Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

Bottle, labeled ’Winter Ale’. Pours a very dark brown, practically black, with a large mostly-lasting tan head -- nice! Slightly mild aroma of caramel malt, a little roasty, with chocolate, some sweetness and a hint of alcohol. Flavour of caramel malt, nuts, chocolate and a good amount of hops. Tastes better and better the further you get through it and it warms. Alcohol’s well hidden. Medium bodied. What a great beer, Nogne haven’t disappointed me yet.

[258-20070412] 1pt0.9floz (w/ jerc). Boozy chocolate malt aroma has nutty hints of raspberry fruit. Dark brown black red-hued body with a long-lasting creamy brown head. Dark chocolatey roasted malt flavour has lots of nut and wood notes. Full body is boozy and fairly bitter after. Points for blending a winter warmer but bitterness brings out too much nut.

Rating for Nøgne Ø Winter Ale

Deep garnet, impervious to light in my wide-bodied Duvel glass. A creamy, khaki head is slow to form yet rather quick to leave... soon only a frothy, mochaccino skin. Light soaps and shoe leather corrupt an otherwise well-malted base aroma which finds semi-sweet chocolate and dark fruit as well as coffee bitters and spice. A full, fluffy mouth carries rich, malted flavors and a citric fruitiness before a finish which finds a bitterness that sways between the chocolate and coffee found in the nose. By far my favorite of the four beers I’ve tried from this brewer in the past few weeks.

<font size=-4>"Pint" bottle from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/chicag Lakeview Liquors, Chicago, IL 60618</font>

IThis black ale is a cross between a porter (albeit some coca-cola taste from the carmel etc.), a stout from some toasted barley, a dark ale, shwartzbeir, and an underlying citrus without being overhopped. Well done! chose this as #2100 review, as this brewery is up and coming and I’m really enjoying what they produce.

Bottle from Premier Gourmet, shared with Mabel. Very dark brown almost black body with a good creamy brown head. Roasty acidic aroma of dark roasted malts, very light touch of raisins or plums, mild chocolate. Flavour is a touch simpler than expected, but with plenty of roast and hop bitterness. Just enough malt sweetness to offset the bitterness a bit. Pleasant glimpses of dark bitter chocolate are fleeting, but frequent, before coming into a more solid presence in the aftertaste. Minute coffee notes to the roast. Gains flavour complexity as it warms, Average to medium palate (3+). Very nice.

NorCal tasting Apr 07 - This beer seems to be a bit of an enigma to me. I can’t figure out if it’s supposed to be a spiced ale, barleywine or some sort of a strong ale. It seems to hop around in all the catergories and not really finding a home in one. The aroma mostly roasted malts and it had this bloody, irony character to it. Flavors was sweet malts, some spice like anise or cardammon with some alcohol present. I’ve been impressed by their other beer I’ve had, but this one just didn’t do much for me.

Bottle shared by sliffy. Black pour with a light tan head. ARoma of caramel malt, light chocolate, some roasty and spicy notes. Flavors of roasted malt, chocolate, some more spiciness and some nuttiness as well. Smooth carbonation, roast/spice finish

16.9 oz bottle. Dark brown with an oatmeal head. Vinous, woody morels. Molasses, cinnamon and mace. Taste is French Roast coffee and plum pudding. Medium body, light carb. Licorice finish with restrained bitterness.