Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

6/24/2007 and 11/07/2007: Nøgne Ø Winter Ale has an opaque dark chesnut brown color. There is some sediment suspended in it after the pour. It looks pretty thick! It also has a creamy tan-colored head. The aroma is creamy and has some light chocolate, smoke, and nutty notes to it. The flavor is creamy with roasted malt, dark chocolate, dark caramelized fruits, coffee, and a hint of tobacco. This beer is strong in flavor and the alcohol seems reserved. The finish is dry and has a great dark chocolate flavor. The body of this beer is medium and it has a smooth and creamy texture. Perfect for the style. This is a great Winter Ale and it is probably my second favorit of the Nøgne Ø beers (behind the Porter) so far. I really hope that this beer makes it to Southwest Ohio this coming Winter!

500 mL bottle (19° Plato, 30 IBU, 8.5% Alc/Vol) via trade with hopscotch. Thank you Eric! Shared with Rob, Lance, and Matt (mball581) at the Oatmeal Stout Brewout on 6/24/2007. Rating #200 for this beer.

A good full-bodied ale. It is quite stoutish, nutty and malty. Bitter sweet finish. Alcohol is well hidden. My first delicious beer from Norway!

0.5 l bottle. Black color with creamy tan head. Roasted, vinous and hoppy aroma with strong citrusy and mentholy hop aroma, chocolade and some alcohol. More chocolade, coffee and flowery hops in the aroma. Sweet, hoppy and roasted finish. Soft and full palate. Nice beer, although american hops roll over other aromas and flavors.

Darkest coloration, nearly black, with a nice, active toasted tan head. Looks really good! Aroma is slightly sweet, black, chocolate malt at work, subdued cocoa feel, whispers of spice, anise, etc, but quiet, mellow... A smooth, dusky affair once in the mouth, thick, rich, roasty. A bit smokey. Hints of caramel, but not as much as the label promises, this is a darker, richer character than that. So beefy, I’d stick it in the stout category. Very supple mouthfeel, big time flavor, huge body, quite tasty. Not sure I’d pop $5 a bottle for it too often though...but I was happy to try it out!

Winter Ale bottling, sample courtesy of maniac. Clear, dark brown, good head. Light pine and molasses aroma. Flavor matches, up front pine oriented hops over top of molasses and dark malt accented body. Rich without being heavy. Well balanced, very good beer.

Deep cherry-mahogany body with a thin, silky tan head that fades. Abundant caramelization in the aroma with strong Munich malt signatures, sweet peated earthy tones, bready yeast, and a note of chocolate. Dark fruit flavors with sweet and bitter cherry skin qualities, plus an element of coffee. Slight impression of oxidation. Richly sweet and malty overall, with latent bitterness. Velvety texture. A sweet, slow, and decadent winter warmer, but a little too much sticky unattenuated malt for me to truly love. Should be listed as an English Strong Ale.

Dark brown with lots of carbonation. Fruit nose. Slightly sweet smoky and spicy body with a slightly rough finish.

Bottle. Sweet chocolate aroma, lots of roast and a hint of mocha, with some nice porterish dark chocolate and spritely, somewhat spicy hoppish hints. Black pour with a lovely, creamy, rocky light brown head. Dry, lightly bitter taste, roast and chocolate with just a touch of sweetish citric hops darting about. Not quite nutty, but there does seem to bit just a bit of (juniper? spruce?). Lightish body seems a bit watery at times but does not want for potency; dark and musky, almost smoky finish. Smooth feel with slight too-ripe fruit. Soft and gentle with a not-exactly complimentary spice, a little rubber with well-hidden alcohol. A winner.