# 100 - Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S

JohnnyP3

Alaska

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

.5L bottle. Batch 446. Brewed 19.08.09. Best before 19.08.14. Found this one at the Vinmonopolet at the Kvadrat in Sandnes. Poured into a wine goblet. Pours a ruby/chocolate brown with a slightly off-white head of a couple fingers. Head has good retention and sticks well to the sides of the glass. Lacing is quite substantial.

Smell is of sweet malts, brown sugar, molasses, and birch syrup. I'm also getting some booze aromas emanating from the glass. Slight hint of caramel on the nose as well.

Wow, the alcohol strength of this one just clocked me out of the gate. This one lets you know it registers at 10%! Aside from that, I'm getting a good amount of sweetness--molasses, brown sugar and syrup. Definitely has a syrup-sweetness quality to it. Sweetness really lingers at the end. I'm also tasting some chocolate or caramel at the finish, mixed in with a little nuttiness--walnuts or roasted chestnuts perhaps.

Mouthfeel is slick and sweet (syrupy). Overall good carbonation for the style. This barleywine is a great sipper. Rich and sweet with some roasted chestnut flavors, this would make a great complement to many types of after-dinner treats.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 19:48:39 | More by JohnnyP3

Trueant1

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown but sits in the glass as a imperal stout. Has thick pancake-like batter qualities. Lacing is thick and phenomonal, as it coats the whole glass and sticks around...exceptional.

Smells are so so complex. ..Another "5"
Up front are Sweet toasty malts, peppery spices, and some hops. Choclolaty as well.
As I swirl the mysterious brew, I get waifs of roses and herbs. A very bready smell and some wood charachterics...oak.
Where is the alcohol 10% abv?

In the taste department, I would compare this brew mostly to Stone Russian Imperial Stout. But not as thick in the mouthfeel as Stone. This tastes incredible.
Has a nice hop profile. Almost ruins the tounge like a IPA. Very very sweet malts that are sooo roasty and toasty. As the hop bitterness are almost borderline OUT TO SPACE, so is the malt sweetness. This beer is HUGE HUGE HUGE. With the sips, alcohol is present like a barlywine. What is this beer? I would label it a Imperial stout. But without the coffie and expresso many have.

The mouthfeel is thick and the sugars coat everything. I am surprised my teeth are not coated black. I wish this was a bit more creamy and smooth. Still is creamy and smooth but could be a little more. I think the Hops take away the mouthfeel and drinkability one half notch.

This is a HUGE beer. Incredible profiles!!! People always talk of Dark Lord and Westies....I think this is up there in that class.
A bit expensive...but we only live once!

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2007 01:21:16 | More by Trueant1

100floods

California

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I got two of these puppies the second City Beer put out a scandinavian section. I opened one up not know what to expect, and i was please. The second one I ages for probably 6-7 months (it doesn't need intense aging). Norwegians, despite the fact that their still trying to find their place, know how to make a good brew. The same characteristics from the fresher version hold true to the aged version. Chocolate aroma, light sugary taste, mellow hop flavor. This beer is a good 'chillum' barley wine. It's got all the characteristics of a west coast BW, but it's not a punch in the face (like big foot). This beer wants you to relax, but enjoy the flavor full on. I hope this beer shows up more often. It's a keeper.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2008 04:42:12 | More by 100floods

Ghenna

California

4.35/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from larger bottle Deep brown color with surprisingly light colored cream head. medium density, sticks around for a bit. Initial smell is of caramel choco malt- smells stick and sweet. Taste is very mild for a BW, almost creamy on the palate. Malt sweet moves to bitter chocolate to a dry coffee finish. Alcohol is well hidden when it is colder. Awesome barleywine, and my first from this brewry- I'll have to check out their other styles.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 00:56:22 | More by Ghenna

birderbeerer

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep mahogany beer with high head and average lacing.

Big malty sweet smell. Rich with caramel and toffee. Grapes? Some kind of more bitter dark fruit.

Taste is nicely complex. Huge malt sweetness like I expected then all these other nice flavors. Raisins/currants, some coffee, and some strong English tea. Hints of stout come and go but don't last long. The sweetness dominates and the rest is just a series of interesting accents.

Absolutely great.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 02:34:15 | More by birderbeerer

josefnewsong

New York

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - a very deep ruby/brown color with a finger's worth of tannish head that leaves bits of lace
S - molasses, and other fairly standard barleywine smells - but smells nice indeed.
T - molasses, alcohol, brown sugar, different hop flavors. overall fairly well-balanced and definitely enjoyable.
M - probably the most unique part of this beer. Lighter than expected and goes down smooth. better at first when it's a little bit colder, becomes slightly syrupy as it warms
D - definitely drinkable esp for a barleywine. another impressive brew from nogne

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 01:28:39 | More by josefnewsong

IllNate

British Columbia (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Heard about this beer on the brewing network! So snagged it when I saw it at Brewery Creek and Vancouver.

A - Pours a dark brown with ruby highlights, and a ton of beige head. Great retention.
S - Smells great too, lots of dark roast, chocolate, cofee and charcoal. Also malty and sweet with a citrus hop. Great complex nose, last time I had a nose this good was with the Orval Trappist.
T - Superb for such a strong ale. Malty and sweet caramel. Nutty and biscuit notes, with coffee and chocolate, and citrus hops.
M - Full bodied for sure, but still nice and smooth. Nice balance with the bitterness as well. Surprisingly easy to drink despite the 10% price tag.
O - A fantastic beer.

Check this out for an interview with the brewer and a recipe!:
http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/606

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 02:52:07 | More by IllNate

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500mL bottle, 2009 vintage. Pours dark brown with a big tan head. Somewhat fruity aroma with molasses and sweet malt. The flavor is roasty with dark fruits, vanilla, and subdued hops. Medium bodied with a very smooth mouthfeel. The 10% alcohol is not noticable at all. Really good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 01:32:31 | More by chickenm

AdamGarcia

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

reviewed from notes: 2/23/10

A: Deep, murky mahogany. Large pillowy head. Tight bead and clingy lace.

S: Candied fruits and faint, mild hops. Some vanilla.

T: Nice rich malt sweetness. Toasty and biscuit-like. Buttery finish. Kind of reminded me of a mild red wine in some ways. A dose of centennial hops makes an appearance near the finish.

M: Carbonation is perfect. Velvety mouthfeel with the right amount of linger.

D: Does not drink @ 10%abv. Warmth not present in the smell or on the palate.

Became better and better as it warmed. I've read that this was intended to be an American DIPA by the brewer, and that the U.S. version of this bottle was labeled incorrectly as a Barleywine. I have no idea if that is even remotely valid, but it was in my head as I drank this one. I would have pegged this as a Strong Dark Ale. The 1st thing that comes to mind is Trois Pistoles. Whatever it is or isn't, I like it a lot. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2010 22:52:10 | More by AdamGarcia

mrandypandy

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16.9oz bottle receive as an extra in one of my last trades. Many thanks!

A- Pours a deep ruby/brown with a frothy off-white (beige) head. Lots of sticky lacing on my glass.
S- Caramel malty sweetness, raisins. Not as potent as I was expecting.
T- Big sweet malty backbone with a bit of spicy hop bitterness to balance it out. Some roasted notes as well.
M - Medium to full body. Thick, smooth, sweet.
D- Considering high abv and big nature of this beer, drinkability is surprisingly high. Like any beer of this size, it's slightly more than a sipper, but the complexity of flavors makes it easy to finish for the style. Would get again.

Overall - A well done and very solid barleywine. I'm not sure how much time this has had in the cellar, but it tastes like it's been put down for a bit and mellowed out nicely.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 00:36:10 | More by mrandypandy

sfoley333

Brazil

4.15/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle into a Rastal snifter. Poured a dark brown color with huge thick tan foamy head. Smell was toffee, sweet bread, with slight dark fruit aromas that are followed by a even fainter alcohol present. Taste is roasted malt dry flavor, mixed with bitter citrus rind and slight bitter pine flavor, finished with a raisin spice flavor. The dryness on the finish and the well concealed alcohol make this a very drinkable barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2008 08:41:57 | More by sfoley333

Parrotshake

Australia

3.33/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours darker than expected. This pretty much looks like a porter - certainly darker than any barleywine I've ever seen. Wispy head that gathers around the edges of the glass. Minimal lacing.

Smells a bit hot and boozy (sort of a botanical, gin-like smell) and has that same citric hop character I've noticed in a few of these guys' beers. It's not a bad thing as such, but with Nogne Ø beers having only recently shown up in Australia, I've had quite a few of them in a short time and that particular characteristic is prevalent in most of them - burnt orange kind of thing. Not much else to talk about, smell-wise.

Same deal in the mouth. Sweetness, bready malt, alcohol burn, those same herbal, burnt-orange hops. Other fruits floating around in there too; date (without the sweetness), overripe pineapple. Dry leaves and alcohol in the finish. I had to sit there and sip it over and over to get all the flavours, because it's overwhelmingly alcohol, citric and herbal, in that order. Bitterness feels as if it comes equally from the alcohol as it does from the hops.

Medium mouthfeel with a rough grainy texture that the carbonation smooths over nicely. Despite how boozy it tastes, no overt burn from the alcohol at all, which would make it pretty drinkable, but... I just don't dig the flavours that much. I'm wondering if a bit of age would do it some good - I suspect so, and I have some more so I guess I'll find out. At this point though, not a patch on the likes of Mikkeller Big Worse (a little underrated on this site, IMO).

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2009 11:58:20 | More by Parrotshake

SleepyMonk

Australia

4.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Chilled 500ml brown glass bottle with plain and decidedly "home brew" looking label thats all business. Other than the brewers logo and brew name the label is comprised of Norwegian text. Google translate gave me some help and a little common sense indicates that this brew is from batch number 365 and best before 28 May 2013. This one was brewed on 28 May 2008 and I am consuming at 8 June 2009.

Pours into a tulip glass with a solid amount of 3 finger head and presents as a deep tan color. As the head drops away slowly we see thick, if not creamy, lacing.

Held in front of the face the body is straight up black. Even held up to the light the black remains, indeed it wasn't until the glass was held next to a halogen bulb that any color emerged. That color was blood red, it was very much accurate to blood.

Aroma is dominated with a saturated hops smell supported by brown sugars and roasted dark fruits. Whilst the head was settling those hops where a little drowned out by a medicinal theme. Interestingly that disappeared as the brew was moved about and warmed up.

I will be honest here and say that my first impression upon tasting this beer was that it had been over hyped. The first sip was so intense in dark flavor and resin mouthfeel that I thought i'd be sick. That was over really quickly as that intensity gave way to some very well crafted tastes.

That dark resin upon initial taste becomes a well driven malt cut with roasted fruits, its almost a christmas fruit cake in a beer!

The mouthfeel is grainy with a herb spice twang. The alcohol is noticeable throughout the entire mouthfeel spectrum but at 10% thats bound to happen.

Quick summary: It looks like blood if you hold it to the light, it smells like a bucket full of hops and cake mix and it tastes like that too except with some damn fine malt thrown in for god measure.

If ever there was a late cold night sipper this was it, warms you up lie a log fire. Very damn nice indeed.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 13:28:17 | More by SleepyMonk

bhalter8

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A surprising look as I poured this one into a snifter. A deep dark brown color, looked thick, add to that a solid creamy head. The smell was not very strong, some chocolate hints. The first sip verified the thickness of this beer, which was in contrast to my previous barley wine experiences. It still has a barely wine taste, just a chocolate/malty strength added to it. I like it, don't get me wrong. The thickness helped balance the strong carbonization, and made it go down easy. An excellent beer to have one evening, by itself.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2008 11:59:00 | More by bhalter8

Bananaman

Sweden

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Nøgne Ø is in my opinion one of the best breweries in the nordic countries. And this is a really fine brew that is great to share with a friend.

Pours a deep brown colour with a nice beige foam, looks really nice actually. But there's a lot of yeast particles floating around.

The smell is really interesting, lots of citrus fruits and some chocolate. Some wonderful hops in the smell too!

Taste is pretty similar to the smell with a nice bitterness and lots of citrus fruits and notes of chocolate and oats. It's a quite sweet beer actually and the high ABV makes it great to sip on for an hour or two.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2008 17:27:29 | More by Bananaman

faernt

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer has a unique, beguiling flavor. The flavors are so well blended that it's difficult for me to pull them apart. Good head, good color...it meets Barleywine standards. The edge is in the blended flavor. I hope to find more of it here in Chicago.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2009 03:05:56 | More by faernt

jlandis

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Murky brown with huge tan head.

I'm not sure of the age on this bottle, but I don't get many hops just a tart green apple and chocolaty malt with a bit of pungent fruit.

Hop bitterness right up front with a huge blast of roasted chocolaty malt. I'm sure this is some age on this one, because the hop flavors are very subtle and earthy. Rich grainy bread flavors with fantastic fruity yeast character.

Solid carbonation and a rich oily mouthfeel.

There is something about the flavor that I just don't like. I'm not sure, but I'm only getting subtle hop flavors and mostly grassy bitterness. There is some malt holding it togther, but I was expecting a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 20:22:32 | More by jlandis

theformula

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer #39 in my 366 Days of Beer Quest, tasted on 2/8.
Again, GeorgiaBeer is to thank for this opportunity.

A: A nearly opaque mahogany body pours in a snifter. A forceful pour reveals a huge tan head w/ lasting retention, this one's gonna have hops. Sticky lacing....good looker.

S: Very nice. Nearly an IIPA @ first sniff, this really does compare to Bigfoot. Hops are assertive w/ citrusy, piney & resinous notes. A solid malt backbone of toffee, dark fruits and a punch of spicy, peppery alcohol joins the mix. It's not hugely rich in the malt dep't., but still nice overall.

M: Med.-full body. Super smooth, silky body, just a bit viscous.

T: Blessed hops! The initial flavor is easily hop-heavy w/ a sticky bitterness and some wood overtones. Then comes toffee, prunes, vanilla and finally a jolt of spicy alcohol, which is by no means shy. Malts are sugary-sweet and barely stand up to the hops in this one. A little chocolate in the finish.

D: A very good American-style B.W., this is a sipper and is very warming, it could be toned down a little. A hophead's barley wine for sure, but this needs some age to bring it down to earth. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 23:20:55 | More by theformula

djaeon

California

3.93/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had an '07 bottle of this.

Pours dark dark brown. Poured it into a tulip glass and couldn't see through when held up to the light. Filled up about half the glass, and the fluffy head filled up the other half. Moderate retention, with excellent lacing.

Has aromas of citrus and a dark woodiness.

Has a little bit of sharpness and bitterness that you would expect from a barleywine, but they're not as overpowering as some barleywines are.

Feels pretty balanced in the mouth. Has some light carbonation. Not as hot as it could be with the 10% ABV, which is great.

It's a slow sipper. Good for relaxing with after a long day, which is what I'm doing right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 02:24:21 | More by djaeon

Gump

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge head sticks around forever. Cola colored beer, no light passes through. Impressive, unusual carbonation for a barleywine. Heavy body.
Aromas of Raisin, fig, dark chocolate, coffee.
A good malt balance without going over the top, like some American barley wines.
I breathe in the alcohol and dry coca flavors.
The hops come out in the aftertaste with a dry grassy feel at the back on my tongue.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 20:34:07 | More by Gump

duracell

Quebec (Canada)

4.83/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle into a snifter. Had it in December 2012.

A - Pours an amber/mahogany color with an small, off-white head with low retention. Leaves a thin topping on the beer.

S - Loads of aromatic hops (floral and herbal). Caramel, toffee, blackberries.

T/M - Aromatic hops dominate up front with a good malt backbone. Caramel, plums, raisins, a hint of diacetyl in the the second third of the palate. Ends with a medium bitterness, some spicy and caramelized notes that linger. Body on the high side. Extremely smooth. Alcohol is well hidden.

O - Amazing beer! Top notch interpretation of the style. Well balanced, and dangerously drinkable. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 16:32:18 | More by duracell

Grabbin2nd

California

3.83/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From Notes: 3/25/09
Nogne O
#100 Barleywine
10% abv.
500ml Bottle into NB snifter

Appearance= Fat 2 finger tan head after vigorous pour. Blackish brown with tan floaties.

Smell= Nothing stands out...Typical B-wine smell

Taste= Good flavor. A little chocolate??.Must be the malts...Not super complex or deep. Just a good straight forward b-wine flavor.

Mouthfeel= Not too thick on the finish, yet on the thicker side of b-wines. Finishes clean.

Drinkability=@ this Abv., size of bottle and mouthfeel = sipper.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2009 20:08:00 | More by Grabbin2nd

gnoff

Sweden

3.7/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

50 cl bottle at Delirium Cafe in Gothenburg, Sweden.
New at May 13.

Dark brown color, small white head. A bit hazy.
Very hoppy (American) scent mixed with some chocolate. Some acid smell as well.
Acid and dark malt taste, some non-hops bitterness.
Good (hops) bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2006 22:08:38 | More by gnoff

Kakaraht

British Columbia (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep brown in color with a decent tan head that had good retention.

S: Hoppier than I expected. with lots of spicy citrus notes. The malt has a nice slightly burnt smell to it with hints of coffee and caramel.

T: Dark malt flavors with a bitter after bite of the citrusy hops. There is a lot of sweetness in it and it plays well with the strong alcohol.

M: Heavy body, smooth flavor and it leaves a sweet and bitter aftertaste with a good alcoholic punch.

D: Be hard to drink a few of these but one every now and then is good.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 20:03:54 | More by Kakaraht

Ljunkan

Sweden

4.65/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

50 cl bottle shared with Bananamaniac @ Bishops Arms, Karlstad.

Pours a dark brown color with a nice head.

Smell is very interesting and good. Very hoppy, with notes of citrus and grapefruit. Nice.

Taste is bitter and hoppy with lots of citrus fruits and stuff like that. Notes of chocolate and malt can also be found. I also think I can note som nuts. Ends bitter, though I think it was more bitter last winter I had it (well... it's some months ago, so...). Balanced.

Mouthfeel is very outstanding. Very filling in the mouth... pretty smooth.

A very nice beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2008 15:58:02 | More by Ljunkan