Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter

Brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Örebro, Sweden

(Bottled at GBBF ’07; December 2006 brew (10%)) Poured dark with a big off-white head. Scent is full of berries and a hint of malts. Slightly sugary. Dark roasted chocolate scents, cherries, berry fruits... Complex and stunning!

Thanks to everyone involved in allowing me to sample this fine brew - 2006 bottle - Aroma is very strong oak, vanilla and roasted chocolate malts. Pours black with a small brown head that reappeared upon swirling and left good lacing. Flavor is so delicious. Smooth clean vanilla, oak and dark chocolate blend together perfectly. Alcohol is well hidden. The palate is so soft and smooth for such a strong and flavorful brew. I honestly didn’t want to be my top rated beer, but there is no denying the quality and greatness of this beverage. One word can describe it, amazing.

Does it live up to the hype? In a word...YES! I wish I could be sipping on this at my local pub! This beer pours pretty black with a little bit thicker deep tan head than the regular Imp. Stout. Rich molassis, smokey, toasty with a hint of alc. but not offputting. Rich chocolate malts, deep tastes of bakers chocolate and slight hazelnut flavors. This brew is pretty round, not the biggest brew but this beer is focused on the finesse and that it has. Very silky with fine tannins and well intergrated oak. Finish lasts for minutes.

2005 bottle Black with an ok head. Aroma is dark, bitter chocolate with notes of liquorice. Flavour is bitter, oaky, somewhat harsh and salty and in the background lurks a growing honey sweetness. Complex.

2005 bottle - June ’07 - purchased at Akkurat, Stockholm - $40. First off, I thought this really lived up to the hype. It was flat out unbelievable - right in between the imperial stouts that need to be a bit bigger and those that go overboard...no matter how hard I tried to find something I didn’t like about it, I simply couldn’t - it was the definition of balanced. Each sip was proceeded by a heart-felt "WOW!". Every part of this brew was so insanely complex. The aroma wrapped up vanilla, oak, dark chocolate malts, espresso, licorice, dark fruits, etc - I smelled it for who knows how long. Flavor was exquisite - wrapping all those smells into a perfectly chewy and smooth palate. Talk about wanting to lick your gums and lips. The finish was balanced between sweet and bitter - the slight alcohol burn warmed but nowhere near overpowered anything. Will I get my taste buds on this one again? Let’s hope so. Ya, I liked it that much. Simply divine in every right a beer can be....

Bottle vintage 2005 from a blind tasting @ Bishop’s Arms, Malmö. Pours a black color with a lovely tan head. Has a roasted malty aroma with lots of chocolate and coffee and some honey hints in the background. Also some hints of dark fruit. Sweet roasted malty thick mouthfeel of chocolate, coffee and some oak hints. In the background you have the honey flavor aswell. Finish is dry roasted malty with some hints of alcohol and some nice bitterness in the aftertaste.

2009-06-16, bottle at Glenfiddich Warehouse N.68, vintage 2007, 10-5-9-4-18=46
The bottle is served too cold.
Black color; the creamy head reduces quickly. At first it has a nice cheesy aroma; then liquorice and some roasted malts and ashes; it evolves as it gets warmer; very late, there are traces of vanilla and paper, tobacco, alcohol and very light paint remover. The cheese crust is the best part for this kind of beer.
Very good body strength, the mouthfeel is oily but not sticky, extremely smooth; possessive chocolate and roasted malt flavor, with a minimal sweetness to complement it; some vanilla appears only late, creating a dynamic effect; the liquorice too can’t miss this appointment; the subdued alcohol presence is vibrating. The final sensation in the mouth is still full, turning maybe too much on the roasted malts for my palate, but expected; and there is some pleasant espresso touch too, and tobacco.
Great!
I remembered a more complex brew.

2007-05-08, bottle at Akkurat, 30€, vintage 2005
Black ink color; creamy head. Huge and wonderful aroma: glue, chocolate, sweet coffee, Xerès and Porto wines, wax, black raisins; deep, complex. Full mouthfeel; incredible; mix of flavors: ashes, vanilla, tobacco, malt, sweet caramel, toffee, rhubarb candies, medium dark chocolate, creamy; hint of liquorice and traces of roasted malt; alcohol warmth. Simply wonderful….

Bottle shared at the Rover in Gothenburg with Marsiblursi and Olso. Many thanks go out to Marsiblursi for allowing us to taste this magnificent brew. The aroma itself is completely unique, with both a sweet and roasty smell blending together perfectly. The taste is much the same, with an initial honey sweetness, that gives way to a lingering roasty finish. The mouthfeel of this beer is excellent, and I’m glad I had the privilege of drinking such an exeptional beer.l