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The general flavor profile of kveik yeast is ester-driven and non-phenolic, although a wide range of subtle differences can exist between strains. Kveik in its traditional form is usually a blend of closely related strains. The "Stranda" kveik was described as "lemon, nuts, grain, and straw" by Lars Marius Garshol. The "Hornindal kveik" with bacteria was described as "fruity, milky caramel, honey, and mushroom with a very unique aroma". The "Muri kveik" was described as "earthy on the nose, and fruity tasting with hints of rubber and sulfur and a thinner mouthfeel than the others" <ref name="kveik_testing"></ref>.
Kveik has adapted to being fermented at relatively warm temperatures without producing off-flavors, usually in the range of 30-40°C (86-104°F), but also as high as 43°C (109°F). The beer is finished fermenting within a day or two at these warmer temperatures. Årset kveik has been fermented as low as 4°C (39°F), which produced a clean and drinkable beer with a fruity aroma. They have a high alcohol tolerance of around 13-16% ABV <ref name="garshol_preiss_mbaa">[https://www.mbaa.com/publications/tq/tqPastIssues/2018/Pages/TQ-55-4-1211-01.aspx How to Brew with Kveik. Lars Marius Garshol and Richard Preiss. MBAA Technical Quarterly, 2018 Q4.]</ref>[http://www.omegayeast.com/ Omega Yeast Labs] describes their two isolates as being non-phenolic and fruity, and complimenting of American citrus hops. They also note that the yeast has a very high temperature range (~68-98°F or ~20-37°C), attenuates high, tends to flocculate well, and also tends to ferment faster at the mid to high temperature ranges, while producing similar ester profiles throughout the entire temperature range.
Richard Preiss from [[Escarpment Laboratories]] shared his sensory notes after doing trial fermentations with various kveik strains/cultures. Fermentations were at 30°C in standard wort (1.050, 20IBU) with single strains, not the mixed cultures. 2/3 tasters were blind to the beers and order prior to tasting. This is a single data point on sensory information <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1336954522999425/?comment_id=1407412439286966&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Sensory data on kveik strains shared by Richard Preiss on MTF. 09/15/2016.]</ref>:
===Lactic Acid Bacteria and Wild Yeast Contaminations===
Some of the kveik cultures that are not isolated cultures have reportedly been contaminated with lactic acid bacteria. These contaminations probably occurred during handling of the yeast at some point. See [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/2092577524103784/?comment_id=2092603600767843&reply_comment_id=2092693610758842&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Justin Amaral's statements] regarding this issue. The lactic acid bacteria found in contaminated kveik cultures can be inhibited by ~10 IBU <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/2117542431607293/?comment_id=2118202468207956&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Justin Amaral. Milk The Funk Facebook group thread about lactic acid bacteria in kveik cultures and sensitivity to IBU. 06/05/2018.]</ref>. Traditionally, if contaminating microorganisms start having an impact on the flavor of the beer, the brewer would throw away their kveik and borrow a fresh culture from a neighbor <ref name="garshol_preiss_mbaa">[https://www.mbaa.com/publications/tq/tqPastIssues/2018/Pages/TQ-55-4-1211-01.aspx How to Brew with Kveik. Lars Marius Garshol and Richard Preiss. MBAA Technical Quarterly, 2018 Q4.]</ref>.
See also: