Review: Bottle of Calvinus Blanche Beer: Style: Wheat beer, 5.20% ABV

Brewed with wheat from the Appenzell region, this Witbier is brewed in the best craft tradition, unfiltered, containing Alpine spring water, organic wheat, barley, hops, yeast, coriander and orange peel.

On pour a lovely yellow colour shows with a very nice creamy frothy head, all of which looks pretty good. The head is damn good, very bubbly, but it does die a little after, with not much lacing. Beer turns to a murky cloudy colour after a while when it settles.

The smell is strong, a lot of sweet smells, mainly wheat and yeast, and some citrus.

A very strong taste, full of sweet grains at the start. This is a very tasty beer, full of taste. A taste of cream, wheat and yeast, with each mouthful nice and smooth, and very light. Even if it was very sweet you do get used to it, and this beer is a bit of a slow burner. In the end I did enjoy drinking a couple of these beers. Wide tasting and pretty refreshing. Not bad.

Review: Bottle of Calvinus Blonde (organic) Beer: Style: Belgian Pale Ale 5.20% ABV

Only organic ingredients are used for this pale, naturally cloudy beer that was originally brewed according to a secret recipe from Geneva.

On pour a lovely looking beer appears, golden yellow colour, with a big frothy creamy head, that looks good, but which dies a little, the colour changes too, gets a bit murky and cloudy by the end which doesn’t look great to be honest

A nice aroma, faint but has a good beery smell, smells of citrus, bready malts and earthy hops.

Taste was a little hard for me to describe, wasn’t strong, was malty and deep tasting. Bitter aftertaste, hoppy and earthy, with a long finish. Crisp and good in the mouth.

Was drinkable for sure with light flavours, not bad, could be a session beer, but nothing to write home about either, and, dare I say it, a little boring, but drinkable all the same.