Saison - Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S

beertunes

Washington

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

Poured into tulip. Poured a bright, cloudy, yellow with over an inch of bright, white head that had good retention and low-to-moderate lacing.

The aroma was a very yeasty, spicy scent that's typical of the style. The flavors also had those aspects, but there was a nice earthy grain taste that added a layer, that the aroma hadn't predicted.

The body was perhaps a bit fuller than average for the style. As this is one of my favorite styles, it shouldn't be a surprise that I found drinkability to be very good, maybe a touch better than average for the style.

Overall, a very nice beer. Worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 19:37:56 | More by beertunes

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

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle. Served in a tulip glass, the beer pours a hazy straw gold color with an inch and a half frothy white head. Head retention is good, and there's a lot of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is lemon peel, wheat, coriander and a bit of banana. Smells more like a witbier than a saison, but with that being said it is a nice aroma. It tastes like wheat, lemon peel, pear, peppery spice and also a bit of an earthy taste. I think it tastes like a mix of a saison and a wit. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's well carbonated. Drinkability is good, the soft carbonation and the smoothness of this beer makes it easy to drink. I think it's a good overall brew, I thought it was nice and refreshing. Another good Nøgne Ø brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 01:10:38 | More by bluejacket74

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

First warm day in RI (77 degrees), just finished a few hours of yardwork and felt like a Saison would really hit the spot.

Served in my Delirium Tremens tulip (love this glass). Poured a hazy pale gold. No head to speak off, but an off-white skim of foam and ringlets that quickly dissipated into a light slick with a thin band concentrated around the perimeter of the glass. Some lacing, but not much. Scent was very discrete; some yeast and citrus (perhaps grapefruit) and maybe just a hint of funk. Flavor is also very subdued and balanced. Taste similar to nose; however, flavors are more reminiscent of a wheat beer than a saison. Mouthfeel was very flat and limp, no carbonation to speak of. Drinkability is good. Brew was very refreshing, but not at all characteristic of a Saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2008 21:38:24 | More by Jwale73

Gmann

New York

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

Pours a bright yet cloudy pale orange color with an average head that dissipated into a light cap. The aroma is earthy; some pepper, light lemon and a good whiff of a banana bread. The taste is of banana bread, light citrus, and a light funk. A light hop bitterness in the end. Taste reminds me of a hefe with a little funk. Not tart like most saisons, has more of a yeast profile. Still very tasty though. The feel is moderate and has a creamy texture, finishes fairly balanced. Not a typical saison as I didn't pick up much in the way of floral notes, tartness, or the funk. However, still a very fine tasting brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 02:37:01 | More by Gmann

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

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle into tulip, no dating. Pours hazy golden amber color with 1-2 fingers of a dense white head with great retention that reduces to a thin lacing cap. Some nice lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of big pepper, spices, clove, grape, apple, grass, and a bit of funk. Very nice and standard saison aromas. Taste of big spices, pepper, bread, funk, apple, and grass. A lot of spice in the taste with lingering notes of spice, pepper, and a bit of funk on the finish with some bitterness. Decent balance of flavors, but I was hoping for more fruit in the taste. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied. A bit of a creamy mouthfeel that drinks very smoothly as well. Overall, a solid saison offering.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 03:53:42 | More by superspak

laituegonflable

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly orange-tinged gold with very frothy off-white head, bubbles are fairly visible and webbed, and sinks in a beautiful melting-marshmallow style, leaves tinges of lacing around. Quite hazy as well, with healthy bead.

Nose is fairly fresh and organic, with some lucerne character and some pineapple esters as well. Good dose of mildly sour funk. Not excessively complex, but everything present and accounted for.

Taste is a nice fresh one, nice and complex palate. Some sour, resiny notes on the front give way to some pleasant bitter and hoppy flavours, blended well with some fresh fruit characters - mango and pineapple on there. A big rubber sensation, great deal of that, with a fair amount of barnyard funk and a carrot flavour as well. A bit of a metallic character on the back which leaves a slightly acerbic hang, almost like a corked wine. Allover a nice blend though, fairly light and fruity with good saison characters.

Beautifully textured feel - full-bodied but smooth with a great earthy feel. Wonderful.

Very pleasant and drinkable beer. Thirst-quenching and refreshing. Shame about the aftertaste which is the one downer to an otherwise great drop.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 00:26:40 | More by laituegonflable

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a bottle in Buffalo on the basis that I love saisons and it was the only one in the store I hadn't bought before.

Pours a rich orange with a finger of white head that quickly drops to a film. A few lace spots are left behind, but for the style its neither impressive nor disappointing. Malty aroma of mash tun with some earthiness, grain and light spice. Certainly lacking in the funk and pepperiness I look for in the style, but pleasant enough. Much the same can be said of the flavour, which lacks all funk (booo!) and pepper (booo!). What we have left behind is a pleasant, quaffable beer that goes long on the malt and wheat, while complimenting it with a marked earthiness and mineral quality, before culminating in a lightly bitter and dry finish. Medium body and carbonation seemed style appropriate.

An interesting take on the style that almost seems a little unfinished, and with a touch too much mash tun character. A pleasant beer for sure, but lacking the complexity or extreme drinkability that would result in a return purchase, so in that light, a touch disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 13:21:24 | More by bobsy

cjgator3

Florida

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16.9oz bottle

A- Pours a very hazy golden yellow color with orange hues

S- The aroma is delightfully fruity with a lot of citrus, spices and yeast. There is not as much hops in the aroma as most Saisons, but there is a really nice mixture of citrus and spices.

T- The taste features a lot of citrus and spices like the aroma, with a nice touch of hops in the finish. This is a little different than most Saisons that are typically light and crisp with some spices and a hoppy finish, but this is a solid brew in its own right.

M- The mouthfeel is medium bodied, but I feel that it could benefit by a little more carbonation.

D- This is a great beer, but at 6.5% it is not as sessionable as some of the lower ABV Saisons out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 22:34:26 | More by cjgator3

prototypic

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Saison is hazy and a light gold color. Despite its haziness, there's no swimming yeast. A foamy white head rises to about two fingers. It fell to a surface level covering nearly as fast. Lacing was sticky and rather light.

The nose is kicked off with a very musky and earthy aroma. It has a slight funky aroma. It's not Brett, but something else. A generous amount of spices amp it up quite a bit. Clove and pepper are apparent, but there may be other spices I'm not picking up. A floral hop presence attributes a grassy aroma that only further its strong earthy character. A little Belgian yeast is noted on the tail, but it's not prominent. No alcohol is noted. Not a bad effort at all.

A nice grainy flavor kicks it off. It tastes a little sweet at first, but that quickly disappears. Clove and pepper spices are quite tasty and boost the overall flavor a notch. Hops are more prominent than one would expect. They're mostly floral and earthy in character, but add quite a bit to the overall flavor. I like it. Lemon and light orange citrus notes creep in toward the end. Belgian yeast is noted, but certainly isn't that strong in overall flavor. Incidentally, there's no appreciable funky flavor here. I was expecting it. Alcohol is blended very well and goes unnoticed. Overall, this has a pretty nice flavor. It's a solid effort by the Scandinavian crew. It's not quite on par with some of the best, but it's firmly in the second tier for the style.

Saison's body is light and has a decent, smooth feel. Carbonation feels a little too light and doesn't hold up its end very well. It doesn't have a substantial negative effect. Perhaps minor. Drinkability is good. It goes down way too fast and easy. The flavor is overall pretty impressive. I could handle a few of these.

Saison's a nice release from Nøgne Ø. It's probably a little better than the score here will reflect, but it's tough to stack up against some top notch releases of the style. The flavor isn't quite as refined or artful as those examples. But, it's difficult to call that a problem. The biggest problem is that its carbonation is too light. Pretty impressive outside of that. Definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2009 01:34:47 | More by prototypic

ADZA

Australia

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a orangey,cloudy hue with decent carbonation that leaves a half finger head with lots of visible lacing down the sides of the glass,it has aromas of marmalade,orange peel and grapefruit,on taste its quite fruity with a real floral,peachy,grapefruit taste about it that finishes with a bitter edge but smooth enough to quaff down.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2009 03:13:13 | More by ADZA

clayrock81

Virginia

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

A dark gold, almost orange beer that has a solid one-finger head that dies slowly and leaves some lace. Some malts and a citric burst in the smell. A sweet malt taste is there, with caramel being prevelant. There is some tartness in there also, like sour apple or raspberries (some fruit sharp in nature). Medium-bodied and passes over the tongue with minor crispness and finishes with a drying sensation but doesn't have a funky aftertaste. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2008 02:45:13 | More by clayrock81

sweemzander

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

500mL bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a clear orange color. Produced a great fluffy white head with solid retention. Very consistent lacing all around the inside rim.

(S)- Very very dry. Has a unique floral-like almost medicinal band-aid brett character to it. Earthy yeast and lemon/wheat characters as well. A different aroma, but an intriguing one.

(T)- Very different from the smell. Very dry and very earthy with bitter clay in front of a band-aid-like tartness.

(M)- A good carbonation level. Very dry and bitter with tons of clay. A bit disjointed and surprisingly thin even for the style. The bitterness is almost overwhelming actually.

(D)- Definitely a bit odd and funky for a traditional Saison. Very bitter and earthy with little else going on aside from that weird medicinal aspect.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 01:01:21 | More by sweemzander

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Attended a beer tasting on 4/24 where we got to meet Kjetil Jikiun and speak with him. Ended up picking up a few bottles of this. During the tasting and the bottles taken home - these brews POPPED right open, bit of spray attached to them.

This beer pours a pale, hazy, golden body, with a thick 2-3 finger head. Decent head retention touch of spotty, wispy lacing. Nose is of grainy hops, grass, orange, and yeast, with possibly a touch of pepper. Taste surprised me with the amount of malts in here - but grass and grains, with a dose of yeast are really at the forefront of the taste. Orange zest balance out the grain taste and give real substance. The citrus hops in here give a bit of a punch but the finish is on the malt side, with a sweet aftertaste to it. Light to medium bodied, there is a fair amount of carbonation that works well for this beer. This is a HIGHLY drinkable beer and I can't wait to drink the other bottles I got from the tasting!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2009 22:18:17 | More by Jayli

bashiba

Iowa

2.83/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured a cloudy yellow with a thick sticky off white head.

It smelled funky like saison should, but maybe a little to funky, almost feet like.

Considering the huge nose the flavor is very mild and crisp with a bit of light fruit and a touch of lemony bitterness, very mild and not nearly as spicy as most Saisons.

The mouthfeel is spot on with a crisp and dry finish.

Drinkable, but a bit on the bland side for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 21:57:38 | More by bashiba

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

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1 Pt .9 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a cloudy, pale orange golden color with a frothy cream color head that has nice retention and average lacing. Aroma is earthy, grainy with mild fruitiness and malt. Also an occasional unpleasant cat pee pinch in the nose. Taste has a strong pale malt and grain body with soft full body and fine, sharp carbonation. Pleasant balance of pepper spice, lemon zest and sweeter fruits and sugars. Finish isn't quite as dry or crisp as hoped for. I don't know, it seems like all the right pieces are in place for what I look for from a saison but they don't quite add up a smooth, enjoyable sum.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2010 02:00:44 | More by yourefragile

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

on tap at hawthornes in philly

Pours a hazed golden straw color, fluff of white head fades to a bit of film, with patchy lacing left on the glass.

Soft, yet fragrant nose - floral hops and some bites of pepper spice. Some banana and fruit sweetness with herbal touches.

Slight floral hop profile with soft bitterness up front. Wheat and straw with some herbal qualities. Sweetness and fruit, including banana and orange. Biscuit malts are soft as the beer finishes a bit dry on the tongue.

Medium body, higher carbonation, tingle and refreshing on the senses. Pretty drinkable saison, nice for the season, but considering the price point I probably wouldn't buy this again - just not a whole lot happening here.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2011 23:16:15 | More by xnicknj

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a cervoise glass. No visible best before date, but I bought it from the 20% off shelf at Stein's Deli in New Orleans, so my hopes aren't excellent.

A: Milky-pale yellow; cloudy, but luminous in the light. White, pitted head that looks light and fluffy, leaving spiderwebs of lace behind.

S: Funky yeast; sour. A bit earthy/spicy. A promising saison, as I like mine strange and dry. Not unfruity, but in a tart fruit sort of way.

T: A very nice saison! Sweetish, malted wheat provides the stage upon which the odd fruit dances (briefly). Yeast plays a prominent role in the flavours of the beer, leading to a dry, earthy finish.

M: A bit watery. I could see how this would be refreshing in summer months, but it's below freezing outside. Very light carbonation is surprisingly pleasant.

O: A bit pricey ($9) but enjoyable all the same. One of the better saisons I've come across, and a beer which confirms my bias towards Nøgne Ø. Recommended; buy with confidence!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 21:25:37 | More by AgentMunky

popery

California

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

A: Glowing, dusky, gold, lemon liquid with a pretty good head.

S: A bit refined/constrained for my tastes in a saison. Lemony citrus, earthy Belgian yeast, summer barley. The funk could be amped up, but it's still there.

T: This beer isn't quite as differentiated from other Belgian styles as I would like. It is quite focused enough on Saison funk. Nøgne Ø has brewed a very good Belgian-style ale, but judging it strictly as a saison, it doesn't have quite the kick of a Dupont or Fantôme beer. There is a complexity of spice blended into Belgian earthiness that reminds me of an excellent Tripel more than anything. The hopping is moderate but noticeable and pleasant. The funk is mild and reminiscent of an extremely clean, fancy barn, rather than a rustic country farm (if that comment means anything to anyone).

M: Smooth, mild, pleasant aftertaste.

D: Good, easy on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2009 05:26:22 | More by popery

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle a hazy yellow-peach color with two fingers of rich off-white head.

Aroma of banana, Belgian yeast, green apple, mango, spice, and an earthy funkiness.

Tastes of banana, lemon zest, yeast, cloves, cinnamon, Belgian candied sugar, and some hoppy bitterness. Some metallic notes in the finish.

Lighter bodied, crisp, and moderately carbonated.

A bit light in the flavor department making it a pretty average saison.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2009 22:23:23 | More by Monkeyknife

charlzm

California

3.08/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Consumed 08/30/08.

From the bottle to the tulip glass, the beer looks a lot like a mimosa: fairly clear golden/orange with plenty of tiny bubbles though only a fleeting head. Then, because I didn't catch it in time, the cloudy yeast from the bottle bottom slipped out. Drats!

The beer is quite aromatic, with sweet honeysuckle complimented by a tart citrus character (mostly oranges). This literally made my mouth water!

The mouthfeel is a bit on the watery side, and the lack of carbonation imparts a heavy, almost syrupy feel.

Flavor is muted: similar to but sadly less intense than the aroma. Not particularly sour or tart, the most notable (and surprising) flavor is a marked bitterness. There's also a hint of dryness on the finish.

Disappointing, after the overall high caliber of this brewery's other beers and the awesome aroma. I poured most of it down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2008 23:13:36 | More by charlzm

david131

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- As soon as I popped the cap, the liquid came gushing out. Once it is tamed an in a glass it the orange/brown liquid appears luminescent with loads of streams making their way to the surface. The head is very thick and creamy and has excellent retention. Perfect.

S- Flowers, honey, fruit, pepper, and bread. Not super aromatic, but subtle and enjoyable.

T- Some fruit and bread... Not much going on here at all. There is nothing at the end to speak of.

M- Very clean and dry on the finish. Extremely light finish considering how smooth it is at the front end.

D- Well it may be nice on a summer day or something, but there is absolutely nothing in the flavor profile that stands out to me. It is also not even close to being worth $10 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 03:32:40 | More by david131

CampusCrew

Florida

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

Appearance: cloudy pale, with good head retention

Smell: nice grainy, earthtone smell

Taste: a light and easy drinking, mild clove and spices, mild earthiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. decent carbonation

Drinkability: a solid saison, I had it 6 months or so so the hops faded some.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2009 05:56:36 | More by CampusCrew