Nøgne Ø # 100 (Batch 100)

Lavender-like perfumey chocolate shoots are accompanied by a bark-like exterior and a bitter finish which sinks itself into the malty mist. I can see how this is a "barley-wine style" with the chocolate malt presence and the slight alcoholic kick. But it seems like a barley wine/DIPA hybrid with the various complexities. Whichever style one wants to label it, it makes for an enjoyable beer if one can tolerate excess. The palate could be a bit more refined at the beginning instead of just the end.

Bottle. The label reads "Barley Wine- Style Ale". Pours black with a tan head. Sweet malt aroma but there’s a ton of hops in there! Chocolate malt flavors; burnt sugars, dark fruits, caramel and bready notes. Very bitter. I was pretty sure this was listed under the wrong style when i logged on to rate it but I’ve always argued that Bigfoot was an IIPA so this fits into that category.

Double IPA? No, I don’t think so. More like weird barleywine. The pour is a cloudy, dark cola brown color. A frothy, creamy, light tan colored head leaves behind thick sheets of lacing. If nothing else, this brew is very nice to look at. The aroma is a perfumey bouquet of chocolate and nougat malts with a heavy dose of spicy, floral hops and moderate alcoholic notes. The flavor starts out wit bittersweet chocolate, followed by sweet nougat and burnt caramel. Overly ripened figs and other dark fruits play a prominent role as well, adding sweetness and a natural, earthy component. A lingering, bitter finish clings to the tongue and won’t let go. The body is medium-full and syrupy, lightly coating the mouth with a sugary residue. This is a strange brew that feels like its past its prime, though its still very young for a berleywine. I would advise to drink this one fresh, and perhaps lower your expectations a bit.

Pours a dark brown with a large khaki head, creamy and long lasting. Aroma is dominated by the hops, and they are very citrusy, floral, and somehow dark. A little roast, lightly charred grass, chocolate, cinnemon, and a small amount of dough. Taste attacks pretty strongly with a hop presence that is floral, grapefruity, and almost has dark raspberry quality. A bit of caramel, dark chocolate, coffee, and a sort of stinging licorice flavor. Any sweetness is overtaken by hops are comes off pretty bitter. Finishes with a bitter grapefruity flavor an earthy charred aftertaste. The bitterness is plain and doesn’t really have much flavor. Full bodied for sure, well carbonated, very drinkable still, and a bit hot (makes the hops seem even stronger). This isn’t as strong as Old Crustacean, but it’s in that ballpark. Will it age as nicely? Thanks to my Secret Santa for this bottle!

Nearly black, moderate head, decent lacing and retention. Aroma is chocolate, caramel, moderate hops. Medium bodied, fairly sweet. ABSOLUTELY no an IIPA, definitely a BW like the label says. Flavors weren’t special, but pretty good balance. Went great with bread and cheese.

Courtesy of Degarth. Thanks for opening this beer that was on my wants list. Pours deep brown with lasting tan head. The aroma is hoppy and earthy. Underneath that is an upwelling of sweet caramel candy. The taste begins with a pulse of pine, grass and earthy hop bitterness. Behind the hops is a caramel-y sweet river of goodness that is nearly hidden by the hops. Wow, nice thick mouth feel too. Taste similar to a lot of Am. Strong Ales I’ve had. The ABV is only moderately apparent and not at all distracting.

This is an interesting bottle to drink: it survived a bad car crash with me. Well, about half of it did; presumably, the rest seeped through a small space under the otherwise still-secured cap. So, perhaps not a fair rating, but if any beer is going to hold up to the strain, it’d be a Barley Wine. Still has an absolutely delicious hoppy nose, one FFF would enjoy, huge fruity and citric C hops [turns out to be Columbus, Chinook, and Centennial] with big meaty caramel and a touch of cereal grain. A bit more exotic than, but in the same class as a Dreadnaught. Dark mahogany pour is near-opaque, with a rocky, tiny-bubbled light brown head. Medium body, strongly bitter but not overpowering, drenched in hops and leaving a smooth, dry and very hoppy aftertaste. Very natural, organic, sticky hop flavor. Has some of the tones of a Big Burly Resin Monster [which I should copyright], but none of the grit or depression. Alcohol is well-integrated until the end, when things get a bit fumy. Much smoother and classier than is usual with the style, especially moreso than a lot of big double IPAs, but may have needed a few days of inadvertent exposure to air to get to this point. As it is, fantastic Barleywine!

Thin tan head on a dark reddish body. This beer gives an impression of warmth and is very well suited for enjoying in long Winter nights.