Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

500ml bottle. Pours a sinfully dark black body with big, thick brown head that paints the glass with lace on the way down. Rich roasted malt aroma; plenty of coffee, dark chocolate, roasted nuts and toffee, supported by hop aromas of grapefruit, bitter orange and pine. Hints of dark fruits and raisin also in the mix. Big mouthfeel, hugely lengthy with an excellent balance of drying bitterness and rich sweet malt. Moderate carbonation works well. I’d best describe the flavour as somewhere between an Imperial Porter and American IPA. Lots of roasted malt, toffee is quite prominant, with meaty undertones malt and bitter chocolate, mixed in with bitter orange, grass, cedar hop flavours. Notes of dried fruit come forth with warmth as the beer finishes slightly bitter, quite warming, with a lingering note of strong coffee. Really nice beer. Wasn’t sure entirely what to expect, but I was very happy what with it. Not entirely sure what this "American strong ale" catagory entails, but i’m liking the beers i’ve tried thus far.

Pours almost black with a smallish, dissipating head. Aroma is atypical of an ASA, more like a porter; coffee, cream, chocolate, caramel- lots of malt, not much hop present. Tastes much like a porter, but slightly more fruitiness and alcohol, and not as overwhelming with the caramel aspect. Palate is very smooth ,very well done. Very good beer.

Pours dark brown with a nice big dark tan head. Aroma of caramel, roasted malt, chocolate. Taste is mostly the same with a very clean taste and a bit of a bite in the finish. Good stuff.

Pours an Opaque brown colour with a small tan head. Aroma of caramel malts, chocolate, dark malts and hints of floral hops and copper. Initial taste is roasty, caramel, dark chocolate and slight bitter hops. Finishing with a a chocolate palate that is above average. Mouthfeel is slight sticky with a soft carbonation. Minor head retention of just a light ring around the glass.

Bottle, named Winter Ale, thanks to WeeHeavySD for sharing. Pours a clear, dark amber-brown with a tan ring. Rich, sweet and sharp aroma, of toasted malt and alcohol. Sweet, crisp taste, of toasted malt and molasses, with a hint of bitterness and wood. Lingering sweet toast flavors. Very tasty.

Bottle from the Bier Stein in Eugene, OR. Got a ton of coffee flavor backed with a little spicy and some cocoa flavor. I was quite impressed with this brew.

Deep, rich color. Roasted flavors dominate with wisps of bitter chocolate on the finish. Nice winter ale, albeit atypical for a Scandanavian brewery.

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.