Saison - Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S

JDV

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Erin for lugging this one back from Atlanta for me!
Pours a glowing, cloudy, bright, light orange color. Just a sudsy sparse head remains after a few seconds. Smell is coriander, spices, along with bright and wheaty and lightly citrusy leanings. Taste is lightly spiced with similar flavors as in the smell, along with an interesting and unexpected, but welcomed light hop presence and a lightly wheaty flavor as well. Thin to medium bodied with average carbonation. Not too familiar with the style, but I enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2008 19:26:48 | More by JDV

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Luminous lemon (when backlit) with much less yeast than expected. Perhaps it's hiding in the bottom of the bottle. The pearl colored crown is a tightly packed collection of glassy bubbles that doesn't look very Belgian. A smattering of sticky lace decorates the sides of the glass in the form of half-moons and assorted curlicues.

The nose is fresh and clean, with an abundance of lemony, herbal, light spicy, modestly musky aromas that are due to what smells like a wonderful Belgian yeast strain and two well-chosen hops (East Kent Goldings and Crystal). There's no horse blanket, since Brettanomyces isn't used, but there is a subtle funk of a different nature.

Since the first mouthful was good, but wasn't outstanding, I've decided to add the good stuff from the bottom of the bottle to the glass. The beer is now signficantly murky and the flavor should be more intense as well. At least I hope so.

My opinion hasn't changed a whole lot. Saison is a much better than average version that doesn't deliver the transcendence of an expertly crafted Belgian ale. That's okay, roughly 99% of the world's beer doesn't either. The body/mouthfeel is partly to blame, but that isn't the whole story. On second thought, it might be most of the story.

The malt backbone (wheat and 'lager' malt) does a good job of anchoring the bottom end and providing an underlying cereal grain sweetness rather than an overattenutated crisp dryness. Things begin to dry out on the finish, which is where the top notes of yeast and spice begin to find their groove.

Lemon, lemongrass and a potpourri of spices (clove, cardamom, white pepper) share the spotlight. I'm beginning to agonize over the flavor score, and wish, yet again, that 4.25 was an option. The beer's outstanding drinkability means that the glass will probably be empty before any firm conclusions can be drawn.

The mouthfeel is the only (minor) disappointment. Undercarbonation is the main reason. Saisons should be lush and fluffy, with an ethereal creaminess that caresses the mouth and tongue. None of that is true here.

Other than the amazingly delicious Porter and Imperial Stout, Saison might be my favorite Nogne beer to date. It's tantalizingly close to greatness and is already there in terms of drinkability. Cutting through the waffling, I will gladly buy multiple bottles in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 14:50:06 | More by BuckeyeNation

theformula

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer #41 in my 366 Days of Beer Quest, tasted on 2/10. Thanks to GeorgiaBeer once again for this one!

A: Pours a light orange body into a tulip glass. A 2" white head dissipates quickly but leaves a nice layer on top. The body is hazy w/ yeasties & visible, active carbonation.

S: Awesome aroma, whoa. Could've fooled me for a Belgian. Prominent aroma of doughy yeast & barnyard funk give it that authenticity, while grains & husk (pilsner like, actually) along w/ wildflower & light candi sugar give it a subtle sweetness. Definite coriander and lemon notes as well. Fantastic.

M: Med. body, med. carbonation. Silky smooth body, a little crisp and smooth. Nice.

T: Follows suit w/ the aroma thankfully. Delicious malt base of wildflowers, clover honey & husk are in near perfect balance w/ the funky, doughy yeast & spices. It has some wit & pilsner characteristics, interesting. Leafy, lightly bitter hops (Saaz?) round it out nicely. Rustic but refined & complex.

D: This is deviously delicious, an excellent Saison. Great authenticity w/ a twist. Complex, funky and easily drinkable. This would kill for some seafood. Highly recommended & one of the best Saisons I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2008 21:52:30 | More by theformula

satowns

Colorado

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gusher!! Upon popping the cap, a large plug of foam begins to eject. Not quite an explosion, but a little messy.

Poured into a goblet where the foam quickly disappears; what a short life it lived...Glowing gold in color, the carbonation is hidden behind a veil of haze.

First whiff reveals leather, orange and a brett-ish mustiness.

Spicy and nicey! Good white pepper quality; a little tart in the finish. Yeasty earthiness work well with the spicy E. Kent Goldings. Wildflower honey in the finish.

This is a very quaffable beer. Complex enough to satisfy the Belgian lover, but tame enough to serve as an entry into the Belgian world of beer. I would prefer a bit more spice in the flavor. The only repellent from future purchases would be the price for 500mls....$8.50!

Music enjoyed whilst sampling: Where the streets have no name by U2 (just listening to the radio...)

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2008 02:17:50 | More by satowns

Billolick

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mid sized bottle, no freshness nor bottling date info. Pours cloudy dull apricot, light and short lived near white head then leaves very fine, well detailed sticky lacing. Nose is of lightly sugared dried fruits, light honey blossoms and powdered sugar. Subtle, complex and well crafted creation. Light on the spices early and more of a wheaty, yeasty feel to it. Some pepper late, and soft but drying hops. Nicely done, I'm drinking it on a freezing winter day, but I can imagine this would be a nice summer accompaniment to a lazy lunch of salads, cheese, bread etc. No bargain, but worth a try for lovers of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2008 23:07:02 | More by Billolick

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Ah hah! So that's how it's pronounced! "NUHN-ye"

Pours a clouded orange with basically no head. Nose is citrus and minor funk, but the citrus reigns supreme here. Flavor is inky. I know I have used the term before, but this tops all others. Calms a bit over time, or maybe I am just used to it. So we're definitely on a more robust edge here with some grass mixed in as well. Hearty. Feel is about standard. The usual slightly thin liquid touch and lower carbonation. This is a decent saison. I wouldn't really compare it to Fantome or any other of my favorites, but it will do.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2008 07:17:56 | More by RblWthACoz

Rainintheface

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally made it to Julios Liquors and they have many Nogne offerings. The first I've seen, so I picked up this pint+.9oz saison.

A: cloudy, dark straw with a fairly small white head. Quickly to a ring.

S: Smells like a saison. spices, earthy, barnyard hay. faint hops and a tad fruity

T: yeasty with a bigger malt presence than other saisons. pepper. damn tasty.

M: Fuller in body than some saisons. dry finish with some bitterness. light carbonation

D: nice. refreshing. I like saisons in warmer weather than Boston in February, but it's heft in comparison with others makes it all the more drinkable today.

I've only heard of Nogne O, but now that I have, found a source and tried this great offering I'll return to Julios to explore this brewery further.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2008 21:36:44 | More by Rainintheface

tprokop7

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500mL bottle purchased 2 months ago at Julio's in Westborough.

Poured a golden straw color with a significant head. Smelled wonderful, with plenty of hops and slight citrus. Taste was great as well, a good example of the style. This is a very drinkable beer, I wish I had more...

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 23:17:06 | More by tprokop7

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours with a three-finger thick, pale tan colored head that is made up of a bunch of large bubbled froth. The beer is a hazy, straw gold color. The aroma is an appetizing mix of grain, hops, fruit and yeast character. Aromas of orange zest, herbal nettle, grassy grain, a touch of honey-like malt, soda crackers, sweet ginger and white pepper are all easily noticed. The citrus character is quite pronounced in this beer, and looking at the label this must stem from the use of Crystal hops.

A soft, creamy mouth feel greets me as I take my first sip. A bit of carbonation adds a little zippy tickle and a touch of peppery carbonic acid that does not overcome the creamy mouthfeel. The combination of the creamy mouthfeel and the citrus-like hop notes make me think of orange-cream candies. Substantially malty with flavors of grassy grain, fresh crushed wheat, honey, and a touch of soda crackers in the finish. The beer is fairly sweet, though at times towards the end it dries out with the grassy grain notes, but ultimately the sweet malt is what lingers on in the finish. This lingering, honey like, sweet malt note is joined by a light, but noticeable hop bitterness and a fair amount of citrus hop character. Spicy yeast derived notes provide touches of ginger, a touch of phenolic soaked cotton ball, definite clove, white pepper and a touch of green apple.

Perhaps a bit full bodied, when compared to my ideal of a Saison, but I find the mix of Crystal hops, sweet grain and spicy yeast character to be quite pleasing here. I really like the use of Crystal hops here; sure it is not in the least a traditional Saison hop, but it reminds me of the Saison / American hop brews that I have bee fond of making over the past couple of years.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2008 00:56:16 | More by Gueuzedude

nickfl

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +23%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - One finger of pure, white head dissipates quickly and forms a thin film on top of the hazy, golden body.

S - Spicy, yeasty character. Notes of pepper, lemon and lavender. It took me a long time to identify it, but there is also a strong aroma of chamomile.

T - Hops and alcohol up front. A perfumey lavender note emerges briefly, followed by more pepper and lemon flavors along with just a bit of tropical fruit (guava perhaps). Floral chamomile and grapefruit hop notes are present throughout, but intensify during the finish along with a sharp bitterness.

M - Moderately high carbonation and medium body. The finish is not quite as dry as some other saisons.

D - Extremely drinkable. I have had many beautiful saisons, but this is perhaps the most drinkable. Something about it just demands that I keep drinking. It has excellent hop character and some nice yeast notes. I feel like it is a bit lacking in the fruity esters that I really enjoy in this style, but some fruit character finally emerges as the beer warms. The only major complaint I have is the rather poor head retention. Overall this is a damn good saison.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2008 08:02:17 | More by nickfl

Ikhoudvanbier

Massachusetts

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

Poured into a tulip a nice peachy, gold color. The yeast and wheat character are well apparent. Mildly hoppy. After taste lingers on the tip of the tongue and roof of the mouth. Refreshing and would be a good summer beer choice.

This is not a common style you would think of for a Norwegian brewery, but this is a well-built beer for sure. Nøgne Ø is more known for the darker brews of Porter and Imperial Stout, but this Saison is totally decent.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 01:51:15 | More by Ikhoudvanbier

GreenCard

Oregon

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

Appearance: pale straw, quite hazy, nice layer of tight-beaded white froth, good head retention

Aroma: orange peel, coriander, chamomile, canned pineapple, blossom honey

Flavor: dry malt profile with a tangy edge; melange of orange peel, coriander, chamomile, and grapefruit rind bitterness; finishes dryish with a lingering acerbic bitterness

Mouthfeel: medium-light body, fluffy carbonation, soft texture, slightly astringent

Other comments: It's amazing how much spice can be churned out by the yeast. There are no added spices, yet those flavors and aromas are there.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 15:10:50 | More by GreenCard

GbVDave

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a Saison Dupont tumbler.

A: Pours a mellow, light-gold color with a few streams of lazy effervescence. Small 3/4 finger cap of pure white foam. Not too much in the way of lace.

S: Aromas of tart apple and wheat, and pear. Aromatic Belgian yeast, white pepper, coriander, and a slight hint of barnyard funk.

T: Dry wheat, apple, and hops dominate at first. A fruity, peppery, funkiness takes over soon afterwards along with the aforementioned coriander and some citrus-y hops at the finish.

M: Quite full and pleasantly peppery. Hop bitterness from beginning to end.

D: An excellent beer and a great companion to blue corn chips and Trader Joe's Hot! Fresh Salsa.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2007 00:59:14 | More by GbVDave

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an oversized wine glass a pale golden with a touch of honey colored hue a thinner but tight formed white head atop.A mix of a aromas slightly funky with a firm toasted wheat component,some residual honey sweetness and orange linger,flavors are a bit phenolic and yeasty at the onset flollowed by some honey-like sweetness and light citrus fruit maybe a touch of pineapple,toasty thruought with a big herbal near medicanal hop finish.A solid saison here no major flaws and not overly "funky" relying more on fruity sweetness and herbal hop.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2007 21:19:05 | More by oberon

emerge077

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque, tropical orange. A few bubbles, accompanied by a skim of foam. Not exactly Belgian without a huge head of foam, but nice anyway.

Wheaty aroma, clear presence of Belgian ale yeast. Fairly bland and muted.

Juicy, wheaty flavors, similar to a Witbier. Very dry aftertaste, the hops make their presence known in the finish. East Kent Goldings and Crystal varieties are listed on the bottle. Black pepper and light presence of phenols. Not much of a fruity character as would be expected in a Belgian Saison. Fairly utilitarian, not experimental at all.

Full mouthfeel, alot of yeast. Not enough carbonation. Feels like a stab at an imperial witbier. It's fairly refreshing, but a little to heavy for summertime quaffing. Split the bottle, and it did pair well with a shrimp wonton soup.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2007 03:30:15 | More by emerge077

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I do not think this is retired, another database glitch. Best Before February 2008, and a fresh bottle right out of Norway. A very good smooth drinking saison, although many would object to the bit of vinegar sourness, well controlled mind you, in the finish. White pepper,good head on golden,spicey.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2007 02:38:09 | More by northyorksammy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a deep peachy color ale with a nice foamy head with average retention. Aroma of ester yeast with some sweet malt and light spices and fruit is quite enjoyable. Taste is mix between some sweet malt with some ester yeast and light spices. I thought the taste might have a been a bit too sweet with no enough floral hops to sustain comparison to some of the great saison out there but it was still very enjoyable and something I would love to drink more often.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2007 18:33:25 | More by Phyl21ca

Goldorak

Quebec (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Same peachy color as the bitter I had just before, if a bit brighter, and the head was more soapy and resilient.

Smell: Quite an interesting yeast profile in the nose, it showed some wet hay, cracked pepper or perhaps sage, lavander and had a sugary, sweet and fresh finish.

Taste: Could have used a bit more spring in the carbonation, but maybe it's just me who's used to Fantomes and the like that almost explode in your mouth. The upside to it is that it pushes the spices (coriander, mostly), yeast and body to the front. The hops didn't need any help at all, the weedyness seized on your tongue a second or two after each sip.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2007 14:39:38 | More by Goldorak

Sigmund

Norway

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle, courtesy of "Venner av Nøgne Ø". Like all NØ beers bottle conditioned. This beer has just been released for sale in some pubs, will be for sale in Vinmonopolet stores in May. I might rerate in May, if there is any significant development of the flavour profile by then. Pours (or rather: gushes out of the bottle) with a large white head, beer is hazy pale golden. Very nice fruity (citrus, green apples) and yeasty aroma, hints of spices, oak, leather and barnyard. Flavour is moderately sweet with a distinct spiciness and decent hops. Shouldn’t a saison have slightly more acidity? After a light and refreshing start there is a solid wormwood-like bitterness in the finish, not unlike Saison Dupont.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2006 21:18:23 | More by Sigmund