Bottle. RBESG -05. Hazy grey-yellow with yeast sediment. Big spicy hop aroma. Loads of grassiness in flavour with a chocolatey undertone. Nice dry bitter finish.

Bottled. (2005) In Norway there’s a strong tradition to go skiing in the mountains during winter-time, and in the Easter especially. I remembered from last Easter, when Nøgne Ø’s God Påske was launched, that it reminded me of the times I spent Easter In Hovden, at the top of beautiful Setesdal valley. The sun was shining from a cloudless blue sky, and I was sitting back in a sofa made of snow, facing the sun and just relaxing. Maybe a fire was on and we had sausages in it, always roasting them for too long or too short time. Oranges were peeled and eaten, hot chocolate were drunk, and life was good. Today was such a day here in Krisitansand, except that I didn’t have a fire in my garden, and I didn’t bother with the orange, but it was a good time for enjoying, and finally rating, my last God Påske. Had to share it with my girlfriend though, as she really likes this beer, but I can live with that. It has a orange-golden slightly hazy color, a lively carbonation and a small diminishing white head. A good deal of sediments had settled in the bottle, but did not come in to the glass unless shaken. Aroma is quite fruity, with citrus and pineapple, and some pines from the hops. Flavor has the same fruity, citrus flavor, with pronounced hops. Nice bitter finish, but maybe a little too watery mouthfeel. Refreshing beer that goes well in the summertime too. This is probably more a bitter with wheat in it, than a wheat-beer with a twist, but I really enjoy it, hoping that it will be brewed this year too. (060129)

Beautiful amber beer. Rich malty aroma. Brewed with some wheat malt, which I believe brings some roundness. Full malt flavour, flowery hops and a fine sligtly bitter finish. Another great brew fron Nøgne ø!

2004 bottle. Clear deep golden to light amber colored body with soft carbonation. Low beige head. Beautiful complex fruit aroma; dates, raisins and sweet citrus is detected. Notes of grassy and floral hops, mild spices and caramel. Taste is semi-dry, full malty and well rounded. Also fruity flavors with a gently bitter undertone. Good body. Mild bitterness in a long finish. A near perfectly balanced and harmonious beer. Nice all over. Thanks Yngwie!

Rerate 13. April 2005: I deliberately avoided pouring the yeast in this time, beer is clear deep golden, like a bitter or an IPA. Flavour is more balanced, still a substantial bitterness but not unpleasant. Very little wheat character, in a blind test I’d say this was a decent IPA or possibly an ESB. Original rating: 500 ml, bottle conditioned. Batch #128. The brewers say this beer should be drunk on Easter Day and not during Lent. I’d better re-rate shortly after Easter - maybe they mean that the beer is too fresh now? Anyway, I HAD too try it now, once it was for sale - and our crazy Danish friends even beat me to it! The beer has a hazy golden, nearly orange colour. Initially large head, doesn’t last to the end. Lovely hoppy aroma with hints of citrus, honey and leather. Flavour is very bitter from start to finish (loads of hops and coriander, peppery mouthfeel) , while the beer otherwise is light bodied like a wheat beer should be. This means that the hops and spices are overdone here, and the subtleties of a wheat beer do not survive. Those who love American IPAs might like it, but to me this is my least favourite Nøgne Ø beer so far.