Nøgne Ø God Jul

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

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

Winter Ale. Dark brown, near black color with a very small head that quickly falls to a few bubbles. Strong malt aroma with ample amounts of coffee and bitter chocolate. Big, chocolatey flavor up front, but it faded rapidly into only malt. Not bitter, not sweet. A little spiciness, a hint of cloves and maybe cinnamon. Not what I expected at all and damn fine.

UPDATED: AUG 29, 2007 Sampled from a 500ml bottle. Very dark brown colored body with some red hue at the bottom, and a medium-dark tan or brown head on top. Nose of smoke, char, toffee, amaretto, juniper berries, spiced rum and jasper and pine needles. Flavor is creamy, smoky sap and pine needles, more juniper and jasper, with some sappy, spicy “Christmas” flavors… reminds me of a few years of Anchor OSA. Fizzy, frothy, but not too thick. Really, really tasty, but I tend to like beers that taste like trees.

Very malty, kind of a scotch ale but not quite thick enough for that. Considerable alcohol, very light smoke and earth. Some dark fruits and medium sweet malt.

Dark Brown, almost black body… fluffy tan head. Aroma of toffee, burnt sugars, some sweet figs, date sugars, molasses, a hint of smoke… the flavor brings all the same but more notes of coffee and chocolate. Creamy palate, a distinct English strain of yeast, A rather well done beer… I very much enjoyed!

Bottle, Sweet caramel, roasted malts with some barley aromas. Dark body with tan head. Creamy caramel flavor stood out in this beer. Easy on the palate a winter warmer beer.

Pours dark brown with a fine light brown head. Nose ofmlt and spices. Flavour of malt, raisins, coffee and juniper. Nice bitter finish. A well composed x-mas ale.

Dark brown color with a creamy tan head. Aroma of cocoa, caramel, and hops. Superb lacing. Caramel flavor with chocolate, yeast and a touch of hops. Creamy mouth feel. Exceptional beer!

Pours dark brown with ruby highlights and a small tan head that fades to a small ring. The aroma is loaded with sweet fresh malt, licorice, and a hint of nuts and chocolate. Taste is of sweet malt and licorice with a well balanced bitterness and a nutty aftertaste. Full mouthfeel but not to thick with the alcohol being well hidden. Another great beer from Nøgne.