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.