Nøgne Ø # 100 (Batch 100)

Brewed by Nøgne Ø
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Grimstad, Norway

Decent head retention, powerful lacing, and a tawny, opaque hue. A nose of slightly aged hops (would’ve been better fresh). Caramel malt and some fruity phenols. Mouth feel is slightly thin, but flavor profile is rocketsauce. Undeniably smooth for 10% ABV.

Bottle, pours dark brown with a huge frothy head. Aroma isfruity with plum and sherry wine notes, it is also doughy. A much dryer taste than expected from the aroma and color. I probably would not of bought it if it said IIPA on the bottle, but it is a smooth one especially as the beer warms. This beer also has imperial stout characteristics with its dry roasted malt taste. Alcohol is slightly noticeable and the character of the yeast is a nice subtle complement. I enjoy the sweet, vinous taste before the hops take over, although the hops are nice.

Bottle. Heavy malt aromas of dark bread, cereal, toasted and molasses, moderate resin for the hops, light dough for the yeast, with hints of cherry, alcohol, dark dried fruits and faint spice. Head is small, creamy with some larger bubbles, off-white to light brown in color, with good lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is very dark brown. Flavor is moderately sweet and lightly acidic to start and the long finish is light sweet and acidic and moderately to heevily bitter. Palate is medium to full, oily almost syrupy, and has a lively carbonation. It finishes moderately alcoholic. A great, complex beer with attributes of a Barley Wine, a DIPA and an American Strong.

Pours cloudy light brown. With a one finger beige head. Light hops, caramel, cheesy funk in the nose. Flavor is smooth, bitter hop, roasty malts, licorice, and a bit of chocolate. Well balanced and very enjoyable.

Bottle on 11/30/2008 at the 3rd Annual Richmond Industry Gathering. Cloudy dark amber body with a thin creamy off-white head. Big citrus and floral hop aroma with some light caramel. Huge citrus and resiny hop flavor with a caramel background. Medium full body with moderate carbonation and a syrupy finish.

<i>0.5 l bottle from Bieropholie, served at cellar temperature in a tulip glass. DE09/08. Batch 348, BB 270313.</i>

<b>App.</b>: Very deep copper/brown with a smallish tan head. <b>Aroma</b>: Lots of ginger and spices (what???), some pine, some alcohol, wood and nuttiness, some dark molasses, caramel and toffee, bitter orange, alcohol, light chocolate. <b>Palate</b>: Medium body and moderate to soft carbonation. <b>Flav.</b>: Still tons of spices, lead be ginger, then allspice and cinnamon, maybe cardamom(?), light chocolate and some other malts; somewhat sweet and quite bitter.

I very strongly suspect that this is Underlig Jul, NOT 100. This is so wrong for an IIPA that I would even put money on it...how curious.
As #100: 4-3-4-3-6
As Underlig Jul: 6-3-6-3-11

Crushed with CaryTheDude and some other guy watched. Very dark brown pour with a creamy off white head. Woah. Big, hoppy, fruity aroma. A bit of cheese there too. Lots of sweetness. Flavor is hoppy, chocolatey, some tobacco. Really incredible brew, glad I got to share it with theDude.

a lot of nice and sweet liquorice. just slightly too bitter. lovely, brings water to mouth