Nik Gold - Trebjesa Brewery

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nik Gold, a confusing beer for me at first, as the label said it was a product of Serbia and Montenegro, but I finally found it listed under the former Yugoslavia. Hey, borders change and listings haven't been updated, but hopefully the beer stays the same. Then it's listed here as 5.5% abv, yet on my bottle alone it proclaims that on the front label it is 5.2%, yet on the back label it plainly states that it is a straight 5%. A beer with a personality disorder.

However this is a beer with enough character that such trifle superficialities become a part of its charm. Poured from a brown 330 ml bottle claiming to be a premium export beer on the label. The title is correct in the appearance, Nik Gold is an impressive clear golden colour, with a big foamy head on the pour, but it drops quickly to a frothy ring that stays the rest of the glass. The nose contains a big malty aroma that catches me off guard, sweet corn and grain, with the slightest bit of metal and grass. Thick malt up front on the flavour, with a husky grain profile mixed with light grass and herbs in the middle, and a sweet but crisp finish, accompanied by a mild metallic aftertaste. It's surprisingly refreshing. Mouthfeel is thick and full, but smooth and quenching on the way down, it trickles down the throat like liquid velvet. It's honestly nothing too astounding or something I am inclined to run out and buy again right this minute, but I'll definitely pick up a few more the next time I come across it. It's probably the most pleasant surprise I've come across so far this year, as I had no idea what to expect (not true, I was expecting a very sub par beer), with a lot more character than its appearance lets on. Worth trying, at least once.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2004 03:09:19 | More by IronDjinn

mariobbr

Serbia

2.5/5  rDev -16.1%

05-07-2013 12:33:07 | More by mariobbr

djura

Serbia

3.08/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Got it from Montenegro.
Since the last review is one year old,there is some changes in this beer. It is with new bottle design,have 5% abv and it's called Niksicko Gold.

A-Darker orange,usual for lagers,low carbonation,very low white foam.

S-Very pleasant smell from yeast,orange,banana,almost as hefeweizen.

T/M-Too bad that taste is not good as smell is. Medium carbonation,low bitterness,very drinkable,but hard on alcohol.

O-Close to be more then average.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 07:59:05 | More by djura

marty21

Manitoba (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear golden with 1 finger worth of white bubbly head. Settles to a ring around the glass but hardly leaves any lacing.

S: Malty with the usually adjunct aromas. Nothing special here.

T: Bready malts for the most part with some weird metallic tastes.

M: Medium carbonation with a light to medium body.

O: Average beer. It’s better then most macro beers but not special enough to buy it again. I only bought it because it was on sale for around a dollar.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 17:21:39 | More by marty21

skypup

Germany

3.38/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

.33L bottle poured into a Pilsner glass.

Pale lager; clear with foamy head that dissolves moderately.

Neutral smell with a slight hint of hops.

Crisp, hoppy taste.

Clean mouthfeel, no aftertaste.

Had this beer several times in Montenegro; over-all average drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 21:07:17 | More by skypup

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

2.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Single 330mL bottle from Amity Wine & Spirits, New Haven CT, for $1.49. Date on the bottle is 08:12:04, so I hope it's a Born On date rather than a Best By date. Served cold in a chilled pint glass.

Grayish yellow brew is semi-cloudy and gives minimal head that is gone immediately. Smell is a thin light sweetness, some faint fruity berry things going on, almost like a fruit/ spiced beer... nothing like an American Adjunct. The feel is thin but has some viscosity, the carbo is very light, nearly flat. The sweetness in the taste is heavier/ denser than it came across in the smell, fairly minerally, and it finishes dry. This is an odd brew, perhaps it is expired (but it isn't skunked...)?

It's almost like flat fruit flavored mineral water. Very odd. If you told me it was some obscure long-lost ethnic recipe I'd probably buy into it. Again, nothing (NOTHING) like an American Adjunct Lager.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 01:23:22 | More by BeerNinja007

scott451

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a clear pale gold with a two finger white head. Good carbonation. Slight spotty lacing. Good head retention.

Sweet grassy malt smell. Taste is also of grassy malts with a slight hop finish.

Medium body. The carbonation soon drops off quite a bit. Drinkability is pretty good. Overall much better than most common lagers that you will run across.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 01:22:57 | More by scott451

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Brown 330ml bottle, 5.2%, best before 16th Nov 09, drank 6th Nov 09.

Poured into my Veltins stemmed tulip glass, the beer produced a lovely white foaming head, below was a bright mid-golden lager body.

Gets my normal score of 3 for a non-smelling lager/pilsner. Slight malt esters came from it as the beer warmed.

OK, another imported lager/pilsner for the UK, loads to choose from, this could have been one of twenty or more. Nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't a world beater. Clean, bright, refreshing and a little dry in the aftertaste.

Helps me drink my way around the world, but I'll not be returning to this brewery in a hurry.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2009 19:42:27 | More by BlackHaddock

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The bottle says 'Made in Montenegro'. Since they've been an autonomous nation since 2006, maybe it's time for that to be reflected on this site as well...

This beer pours a slightly hazy medium golden hue, with a few fingers of soapy white head, which sticks around for a spell, and leaves some spotty lace as it recedes. It smells lightly of white grain malt and weedy hops. The taste is white grain, and floral, weedy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body decently weighty, and it finishes dry and a bit skunky.

Pretty good and surprisingly drinkable for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2009 01:39:10 | More by biboergosum

Voonder

Alberta (Canada)

3.08/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear golden-ish yellow with no head. Smell - sweet malts mostly. Taste - malts once again, it's pretty sweet, pretty much standard lager. It's pretty clean beer, kinda crisp, a little low carbonation. It's drinkable and pretty refreshing. Not a bad one, I could have couple of these, but this is not something I'd drink on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2008 03:39:18 | More by Voonder

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Welll for a Am Macro this baby showed head retention and lacing that could teach a good Euro Pils/lager a thing or two. I was impressed by how good this beer looked right out of the fridge.

Not much in the nose candy dept. Mostly grassy/grainy, but at least no obvious veggie/cabbage odors.

Touch on the sweet and watery side with no sign of MR. Hop anywhere until later on. Mineral water taste is prevelant. Certainly not bad in the taste dept. Similar to a lower end Czech Pil.

Ah...the chink in the armour so to speak. Starts off average, but I finished this beer 20 minutes ago and still have a dry/sticky aftertaste in my mouth .

I was expecting much worse and I suppose for an Am Mac you can drink much, much worse. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2008 03:39:27 | More by Shadman

Globetrotter

Virginia

2.93/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Comes in a 33cl brown bottle with a shiny but fairly non-descript label. It pours a bubbly clear straw gold under a two finger snow white head that fades quickly, but leaves some nice contour and lace. The nose reminds of mild adjunct grain. The mouth is prickly and not quite light. As to the taste, there is not much to love here, but it certainly is not undrinkable. A bit of malt and corn to open, followed by a shadow of some mildly bitter hops a bit later. There is a touch of grape hidden away in there somewhere. The aftertaste is just a tickle at the back of the throat. Yawn.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 19:54:35 | More by Globetrotter

Graham5161986

British Columbia (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A: pours a clear golden colour with a one finger head that dissipates quickly leaving a decent lace

S: grassy, hoppy nose with a touch of matly sweetness

T: grassy hopped flavour that drops off quite quickly leaving a slight bitter aftertaste

M: light bodied, yet quite watery and a weak, bitter finish

D: This is a typical euro macro lager that, while not being at all offensive, lacks mostly in flavour and substance. It is quite easy to drink, and I wouldn’t mind having a few of them over some of the other typical euro macro lagers. However, I wont be rushing back to try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2007 08:23:24 | More by Graham5161986

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

2.35/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bland, boring Euro lager. Okay appareance, a little dark. Foamy white head. Weak, uninteresting smell. Copper, metallic bite to it.

Watery taste, with one-dimensional malt profile and a bitter hop zest. Very uninteresting and boring.

Okay mouthfeel, but very dull and uninteresting and really not worth repeating.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2006 06:47:43 | More by BDTyre

ernie

Russian Federation

2.38/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Cheaper product of the same brewery that is responsible for good Niksicko Light and excellent Niksicko Dark beers.

500 cl bottle. Nice pale-golden color. Smell hoppy with lots of herbs and practically no malts. Carbonation high, bubbles hit the glass and form a head that would be more suitable for soda pop.

Taste hoppy with hint of herbs and minerals, malts are distant and unclear. Body rather thin. Aftertaste hoppy, bittersweet.

Not my pint of beer. When in Montenegro, ask for smth else.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2006 08:14:24 | More by ernie

Cwrw

Alberta (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Nik Gold looks decent in the glass. The beer is a little darker than most lagers of its type(i.e, one-bottle "premium" continental lagers), a little fuller looking. Light browns and even lighter honey colours, topped with the head which was definitely better than average, until you begin sipping, when it goes down a patchy layer of bone-white foam. Thin but consistent layers of lacing. The aroma is of dust and cardboard, and maybe some adjunct aroma. The smell is extremely bland: besides a little dose of malty sweetness and some hard water, there is very little to make me want to take a sip. Thankfully the taste is not as offensive--but it IS fairly plain. Plain but drinkable, and mildly refreshing. Powdery hops mix with some bready-sourish malt, with a little caramel in the finish. The aftertaste is more dry than sweet, with a sizable bitterness left over. This tastes much like the big Asian lagers you can get--Asahi, Kirin, etc. The hops definitely leave a dusty feeling on the palate, which I disliked at first, but it actually adds some much-needed nuance to the flavour. It would go down easy with a light meal or on a hot day. The malt does seem a little boozy and adjunct laden. Mouthfeel is light, just what I was expecting. Drinkability is its best merit. Worth a try, once.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2005 04:03:31 | More by Cwrw

horseblanket

California

3.28/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Aroma: light hop aromas, mostly.
Hop character doesn't seem like typical, not German nobel or Czech Saaz.

Appearance: Thick foamy white head.
Very good clarity.
Color is light golden yellow.

Flavor: Hop flavors dominate upfront, again,
variety is unknown. Doesn't seem like anything
I've every tasted (not typical German Nobel or Saaz).
Hop bitterness fairly high, probably around 40,
lingers long after the finish.

Mouthfeel and body: moderate. Some grainy character.
Fairly high carbonation level. Feels like it has a touch
of "hot" alcohol, note, i.e., fusel alcohols.

Overall: decent lager. Interesting hop character,
not exactly fond of it however: sort of a harsh character
to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2005 19:01:56 | More by horseblanket

Dogbrick

Ohio

1.8/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Dark gold color with a thin white head that ran with its tail between its legs. Very little lacing. Aroma of raw vegetables, hay and hops. Thin-bodied and bubbly with light bitter hops flavor. The finish is dry and vaguely hoppy. Overall not so good.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2004 15:00:21 | More by Dogbrick

stoutman

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +41.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

MALTY and tasty. Much better than Niksicko Pivo, is bright gold, with a pleasant hoppy aroma, and a slightly bitter finish. Shows a good white head and light laciness. Medium-light bodied, with a good crisp flavor and finish, not complex, but good quality, th emalt flavor is a nice surprise for this light looking beer. the label says this is a a blond premium all malt beer brewed with 100% malt and pure mountain water. tastes great!

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2004 03:11:40 | More by stoutman