Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

Very dark brown. Nice nose - chocolate, toffee, smoked plum. The flavour is full, toffeeish, slightly smoky. Bitter finish. One of the best Nognes I’ve had.

Bottled. Dark color, short head. Aroma of roasted malt, licorice, some dried fruit, bit caramel, toffee, hint of chocolat. Bit dryish licorice taste, lots of roasted malts. Very nice stuff.

Bottle from Port Carlsbad bottle shop: Started foaming over as soon as I poped the cap. Jet black with an initial medium, but fast fadeing light brown head. Aroma is dark chocolate with a hint of licorice. Flavor starts black coffee followed by dark chocolate, licorice and nuts with a light dry, lightly hoppy finish. Medium body is rich and creamy with moderate-lively carbonation.

A mild gusher. So a few quick sips/slurps prior to getting to my glass. Very Dark brown, with little light passing through even at the edges. Tall, somewhat expected, head that is quite stable and has a light cocoa froth appearance. Decent lace. The bubbles look quite large at the base of the head, but are quite small when forming the lace. Dark chocolate, molasses and sorghum, dates, orange zest and a touch of peat in the aromas. LIghter feel with all the effervescence. With the pre sips and consequential sips this is a true winter ale. Lightly roasty with chocolate, dark caramel, cashews and heavy syrup. Some mild spice with a touch of mace and cardamom. A nice balance, easy drinking, stronger ale.

This was a real treat after getting past one heck of a gusher bottle. Pours very dark brown with a sturdy tan head. The aroma has heavily roasted malt, coffee-esque bitterness that is very dark and dry, brown sugar traits offering some sweetness as well as some molasses. This comes across as a jacked up american brown ale. Medium / full body that’s smooth with semi-soft carbonation. The flavor starts of like the aroma and is very full, rich and lush with the flavors. The finish has lots of spice (mainly pepper and cinnamon) and a clean roastiness. A very well done beer that I’d get a lot more often if the price was a bit lower.

(50cl bottle) Medium head atop an opaque brown-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, raisin, roast, some chocolate, light candied orange. Taste is sweet, chocolate, roast/coffee, raisin, some candied orange. Creamy medium-full body, some stickiness.

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.

(12oz bottle) Sampled at the Post-Great Canadian Beer Festival 2007 in Victoria on September 8th, 2007. From a trade with Ungsmash. Strong cocoa, coffee. Licorice and soy flavour with a malty base. Short finish. Interesting.