2012

HAPPY NEW BEER

A new day dawns on a new year. While some of us are turning over new leaves and making our new years resolutions I return filled with guilt to my oft neglected blog. Time and tide has passed, I see that I have had not posted since August of last year and I have missed noting some important events. Firstly. I missed my first year anniversary. November 8th marked the first full year of the Pint Jockey. I started with Railway City's  Dead Elephant Ale. Secondly. I have passed my 4000th page view. I am impressed that that many people have wanted to read what this old farm boy has to say.

So new year, new mind set. We have our ducks in a row again here at Pint Jockey Headquarters, and I will being posting with due regularity. I will also be adding a new feature. I will over the coming year begin experimenting with brewing my own beer. I have always had a fascination with ancient beer recipes, and I would like to re-create a few of them. I will post updates, pictures, and stats in side posts (I will continue to bombard you with my regular posts of my thoughts on beer  from around the world)  and when the finished product is ready I will critique it in its own post.

Thank you dear reader for hanging in there... and let's all get ready to enjoy the new beer... I mean year.

Beer # 65 Nøgne-O Imperial Stout

NØGNE O  IMPERIAL STOUT

Det Kompromissløse Bryggerri
Grimstad, Norway (Independent)

Imperial Stout 9.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml.

$6.25 (Canadian) At LCBO.


Tonight a return trip to the nation of Norway, and  Nøgne-O, "the uncompromising brewery," gets tonight's  treatment. Nøgne-O is a line from native son Henrik Ibsen, and it means the naked island. Opened in 2002 and run by it's founders for years before they actually got paid Nøgne-O has expanded from a tiny 300 hl brewery to 3500hl in 2010. the brewery now counts 20 impressive brews in it's stable. All of their beers are brewed for the utmost quality and bottle conditioned for best  flavour.


Black in colour, with a thick and long lasting dark tan/reddish head. Light smoke and chocolate nose, tannic and leathery. First sip gives us a warm rum-like alcohol with dark chocolate, light fruity notes. Sweet and malty, cedar and leather. The bottom of the glass reveals yeast precipitate.


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional

                                                                       

Cost:  5/6  PASS

Colour:  6/6  PASS        

Beer Style:  6/6 PASS  

Re-Order:  6/6 PASS   

Experience:   5/6  PASS

Final Thoughts:


A very high pass for a very good beer. Excellent example of an imperial stout beautiful colour and a massive head. Alcohol is very forward a makes this a one at a time beer, but I would definitely order this one again. I really enjoy trying new beers from places I have never been. It gives me a connection with that area and a better understanding of their culture.


Cheers
CJT