Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter

Brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Örebro, Sweden

(Bottled vintage 2006). Sampled to celebrate my 40th birthday. Courtesy of oh6gdx (who brought this bottle from GBBF 2007). Pitch black color, good dark brown color. Oak (oak barrels), tobacco, dark malts, vanilla, some licorice in the nose. Full-bodied. Main flavor is licorice, dark roasted malts, molasses, dark chocolate. Then nuances: oak, vanilla, honey in portwineish palate. Very very complex and highly drinkable. Kick of alcohol in the atfertaste. Long mix of roasted malts and vanilla in the aftertaste. Normal Stormaktsporter is one of my favourite beers and this even tops it.

On tap at EBF 2008, Copenhagen. 2007 edition. Finally, I get to sample this again! I had a couple of bottles of the 2005 version at GBBF 2007 but then lost my notebook that evening and my lack of a rate for it has been chafing ever since. Black with a small tan head and a perfumy aroma. Velvety smooth and highly drinkable, with the alcohol utterly hidden. Rich roasted malts, molasses, prunes, liquorice and chocolate combine for a sublime flavour but without a hint of stickiness. A classic.

Two samplings 1:st at Stockholm beer festival, from a 4 cl shot glas (pored into a sniffer). Litle foam. Small aroma of chocolate. Taste of chocolate liqrich and port wine. Big body 2:nd Draught at Akkurat. Big brown head that lingers, thick enough to eat with a fork. Aroma of chocolate and dried fruit. The taste is overpowering with loads of chocolate, liqrish and vanilla. A perfect body with just as perfect bitterness.

Draught at EBF 2008. Black colour with a small beige head and some lacing.Complex aroma and taste of roasted malts, chocolate, fruit with a nice hoppy touch.

On tap @ European Beerfestival 2008. I had pretty much given up on tasting this one. Thanks to Närke for bringing it to the festival. Pours black with a beige/yellow head. Smells of honey. Sweet with aromas of roasted malts and some chocolate. Also aromas of honey and lots of vanilla and oak. Full bodied with a slightly sticky mouthfeel. Low carbonation. Dry finish with aromas of honey and a slight alcoholwarming sensation. Good - to say the least.

[bottle tap at EBF 2008] Smooth butterscotchy aroma with sweet molasses and honey. Plenty of oak that is balanced by toasty malt. Opaque dark red-brown with a wispy light brown top. Heavenly oak balanced by lots of chocolate and toast. Bubblegum dark malt as well with nutty toasty biscuit. Full body, moderate carbonation, smooth. Complex yet excellently balanced.

Rating #9from the european beer festival 2008. Great suprise that this one was avalible at the festival, though! ts black with a nice brown head. Aroma is very delicate of honney, sweet chocolate, vanilla and fudge. The moutharoma is again filled with all kinds of delicious deserts. Caramel fudge being the one in my mind the most. nice to have a sweetness this complex that isnt caused by suger alone. The sweet notes are of course backed up by a good amount of roasted bitterness while the hops have a more subtly role in this one. Thanks to Beer Biker for showing me stand #5!

På fad til ølfestival på Carlsberg. Nu må det saftsusemig være på tide at jeg rater denne lækre øl. Har drukket den 2 gange før, senest på min fødselsdag for lidt over en måned siden. Bryggeren har siddet i toget på vej til festivalen, med dette fad ,og kælet for det. Det er vel øllets svar på kobe-kød. Det her er min absolutte favorit. Sort som kul, tæt nøddebrunt skum. Vi taler chokolade, kaffe, mørke tørrede frugter, dumle karameller. Den er rund og blød og dejlig. Top karakter fra mig, hele vejen.