Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter

Brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Örebro, Sweden

2005 vintage generously shared by cquiroga on 2/8/07: Pours an oily viscous opaque with mahogany edges and a thin ring of light brown head that almost turns the glass brown. Has an amazing, big, complex dark fruity plum and raisin nose with lots of floral dark honey, some tobacco, and sweet caramel malt with good oaky vanilla bourbon notes throughout. Body starts with a healthy dose of sweet dark caramel malt softly melding into bourbon toffee sprinkled with tobacco and dark chocolate with some bitter roasty notes toward the finish. Has nice brown sugar and raisin flavors as well. Nicely-balanced throughout and very drinkable, especially given the intense complexity. Slightly sweeter and more viscous than the 2004 vintage regular version. A great beer, very deserving of its ratings. Thanks again to cquiroga for sharing!

Thanks to BrianK for sharing. Pours a deep dark black velvet with metallicy bronze hints as the light hits it with a shimmering deep brown head which lasts very well and has nice lace. Aroma is oak and vanilla upfrotn but not in your face or over teh top buttery like some others- more clean and refined than most BA beers, light bourbon and caramel as well whcih mix well with the deep dark chocolate malts, and fruity fig-like esters- hints of espresso, vanilla dn a bit of licorice as well.. Flavor is also loaded up with big sweet chocolate malts, more bourbon and oak, more vanilla ( almost a Charleston Chew candy like character) on the flavor turns more to licorice, leather then a nice earthiness (burlap sack and cedar cigar box) along with more coffee and roast in the end with a perfect bitterness. Smooth slightly oily palate with lingering caramelized reduction of brown sugar and port. Awesome!

Bottle of the 2005 version at Akkurat in October 2007. The head is brown, dissipates fast but laces a bit. Caramel, alcohol and very dark, bready malts on the aroma. Smoky caramel and dark, dark smooth malts in the flavour. Incredibly smooth and full it reminds me of an LBV port but with less fruitiness, of course. As I got further into it I noticed more oak and black(?) bread. It’s a beer to be enjoyed slowly for sure. I split the (small) bottle with my heterosexual life partner who was probably even more impressed then I with this remarkably crafted beer. I’m hard pressed to remember a more complex beer than this one. There are endless layer and each sip is a journey. It’s not my favourite of the style (I’m not sure what beer is anyway) but it displays such craft and shows what can be done with "mere" malts and hops.

(2006 bottle, at Konttori Tampere) Almost black colored, slight red colored. Little brown head. So, this is it. Aroma is excellently deep one: oaky-vanilla is dominating here, roastiness with nice hopped tone and licorice also here. Mild alcohol noticable too. Full bodied. Flavor is even better: same vanilla-oaks dominating in start, also licorice and chocolate here. Aftertaste is finely balancing with strong hops and dryness, vanilla lasts until I’m home. Alcohol covered in flavor totally. So, this was it.

Bottle, thanks to Jeppe the Bierkönig from Ølbutikken. A black beer with a small brown head. The aroma is roastet and og corn in the good way, also wood, alcohol, vanilla, chocolate and coffee. The taste is the same but warming from the alcohol. Medium to full body with a dry warming finish.

Thanks to everyone involved in allowing me to sample this fine brew - 2006 bottle - Aroma is very strong oak, vanilla and roasted chocolate malts. Pours black with a small brown head that reappeared upon swirling and left good lacing. Flavor is so delicious. Smooth clean vanilla, oak and dark chocolate blend together perfectly. Alcohol is well hidden. The palate is so soft and smooth for such a strong and flavorful brew. I honestly didn’t want to be my top rated beer, but there is no denying the quality and greatness of this beverage. One word can describe it, amazing.

Bottle at RBESG 2006. Black coloured with a small beige head. Roasted aroma of wood and vanilla. Roasted flavour of wood, chocolate and vanilla.

[bottle tap at EBF 2008] Smooth butterscotchy aroma with sweet molasses and honey. Plenty of oak that is balanced by toasty malt. Opaque dark red-brown with a wispy light brown top. Heavenly oak balanced by lots of chocolate and toast. Bubblegum dark malt as well with nutty toasty biscuit. Full body, moderate carbonation, smooth. Complex yet excellently balanced.