Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

CTP, Philly 6oz ($8): Yes, this was expensive, but wonderfully worth it. Pours a blackish color with a nice creamy beige head. Aroma is wonderfully smoky, chocolatey, and hoppy. Taste is similar. The smoke is in exactly the right proportion to everything else. It is really a beer without a style. Beautiful aftertaste. Perfect balance. Good alcohol coverage. Mildly hoppy. Excellent.

Bottle. Heavy malt aromas of toasted and dark chocolate, moderate resin for the hops, light dough for the yeast, with background notes of toffee, butter, smoke and a hint of anise. Head is large, frothy, light brown, with some slippery lacing and good legs, and is mostly lasting. Color is murky, very dark brown. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes lightly sweet and acidic and moderately bitter. Palate is medium to full, oily/creamy, with a soft carbonation. Great flavors and aromas, and in perfect balance. This well stacked American Strong Ale is worth every penny.

Bottle, batche #300 and #301. An excellent christmas beer. #300 seemed a bit more fizzy to mee, but nevertheless excellent...

Nearly foamed over after uncapping despite being well-chilled, poured a frothy cocoa-tinted massive head over near opaque body with rusty highlights. On the nose a pleasant mix of fruity wheat cherries and musty caramel, hinted oakiness; a deliciously smooth melange on the palate, starting off full bodied with cocoa, dark berries, flowing nicely into tobacco and wooden, tingly hops. A delicious winter beer, and another impressive release from Nøgne.

Dark and stout like in flavor. Honey and smoke on the nose. Mouthfeel creamy and thick, and delicious.

Head is creamy and beige. Color is very dark brown, almost black. Aromas are salty liquorice, roasted malts, lots of hops. Roasty malty flavor with chokolate, liquorice and nicely hoppy. Alcohol can be felt but it doesn’t taste at all. Full-bodied, smooth and sticky palate.

Bottle, 2009 vintage. Very dark with a nice beige head that leaves lots of lacing. Rich aroma that manages to pack in everything from chocolate to smoked ham without falling apart. The taste is equally rich; bitter, sweet, salty and even a little sour. A marvelous way to end a Christmas eve.

Glad that this came after Peculiar at my holiday tasting, as this is certainly the more superior beer. Pours charcoal black with an inviting brown head. Loaded with molasses, roasted coffee, pine, and fruit cake. Great depth and warmth.