Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter

Brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Örebro, Sweden

First off, a huge thanks to wetherel for sharing this gem at the PP Bottle Shop with myself, deftim13, Sean & Ryan of the shop, and DenverLogan! All you need is just a tiny serving of this concoction to know it’s something truly special. It pours a still silky black-brown with some light beige swirls on the surface. The aroma is more subtle than the flavor, but a delightful mix of old oak wood, bourbon, cocoa powder and vanilla. The nose increases with warmth into a more warming character of well-rounded bourbon, molasses, soft espresso and alcohol...but not too strong by any means. The flavor extracts the aroma notes and multiplies them to another level entirely. I tasted coconut with chocolate, medium coffee and brown sugar with plenty of oak mixed in. Extremely well-balanced and complex, with the alcohol subdued fantastically. I wouldn’t know this was 10% upon tasting if not for the label. Finishes smooth with incredible mouthfeel. This is one of my favorite styles of beer. It lives up to the hype in my book, a magnificent beer for my #300 rating.

Bottles from fonefan and another from Francois_Mtl, but I traded one away. This particular one is from fonefan. 2006 bottle. Had a PP bottle shop with deftim13, hapjydeuce, denverlogan, Sean, and Ryan. Small 25cL bottle. Lots of oaky malty aroma. A real pleasure to smell. A hint of bourbon barrel, but it’s not overpowering. Great mouthfeel. Medium to heavy body. A little bit of sting on the tongue, probably from the alcohol, which is well hidden. Some sweet brown sugar flavor. Low carbonation, but a beer of this magnitude doesn’t need much. 4.5-4.6.

Had this on two occasions and this is an overall impression from both visits to the beer. 2006 bottle. Pour is dark as night and has a very small, brown head. Very viscous. Nose is booze, burnt malt, licorice and a touch of coffee. Flavor is very boozy and has the strong licorice flavor I’m not too crazy about. Some sweet flavors arrive as well. Thick ...glass looks like it was dipped in oil. Overall a decent beer, but maybe needs time to mellow.

Woo-Hoo, rating #300! 2006, 25cl bottle, with many, many thanks to the man from Amager Bryghus, Jacob Storm, for this rare treat! Pours pitch black with a lovely creamy tan head that maintains a thin but complete covering, minimal lacing. Aroma gets your attention and throws a lot at you - first with the oaky bourbon, and then a host of others come into play - dark chocolate, espresso, vanilla, molasses and dark fruits are all present, creating a wonderful aromatic blend on the nose. While it strongly becons for a taste, wow that aroma is filling and grand to ponder! Finally moving past the aroma reveals that absolutely everything from the aroma blends together in a near perfect harmony. The first sip tells me that this single 8.5oz. bottle is just not going to be enough to satisfy what its started, so I better enjoy this for all its worth. While the mystique surrounding this beer no doubt only heightens my senses, this truly is deserving of the accolades - please, don’t let it stop... Absolutely outstanding!

2006 bottle. huge thanks to kan (pantanap) for sharing this rare gem. pours black with swirling tan creamy head. looks great but also thin. the aroma is really roasty with soft bourbon notes, dark chocolate, coconut, nuts, and vanilla. flavor is intense roast with coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, and mild dark fruits in the finish. finises dry, nutty, and isn’t that long. the carbonation is wonderfully smooth. alcohol isn’t noticed at all. really drinkable stuff. the nose was amazing but the flavor didn’t quite match up.

Bottle, courtsey of Craig aka cgarvieuk (cheers Craig) had this on the 31-12-07 The top prised off satisfyingly to the accompaniment of the dim and distant rolling and crackle of thunder and streaks of lightning. The drink poured the colour of black treacle with a small beige head, and as I lift it to my lips once again a fury of thunderous claps swirls around. An infuriated Thor was riding his chariot across the storm clouds that were gathered menacingly across Otmoor and wielding his mighty hammer mjollnir. Without delay I sipped this brew as streaks of bright white light flashed all around, the aroma was honey, finest cocoa, and dark sticky fruits, the taste was sumptuous, filling, rich and simply stunning, it was like a cadbury’s flake moment, the taste of marshmallows dipped in the finest chocolate and left to drip all over your hand vanilla, figs and dark sugars make up some of the other flavours. The crackles and bangs continue outside, Thor is busy tonight but I sip again, the full range of flavours literally beats my tastebuds into submission, its almost numb with this full flavoured onslaught. I head outside to greet the mighty Thor with my chalice held high, the cracks and flashes continue to surround me, next doors firework display was quite something and more than served it’s purpose not just for them this evening. A truly magical beer!

2006. Very good IS. Poured a thick black with a great looking creamy brown head. Aroma of chocolate, malt, oak, and some fruit. Flavor was much of the same with somewhat of an alcohol burn finish. Not bad by any means. Oak and fruit make it somewhat sweet. Great complexity.

250 ml bottle at Bishop’s Arms, Avenyn, Gothenburg, Sweden. Årgång 2006. Dark brown with a small, light brown head. Rich, sweet aroma of coconut, plums, cherries and oak. Sweet taste with soft bitterness. Ligh carbonation.