Nøgne Ø Porter

Brewed by Nøgne Ø
Style: Porter
Grimstad, Norway

Bottle. First thing is that as I pop the cap there is a fizzy whoosh, but then nothing good or bad really comes of it... flavor is fine, floor isn’t covered in foam, nothing. Anyhow, pour is a dark brown with only about a half inch of head... in spite of the aforementioned sound. Aromas are light chocolate and dark fruit, but fairly faint. Flavor is heavily cocoa with some dark malt. That said, things don’t fully blossom as it is kind of unidimensiona.

1/2 litre bottle courtesy of and shared with Maniac. Black with a medium tan head. Big roast malt aroma with some coffee, raisin and molases. Roast malts dominate flavor with some raisin, coffee, and earthy hops and a moderate astringency. Finish is dry with a bit of lingering bitterness. Excellent.

Dark brown body with light ruby highlights, and a large creamy tan head. Chocolate and roasted malt aroma with some caramel hints. Big roasted malt flavor with chocolate notes and more faint caramel and light molassas and a reasonable bitter finish. Medium body with moderate carbonation and a smooth chocolately finish.

Black beer. Thick brown head. Roasted malt nose with a hint of chocolate. Chocolate taste up front. Huge building roast flavour. Sharp aluminum chocolate finish.

Bottle - I found this beer to be quite nice. Bready/raisin aroma with chocolate malt, burnt coffee and raisin flavor.

500 ml bottle. Deep dark brown, creamy beige head. Roasted malts, dark chocolate and coffee in the aroma. Flavour is coffee, dark fruits, nuts and roasted malts. Ashy, a bit smoky aftertaste. An excellent porter.

16.9 oz. into pint glass. Pitch black pour with great creamy espresso, long-lasting head with very nice cascade effect as head and body settle into each other. Typical porter/stout aromas - coffee, molasses, milk chocolate, etc. - with a sweet vanilla undertone; very well rounded and complex and delicious aroma. Flavor is rich and full with all aromas included, most notably chocolate. Very soft and smooth on taste buds (like on palate) with no rough or offensive edges. Overall: one of the best porters I have ever had; not watery on palate like many other non-imperial porters (some ratings disagree though).

Lots and lots of raisin flavors, stewed fruit make this a much heavier beer that I expected. I have never really loved the raisin and prune characteristics of dark malts and can’t say that this beer has turned me on to them.