Imperial Rye Porter (Nøgne Ø / Terrapin Collaboration) - Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark chocolate brown, almost black color with a two finger mocha head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Streaks and chunks of lacing left behind.

Roasted dark malt aroma with a spicy rye presence that's complimented by earthy hops, lactic cream and sweeter notes. Really strong rye character along with burnt toast, dark chocolate, caramel, toffee and oatmeal. Slightly boozy and on the verge of becoming acrid but the rye adds another dimension of complexity that helps the nose.

On the fuller end of medium bodied with a surprisingly hop forward flavor profile. Very dry and bitter with a dank, earthy pine needle presence that lingers over the spicy rye and roasted malts into a bone dry finish. In desperate need of some sweetness to combat the acrid, burnt malt profile and overpowering hop bitterness. As it warms and the palate adjusts, the rye character and subtle malt sweetness comes toward the forefront. Hints of burnt dark chocolate malt, oatmeal, robust coffee bean and caramel before finishing with subtle boozy heat. Not bad, but too hoppy for the style in my opinion and could use some more sweetness for balance.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 07:06:14 | More by corby112

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours pitch black with a half finger of dense tan head. Good retention.

S: Strong roasted malts dominate the smell of this beer. I get some nuttiness similar to English yeast character mixed with some toffee. As the beer warms, I get some dark chocolate as well.

T: Equal parts strong roast and rye dominate the beer with burnt malts and above average bitterness. On the dry side, but still balanced. As the beer warms, it sweetens a bit with some dark and milk chocolate.

M: Medium mouthfeel with strong carbonation.

O: Pretty solid Imperial Porter. I remember this being thicker with much more chocolate than in the bottle (and significantly better), but this is still good.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 01:53:49 | More by coreyfmcdonald

prototypic

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Imperial Rye Porter is a very dark, chocolate fudge color. It’s almost opaque. Holding the glass up to light shows some dark burgundy highlights at the outer edges. Very impressive color nonetheless. A tan crown sits on top and stands just over a finger tall. It’s rather slow to recede, leaving a moderate spotty lacing behind. Good looking stuff.

The nose is good. It kicks off with a nice mix of chocolate and strong coffee. It doesn’t smell all that sweet. Roasted coffee is strong in the mix and really complements the chocolate well. It even adds a slight charred or burnt aroma. Rye is noted and adds a bread-like quality to the overall mix. Secondary scents include various spicy, herbal, and grassy notes. Alcohol is there, but doesn’t come through overly strong. Smells good!

The flavor is every bit as good as the nose, perhaps a little better. The malt base is certainly chocolate. It’s dark and bittersweet. Not much sweet milk chocolate here. Coffee is very bold in flavor and complements the chocolate extremely well. As a coffee fan, I love that! Rye is easily noted. It’s not buried at all. It adds a nice spicy flavor and is a little bread-ish. It’s a little herbal and grassy. Alcohol isn’t overly strong. Finishes with a nicely balanced mix of malty, herbal, and spicy flavors. Impressive.

Imperial Rye Porter has a body that’s on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation seems light and rather soft overall. It still feels just a tad thin for its size. More body would definitely smooth it out. Pretty drinkable stuff though. It’s tasty and goes down easy.

This collaboration between Terrapin Beer Company and Nøgne Ø is definitely impressive. I was a little apprehensive about a mix of dark malts and rye, but it works even better than I’d hoped. This is definitely tasty beer! Grab a bottle while you can!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 02:58:35 | More by prototypic

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle - $9.99 at Charlie's Beer & Wine in Marietta, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out an ebony-hued body with a small-sized, tan head. Thin veneer of lacing on the way down.

Smell: Robust mocha tones with the incorporated roast, the harsh chocolate, heavy toastiness. Slightly lesser but still hearty notes of dark fruit, rye malt, anise, and woodsy hop pellets.

Taste: Roasted malts, plenty of bitter dark chocolate with a little pinch of licorice and some of the zestful rye coming across mingled with some underlying hop bitterness from the woodsy hops and alcohol warmth. Spiced, peppery mocha on the back half with continued warmth and some roasted grain astringency until the creamyish finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Fairly creamy, soft mouthfeel.

Overall: Fairly solid while not a jump for joy beer. Nøgne Ø generally handles the malty brews well.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 00:04:41 | More by ChainGangGuy

sommersb

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 10-28-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Terrapin Snifter
Purchased: Single from Midtown, Nashville

Color is near black and opaque. The tan head is small and offers a fair amount of lacing. Head retention is low, just leaving some swirls of tan on top of the beer. My bottle also had some brown sediment stuck in the neck and on the inside of the cap, but it didn't seem to detract from the taste.

Aromas are very nice, starting with roasted grains as in coffee, plus spicy rye malts, bittersweet chocolate, wood/oak/earthen notes, and licorice.

The taste has a bitterness of coffee roast, then dark chocolates, and earthy hops. A bit boozy as well. Mouthfeel is creamy and full-bodied, with a dry finish that has a bit of bite from the rye grain, or maybe the hops, that I don't find enjoyable. This improves some as the beer warms up. More alcohol warmth is noted as well.

All in all, this was a pleasant porter, but could use maybe a little less rye or hops in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 03:02:10 | More by sommersb

axeman9182

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, allowed to warm a little bit before being poured into my Brooklyn Brewery tulip.

Nogne O and Terrapin's collaboration imperial rye porter pours entirely black, with three fingers or so of mocha foam crown the beer, and head retention is very good. Lacing is a little bit spotty though. The aroma is a wonderful blend of sweet chocolate and roasty coffee, with the advantage probably tilted towards the former. A spicy note from the rye is left to skulk in the background. The flavor loses some of the sweetness from the nose. The chocolate is more of the bittersweet, dark variety, and is more evenly balanced. While that's nice, a ssligtly weeter flavor base would have played as a better base for the spicy rye character to contrast against. The body is very chewy, and combined with the very low carbonation, the mouthfeel is just a little over the top malty. I wish the carbonation was just a bit higher to lend a little bit of much needed levity. It's not quite world class, but this porter from Nogne O and Terrapin is definitely a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 03:59:43 | More by axeman9182

cvm4

Mississippi

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours very black with a good amount of a tan head. Great lacing, sticks to the glass.

S - Getting a good helping of roasted malt and rye.

T - The taste really follows in line with the smell. Not picking up too many different characteristics.

M - Really coats your mouth, heavy on the palette and low carbonation.

T - It really follows in step with what the label says. But, it's a really nice and well done beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 23:27:29 | More by cvm4

Dope

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours pitch black with a huge and dense dark brown head. Fades slowly, leaving thick and fluffy lacing everywhere. Leaves a nice island of foam for a long while as well.

S: Nice ashy roasted malt with a hint of chocolate. Rye bread joins in for the fun with some spiciness.

T: Nice smooth chocolate mixed with rye up front. Fades away into a bitter coffee and ash aspect. Stays bitter and ashy and perhaps a touch earthy and smoky through the finish and lingers for quite a while.

M: Pretty heavy body, good carbonation, slick and smooth. Drying in the finish with the char.

O: A nice unique imperial porter with the rye aspect. Flavors meld nicely. Not too smoky like a lot of english-style porters. Definitely ashy, however. Not super complex but it's tasty and smooth. I really enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 02:27:10 | More by Dope

seand

California

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep opaque black with a large amount of dense tan head. It dissipates to a thin but solid layer on the surface, and leaves nice spots of lacing.

S: Dense molasses sweetness with a thick roasted grain note. There's a hint of something almost vinous.

T: Thick roasted malt with a dry middle leading into a bitter toasty finish.

M: Full bodied, medium carbonation, dry, and a touch chewy.

Overall, nicely constructed with a roasted flavor that just barely doesn't cross the line into over the top. Try it if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 03:14:11 | More by seand

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a .5lt bottle into a dfh snifter

A: nice and black with a massive two and a half finger if tanned chocolaty head that dissapates nicley and leavs some nice lacing... Great looking beer.

S: nice notes of chocolate and light notes of roasted coffee along with some nice spicy rye notes.... Nice nose.

T: yum, this brew reminds me of Firestone walker wookie jack, minus the hops, I get a nice chocolatyness along with some spicy rye notes And a slight touch of earthy hop bitterness, there are also some toasty grain coffe like notes in there, all and all this brew is very well rounded and tasty.

M: really like the mouthfeel here, very thick and creamy, a touch dry on the finish from the rye and bittering hops, nicley rounded.

O: this is a delicious beer, nice depth and rich creamyness, the rye works well here, tasty and complex, deffinatly can see myself grabbing another bottle or two of this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 00:29:38 | More by PeterIngemi

BrownNut

Florida

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

A - 4 - Black. Thick rich tan head

S - 4 - black malt and dark chocolate and something else, almost a fruit

T - 4 - black malt, bitter chocolate, coffee, little woody, rye aftertaste

M - 5 - luxurious thick viscous velvety

O - 4.25 - They say one man's porter is another man's stout and this proves it. Its a stout. Maybe that's the imperial talking. Well done. Not too complex or unique but still a beautiful beer. Great taste and wonderful mouthfeel. A winner.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 03:07:54 | More by BrownNut

barczar

Kentucky

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black with no highlights visible in poor lighting and a quarter inch mocha head that dissipates quickly, leaving no lacing.

Aroma is somewhat subtle, with chocolate, roast malt, booze, and floral hops at the start. Rye, cocoa, and hints of dark fruit surface, along with licorice and tobacco.

Flavor is intensely chocolatey, fairly sweet, with rye hitting mid palate, along with floral hops and grapefruit pith, followed by roast malt and a touch of coffee grounds. The finish is slightly peppery and bitter. Dark fruit character is subtle.

Body is slick and fairly syrupy, with minimal carbonation and significant alcohol warmth. There's a touch of astringency.

Hits the mark...well, overshoots it on what most porters lack...the chocolate flavor that should be fairly prominent. Not overly rye, which suits my palate. Good roast character, but a touch acrid.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 03:03:06 | More by barczar

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown-black with a finger of frothy chocolate colored head. Fades normal.

S - Roasted chocolate and dark caramel malts, spicy rye, black licorice, molasses, coffee, hint of dark fruit, a bit of booze.

T - Roasted dark chocolate and dark caramel malts, spicy rye, molasses, roasted coffee, black licorice, bit of dark fruits, vanilla, and some booze.

M - Full bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth and a touch creamy with a sweet, roasted, warming finish.

D - Nice imperial porter. Good overall balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 22:36:38 | More by ngeunit1

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type - 16.9 oz bottle

Appearance - Dark black witha creamy tan 2 inch head and nice sticky lacing.

Smell - Dark roasty malts, chocolate, coffee, a very mild hop dark fruit. Im relaly not getting alot out of the aromoa.

Taste - First sip, very hoppy, much more then expected, bitter sweet fruits then the dark malts, coffee and chocolate kick. Added molassess and brown sugars along with a cocoa chocolate note really work well together. The rye is present and adds that classic burnt flavor. The finish is almost chocolate milk like in thick creaminess.

Mouthfeel - Nice bitterness of hops on the tounge, lots of malts, and chocolate next. Palate gets alot more malts, the rye and added sugars. he afteraste is creamy, malty, rye and sugary.

Overall - Really nice beer, tons of flavor, alot going on. Love the rye kick in it, along with the creamy milk chocolate flavor it has. Man what a great, balanced beer, rather expensive but glad i bought it, love nogne and the effort terrapin gave to this. Must try.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 23:01:55 | More by wvsabbath

mscudder

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Duvel snifter. Thanks to my friend Julian for this one!

A - A deep, opaque black with a half finger tan head. Good retention.

S - Lots of roasted malts, chocolate, a pinch of hops and a touch of rye.

T - Fair standard here with some chocolate, coffee and big roasted malts, all in good balance. ABV is hidden nicely. Good and simple however an argument may be made that it is a bit plain.

M - The shining point of this one. Carbonation is high for a porter but really lifts this one up a notch. A heavy body coats the palette nicely with a creamy and smooth composition. A bit of rye shines towards the back, adding character. For what is going on here, I cannot see what they could have improved upon.

O - While large this beer is fairly drinkable with a well masked ABV. This is perhaps my favorite brew that Terrapin has touched and I will be on the lookout for more brews from Nonge O. (forgive the lack of proper characters).

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 06:41:50 | More by mscudder

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500 ml bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. The brew smells like roasted malt, dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, coffee, spicy rye, and some molasses. It tastes like roasted malt, bittersweet chocolate, rye, coffee, wood, and a bit of licorice. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's creamy and has moderate carbonation. It's also smooth and easy enough to drink. I think this is a good overall brew, I'd certainly buy this again. $9.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 22:39:57 | More by bluejacket74

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500mL bottle from Charley's (Woodstock, GA). 9.99. Served in a Terrapin snifter. 

Pours deep dark brown with one and a half fingers of thick tan head. Slight lacing. 

Nose is roasty, coffee and sweet. 

Taste follows the nose witg sweet, roasty, malty, coffee abd cocoa. 

Smooth creamy medium bodied with mderate carbonation. Pleasant sweet aftertast. 

I think this is the first rye porter I've tried and it's really well done. A good blend of the sweet malts and sharp rye. It's quite tastey now but worth saving a bottle to see what a year or two will do to it. 

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 20:53:36 | More by ThickNStout

beerdrifter

Germany

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at my favorite beer store in Belgium, Dranken Geers. Deep dark brown, almost black pour with a nice two finger caramel-colored head with decent retention and great lacing. The nose is all roasted malt with hints of coffee, dark chocolate, nuts, toffee, and rye with just a touch of booze. The taste totally follows suit with loads of roasty malt and bitter dark chocolate immediately taking charge. Very earthy and woody with some nice hoppy, spicy rye adding contrast. Hints of coffee, toffee, and mocha round it out nicely with a touch of smoke on the end. The mouthfeel is thick and chewy, smooth as silk, and really creamy with a nice subtle spicy bite on the finish. I had this on tap in Norway for like a thousand dollars, but the bottled version is every bit as good. Definitely one of the best Porters I've ever tasted!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 17:48:12 | More by beerdrifter

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - A pitch black, zero clarity. A good amount of head and no sticky lace left on the glass. Looks dark and spooky!

S - Dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans. Alcohol is very prevalent. A bit of heat coming off it, and spice

T - Like the smell, it is semi-sweet up front, with dark chocolate notes, coffee. Has a warming flavor from the alcohol at the back end.

M - Rich and creamy. Lightly carbonated. Smooth

O - I at first was not thrilled with the beer, but as it warmed, it got better and better! Drink this one after its been pulled out of the fridge for 20 minutes. Big difference in taste and drinkability! A very good porter that packs some heat and punch.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 03:58:34 | More by BeerDawgs

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.31/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The collaboration ale between Nogne-O and Terrapin hits a high note with "a dark ale with lots of character", or so the bottle reads. Delicously smooth, malty-rich, robustly roasted, and earthen spice all contribute to its complexity and strength.

Like many other robust porters, this imperial version decants with a dark coffee-like bark brown color but with more visual weight from creamy malt and embedded carbonation. The beer builds a firm sandy tan foam that caps the beer with a stubborn blanket of foam. Retention and lace work to perfection and continue to decorate the glass until the very last sip.

Strong malt aromas of obvious coffee overtones are accompanied with complementing notes of chocolate, heavy toast, burnt toffee, malted milk, and slight campfire-ish smoke. Balanced with wood, grass, and grain derived spice the hops and rye keep the beer's malty profile from complete dominance of the nose.

Predictably, the flavors kick off with a heavy focus on malt- French press coffee is the main culprit with heavy notes of pungent earth, bitterness, wood, and roast. Rye grains complement the coffee with a spicy and earthy note of its own and create a smooth transition into the broad earthen bitterness of grassy, spicy hops. All this plays out on a bed of malt sweetness that span toffee, malted milk, and bittersweet chocolate. A mild figgy note resides in the backdrop and provides a glimpse into the estery effect of English yeast.

Its certain full body folds creamy carbonation into the fully malted textures for a lush and viscous feel that chases well into the finish. As the beer closes, a very late transition to a light spicy rye pang, medium alcohol warmth, and slight roast grain astringency.

It seems that rye is a very welcomed grain to use in conjunction with porter recipes because of it's broad and earthy spice that makes the beer less reliant on hops. The minds of Nogne-O and Terrapin execute this integration marvelously.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 16:38:07 | More by BEERchitect

Kromes

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Great looking beer. An opaque black color that does not let any light through. A beautiful tan coloredhead that leaves a sheet of webbed lacing on the glass.

S: Roasted malt, chocolate, a strong alcohol aroma, and a nice peppery rye to top it off. Swirling this in a tulip creates a finger's width head and a really nice aroma.

T: Up front is a sweet chocolate and roasted malt flavor, the rye flavor shows up in the middle and finish which is smooth and sweet with a touch of bitterness from the roasted malt. The alcohol also shows up in the finish, but for the most part I didn't really notice the alcohol behind the strong flavors.

M: Smooth and creamy.

O: I'm a big fan of using rye. I've only had rye IPAs or Pale Ales, but using it in a Porter is just as good. For my tastes, this is a very, very good Imperial Porter.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 23:02:46 | More by Kromes

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a dark brown color and a thick, impenetrable consistency. There was a massive, tan-colored, long-lasting head. Excellent lacing. A great-looking beer.

S: A subtle aroma of hops, malt, chocolate and rye.

T: Tasted of roasted malt (not too much, but enough), a fair amount of hops, a bit of chocolate, coffee, and rye. A well done and balanced flavor.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: An excellent English Porter. Well made and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 13:06:27 | More by avalon07

Naters333

Illinois

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

A- Poured on tap into a tulip with a great black color and a two finger head.

T-Great taste of coffee notes.

M- Mouthful was great with the great rye flavor coming through.

O-This beer tasted great! I usually don't review beers on tap, but this one was delicious. Very easy to drink, and didn't notice the 9% alcohol at all.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 09:41:13 | More by Naters333

McNealc31

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Completely opaque with a dark, thin head. Rather inviting aroma of rye, chocolate, and dark fruit. Extremely smooth and complex. Layer upon layer of flavor. Rye and chocolate first, then figs, currants, charred wood, and burnt marshmallows. There is a hint of sweetness followed by a lasting chalky finish. Deceptive 9% ABV.

This is outstanding. Get it.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:34:32 | More by McNealc31

Immortale25

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tapered Guinness pint glass. No freshness date.

A- Pours a 99% opaque black color with a 3/4 inch light brown head that retains quite well before reducing to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a big center patch of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves clots behind on the glass.

S- Chocolatey aroma with a bit of spicy rye and a hint of caramel.

T- Dark roasted malt, milk chocolate and rye all very well-balanced and on the sweeter side which is a plus for me. Alcohol is incredibly well-hidden beneath the deliciousness bringing the drinkability to dangerous levels.

M- Semi-creamy with a robust body and medium carbonation.

O- Plain and simple but incredibly effective. When the Nogne boys and Terrapin boys put their heads together, you get an awesome Norwegeorgian ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 01:21:33 | More by Immortale25