Nøgne Ø God Jul

Brewed by Nøgne Ø
Style: American Strong Ale
Grimstad, Norway

Bottle from BevMo Mission Valley. Pours a deep brown almost black with a small light tan head. Aromas of cocoa dust, dark fruits, and toasted malts. Flavors held pitted fruits, caramel, light chocolate, and a nice hop bite. Another great one from Nogne-0

Bottle. Sweet raisin aroma with some chocolate. DArk unclear brown with high light brown head. Rather sweet flavour again with a mixture of fruits and chocolate. Christmas is there allright.

This Jul is another jewel I had at Eulogy in Philly (labeled Winter). Even the label looks cool - understated in a Nowegian sort of way. Nothing understated in the bottle. Pours like a ribbon of foggy midnight under a small tight dark khaki head. Lots of caramel and toffey up front in the aroma with a little coffee and some spice as well. The flavor initially reminded me of those old fashioned Chunky "bars" with raisins - lots of chocolate complimented by raisins at first, followed by roasted coffee, mild herbal notes and some more dark fruits (restrained). Surprising hoppy bite in there as well. Texture is spot-on and silky with just a little prick of carbonation. Complex and sweet finish but with a respectable hop note to clean it up and give it a dry quality as well. A really well done Winter Seasonal that I’d be more than proud to serve again and again.

(Bottle 50cl) Pours dark brown with a dense light brown head. Roasty malt aroma with some hops. Nice chocolate and coffee flavours. Half a bottle is wonderful, but second half the sweetnes combined with hop flavours becomes to dominant.

Bottle from BevMo, Mission Valley. Deep ruby in color on the pour. Strong roasted malty aroma with dark fruitiness and a nice hop character. Dark and roasty flavors. Very full bodied and flavorful. Light hop finish. Solid winter brew.

500ml. bottle: This one had the "Winter Ale" name on the label. This beer pours a dark, murky opaque brown color. There was a bit of a dark tan head on mine. It subsides quickly and leaves some lacing. Nice nose to this one. Chocolate, caramel, raisins, hints of coffee and other fruits. What a full rounded flavor. Chocolate and coffee up front, but very well balanced with the caramel malts. Very tasty and easy to drink. You have no idea that this is 8.5%.

(500 ml bottle from Downeast Beverage (labelled as "Winter Ale"), cellared for 10 mos. after purchase) Pours very dark brown with some lighter brown highlights. One finger of fairly sturdy tan head that recedes to about 1/8” and stays. Sweetish aroma of coffee, chocolate and raisin. Mouthfeel rather soft and light but still meaty enough – not watery. Fairly smooth. Nice light weepy rings of lacing. Flavor is dark and bitter chocolate upfront along with coffee. Sweeter flavors of dark caramel, chocolate and raisin emerge more as it warms. A nice really tasty beer with a decent bit of interesting complexity. ABV well-hidden.

Bottle (2008 "Winter Ale" edition). Head is initially large, frothy, light brown, fully lasting. Body is dark brown, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, nuts, cookie, chocolate), lightly to moderately hoppy (apricot, flowers, grapefruit, resin), with notes of raisin, anise, toffee, leather, brown sugar. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly to moderately alcoholic. Quite delightful. Rich and complex aroma, sweet and warming without being cloying, and the use of hops is quite unlike the typical American treatment (not abrasive or overdone at all). Fruity and spicy with no apparent adjuncts; still offers the essence of a winter brew without beating you about the head with spices. Very well done. I’d buy it again.