Nøgne Ø # 100 (Batch 100)

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

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.

Dark reddish-brown body with a very thin tan head around the sides of the snifter. Pleasantly bitter, hoppy aroma with a slightly malty essence. The hoppiness abounds in the flavor. Bitterness galore. The alcohol is quite a punch. I wonder if it will mellow with age, but now its a little much for me. Promises lots of goodness.

Dark ruby red beer, with a dense tan head - aroma of fig, caramel, brown sugar, raisins, and spices, all with a constant undercurrent of earthy hops - the same could be said of the flavor - it’s got a constant hop presence which is rather strong, but still remains subordinate to the other flavors (raisins, rolled oats, molasses, caramel, faint wheaty tanginess) - the bitter and tangy qualities linger in the finish - quite a nice brew.

an IPA? Somce confusion abounds here, as the bottle says barleywine. Smells like raisins and alcohol. A tasty beer, with many characters, including a good dose fo caramel. Sweet and strong and excellent.