Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter

Brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Örebro, Sweden

[Sampled at the Stockholm Beer festival 2007] Pitch black with a small brown head. Rich aroma with (among others) coffey, vanilla and citrus. Complex but surprisingly smooth creamy flavours of bitter chocolate, coffey and woody vanilla. Enormeous in every way.

Dark brown color with a thick brown head. smell of cofee, yeast and nice oak tones. The taste is cofeey and vinous

Secret Santa hooked this one up!!! The dilemma is this, I have convinced myself that this is indeed going to be the singular greatest beer I have yet to consume, causing me to ponder if this will actually live up to the billing. Upon pouring, my heart races a bit. A nearly completely light obliterating black, the only glimmer of color is the faintest brown, trying to escape around the edges. The aromas coming forth are an opus of complexity, the likes of which are rarely attained. Oak, vanilla, roasted malts, smoke, Valhrona Chocolate, the sugar crust of a creme brulee, Black Mission Figs, date syrup, plums all make their presence known. Waves of olfactory pleasure engulf my psyche, pulling in more inward into a contemplative state. I continue to inhale, wondering how this is possible. The flavor is other worldly. The roasted flavor is the first to makes its presence known. As I continue, a light brown caramel teases the senses, sublimely yielding to a playful balance of oak, vanilla and Italian meringue, though ever so slightly. The warming alcohol finishes what in essence is the brewer’s tour de force. Perhaps it is not simply brewing, but is rather alchemy, transforming simple ingredients into a master piece.

Huge thanks to TheCheeseMan for sharing this one with me. 2006. Pours black with black/brown edges and a small, creamy, brown head that dissipates to a ring on the edge of the glass. Nose of roasted malt, oak, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, burnt sugar, honey, dark dried fruits, light smoke, and subtle licorice. Flavor is similar, but even more rich. Adds milk chocolate, molasses, marshmallow, more roast, and just a hint of warming alcohol. Nice balance of sweetness and roast. Full body is rich and smooth. Awesome. Definitely one of the best imperial stouts I’ve had.

Bottle, 25 cl at GFW68 Sthlm. Vintage 2006, one year old at sampling. Initial impressions are average for an imperial stout, served way too cold and I wait for the beer to warm up. As it warms, intense aromas of chocolate and booze, some red fruit. But mainly hot alcohol. Taste and palate is sweet, chocolate, no roastiness, very little, if any hops. Some vanilla and wood I imagine. Perhaps this was still a bit young, but with a beer this rare, who can afford to wait.. (seeing how it’s only available in pubs in Sweden). So.. best beer in the world? No way. Really good -yes! This beer however, is very malt dominated, there’s not much else going on here.. Maybe I’m blasphemeing.. but I think anyone can make this beer. Severly hyped because it’s so rare. I certainly wont fork out the 24 euro to try this again. Still.. must compliment HG on a damn fine beer!

Bottle at Toms Ultimate Glasgow Tasting: Poured a deep dark brown with a tan color head. The aroma is fruit and roastedness with slight liquorish. The taste is roasted coffee with a liquorish finish.

Bouteille. Glenfiddich Warehouse 68, Stockholm. Mousse brune-crème qui s’estompe pour laisser place à un anneau de dentelle collante et quelques nuages épars à la surface. Couleur brune opaque avec reflets ambrés à la lumière. Arôme de fruits confits/ noix/ vanille douce/ subtile note de café/ léger houblon floral. Goût richement malté, alcool chaleureux, amertume légère mais persistante, notes de tanins de chênes. Grande complexité, bière époustouflante, mais peut-être l’alcool est-il un peu trop prononcé, masquant des saveurs qui mériteraient davantage d’épanouissement! Tout de même, un pur plaisir sensoriel!

Bottle. Super dark with a beige foam. Aromas are sweet coffee with soy sauce. Sweet, spicy and salty. Flavours are rich malts with chocolate and mollasses. Smoky with soy, liquorice and salt. Quite viscous. Powerful.