Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout

Beer:  Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout
Brewery: Nøgne Ø
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.0%

Serving Style: Bottle
Glassware: Wine glass
Drinking Establishment: Kerensa’s kitchen
Primary Consumer: Kerensa

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OVERALL RATING:

Sight: Pours a thin, oily, opaque dark brown body. The tiniest modicum of a dark mocha head emerges after it sits for a few seconds, but then quickly recedes. 

Scent: Initial smell is a straightforward sweet roasted malt scent. There is also an overpowering note of thick molasses. The undertones are candied fig and dark chocolate.  

Flavor: This, like some of the other beers I had earlier in the month, changes drastically from first sip to end note. The first flavor is not altogether pleasant; it’s sharp, bitter, and has a bite. However, the taste moves to a sweet, although bitter, fresh coffee flavor and ultimately tastes like pouring sugar into an espresso. At the end, the predominant flavor is dark chocolate with a bit of roasted malt bitterness and smoke.

Feel: Exceptionally thin, silky body with some carbonation.

Nøgne Ø hails from Grimstad, Norway. If you’re wondering what the Norwegian-t0-English translation of “Nøgne Ø” is, you’re in luck. The bottle tells us that Nøgne Ø  (“naked island”) was a term Henrik Ibsen used to describe the islands among the rough waters off Norway’s coast, which is where the brewery is located. While I am not sure I would survive on this naked island with only this Imperial Stout and an anthology of Ibsen, I could certainly pass a few days knocking back a few of these to pass time. However, after day 6,  I think I would  start collecting ingredients to brew my own beer. Oh, and maybe start thinking about trying to find food.

Concluding remarks: Overall, this is a solid beer and a fine example of a Russian Imperial Stout. However, do yourself a favor and go get the Founder’s Imperial Stout instead!