After many notes being written and many a beer consumed, this blog finally saw the light of day late 2013.
A lot has happened in the scene since I started working on this blog. With so many exiting brews & breweries, an increasement in popularity (at least in Europe that is), and let’s not forget- possibly the most interesting of the lot, the homebrewers. It’s simply so much to taste, so many to get accuainted to, that it should be no wonder if there is types that you won’t find here… (Yet). Still; I will try to be as productive as I can allow myself to on this front (Santa, I’d like 30 hour long days for this Xmas!) and include what beers I taste, with my opinion about it etc.
It seems that the more I learn about beer, the more I realize how much more knowledge that I lack about it… But hey, that’s part of what is about to change, part of the mission. Hope you can find it/some of it entertaining (perhaps even interesting?) in a way or another. Oh, and PS: Feel free to leave a comment in the comment-field.
This one I have been looking forward to for ages! And it’s an instant mouth-gasm. Beautiful, deep red visuals. Beautiful, clean honey-orientated nose. Insaaanely clean, a cascade of floral deliciousness: All the best berries in the world in a bottle! Stored 8 months on bourbon barrels,all is intact here: each and every berry shines through- enhanced by the highest quality honey imaginable. Top of the notch, this. Absolutely sublime.
Looks are black and looking thin-bodied. Small head. Nose is malt combined with licorice. Mouthfeel is smooth and medium-to-lightbodied. Toffee’ish, coffee’ish and more hoppy than sweet- all the while with suitable heat beneath.
TUBORG «Julebryg» (4.5%) 3/6
Amber red looks with great head poured. Fruity aroma of figs, apricot & sweet neuances. Lightbodied texture, light caramel & toffee. Overall quite watery. Lightly hopped.
RINGNES «Juleøl» (4.5%) 3/6
Lightly red-brown’ish with great carbonation. Thin/light-bodied with subtle nose of malt. Refreshing at first, then a brief caramel-sweet flash, quickly fading. A fine all-around alternative for the Xmas food table.
LERVIG «Mingle» (13%) 5/6
Dark brown to black, looking, pouring small creamy head. Absolutely astonishing me beautiful nose, consisting of elements, such as raisins, figs, dates and chocolate. Tastewise these elements are all enhanced and brought forward by the bourbon barrel. The texture is the somewhat mediumbodied, giving the beer, slightly a sharp edge. Apart from that it’s delicious-tasting though.
HAANDBRYGGERIET «Nissefar (2024)» (7%) 5/6
Dark brown, pouring small head in glass. Nose is very right for the style, knowing especially this year from several years back. However: this year’s edition is by far the best version of Nissefar that I have encountered. Perfectly balanced, with rustique-ness, nutty vibes and spices of the season. Beautifully executed.
Nose provides associations to the Xmas drink “Gløgg”aroma: Abundance of dark fruit. Lots of of foam. Amber red colour. Tastewise it’s got a somewhat rustique angle to it. Rund vibes featuring basement, oak and nuts. Delicious malty-sweet middle, raisins followed by a short sense of bitterness and a long, fading aftertaste of plum.
OSLO BREWING CO «SugarPlumQuad» (12%) 3/6
Looking thick and dark. Nose reminiscent of… banana? Taste is also highly sweet- luckily not in a grotesque way. But quite sugary.
OSLO BREWING CO «MerryCherryQuad» (12%) 4/6
Just as its predecessor, the looks are black dense. However- this one seems somewhat a bit more balanced, although it’s got the same sweet taste to it. Might this be from the same base beer, with just a different take on it?
E.C. DAHLS «Juleøl» (4.5%) 3/6
Light brown pouring shortlived head in glass. Subtly introduced malty hints judging by the nose. Way back there, I also sense some Christmas spices.
As far as taste goes, this fresh, young and light beverage is good, albeit a bit thin. (Just a personal preference there, as I prefer the heavier “pol-versjon” that has more body to it, as well as enhances it’s elements much more. Still, this is an easy-drinking all-around Xmas beer that will quench your thirst as well as easily pair with the lot of’em dishes.
HAANDBRYGGERIET «All-Father» (14%) 5/6
Well… This sure looks promising. Black as night, with small head to top. Distinct aromas of raisins, caramel and spirits here. Smooth , mediumbodied and with great carbonation providing a refreshing vibe to this confectionary of liqorice, Aquavit and the wooden barrel. With a minimal degree of sweetness to it, this is one I hope Haand makes again and again.
HAANDBRYGGERIET «Hands-Free Xmas» (0%) 3/6
It sure looks like a beer. Smells Ikke a fruity one too… citrusfruit, particularly lemon and orange. When it comes to taste, it’s got some kind of spices to it, although nothing that distinctively really points toward Christmas. Refreshing alternative for drivers though.
RINGNES “LITE Julebrygg” (4.3%) 2/6
Lightly transplant, Golden with nice head when poured. Smells lightly fruity and a little perfume. Also does taste a bit of perfume… mildly hopped and watery. Not my cup of… Xmas beer.
E.C. DAHLS “Kong Vinter 2024” (7%) 4/6
Brownish-yellow visuals with small creamy edges. Nose is heavily malt-dominated. Nice sweet intro that develops into chocolate, accompanied by slight hoppy vibes. Great balance between toffe & bitterness and long aftertaste. Easily the best of the Kong Vinter series up until now.
It’s closing in towards Christmas eve and beers are being had as often as possible. Here’s the next installment of this year’s goodies 😋
MACK «God jul 2024» (6.5%) 5/6
Beautifully amber/transparent brown, pouring superb, creamy head. Nose is heavily malt-orientated, with layers of caramel and dried fruit.
On the palate: woody, nutty and clean. Easily quenchable- Much due to the smooth tasteprofile, giving rustique referances to det cellar. Mediumbodied profile with increasing (but very well balanced) hoppuka bitterness. Fine long aftertaste.
MACK «Julebokk 2024» (9%) 4/6
Dark brown leaning towards black, pouring a light, small head. Nose is deep fruity of figs and dates. Medium to light body. A somewhat perfumy (but in a good way), with neuances of toffee, caramel and a smooth sense of bitter low frequencies. Fresh vibes, shortlived aftertaste.
LERVIG «Rackhouse All I want for Xmas» (14%) 5/6
Insane Xmas beer incoming!!
First thing that strikes is the nose: references to raisins, vanilla, dried fruit & Candysugar in abundance. Then, we really get down with the good stuff: Burnt sugar, hazel- & walnut, easy cinnamon, Christmas pastry with massive heath underneath. Burns lightly on the tongue. Looooong aftertaste with with an almost hint of chili, before rounding off with the uttermost sweet, sweet taste.
Christmas in da house yo!
BERENTSEN “Stelliger Divum 2024” (19%) 5/6
Pure black in color and close to no sign of carbonation at all… at first. Then, a little bit in the edges of the glass. Nose reminiscent of dark fruits and a tiny hint of licorice. Super freshness, quickly followed by a taste bomb! Absolutely astonishing. An explosion of tastes: Dates, figs, tingling throughout the tongue. Spicy, heat, burnt wood… and highly alcoholic (but in the greatest sense of the word). Tobacco’ish & rustique- and surprisingly little licorice in the taste, which also goes for the more regular elements, such as coffee and chocolate- which is not traceable here. Being freeze distilled ice bock, this is an amazing beer- with the 2024 vintage being no exception.
RYGR «Mørketid» (9.5%) 4/6
Light transparent brown to Amber looks, with small head. Super-fruity rustique caramelly nose. Super smooth, woody intro, followed by lots of Christmas vibes: spices, lightly burnt wood and superb hop adjustment. Suitable heat underneath and nice, rounded aftertaste.
BERENTSEN «Julefnugg» (2024) (6.5%) 5/6
Deep ruby red to brown with beautiful head. Subtle caramelly nose. Fresh start, lightbodied. Beautiful nuances of dried, red fruits. Delicious hop features and splendid finalization. Would pair superb to most dishes.
HAANDBRYGGERIET «Halvors Jul» (14%) 6/6 Full of excitement for this one… heard/read so much good stuff. Dark in glass with my creamy small head to top. Tiny reference to the Aquavit the nose, moreover coffeeish vibes. Roasty. Medium-bodied with a smooth, plum and dates- wood, leather and a hint of spice. No “taking off the sharp edges”-sweetness herein, just big and bold taste… rounded off by a super smooth, silky,tad of Aquavit. Pure sophistication. Definitely the best version of this beer I have encountered. Halvor’s on a roll in ‘24!
BERENTSEN «Jule-Avec» (9%) 6/6
Dark brown, poutring small head, the excitement level is high for this one. Deep, dark nose of figs, ripe plums. Mediumbodied with a fresh start, before nuts, toffee and at times. I also get some leather and chrismas-spice & portwineous vibes. Absolutely delicious, afterfood/evening treat of the best kind.
BÅDIN «Beiarn» (4.7%) 3/6
Light aroma of coffeeish vibes. Light body, heavy coffee malts. Fresh at first taste, then fresh notes – then evolves into a lightly sweet fase, with before rounded off with a
E.C. DAHLS “Julebrygg” (4.6%) 3/6
Nice’n clean impression, golden visually. Mild notes of bread. Lightbodied, fresh intro with an emphasizing on sweet malts further out. Fruity hints. Easy on the hops. Good balance.
NORDLANDS «Juleøl» (2024) (4.5%) 3/6
Looking beautifully, clean and transplant, Amber. Perfect head. As expected, a very subtle nose. Lights for medium body, super clean with a sweet, malt-orientated middle. Quenchable easy drinking beer this, albeit a bit easy.
WETTRE «Julekula» (2023) (6%) 3/6
Murky and yellowish light brown in colour, this one has been lying for a year. I guess it’s time to give it a go… judging on the nose, it is got a fruity, caramelized character. Taste wise, it’s super-deep, almost vineous with reminiscence of fig, prunes and plums- only to be adjusted nicely by a massive sweetness with an underlying hoppy string. A bit unbalanced, but all in all- good taste. It should also be mentioned that it might have to do with me storing it for a an extra year.
RINGNES «Juleøl sterk» (6.3) 3/6
OK, so let’s get the ball rolling with this classic. Dark brown, nose is very vorth-like.
As for taste: A bit watery, lots of brown candy sugar, with less balance. Light-bodied, light hint of licorice. Sharp edges though. A bit too much for my taste.
FRYDENLUND «Juleøl» (4.6%) 4/6
Dark ruby red in color, pouring massive foamy head. Nutty-oaky on the nose revealing caramelly flavours. Light to medium body. Intro is bread, rye bread. Mildly velvety sweet notes too. Then- a subtly hoppy middle, before a dry, well balanced exit calls. Very good for its low ABV. Nice choice to accompany the foods of the season, from dense, heavy stuff to even white fish and the lighter dishes.
OSLO BREWING CO «Multekrem» 3/6
Grassy yellow-green and murky, with lots of carbonation. The nose is somewhat overmature and acidic, very true to the intention of creating the style of the research it’s supposed to resemble. Taste twice, it is creamy in texture, somewhat sweet. It also has got a mild fruity vanilla/milkish drape. Quite nice.
OSLO BREWING «Hoppy Holidays» (6.2%) 4/6
Yellow-brown with much foam. Floral nose of banana and fruity notes. Deliciously fruit-hoppy intro which evolves slowly into more bitter side of the specter, before fading away and giving way to the rounded-off citrusy zest’y aftertaste.
Lightly golden transparent, clean looking. Carbonation is super, nose is smooth. Taste is perfectly clean and right for the Pilsner style. Subtle sweetness, followed by elegant hop adjustment. Really good alternative to food pairing too.
For the occasion, also enhanced by an exquisite, spiced remarkable «Nissens Reserve Juleaquavit» from Berentsen. (5/6)
OSLO BREWING CO “Christmas Kveik»(7.4%)4/6
Damn! That’s crazily good for kveik beer to be. Yellow with much bubbles. Smooth, fullbodied NEIPA with sweet floral and fruity notes of citrus fruit and creamy texture.
OSLO BREWING CO “Coconut Porter» (4.7%)4/6
Dark brown to black visuals, seemingly with a thin body/consistency and small head. Nose is this roasted coffee malts. This resonates in the taste profile as well, enhancing a light bodied iced coffee. A well tasty one though.
LERVIG «Naughty & Nice” (8%) 4/6
Pouring dark red/brown in glass, topped with smooth creamy heads with small bubble texture. Subtle coffee-toffee aromas, with hoppy hints. Texture is smooth, creamy and super-balanced. In the beginning, it is mild copy, before the coffee notes takes over. Tasty caramelly mini-layer underneath too. Very good!
HAANDBRYGGERIET «Nissemor» (4.5%) 3/6
dark brown color with small head poured. Looking a bit thin. Taste is really nice though- very mild, spiced fruityness and lightly hoppy in the aftertaste. Thin bodied. Lots of coffee features here. Good balance.
HAANDBRYGGERIET «Nissemor» (6%) 5/6
Darker looks down today’s predecessor and looking a bit thicker. Much richer in the nose: lots of dark fruits, nutty vibes, and Spice. Detailed superb intro: beautiful complexity of Christmas pastry, not overdone in any way. Medium body, sophisticated hope features and rounder profile. The coffee is much better, integrated, and the beer in all is better balanced. Very, very good!
HAANDBRYGGERIET «Wild Hunt» (14%) 4/6
Funny… A tad herbal on the nose, but more over very Aquavit- dominated. There are clear traces of barleywine vibes here as well… highly special, to say the least. Exciting!
The body is medium thick. On the palate, the entrance is super sweet and maltdriven. Tons of fig and caramelized fruit paves the way for a hoppy middle, before the Aquavit sting sets in for real. I also get ginger and cookie dough in here. Nice, distinct sharp, ending with the Aquavit balancing out.
Coming back to it after 15 minutes, things have really happened! Less sharpness, more fudge, toffee and much, much better balance. This is really great!
OSLO BREWING “Julebock» (4.7%) 3/6
Looking dark, brown and light bodied. Nice bubbly head. At the cold earliest stage, a very subtle aroma molasses and fruit.
Taste is very subtle and coffee orientated. Great bitterness underneath, and finalizing towards the end. Could pair heavy, compact foods very well.
Golden light transparent looks with great carbonation and head when poured. Nose is malty and easily hopped. Smooth texture, easy floral intro before the greatly bitter adjustment takes place- and lingers far out into the aftertaste. Rounded off by a quick sweet outro. Very easy-drinking, all around and clean.
NØGNE Ø «Solstice Bells» (12%) 6/6
Pouring dark brown to black in glass. Texture looks quite light, and the carbonation is great.Christmasy nose w pastry, spices and fruity twist in the most delicate way. Tastewise, it has absolutely vineous great presentation from the Vouvray, dried fig, dates and a balanced sweetness, enhanced by a spicy edge- all undermined by perfect hoppyness and perfect bourbon heat. How could this be any better? Supreme , yet again.
LERVIG «Hoppy Holiday Haze» (4.7%) 3/6
Light yellowing glass with massive carbonation going on. Being a hazy beer, makes this a bit of a special one as the discussion on Christmas beers in Norway are divided on these types, (which are not very traditional). However, I am down with tasting pretty much anything- even in these times of the year.
The nose is typically fruity for the style, nothing out of the ordinary, although nice floral notes off pineapple, mango, and vanilla. Ask for taste, it is creamy, quenchable, heavily emphasized, fruitiness, finished with hopes and milky lactose. as one that likes the hazy style normally, I will give this middle grade- because all the knots for the season, it is a great beer, that could be consumed during summertime as well.
NØGNE Ø «Ekstra God Jul 2024» (12%) 5/6
Yeah, pouring dark dark brown (or is it black?) with a smooth head to top, this gives way too caramelly, fruity nose. This gets me so excited… has been my favorite from the scene several times earlier. Let’s get down with the taste, shall we?
Medium bodied, super-complex as expected. It’s got that smooth texture, with layers of brown candy sugar, caramel and ripe fruits, balanced out by the harder elements, such as hops, and far behind there, a tad of coffee. Highlight for Christmas, yet again.
RINGNES «Julebokk» (9%) 5/6
Visual darkness! Smooth creamy head. Nose is dates, figs and a hint of caramel. Mediumbodied feel. Taste is supersmooth, young and woody. Nutty vibes combined w/coffee and underlying suitable acidity and hop bittering. As always: This is supergreat.
E.C. DAHLS «Juleøl» (6%) 4/6
Amber looks with luxurious head to top. Mild aromas of fruit. Ultrasmooth silky feel, hoppy enough without being too edgy/sharp at all. Caramelly long-lasting sweetness, followed by a perfect sting over midway in, then a long subtly sweet opus.
We’re just a few days from entering the month of December at the time of writing and the Christmas holidays approaching near. Here is the second round of the annual Christmas beers from Norway- behold! More is to follow during the next couple of days 🎅
MACK «Juleøl» (4,7%) 4/6
Very subtle nose, delicious malty notes. Lightly caramelly, oaky taste with much carbonation, lightbodied. Fresh, yet rich in taste impression with balanced bitter finish. Smooth, will work wonders with pretty much all dishes of the season.
RYGR «Sure Joel» (4,7) 4/6
Bubble gum, red with massive head from intense carbonation. (Gassy afternoon ahead…) but let’s not mind that.
The color is one thing here, but the nose it all the more interesting: almost like gueuze’ish, blended with sour young berries. There’s a sharpness to it that also is inviting.
So, the taste then? Woah! This is a very fruity, tasty, comfortably adjusted acidity to it, with massive fruit notes herein. Xmas beer? Well… perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind, but who cares when it taste as good as this. I’ll just enjoy!
RYGR «Valhall BW julekrydder» (14%) 4/6
Dark brown looks with nice transparency and seducing creamy head. Nose of Christmas pastry, spices and a hint of anise. Smooth, boozy intro with massive sweetness of toffee and caramel. A definite hit for sweet tooth’s, this one. Little traceable bitterness in here, and a nice heated long finish to round things off.
RYGR «Hokunatt» (4.7%) 4/6
Mørk brun, nesten sort i farge med liten Creme hatt på toppen. Mørkebrunt kaffe aroma med sjokolade innslag, lett humlepreg. Kaffen er også markant i smaken med en nøttEtvist (Hadsel/kastanje øydt?), Noe bitter. Meget meget svak sødme, noe som vedvarer ut i ettersmaken. Kan sende assosiasjoner i retning iskaffe.
LERVIG «Driving home for Christmas» (0,5%)3/6
Ok, here goes an alco-free Xmas one!
Pours dark in the glass with golden yellow, creamy head. Slightly bitter aroma with notes of coffee, dried fruit and a nutty impression. Subtly carbonation with suitably bubbly action and a smooth sweet vibe midway through. Maltdominated towards the end.
NØGNE Ø «Merry Jingle» (15.5%) 6/6
Black in color with brown tiny head when pouring. Notes of Maple and coffee are distinctly showing themselves, as well as fruits dried fruit.
Body is thick and delicate, smooth, balanced . Nous typical DIA sugar A bit more than midway through the Maple shines clearly also the hops comes across not in the aggressive way, but very nice balance super smooth chocolate new ones together with caramel and just the hint of spices from the Christmas season. An absolutely sublime beer for the holidays.
LERVIG «Julebock» (4.7%) 4/6
Clear transparency, and pouring amber red to brownish color with creamy head on top. Very subtle light aroma of coffee, otherwise hard to tell much from the nose whilst at its coldest. Taste is emphasizes highly floral notes from the hopes with distinct bitterness towards the end. Very little sweetness, albeit rustic basement that is typical for this style of beer is intact. For lovers of Bock, this is an easy drinking alternative that will match most foods.
Welcome to this year’s Xmas special! In this section I’ll be posting representatives from the wide selection that is Norway’s Xmas beer-selection. For this annual holiday season, you’re presented sections of beers towards December’s arrival. Hope you get to try some of these enjoyable beverages.
Merry Xmas & Slàinte!
SAGENE «Sterk jul» (2024) 4/6
Nose of caramel, Xmas pastry & anise. Inviting colour. Mediumbodied, great bubbly action going on. Taste is lightly caramelly with a herbal edge to it.
SCHOUSKJELLEREN «Hjem til jul» (6,5%) 5/6
Dark Ruby, red looks with creamy head on top. Aromas of dried fruit. Super smooth, delicious taste with medium body mouth feel. I get figs, plums, leather and subtle note of banana towards the end. Not much bitterness at all- especially for its ABV. Smooth & tasty thing!
JACOBSEN «Christmas ale» (2024) 4/6
Coffee & malt- orientated nose. Evolves a lot into toffee and caramel notes on pallets, medium bothered, nice, carbonization, mild and subtle acid aftertaste. This year they’ve struck the balance though. Very nice
E.C. DAHLS «Lillebjørn Juleøl» (2024) 3/6
Smooth brown, clean/transparent presentation. Subtle malt-dominated nose. Not being a very bold beer with its low ABV, this is a light, all around accommodation to most foods and easily drinkable.
BERENTSENS « Juleøl» (4,7) 4/6
For its light ABV it’s sure looks like a dark Xmas lager, clearing chestnut brown. Nose is maltorientated. Light bodied as this type of beer should be, giving way to the lightly caramel notes and fruity midway-all accompanied by suitable bitterness. an easy drinking alternative for this annual occasion.
BERENTSENS « JOL» (4,7) 4/6
Amber read light brown and looks pouring nice head on top. Nose tells the story of fruitmix, almost on the verge to a softdrink. Light bodied and easy drinking with a very mild taste of dried fruit/fig, rustiqe tad of acidity and hazelnut + a slight bitterness its round edges makes it a company most Christmas food is great, a superb alternative.
SAGENE “Tannjul” (8%) 3/6
Dark brown with Cafe cremé-looking top. Nose is dark dried fruit, and seasonal spices. Light to medium body with first impression of malts, which quickly evolves into coffeeish middle, before the hops take over with bitterness. Finalized by a licorice ending.
PIRATBRYGGERIET «Julebek» (12,5%) 4/6
Black as night, pouring nice creamy head. Nose is subtle roasty coffee and lightly hoppy. Nice carbonation, great balance. Fullbodied and complex, emphazizing bitter coffee and Dark chocolate. Will pair elegantly with vanilla icecream. Very nice!
These guys sure knows how to make some great beverages, and today’s example is no exception. A black wheat wine is what we’re faced with today, kicking off with copious amounts of dark bitter coffee, a carpet of fruity yet bitter hops as well as sublime chocolaty notes. Great balance in terms of sweetness and fruity elements, as the beer transforms along with every sip. An underlying heat and notes of maple balances it all out in a stylish manner. All cumulating in a brilliantly long aftertaste. Applause!
After many notes being written and many a beer consumed, this blog finally saw the light of day late 2013.
