Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

16.9 oz bottle. Dark brown with an oatmeal head. Vinous, woody morels. Molasses, cinnamon and mace. Taste is French Roast coffee and plum pudding. Medium body, light carb. Licorice finish with restrained bitterness.

Bottle at Akkurat, Stockholm, 15th Feb 2010. Very dark brown colour, tan head. Rich, sweet taste of dark fruits, wood and jam. Nose is similar. Palate is very clean. Has weight without excessive clinginess or stickiness. Lingers in the mouth just right. Great winter ale.

Ha! I guessed it would be classed under American Strong Ale at first whiff, and I was right! Hooray for me! Duh. Anyway, big complex aroma that features quite a bit of malt and hops, Chocolate, nuts (toasted almonds, pecan pie), some roasted malt, and resiny grapefruit hops that are a touch sweaty. I like how they are definitely present but do not overpower the rich malt aromas. Creamy smooth palate, with a roasted chocolately nutty flavor, with only mild sweetness balanced by a mild resiny hop component at the edges, all leading into a semi-dry smoky, ashy finish. Wonderful. Dark reddish brown appearance, thin head.

Draught at Galbraiths Alehouse (Auckland, NZ). I really didn’t do this justice, being a bit far into the night. But the palate was noticeably smooth and chocolate prominent.

Bottle @ at home. Pours a very dark brown with a beige head. Smells of clove and alcohol. Sweet with aromas of alcohol and cloves. As it ages in the glass you notice aromas of hard roasted malts and tiny ashy hints. Medium to full bodied. Medium carbonation. Dry finish with somer clover and a hint of alcohol.

Bottle @ home shared with DutchDrebus. Very dark brown, almost black color. Smell caramel, malts and some spices. Nice taste of roasted malts, fruits. Nice carbonation and full body.

Quite tasty, the flavors of dark malts, caramel and toasty light piney hops. the feel seem to of all good for good drinking.

Pours pitch black with a small bubbly beige head leaving lace.  Aroma is raisins, malty, sweet, toasted, fruity. Flavor is bitter, a bit sweet, roasted, fruity, spicy, phenolic and a bit acidy.   Finishes bitter, sweet and malty.