Imperial Stout - Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S

jdklks

Nevada

3.65/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The appearance is truly exceptional. rivals the best of the style. rediculously dark. not even allowing for the amber edges that many stouts boast when backlit, this one is impenetrable to light. a gorgeous head that ranges in color between milk and dark chocolate. It also smells fantastic. tons of chocolate and sweet, roasted malts. dark fruits (strong blueberry), and a blast of caramel. mmmm.

my senses of smell and taste have not been on the same page as of late. tons of roasted malt that gives off nothing but coffee bitterness. the sweetness expected from the smell is devoured by the intensity of roastiness. what is left resembles something like dark chocolate and not-quite-ripe blueberries. im going to have to come back to this as the beer warms a little.

mouthfeel is over-carbonated, but nice and thick. drinkability is good. overall, its okay.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 05:51:24 | More by jdklks

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-19-2013 17:51:07 | More by tom10101

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle. Pours an opaque dark brown with a finger of fine light brown head. Good retention; minimal lacing. Aroma is medium roast and dark malt--notes of bitter chocolate and coffee. Flavor is similar: mild bitterness and roast up front, fading into dark chocolate, coffee and mild alcohol in the finish. Soft carbonation, medium body, and smooth texture. Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 19:51:03 | More by BeerRefugee

carlosega

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-17-2013 19:33:52 | More by carlosega

mscudder

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -15%

04-29-2013 02:29:56 | More by mscudder

coltsr2

United Kingdom (England)

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

04-26-2013 21:09:14 | More by coltsr2

Trower

Maine

5/5  rDev +21.4%

04-20-2013 18:29:47 | More by Trower

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

04-18-2013 20:34:58 | More by browniewithnuts

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

04-18-2013 05:39:44 | More by schnarr84

Cubatobaco

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -9%

04-13-2013 21:47:20 | More by Cubatobaco

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle. As spring seems tentative in its approach, I guess these heartier beers still have their place at this time. Ah, who am I kidding, I'd drink this in deepest, sweatiest August, if that's when it arrived here.

This beer pours a very solid black abyss, with only the slightest hints of basal cola 'highlights', and two fingers of thickly foamy, puff-chested light brown head, which leaves an undulating vista of mountain peak lace around the glass as it evenly recedes.

It smells of dark roasted caramel malt, somewhat sour black orchard fruit, thin treacle, grainy coffee beans, vegetal earthy hops, and a touch of zingy warming alcohol. The taste is big chocolate caramel malt, mildly tart dark fruit - the usual suspect plum, prune, and dried cherries, a piffling smokiness, earthy cafe au lait, a subtle oat-borne nut character, dead leafy hops, and a very tame booze edginess.

The carbonation is fairly understated, nothing really tickling the throat here, the body a solid medium-heavy weight, smooth without constraint, and creamy to a certain degree. It finishes on the sweet side, the chocolate, coffee, and caramel holding the fort, with some trickling hop and booze notes providing fodder for any hope of balance.

Another winner from this brewery that only seems to brew the beefiest of beer styles - not that there's anything wrong with that, given their obvious proficiency. Balanced, somewhat, i.e. not too sweet, and with an ABV that is most agreeably shy. What's not to like?

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 03:10:08 | More by biboergosum

zonker17

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

04-12-2013 12:15:49 | More by zonker17

warnerry

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

04-08-2013 02:29:07 | More by warnerry

Immortale25

Florida

4.19/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. No freshness date. Much appreciated, BlackBelt5112203

A- Pours a murky 99% opaque black color with a 1/4 inch brown head that retains a bit before soon degrading to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a nice-sized patch of surface foam. Resilient sheet of lacing has tiny speckles.

S- Strong scent of very dark roast brings notes of dark chocolate, molasses, raisin and caramel. The alcohol is quite apparent creating a bourbon-esque aroma.

T- A bit smoother than the smell would imply. The notes turn from dark chocolate to milk chocolate and the caramel is more pronounced. Yes, it's still quite roasty and a bit bitter but the sweetness is more of a key player in the taste. Booze is still around but doesn't spoil the party, just brings more of those hints of whiskey.

M- Quite creamy and slick with medium-low carbonation and the fullest of bodies.

O- A very bold stout with high roast character and a smooth finish. Met my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 23:42:04 | More by Immortale25

HumphreyLee

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

04-05-2013 06:37:48 | More by HumphreyLee

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

03-31-2013 04:31:07 | More by Zachtheporter

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

No date from what I can see.

A: Pitch black with a tall, fluffy, thick, medium brown head that leaves behind just a bit of lace and has a nice ring of foam.

S: Heavy roasted malt, molasses, brown sugar, dark fruits, some chocolate and coffee. Everything you'd expect but with a nice sweetness and chocolaty aroma when given a good swirl.

T: Super balanced between roasty, charred malt and sweet, chocolaty, woody malt. A faint hop presence in the finish?

M: Incredibly smooth, sweet, and seriously delicious. Roasted malt flavor is spectacular.

O: Really let this beer warm up. Allows it to shine. Well-crafted and such a joy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:56:05 | More by Gatch

bradfordjohnson

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-27-2013 15:57:57 | More by bradfordjohnson

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-23-2013 03:41:24 | More by bostonryan

smonice

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -21.1%

03-09-2013 11:13:01 | More by smonice

ZinFanDave

Georgia

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-09-2013 00:37:26 | More by ZinFanDave

dbone_has_biers

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

03-05-2013 06:19:50 | More by dbone_has_biers

duracell

Quebec (Canada)

4.26/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

500mL into a snifter. Batch 777, brewed on 20/02/12, best before 10/02/16.
A - Pitch black color with a thin ring of espresso color. Some thick lacing left on the glass.
S - Big espresso, dark chocolate, dark fruits (plums and raisins). Relatively sweet to the nose, no apparent alcohol.
T/M - Relatively sweet upfront with a fruity character followed by load of espresso flavors that dries out the mouth. Hop comes at the end with a balanced bitterness and some herbal character. Finishes really dry and lingers forever.
O - Good balance and nice complexity. Definitely coffee oriented but to style. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 20:44:36 | More by duracell

Seaba

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

02-26-2013 19:20:37 | More by Seaba

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Pours dense pitch black color with a 1 finger dense dark mocha head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big dark chocolate, cocoa, char, roasted malt, coffee, toast, raisin, fig, licorice, and roasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with big balance, strength, and complexity of dark roasted notes and light fruitiness. Taste of big dark chocolate, cocoa, char, roasted malt, coffee, raisin, fig, light molasses, toast, licorice, oats, and roasted earthiness. Light roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, char, roasted malt, coffee, raisin, light molasses, toast, licorice, oats, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic balance and complexity of dark roasted flavors and fruitiness; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy, slick, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with nearly zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic imperial stout. Great complexity and balance of very dark roasted malt flavors; and extremely smooth and easy to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 06:57:54 | More by superspak