Scandinavian Glugg
This Scandinavian beverage has been referred to as glugg or glogg—otherwise known as a mulled wine or “Holiday Punch” made with lighter fluid. With origins from Sweden, this winter punch | beverage is perfect for a party, gathering or event. Yet, as the traditional recipe uses a red wine, dialed up with vodka or bourbon, I wanted a lower alcohol version of a standard glugg.
This Beer Cuisine version of Scandinavian Glugg starts with a robust Porter. This beer style adds subtle hint of cocoa with roasted barley undertones, some malty sweetness that has almost a caramel essence followed by bitter coffee. The hops are mild, so that the roasted malt flavors are dominate. With these foundation flavors, dried cherries, vanilla bean, cloves, cinnamon stick and citrus, whether it be from oranges or tangerines infuse with the flavors the base beer, enhancing the cocoa | coffee | roast making a great warm beverage.
This version of beer glugg is perfect for any holiday event and can be scaled for a larger crowd. If you are looking for more of a wine version of glugg, try adding some raisins (2 ounces), dried apricots (2 ounces) or prunes (1 ounce) to enhance the vinous characteristics that a red wine would bring to this original recipe. If you want a spicier version of glugg, that will warm the guest even more, try adding 1 ounce of peeled and sliced ginger or crystallized ginger to the warming vessel. Nuts are not uncommon to the recipe of Scandinavian Glugg. Try adding toasted nuts to further enhance that extra nutty element. Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts or pistachios, all peeled, with about 1 ounce added to the slow cooker will round out the flavor profile.
If you would like stronger more alcoholic version of glugg, try adding 2 – 3 ounces of Bourbon | Whiskey to add that barrel aged beer element to this warm punch recipe.
Serves: enough for 6 Scandinavian Glugg
Adapted from BeerAdvocate Magazine: Cuisine à la Bière | Dec 2008 | Issue #23
- 44 ounce Robust Porter, such as Marin Brewing Pt Reyes Porter, Founders Porter or other American Porter
- 4 ounce cherries, dried
- 10 each cloves, whole
- 6 each cardamon pods, green
- 2 each cinnamon, sticks, whole preferably Ceylon variety
-
1 each
vanilla bean split in half, available at Amazon
-
1 each
tangerine or orange, zested on a Microplane Zester/Grater
- Pour the Porter of choice into a slow cooker | Crock-Pot, add the dried cherries, cloves, cardamon pods, cinnamon sticks, split vanilla bean and citrus zest. If you don't want spices ending up in the final mug | cup, use a tea strainer or piece of cheese cloth tied to tie up the spices together. Cover with its lid and turn heat to a low setting. Let sit for 1 – 3 hours before your guests arrive.
- Alternatively, the spices and flavorings can be strained out with a strainer before service.
- Ladle the infused Scandinavian Glugg in small beer mugs.
Scandinavian Glugg Recipe Variations:
- Substitute the Robust Porter for a Holiday Ale | Winter Warmer , Old Ale or Baltic Porter.
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