Nøgne Ø God Jul

Brewed by Nøgne Ø
Style: American Strong Ale
Grimstad, Norway

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

Big, creamy, off-white head; black opaque body going brownish round the edges. Subdued sweetish toffee aroma with hints of chocolate, coffee, and citrusy hops. Deep, sweet coffee taste, well rounded, ending in a nicely rounded dry, roasty aftertaste. Strong notes of citrusy hops run underneath the taste from start to finish, and is a nice contribution. Taste not that powerful, but deep and lovely. An excellent Christmas beer.

500 ml bottle from Cellars Wine and Spirits on Larpenteur, Roseville MN (June 2007), drunk at cellar temperature from a Chouffe tulip. A huge, lasting caramel-crème head tops the darkly translucent molasses body, lacing thickly as it gently drops….spicy-bready aroma, wonderfully “Christmasy” with caramel, molasses and hints of nutmeg, dark bready yeast….the body is very full, moderately sweet, rather yeasty, very Belgian dubbel-esque with bready, caramelly malt characteristics, little in the way of hops, a hint of orangepeel….lightly tart towards the finish, low to moderate carbonation; this is excellent.

Packed with flavour, well balanced between the sweet and the dry finish. The alcohol is a bit too evident to give a higher rating. Nice roasted/burnt malt in the aroma.

500 ml bottle from Pizza Port. Dark brown with a fizzy tan head. Chocolate and spice aroma and taste with some nice vanilla and caramel notes to the finish.

Poured a clear very dark brown color with a medium sized tan head. The aroma was sweet and malty with a medium amount of roast. Light spiciness and chocolate on the finish. A hint of fruitiness. Sweet roasty malt flavor. Some fruits and light spice. Notes of licorice and ginger with some sweet chocolate. Bitter semi-dry finish. Nice warmth.

500. Pours a dark, nearly opaque blackish brown with very faint caramel highlights at the corners. Thick, dense, creamy tan head with dense lacing coming down the sides of the glass. Big burnt-toast nose, along with some mint, brown bread, spruce, and roastiness. Rather strange. This is what I get for starting the night with a pilsner and not changing the glass even when the styles wander far from it--concentrated and somewhat confusing aromas. Very creamy, medium body, with firm but restrained carb. Earthy, roasty, toasty, sprucey, slightly nutty mid-palate. Spicy, slightly sticky finish.

Bottle, labeled ’Winter Ale’. Pours a very dark brown, practically black, with a large mostly-lasting tan head -- nice! Slightly mild aroma of caramel malt, a little roasty, with chocolate, some sweetness and a hint of alcohol. Flavour of caramel malt, nuts, chocolate and a good amount of hops. Tastes better and better the further you get through it and it warms. Alcohol’s well hidden. Medium bodied. What a great beer, Nogne haven’t disappointed me yet.

Bottle. Very dark hazy brown, dense velvety light brown head. Spicy dark caramel and cream aroma with a little coffee-- very enticing. Dark caramel, toast, subtle fruity yeast with some mild coffee bitterness in the finish. Beautifully balanced, delicious. A real treat!