Dark Night 2022

In late September, there’s been another festival happening in Norway before, namely the Zwanze festival.

However- when that stopped taking place in Oslo, Nøgne Ø grabbed the opportunity- and formed their now annual fest: Dark Night. Basically, the idea of having this yearly launch of (one of?) their most demanding beers to produce, has now presented both it’s facets; namely the brewery’s flagship beer Dark Horizon. This once-upon-a-time mythical proud take on an Imperial Stout has been brewed every second year since 2007 (? if I’m not mistaking) and still to this very day, holds high regards with many Norwegians. And not very surprising, as this beer has seen many slight changes/variants throughout the years- spanning from more bitter nuances to more super sweet.

However: as it is only brewed every second year, there’s been a gap to fill… until now, that is. Well, that’s not entirely true either, because the beer in question saw the light of day for the first time in 2021. It is of course the deliciously sweet strong ale under the name Nordic Noir. And as we’re rolling out of 2022, it is the latter to be released this year.

And boy, have they outdone themselves! Not one, not two- but three(!) types is what’s on this year. The base beer being brewed with chocolate malts, juniper and honey- and is tasting fantastic in itself. So, with last year seing a other version simply labeled «Barrel aged», it’s indeed upped some in 22: Sherry edition, as well as another one aged on Vouvray barrels. The first one being somewhat vinous for a split second and the latter emphazising sweetness, it is indeed getting more interesting for each year it’s arranged.

Not to forget the superbly cozy brewpub and awesome brewery-building of Nøgne Ø, the attendees got to taste smashing food brought to Nøgne by Kamil Krystjańczuk: the brilliant chef at Apotekergaarden & his assistant. On top of that- all kinds of years/variants of previous Nøgne beers, superbly executed art, in the form of an orchestra (!) – all in all, a splendid night.


NØGNE Ø «Nordic Noir BA» (15.5%) 6/6

Beautiful pouring in the glass, nice brownish red head. Very dark brown colour in glass. Nose is heavily oak, figs, vinous. At the moment the world is cheering for the next American president, so perfect moment to crack this piece of art from Nøgne Ø. But: Nevermind the politics, here’s beer.

 

 

Taste is suitably carbonated. Delicately acidity, wallowing over in sweet dried fruit, a super-complex taste-bomb! Small sips keeps new flavours coming up: a hint of liquorice, brown candysugars, dark berries as well as a layer of chocolate in the back. Supreme quad-like strong ale from the Norwegian masters.

Congratulations!

BOULEVARD “Love Child no 8” 5/6

Today, I’m in company with a fantastic beverage from Kansas… looks fantastic. Beautiful color in the glass. Nose is rose and subtle fruityness. Gooseberries and red currants is what comes to mind here. Judging by The looks I’d say it’s very little carbonation going on here… Let’s check it out.

Well, that was something quite different!There is definitely carbonation here, although it pours no head. At first, the tastebuds are paralysed by the extremely tart shock! Really, just extremely acidic before blending in with it’s seducing fruityness… almost like lemonade.

There is no defusing sweetness here, only hard-core sour attack. But a beautiful one for sure. Great maturity too… Leaving sour berries down your throat for aftertaste. Very, very nice (and I’m happy this wasn’t stored any longer!)

 

Photo: M.K. Burheim

DE MOLEN «Molenbier» (7,5%) 4/6

MolenbierSo, another one from De Molen is what we are faced with here. The actual beer has a smooth wooden-brown colour to it and pours a small creamy head on top. I am usually very fond of their brews, at least what I have tasted from this brewery so far. This one is a lighter type though, so there’s some degree of excitement “in the air tonight».

With regards to aroma: There’s a fruityness of figs/fig jam, some oak and quite distinct malt character. I find some nuance of coffee too, even more so defined in the taste, which enhances the previously observed wooden impression. There’s also taste of roasted chestnut here, very suitable for this time of the year, at which it’s consumed. Santa would’ve sled right down the chimney for a taste of this.

At first, it’s got a sweet malt-orientated introduction and dried dates, before evolving into more powerful, dark roasted beans and at the end, rounded off with a very hoppy bitterness.

There’s not much bubbly action going on here, but that’s not missed either in this type of beer. Nice one, De Molen!

(Photo: M. Brochs)