Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

Bottled as the Winter Ale. Pours a nearly opaque black with a thin, slightly tan head. Looks more like a heavy porter than an Imperial stout or American Strong Ale but it may take a trained eye to tell. Smells of dark roasted malts, nuts, licorice and chocolate. Flavor is similar, heavy on the chocolate and coffee with hints of toasted nuts on the back end. Finish is a balanced bitterness of hops and roasted coffee but also a little watery and drinkable. As always with the Nogne-O beers there is something murky and dangerous lurking in the nose and flavor. Must be that scary Grimstad water. Overall, very drinkable for a beer with 8.5% alcohol.

500ml bottle. Pours dark brown in color with full foamy brown head. Aroma roasted coffee, caramel and chocolate. Taste dark choclate, roasted coffee and hops with bitter finish.

Poured from a 500ml bottle labeled as Winter Ale and served in a snifter. This beer poured muddy dark brown with some caramel highlights and a thick, lasting cap of tan foam. Excellent lacing. Looks delicious sitting in the snifter. The aroma consisted of cocoa, raisins, plums, and some light hoppy citrus notes. The flavor was rich and malty and included caramel, chocolate, pine, oranges, and also some dark fruits. Tons of flavor going on here. Layered and complex. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and had a moderate amount of aggressive carbonation. Malty and full of American hops. A well executed winter warmer.

Bottle (labeled "Winter Ale"). Pored a deep dark black-brown with a disappearing cream head. The dark color was surprising for a Christmas Ale (not as much if you read the description). Nose is cinnamon, chocolate, caramel, and hops. Wonderful smell as your nose pages through the tones. Flavors of caramel and malts. Mouth is a little thin and flat. Over all an above average holiday beer. Perhaps the flavors would of been a little better fresher.

Bottle. Pored a dark brown, opaque with a moderate tan head. Nice full malty aroma with a nice blend of spicy and fruity sweetness. Rich and creamy in the mouth tastes of caramel, and a raost character. Bitterness is subdued. Almost oily feeling in the mouth, but quite nice - very rich all around.

Lots of caramel malts and some chocolate.Pours black with a big tan head.Roasted malt and alcohol in the flavor.Medium mouthfeel with a bunch of roasted malt in the finish.

Pours dark with a tan head, lots of head. Goes down very smooth with a ton of flavor. Lots of caramel and malts! Excellent brew.

Bottle via trade with The_Epeeist, thanks Chris! Pours a dark ruby/mahogony color eith a smallish tan colored head. Aroma is fruity, caramel, soem chocolate. Flavor is is dried fruit, sweet fruit, rasins, figs, caramel, toffee, coffee, chocolate. Palate is full bodied,, medium carbonation, finishes sweet and sticky. This is my first Nogne, and there will be many more for sure. This was a spectacular brew, with a rainbow of flavors, brilliant silky texture, and an punch of alcohol warmth. I drink it any day of the year.