Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter

2008 edition on tap at 1st BBF at De Molen. Beer poured a black hole color with a beige head, medium thickness. The aroma was malty, a bit cocoa and wood notes. Taste is intense and exceptional. Vanilla, dried fruits and coffee, wood.

Tap @ 1ste Borefts. A black colored beer, with a thick dark beige head. The aroma of dark roasted malts, some hints of wood. There are fruits and chocolate. The taste of chocolate with notes of wood. A little sweet with bitterness. Flavors of coffee. A touch of alcohol in the back. The aftertaste of dark chocolate with a nice bitterness. A very great beer.

On tap at Borefts Bier Festival, De Molen, 2008 edition. Black colour, thin brown head. Aroma of whisky, wood, liquorice root, roasted malts. Flavour is sweet, whisky, roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, liquorice root in the finish. Soft and fullbodied and yes, very good.

Many thanks to StFun for sharing this most sought after brew and tjthresh for hosting this last moment tasting, 2007 version:

Opaque with oily tears, a bit more carbonation than the "regular" Stormaktsporter. The aroma has note of cavendish pipe tobacco, vanilla, liquorice, plum, fig, espresso, wood, and a hint of peat moss. The taste is dark fruit and rich tobacco with a surprising touch of sourness, Smoky and peaty undertones before the coffee bitterness. A constant mocha and vanilla vein runs throughout the brew. The mouth feel is a tad thinner than the "regular" version but a bit more carbonation makes up for it. Big fruity and twangy tones with a hint of wild funk makes it more complex than the non-Kaggen version but at the same time it is slightly less wonderful. Still I would love another chance to taste this again.

Think of this comparison... a great steak is a great steak, I am comparing grade A prime Filet Mignon to grade A prime Porterhouse. Both are wonderful and worthy of the praise.

This has been on my wantlist for years. I had the luck to try the 2007 and 2008 Kaggen on draft at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky fest, alongside draft Stormaktsporter from 2008 and 2007, and bottled Stormaktsporter from 2006. The 2007 Kaggen was my favorite of the bunch, it was a bit better rounded than the 2008.

Pours very deep brown, nearly opaque, capped with a thin brown head. Beautiful lacing. Aroma of dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, oak and perhaps a bit of honey. Flavor begins with roasted chocolate malt, coffee, licorice, and molasses, with oak and charcoal in the background. Hop bitterness builds a bit towards the finish, and remain on the palate along with dark chocolate. Some alcohol in the finish as well. The body is a bit thinner than I expected. I’m glad I finally got to try this; especially in the vertical/horizontal with the Stormaktsporter. I enjoyed this and wouldn’t pass it up if I encountered it again.

Last time I drunk Kaggen was in March 2009. Fantastic beer! Very, very nice and incredibly balanced. I love the deep black and very thick liquid. Aroma is fantastic. Its love in the bottle.

Black of color with a small beige head. An aroma of liqurie and honey - too much of honey. A flavor of roasted malt, liqurice, oily and dry.

Bottle, 2007. My first rating. Small head. Pours very dark. This beer is incredibly well balanced. You can smell the touch of honey, and taste it too. Every zip is pure enjoyment. Probably the best beer I have ever tried.