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

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours jet black with about a half finger of light brown head. A very light amount of carbonation is visible and the head reduces slowly as the beer warms up to room temperature. Moderate lacing is present.
S: Notes of chocolate, vanilla, and coffee.
T: Very rich flavors in this beer - tastes of chocolate and coffee with a fair amount of lingering sweetness.
M: Medium bodied with light amounts of carbonation.
O: The taste of the alcohol is very well hidden in this beer which makes the beer quite enjoyable. I could drink several of these beers though I shudder to think of my level of tipsiness if I did that. I think this is a much better beer for a cold winter day than another time of year. Definitely a beer that I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 01:13:22 | More by dbrauneis

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark black with ample head and excellent retention. Great lacing as well.

The aroma is full of chocolate and roasted malts. Not a ton else going on here but the chocolate and roasty flavors are thick enough to hold their own.

The taste is really smooth and strong at the same time. It's never overpowering, but there is a huge roasty blast from the start. A bit of coffee comes through, as well as some dark malt. Hop bitterness is here, and it blends terrifically. When all is said and done it's a lot of flavor to drink as well as it does.

The mouthfeel is medium full and medium heavy. The finish is slightly dry and moderately sticky.

Overall, this was a lot better than expected. It's blended extremely well, and the flavor is not lacking. Bitterness is more than I expected from a lighter RIS such as this which is quite nice. I'm really surprised that I don't hear about this stout more often than I do. Hopefully I can still find more on the shelves.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 23:29:37 | More by BBP

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 500 ml bottle into a Surly Darkness Chalice glass. No date noticeable.

Appearance: Pours very dark and black with no color coming through. Nice three fingers of deep tan head that settles into a thin coffee like creamy layer. Good amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Roasty dark malts with good hints of chocolate, coffee and molasses. Big presence of dark fruit with hints of dark cherries, raisin, and plum. Also some hints of smoke and a little bit of earthy hops in the background. Pretty roasty and fairly sweet.

Taste: Big taste of chocolate, dark roasted malts, coffee, and dark fruits. Good hints of cherries, plum, and raisins. Also some molasses and a light hint of earthy hops towards the finish. Some light hints of smoke in the background. This may have aged a bit as the dark fruits are really coming out here. Pretty good.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Very creamy and smooth. No alcohol heat at all.

Overall: A very solid imperial stout. Great use of dark malts and the fruits add a nice sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 07:32:19 | More by MattyG85

Kartoffeln

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque black with a mocha head of thick, pillowy foam. Excellent retention, slowly dissipating to a thick collar with a fine cap and leaving loads of lacing.

S: Cocoa, caffe mocha, toffee, chocolate and black malts, and mild roasted barley with a hint of charcoal. Butteriness, yeast, and a bit of booziness throughout.

T: Munich, chocolate, and mild black malts with biscuit and roasted barley undertones, seguing into caffe mocha, drinking cocoa, cinder toffee, and blackstrap molasses. Boozy warmth, nutty yeast, resiny and spicy hops, and a slightly lactic tang in the finish. Just a hint of smokiness throughout.

M: Full-bodied with low, creamy-smooth carbonation and a velvety texture. The ABV is mildly warming, never overwhelming, and the balance between the palate and earthy, tangy finish is spot-on.

D: Rich, filling, and flavourful, but with exceptional balance and body that makes it easier-drinking than more intense RISs. Definitely worth trying, especially on a winter night.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 03:56:00 | More by Kartoffeln

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a 22oz. snifter.

A - Pours as black as a wizards soul. 1.5 fingers of chunky espresso head slowly fade into a thin collar. Mild lacing.

S - Smoked malt, dark chocolate, vanilla, raspberry fruit is buried under the rich malt. Tangy yeast and leather. The chocolate gets sweeter and more intense as it warms.

T - Decadent chocolate and roasted malts blast the palate. It's like liquid brownie batter. Ground espresso, tangy English yeast, leather, caramelized brown sugar, bitter and dry on the finish.

M - Full bodied, rich, smooth, viscous feel. Low carbonation.

A very rich chocolatey RIS. The tangy yeast plays a major role along with the chocolate. It's sweet and robust with a dry roasty finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 01:07:47 | More by StaveHooks

MeisterBurger

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black topped by a thick, dense, rocky greyish brown head. Retains like a beast. Minimal lacing.

Roasty, chocolatey aroma. Cold coffee. A hint of cherry and toffee as it warms along with some raisin.

The taste follows with an underlying sweet milk chocolate and dark roast coffee with a gentle leafy hop bitterness in the finish. Some vanilla notes with a hint of tobacco smoke/ash--leather and licorice are at play as well.

Full mouthfeel, carbonation is low but it's just enough to cut the sweetness of the malt. You'd never guess it was 9%.

Overall a little on the timid side of an RIS, but still a really solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 21:08:14 | More by MeisterBurger

MattyV

Ontario (Canada)

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

Ominous in appearance--opaque black, dense creamy mocha head with good retention.
Aroma's very roasty, with lots of coffee and some faint tobacco/smoke in the background. Quite pleasant.
Taste is a balanced mixture of roasty sweetness, coffee, and dark chocolate. Mild alcohol noticeable in the finish, but fades quickly leaving a nice bitter cocoa aftertaste. Full bodied and somewhat silky carbonation.
Not the most extreme RIS in any aspect, but is wonderfully balanced and quite easy drinking. A bit of time should continue to work wonders on this one as it rests in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 05:11:56 | More by MattyV

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first brew from Norway, and damn was it a good 'un. Let's dig right in!

Poured into a dimpled mug. Like a good RIS, this brew is inky black, with only the faintest hint of chestnut or caramel when held to the light. Despite what I thought to be a gentle pour, Nogne produced a billowing mocha head that gently receded to a thick, impermeable layer of foam. Loads of sticky lacing. A fine looking brew indeed.

The nose displays all the best things I look forward to in a RIS, with a few extra goodies thrown in for good measure. A nice milk-cream sweetness, chocolate, bitter coffee, dark fruit, but with a lovely smoked character that for the briefest of moments reminded me of the meatiness of a rauchbier. Scandinavians seem to dig their smoky dark ales (Olvisholt's Lava anyone?), and I encourage this.

Tastes exactly as what the nose hinted it would. Rich and hearty, and with a nice smokiness that at once elicited visions of bygone campfires (and a subtle hint of smoked sausage to boot). The smoke and the hops provide a finish that is mildly sour - even a bit puckery - which neatly cleans up the sweetness of the brew's entry. Dark chocolate occasionally pokes its head about during the finish as well.

This beer has a silky body with mild but sufficient carbonation. Surprisingly creamy as well - very enjoyable.

My first brew from Norway, and boy did they hit this one out of the water. Loads of character, a delightful smoky complexion, and a well-hidden extra punch of booze, this will definitely be a repeat purchase for me. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 23:43:20 | More by JohnnyBarman

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark, jet black with caramal coloured head. Tastes very roasty, with notes of chocolate and slight smoke in the finish. The alcohol is well hidden and doesn't interfer with the taste. Decent stout overall and I would pick this up more if it was regularly available.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 22:41:03 | More by WeedKing4

BrownNut

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Smell - dark chocolatey/earthy, a faint hint of the slightly sour old beer smell of a well-used pub (in a good way), something fresh in there too

Mouthfeel - velvety smooth

Taste - somewhat sour (in a good way, like a lemon, but not with lemon flavor), slightly fruity in that high boozy way, faint hint of toasty roasty char. The dregs get very cocoa-y, which is nice. What I love about this beer is that it does what great dishes often do - it comes right up to the edge of an identifiable flavor and holds back just a bit, making you chase it. With both the citrus effect and the smoke it does this.

Aftertaste - an inoffensive amount of bitterness is left on the tongue but fades to a lower plateau where it just becomes a lingering crisp dryness. There's very mild smoke on the exhale.

Overall this is really pretty mild and very enjoyable. The bitterness and sourness come to a moderately tart point in the front of your mouth that is softened by some toastyness. It feels kind of like a chevron of tartness extending from the spit glands back in the corners forward to a vertex at the tip of the tongue. Nothing too acute here, but assertive enough to give you a nice effect, like a mild lemon might. They hide the 9% booze exceptionally well, so well that I'm not sure I believe the label here compared to last night's 7.5% Two Captains double IPA that gave me a lovely perma-grin buzz. Regardless, I call this a winner. It's to be drunk on your couch in your jammies with a blanket in cold weather. Chalk another one up for Nogne O. These guys know what they're doing. I want to go to there.

EDIT: Just had another one Feb 21, 2012 and what really impressed me was the perfume of this beer. So nice and so well composed and so much going on. Fresh, fruity, maybe even a little floral. Just so nice. Also, I normally savor good beers by themselves rather than with meals. With meals I like something simple and light that doesn't compete with flavors. But I had this beer with a roast chicken and sauteed potatoes and it went so well with those robust flavors. Just a great beer from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:29:40 | More by BrownNut

Ruds

United Kingdom (England)

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Tulip style glass.

Very rich dark brown to 'off' black in appearance with a good 2 fingers of browny/cream froth in the form of its head

Smells of both lightly roasted and sweet malt. Dark bitter chocolate, maybe some fruits hidden in there, but wouldn't like to guess at what!

Tastes of bitter chocolate, toffee/caramel, molasses, roasted malts, didn't get any fruit flavour in the mouth.

Mouth feel wise - nice and smooth, slightly oily, not as chewy as many other beers of this style at 9%+

Great effort at a Russian Imperial Stout, most pleasing was the fact that the flavours masked the alcohol, which isn't always the case with this style (in my experience)

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 12:20:39 | More by Ruds

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout has a head like Teflon and coloured like chocolate milk. It climbs two, maybe three fingers high off the pour and only slowly settles in to the giant honeycomb mess of foam and lacing. The beer beneath it is black as a Danish winter night, leaving no room whatsoever for highlights of any kind.

The aroma smells of smoke and coffee and dark chocolate, oh my! Thoughts of the outdoor are conjured instantly: the bouquet has a smoked game-meat-like heaviness and a melange of equal parts chocolate and foraged truffle. The hops impart spruce and pine needle-like notes, as well as a touch of bright, out-of-place citrus and pineapple.

Whereas the bouquet is heavy on campfire smoke and bitter coffee bean, the mouthfeel is creamy smooth, like a warm latte. Notes of cocoa have been sweetened and any oily, burnt astringency has been supplanted with brown sugar and cream. A shot of espresso remains, but it is mellowed by burnt sugar and an almost minty hoppiness.

Although it has all the requisite rich flavours, I hesitate to call Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout a sipper. For one, it's flawless fresh and, despite its big smoky malt and bitter cocoa flavor, is surprisingly mellow and quaffable. Little of the 9% shows. It essentially drinks like a milk stout; there's a creamy, bittersweet goodness that ensures a full, fluffy mouthfeel.

What amazes me about beer is that it makes infinite use of finite means; it has has only 4 ingredients and yet it produces such a wide, diverse range of aromas, flavors and textures. Nøgne Ø brews just about the whole range of them and this, Imperial Stout, is perhaps their most rich and decadent offering. Definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 20:04:56 | More by biegaman

seand

California

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a solid black with a huge amount of foamy dark tan head. A reasonable blanket retains well, and leaves large clumps and bubbles of lacing.

S: Rich molasses, roasted malts, and a bit of a vegetable-ish floral note.

T: Sweet and roasted, full flavor with a lightly bitter roasted finish. The booze is pretty well hidden.

M: Full body, medium carbonation.

Overall, pretty nice. It's not as richly sweet as some Russian imperial stouts tend to be, but it has a nice complex, full, flavor, and is well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 22:23:40 | More by seand

GodOfBeer

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a completely thick black liquid, not even light can escape it's presence. A nice thick dark brown head that doesn't seem to want to go anywhere. One of the nicest looking beers ever!

Smells of chocolate, coffee, smoke, caramel, milk, molasses, maple syrup, I could go on and on...

Tastes chocolatey and sweet up front some nice deep caramel malts, raisins, dark fruits, tobacco smoke (in a good way), hickory, coffee and a nice bitterness from the hops. Fairly complex. Covers the alcohol very well.

Nice thick mouthfeel that really lingers on the palate. Very drinkable. What a wonderful beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 03:12:59 | More by GodOfBeer

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From the moment you crack this open its the nose which hits you a
nd seduces you. Deep, sweet, earthy and luxurious with a rich element of truffle, this beer just makes you beg for more. On the palate it starts big and hoppy before developing a distinquished chocolaty malty quality. Looks good to with initially a deep tan milky coffee appearance of head. The body is just enough to hold the elements together and hide the final longish flourish. Well balanced and restrained yet lethal if drunk too quickly.
Nice work.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 21:19:58 | More by Zimbo

HardTarget

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: So black that strong back lighting comes through as white. Not ruby, not brown, white. Chunky head holds a thin cover and gives some lacing.

Smell: Black coffee, hint of roof tar/asphalt, burnt grain and a solid whiff of herbal, piney hops. Mild rain water, black bread yeast earthy background.

Taste: Rich malty base is sugary and clean seasoned with just enough hops to finish fairly balanced as the alcohol finishes off the long slow fade.

Mouthfeel: Oily and slick, yet drying. Soaks the chops and each sip takes a few minutes to fade away. Carbonation is low but manages a champagne bubble grittiness that breaks up the heavy body.

Overall: Yeah, Norway wins this round. They took an English style made for the Russian court reinterpreted by Americans, added German brewing precision and made something Norwegian.
http://cdn.overclock.net/9/93/93a29064_Slow-Clap.gif

Clean, rich, balanced, roasted barley hoppy goodness.
Big Thanks to Illudium for the Xmas treat!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 00:06:44 | More by HardTarget

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Jet black with 2 fingers of reddish brown head, lots of lace left behind. Smell is of roasted malt, big hop bill, smokey notes, bittersweet chocolate, some dark fruit, leather (once I read the label this is all I focused on), some citrus/earth from the hops underneath all the roasted malt. Taste is fairly roasted, chocolate milk flavours, very hoppy even leaving a citrusy aftertaste, coffee and burnt malts in the finish. Full body, creamy, medium carbonation abnd very silky. Good RIS, perhaps a bit too hoppy, I will give this anohter shot 10-12 months down the line to numb some of that hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 16:42:30 | More by peensteen

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Glad I grabbed this at the LCBO, a near perfect RIS. Poured a big two finger frothy coco head with huge retention and very creamy, lots of patchy lacing coating mye pint glass. It is a deep brown with red highlights.

Lots of sweet smokey malt with grassy hops and coffee coming through.

The taste is sweet smokey caramel malt with vanilla, and coffee notes - with lingering leather in the finish. Some ethanol in the finish as it warmed but not overly boozy. Really complex and well balanced.

It is full bodied with some carbonation, sweet,dry, but not at all bitter for the style. The smokiness really adds a nice layer of mouthfeel to it.

An excellent brew and really one of the best RIS' i have had. I will definitely grab a few more of these while they are around and I may have to break the bank to buy some more from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 00:52:58 | More by Stocean1

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the LCBO, 500ml into a snifter. Brewed August 26, 2011, best before August 26, 2016. Batch 685.

Pours almost completely black with a finger and change of brown head, with a reddish/crimson tinge to it. Very creamy and almost 'whipped' head. Dense lace and fantastic retention, looks awesome. Nose has some light coffee, milk chocolate, hints of smoke, char, and leather (the label suggested it, and I oculd actually detect this is some amounts). Taste has some bitter dark chocolate, coffee, caramelized and booze soaked dark fruits. Again, a touch of char or smoke, with a prevalent sweet (almost vanilla/almond-y character). Rich and pretty complex, with a creamy and thick feel. Good density and weight to the body. Fairly roasty and bitter finish. Good complexity and the alcohol is well hidden. Certainly dug this one, and I may stock up on this for the upcoming winter months.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 16:52:25 | More by liamt07

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 8/28/2011.
500ml into CBS snifter.

A- Thick oily black pour with a booming four finger chocolate milk colored head. Head drops to a quarter inch and remains, leaving sheets of lacing around the glass.

S- Roasted coffee, bakers chocolate. There is a light citrus hop presence that compliments the roast qualities. There is stone fruit and slight tobacco. Subtle licorice and molasses.

T- Roasted malts, leather and tobacco. Bakers chocolate and fresh roasted coffee. There is again a nice hop presence.

M- Full bodied, slightly creamy. Slightly prickly carbonation. Sticky on the lips.

O- Excellent stout, overall excellent experience

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 01:49:56 | More by korguy123

elNopalero

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another one of those enticing mystery bottles I’ve seen but never had the opportunity to try. Until now.

Imperial stout-like appearance, the color of thick, thick oil with no lacing and a good bit of aromas of roasty dark chocolate and coffee. It’s an excellent beer, tasting of dark chocolate and espresso and a bit of booze to give it a smooth kick as it warms. What strikes me and makes this a unique beer is the licorice I pick up. Black licorice, without the anise or fennel overtures. This is one brew I’d love to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 20:53:52 | More by elNopalero

SkipWeathers

Texas

4.88/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A special find of the shelf in NC! Perefect blend of bitterness, roast, and sweetness. Dark inky black in color with mud-brown head. Taste in well-balanced, velvety. Nice coffee and chocolate flavors in abundance. Just melts in your mouth. I want more and would like to try other varieties from this brewer...but I moved away from NC!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 22:12:36 | More by SkipWeathers

aidanskinner

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml Bottle poured into a nonic.

A - Dark, deep brown beer with a thin brown head that thickens up and clears a bit after resting for a couple of minutes.

S - Roast, slightly smoked malts, bit of chocolate

T - Slightly sweet edge nicely cuts through the bitter chocolate

M - Drinks nicely, relatively high carbonation for the style keeps it smooth without feeling like coke.

O - Awesome beer, love it. Going to have to get a couple to lay down for a while as it tastes like it'd age well.

(And with that sentence I am officially going to have to shoot myself)

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 18:26:21 | More by aidanskinner

grittybrews

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured black with a finger of creamy dark khaki head. Roasty aroma of coffee and dark cocoa with a hint of caramel.

Moderate carbonation and a creamy but relatively light mouthfeel. Lots of sweet cocoa up front followed by smooth espresso, vanilla, molasses, and a gentle roasty coffee bitterness on the finish.

Really nice balance of sweet/roasty with just a hint of alcohol warmth. Very pleasant!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 05:34:24 | More by grittybrews

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a oil like black body w/ tan han that left some lace down the glass. A somewhat boozy aroma of thick, roasted malts w/ some oakiness and I'm getting minimal sweet malts and very little hop bitterness. Actually poured smooth and creamy w/ touches of oak and chocolate before a large, chewy chunk of bready, roasted malts hit my toungue for the dryness I was expecting. Finishes dry and crisp, more perhaps due to the large amount of roasted (bordering coffee) malts and ABV than the somewhat muted floral hop bitterness. Nice balance, a good sipping stout I enjoyed after dinner and I like the minor sweetness as well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2011 17:06:57 | More by clayrock81