Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

500 ml, "God Jul" version. ("Winter Ale" version for 2009 update). Huge head fizzes out of the bottle on this opaque black beer; settles down and lasts well with some nice frosty lace. (Winter Ale version head was much more tame - even better!) Chocolate, evergreen, juniper, vanilla, orange-caramel and slight hickory on the nose. Front taste is spicy orange, cocoa, dark-roasted nuts and coffee balanced well by some earthy-spiced whiskey and toffee. Charred mesquite and bitter-grass herbs catch up and finish strong, leaving a cured tobacco, charred oak, whiskey and peanut aftertaste. Medium-heavy body is roasty dryish, and drinkably smooth with some light tingle. Super complex brew. God Jul indeed!

Pours next to black in color w/ a tall, fuming head. Even right out of the cold fridge, this thing pushes up a frothy fountain high into the sky. Hanging in there forever this one has some seriously sticky lacing. It’s leaves a full downy canopy and a fat island to ponder life upon. Aromas of roasted coffee and sweet malted herbs. Boasting a full oily body and texture, the carbonation is a tad modest. Fat blackened molases w/ a huge roast. Only mildly sweet, this brew is pretty intense. Roasted coffee bean w/ bit-o-pine spice, and herb. Black mocha pudding could describe this brew. There is a defined hop presence, yet only mildly, is effective. This brew is thick, chewy, and very warming. It’s the kind of brew you smoke w/ a fat cigar. The finish is generous and lasting w/ good bittering. Eat it with a knife and fork. Highly recommended.

Pours mahogany into a snifter. Mocha head recedes to skim surface. Sour pit fruit and alcohol aromas. Creamy and sweet upfront with a thin, lasting bitter chocolate and espresso finish.

Nearly foamed over after uncapping despite being well-chilled, poured a frothy cocoa-tinted massive head over near opaque body with rusty highlights. On the nose a pleasant mix of fruity wheat cherries and musty caramel, hinted oakiness; a deliciously smooth melange on the palate, starting off full bodied with cocoa, dark berries, flowing nicely into tobacco and wooden, tingly hops. A delicious winter beer, and another impressive release from Nøgne.

The snowflakes on this Winter Ale bottle label were a slight departure from the stark Nøgne Ø bottles seen before. The beer came out dark brown, and formed a four finger thick beige head. The smell was a wonderful symphony of raisins, plum, chocolate, and hops. The taste was similar, and felt a little like biting into a chocolate coated rum raisin candy from a Christmas gift tin. The finish was a little astringent-roasty and presented some mouth drying hops. A bit small and coarse in the mouthfeel department. Another winner from the brewery that refuses to disappoint.

I very much enjoyed this winter ale from Nogne, and would not hesitate to recommend. Its flavor is not the most complicated beer flavor in the world, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good! This beer poured an opaque black with lots of very sticky head. Aroma was a nice roastiness...potent and uncomplicated. Flavor was roasty with some bourbon-ness. Mouthfeel was a bit viscous and very pleasant. I heartily enjoyed this beer, and would definitely recommend.

First things first, I was very surprised by how dark this one poured. A very dark brown as you pour, it glows with a cloudy ruby color when held to the light. It appears very dense as it pours as well. Some roasted coffee in the nose that gives way to loads of caramel and toffee. Mild hop bitterness in this one but it’s mostly a lovely caramel mocha slice of liquid heaven. This one’s gonna warm me all freaking winter long.

Very dark beer with nice medium milk-coffee brown head and lot of yeast. Aroma is wonderful: malts, roast malts, hops and fruits. Beautiful, very smooth palate with medium carbonation makes this balanced and not too sweetish. Fruitness in the aroma and flavour makes this kind of beers more interesting and that is bonus for this God Jul.