Nøgne Ø # 100 (Batch 100)

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

Looks like a b-wine not an IIPA, dark ruby-brown, opaque. Thick creamy tan head. Nicely balanced sweet malt- pungent hop aroma. Flavor is very IIPAish. Hops dominate, malts are there as a vehicle of bitterness. Not bad but very pedestrian in a very competitive category.

Batch 167, Best for 15 07 11, I am guessing this is a 16.9oz bottle (it’s bigger than a 12oz, and smaller than a bomber). Pours a hazy orangeish red--quite dark for an IIPA--with a 1 1/2 finger light beige creamy head. Aroma of some citrus and earthy hops, some toasty and sweet malts, alcohol, and even a slight bit of vanilla(?). The taste up front is quite astringent, and I must say that just about all I taste is hops, though there is some toastyness in there as well. Maybe even a little raisiny vinous characteristics. Bone dry finish with some lingering bitterness. The alcohol is just a little too strong with this guy. The body is surprisingly light and smooth with light to moderate carbonation. Thank you from henrikb for this one.

Thanks to doclock for this extra. Pours a surprisingly dark brew, practically black in the glass. The head is one to two fingers, creamy, and light tan. The nose is upfront sweet, resiny hops, citrusy, alcohol, . The flavor is a good hop malt balance, leaning more towards an upfront citrusy waxy hop feel, alcohol is there for sure, some caramel.

Bottle. Pours a cloudy dark brown with a creamy tan head. Sweet aroma of citrus and floral hops, caramel, chocolate, pine, and notes of raisins. Flavor is smooth and creamy with caramel, pine, toasted malts, chocolate, and a hint of brown sugar. A unique and decent brew.

0.5 L. Two-finger head that lasts atop this nearly opaque, nearly chocolate brew. Aroma is chocolate, caramel, earthy orange. Flavor is the same plus lots more: resin, coffee, toasted oak, char, peppery green herb, slight peaty smoke. Heavy body is smooth, dryish and tingly. Tastes similar to Bigfoot. BW, or DIPA? Who cares? This is damn good! Update: have bought several of these half liters. Expensive, but better and better; one of my all time favorites!

Bottle sampled with Mad_Indian. Pours brown with amber edges and a large tan head. Aroma of caramel, fruit, black malt, and piney hops. The flavor is sweet upfront, caramel, fruit, and a piney bitter finish. Good body, exceptional brew.

500ml Bottle. Re-rated after tasting quite a few bottles of this beer during the last years. I’m keeping the same point as first time rated, but modifying my comments. First time I used the term “in many ways extreme” and “surprisingly harmonic”. Compared with several famous American beers in the same category it is not extreme at all. It’s just a bloody well made Imperial IPA with 80 lovely IBU. The cascade and citrus aroma is exploding in your mouth in a very pleasant way. The balance between bitterness, malty sweetness and alcohol is a perfect miracle. When we know how many top beers this little Norwegian brewery are capable to make, I will not call it surprisingly harmonic anymore. This is just one of their best beers, and of course among some of the best Imperial IPA’s money can buy. If you are a hophead and accepting the hop level that grow breast and attacks your amalgam fillings in you’re teethes this is not the beer. This is a good beer.

SpringsLicker’s Fish Fry. Sample from a bottle shared by me thanks to nearbeer. Brown body with an off white/tan head. Aroma of raisins, sweet malts, floral hops. Taste is caramel, raisins, and a grassy finish.