Nøgne Ø # 100 (Batch 100)

Brewed by Nøgne Ø
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Grimstad, Norway

This one makes you feel alive. Pours a murky, opaque brown with a large amount of suspended sediment. Thick light brown head that persists for some time. Very strong aroma, primarily of hops, but also some sweet dried fruit aromas. Excellent balance between sweetness and bitterness - essentially plenty of both. Full bodied and thick with subdued carbonation. Drying finish.

Enjoyed from a 22oz bomber in a whiskey snifter. Until reading RateBeer’s description, I was under the impression that the beer was a Barley Wine, and had evaluated it as such. From the perspective of a DIPA the beer seems to have several qualities of the aforementioned, while taking some creative license with others. The beer pours a very deep brown color, far darker than any other IPA, and resembling a Barley Wine in terms of SRM and head stand, which is thick and light tan. The nose also gives strong hints that the beer is a Barley Wine or sort of American strong ale. Huge notes of raisons, toffee, and prunes dipped in bourbon. Notes of hops also come through. The palate does strike more of a resemblence to a DIPA, with far less malt character than the nose would suggest, bracing bitterness in the mid-palate and finish, and a dry character that almost makes the beer seem insipid. Overall, not the best DIPA, nor the best Barley Wine, but a nice partner on a chilly evening with a book.

Bottle. Murky brown pour with a white head. Aroma is lots of leafy hops, eucalyptus, resinous pine and some fruit, mainly grapes. Woody, herbal hops and honey flavor. Nice smooth mouthfeel, great beer.

Thanks again to Ucusty for the bottle! Pours brown with a huge, steady, creamy tan head. The aroma is full of fruity hops. Apple, pear, prunes, orange, chocolate, and a hint of lemon. The flavor is sweet and malty to start with lots of caramel, toffee, orange and spice. A warming toasted quality washes over the palate next with the dominating hop bitterness that reminds me this is technically an Imperial IPA. This is one unique beer. To me, it doesn’t seem like a IIPA or a barleywine. I’m not sure what it is, but it is very tasty and rides the boundaries of a few different styles. I liked it.

16 oz bottle shared with a friend. Licorice, chocolate, dough, tobacco, and more on both the flavor and aroma. All in all, its a complex and very worthy brew, Worth picking up if you see it.

(bottle - 500 ml) Murky dark brown color with a fluffy tan head. Aroma is light citrus and bitter hops with some mild chocolate. Sweet and malty at the beginning with a very bitter and citrusy flavor near the middle. Finishes bitter and crisp flavor with a mild and lingering bitterness. Some light chocolate at the end.

Bottle. Dark chestnut brown color with quite big beige head. Nose is packed with notes of chocolate, hops and spices. Flavor is equally massive with a chocolate malts, hops and even a hint of whisky in it. Big mouthfeel and a warm alcoholic finish.

Bottle. Poured a deep brown with an amber hue with a cream light brown head. Aroma had notes of grainy malts but more present were earthy hops. Flavor was well balanced between the bitterness of the hops and the sweetness of the malts.