Nøgne Ø Adventurous Brown American Strong Ale at 10% ABV (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #13, 330 ml, bottle date 19-May-2016, best before 9-May-2021, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 13-Dec-2016)
Appearance: hazy brown with one finger of creamy beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: molasses/brown sugar, boozy dark dried fruit, evergreen, coffee, oak. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, medium duration warming finish. (4/5)
I’m starting to feel like the Advent calendar is hitting its stride: day #13 brings us a selection that is both seasonally appropriate and highly enjoyable. The rich flavours are both complex and well balanced, and the mouth feel never becomes cloying, in part due to the nearly prickly carbonation. I particularly like the evergreen notes that come out during warming. The fairly massive alcohol content is well integrated, and really only becomes apparent in the warming finish (although I wouldn’t recommend drinking it quickly, unless you really want to get messed up, in which case have at it). The punny name is pretty great too – although I’ve used RateBeer’s American Strong classification, you could certainly call it a Brown, and as a Brown it definitely occupies the adventurous end of the scale in addition to being highly advent-appropriate. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
