Nils Oscar Julöl 2001 & 2002

Formerly brewed at Nils Oscar
Style: Scotch Ale
Nyköping, Sweden

[Vintage 2002] An amber beer with a fine though fast disappearing head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel, prunes, mold, and smoke. The flavor is dominated by nice smoke but also sweet malty with notes of caramel. It finishes with hints of sourness. It has a good body. I really like this beer. Thanks to Per (Omhper) for trading me this beer - and thanks to Jacob Lövenlund and MartinKubert for sharing it with me.

(Bottle 50 cl) Vintage 2001: Chestnut coloured, not much head. Very malty and sweet. Pronounced madeirazation has made this slightly flat. But lots of dried fruits like figs, dates and raisins in the flavour. 291204 Vintage 2002: I had this the same night as the 2001. A bit more carbonized and slightly bitter - perhaps because it’s a year younger. Otherwise pretty much the same flavors are predominant. 291204

Dark reddish brown. Very malty, balanced malt sweetness, warming alcohol, perhaps still slightly too young when I sampled it. Rather bitter.

2001 bottle, 5 years old. 7.0%. Powerful, sweet peppery aroma. The aging gives it a little sherry flavour, but not too much. Clear brown colour, small light brown head. The flavour is quite bready, but it goes well with the considerable maltiness and pepperiness. Nice, creamy mouthfeel. Very nice and warming.

Bottled. Dark amberish brown colour with mediumsized beige head. Nice plummy sweet aroma, with hints of spices and alcohol. Plum, raisins and spices in flavour. Very pleasant brew with a long sweetish aftertaste. Tnx to omhper for good trade.

Malty, smooth, smokey nuances. Good, but so far the least impressive of their seasonal offerings. They should stop farting around and make a gotlandsdricke.

Dark amber color, with ruby shades; thick head, but reducing quickly.
Malt aroma, not really deep; a delicate roasted barley aroma.
Very interesting flavor, much equilibrated, round feeling, without being heavy; perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness. An original, peculiar note of roasted malt; a lot of caramel. It presents a roasted barley note, usually missing in the Swedish Julöl.
A lot of caramel in the palate, not too much hop.
Really interesting, but must try after some years of aging.

Bottled vintage 2001
Dark ruby color, good creamy, brownish head. Chocolaty, toffeeish barley nose, you can notice "vintage aroma" here - barley and sweetness have mixed togerther nicely. Medium-bodied. Sweet, smooth, caramelly with milk chocolate flavors. Ageing has rounded all the corners.