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!

bottle thanks to anders37. This was #1 on my wantlist all year long and had it as one of my New Years resolutions to try this. This poured pitch black with a very tiny, light brown head. Nose was of roast malt and oak with some bourbon. As it warmed, the aromas enhanced to include some coffee and chocolate. Taste was incredible. Delicious chocolate, fruit, vanilla and bourbon. The texture was chewy, yet there was no harshness here. Slight alcohol warmth. Very complex. This was the best tasting beer I have ever had, by far. Truly fantastic. Give me a supply of these and I would never drink anything else again. The perfect beer.

2006 edition. Served at about 45 degrees fahrenheit in 13-ounce snifter. Pours an oily dark brown with just a little lacing on top. Aroma is very complex: Coffee, berries, other dark fruits... Smells really good. Flavor is quite similar to the aroma. Not as sweet as the average impy, but there’s definitely a little sweetness. Only slightly bitter. Mouthfeel is quite oily, I like the sticky, thick viscosity. A nice warmth develops in my chest after a few minutes and lingers. The flavor I can’t give anything but a 10 because it really is super delicious, though very unique. I guess you could say that this is quite "elegant". Very classy; It is really a big beer that at the same time is very graceful and not at all assailing. Overall, world-class, though perhaps a little overhyped. I mean, it’s just wonderful, but the margin by which this is better than other top-notch impys isn’t that great. Nevertheless I’m glad I got a chance to try it. Bravo...Thanks Narke.

Bottle at The Rover (199 SEK). Opaque black with a small brown head. Roasted aroma, liquorice, tar & coffee. Roasted coffee flavour. Finish lasts forever, almost. Wonderful, I guess I drank it a bit too cold though.

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 and huuuggeee thanks to maltomeal at RB Dec Houston Impy Stout tasting. 2006 version. Pours midnight black, opaque, no head. Nose is sweet, woody, a bit alcoholic, whiskey. Flavors of burnt malts, alcohol, whiskey, chocolate with a nice woody background. Sweet with a dry, chalky aftertaste. Chewy full mouth as you almost eat this beer rather than drink it. Overall, as good as it gets. Probably the best beer I have ever had. I did not want my glass to end. Lived up to all the promises.

Bottle. Black color, small white head. Complex beer! Smells cigar, port, raisins and honey. The taste is sweet at first, hints of vanilla. Lots of bitter dark chocolate, soy. The taste of a fine cigar rounds it off. Thick oily beer. Smooth. Very good!

This was a awesome IPS and i was lucky to get this,it had hints of honey and oak with a warming feeling but very smooth to the finish well worth the hype and would love to get some more.CHEERS!