Nøgne Ø God Jul

Ooohh!! This is rich, this is powerful stuff. Once I got the top off the bottle it started foaming over the top. I quickly directed it down an old english pint I bought on Ghuznee Street, Wellington 18 years ago. It filled with coffee (not american, real!) colored aromatic stuff, crowned buy a thick foamy layer of tinted, airy ale. Head! That’s it. That’s an ale head, I finally grasp the meaning of it. I had a quick sip and offered one to my wife. She said Ooohh!! just like I had felt myself. So much aroma, so many flavors, so dense, so christmassy (it’s February now) ... so ...MUCH! This is an exceptional beer. You find all the usual christmas spices, but there is also a clear hint of resin and bog myrtle. It is good enough to just sip, and it just get better as it slowly approaches room temperature (I started it too cold - I know). I’ll have this with a sturdy meal with pork or brussel sprouts, or on its own just for pleasure, or with saffron cookies or marsipan bread, or a Västerbotten cheese, or anything else that can match its heavy generous amount of straightforward flavors. But first of all I hope I’ll have it again. And again, and again.................. I’m in love.................. I long for next Christmas.................

500 ml. Huge head fizzes out of the bottle on this opaque black beer; settles down and lasts well with some nice frosty lace. Chocolate, caramel and slight hickory on the nose. Cocoa, caramel, dark-roasted nuts and coffee balanced well by some earthy, bitter-grass herbs that catch up and finish strong, leaving a chocolate-charred oak aftertaste. Medium-heavy body is syrupy smooth with some tingle.

Found this in a bomber bottle at Binny’s in St. Charles, Illinois. Very thick, opaque dark brown pour with a thick, tan head. Awesome nose of roasted almonds, cherry, raisins and black licorice. Flavor is just as good, with some spiciness, huge amounts of chocolate and coffee malts, and some smokiness. No alcohol in the finish; I had no idea how strong this beer was until it had already knocked me on my butt. This was outstanding.

American Strong? Hmm.....More like an imperial porter, but why start up that argument on Christmas. Pours a dark, earthy brown and has so much head I was afraid I was going to make an awful mess. Roasty notes and coffee dominate the nose, with a delicate sense of warm, winter spices in the background. The flavor is great. Just amazing. Lots of espresso and chocolate and just enough nutty sweetness/bitterness to make the finish spectacular. Full bodied and oily in my mouth. GREAT beer for Christmas day.

[bottle from gareth young] very dark colour, small head. Aroma of caramel and a hint of dark chocolate. Dry bitter finish.A charming little beer.