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.

(Part 1)

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!

It’s been too long… time to crack open a proper beer on a suitable Saturday after a good amount of chores. Faced with something dark from the masters that is Shared (AKA Side Project), this has been waiting for a while.

So: what have we got here? Judging by the nose it is heavily relying on cinnamon, as well as a good amount of barrel intact. I also sense some maple deep down here.

So: let’s get down to the taste. Huuuge… Raisins, copious amounts of subtle, delicious cinnamon, entwined stylishly with vanilla with grandiose delicious coffee-aftertaste/finish.
One of the best cinnamon-beers I’ve had in my life.

What can I say- it is indeed another superior example of how it’s done from these guys.
Superb!

Velvety red, stunningly shiny looks. Pours beautiful head. Nose is clearly Raspberries, and other associations that comes to mind is plums, gooseberry (?) and vanilla.

As for the extravagant moment of tasting this prime example of Raf’s grandiose works, we find that the wonderful fruityness of the pinot noir grapes is draped in freshness, suitable medium body and perfectly carbonated. The raspberries is enhanced on the palate, paving way to a lightly note of cherries. Astonishing classic lambic-taste with supreme oakbarrel intact. 

The whole chebang is then finished by a looong aftertaste. Absolutely lovely.

Greetings, spring! And what moment would be better for a delicious refreshment from the masters @Sante Adarus Rustic Ales?

This particular bottle in question being batch 2, the beer promises copious amounts of peaches; ripe and funky as hell. The colour reminisces of golden fields of grass, layered by a creamy head to top. Crispy and biscuity midway, it balances perfectly on both sides of the spectre. Smooth and packed with flavors of sweet, ripe fruit and lightly hoppy bittering as well as a slightly acidic dimension, before the long lasting, slowly-fading aftertaste. Perfection. Or as close to as I’ve had in a looong time.

Goodness! Looks heavenly when poured, cacao/coffee’ish créme head. Nose raises expectations to be on top with the most, such as the likes of Anchorage, Revolution etc. burnt malts, super delicious hints of maple.

…aaand: mouthfeel is exceptional. Thick and dense, sour mash whisky, barrel very present. Roasted dark bitter coffee too. Rygr definitely’s got it going with this most recent BA-series of theirs. Very nice.

NØISOM «Julebock» (7,8%) 5/6

Yellow- brownish/lightly brown color wise. Presentation with a great creamy head on top. High frequency, notes presented in the notes is caramel, chestnut and dried fruits, although not in any overwhelming way. Delish fruity notes of Madeira chocolate.

Tastewise it is not as strong as one would picture: Enhancing the caramelly sweet vibes much, together with rustique flavour elements. Taste is also significantly superb:  Broad spectre of elements with great balance. Medium-to fullbodied. delish notes in turn with a grand hoppy finalè. Really nice!

Very nice indeed!

NØISOM «Lyst Juleøl» (4,7%) 5/6

Murky, yellow, inviting beer with nice bubbly action on top. Nurse is exciting, featuring Christmas spices, fruity, vibes of pineapple and citric fruit. Medium to light body. Subtly and perfectly spiced, giving right Xmas associations to the holiday season that we’re entering. Super balance and taste for a beer of this lighter kind.

7FJELL «Hans Gruber» (6%) 4/6

Distinct piny and floral on the nose. Lots of citrus fruit. Deep golden visuals, pouring big head. Clean presentation, highly fruity before the massively hopped edge sets in. Not much accosiations to Xmas nesseccerily, but well tasting, that’s for sure.

BERENTSENS «Juleøl» (4.7%) 4/6

Dark amber in looks. Nose is malty: Sense of caramel, wet wood logs and delish nutty flavours. Good carbonation, lightbodied texture. Xmas pastry and bread comes to mind, as well as dates and a lightly hopped finalé @ the end. Very nice all-arounder for the Xmas Season holidays.

EIK&TID «Juleheliks» (%) 5/6

Bloodred on the verge to orangy in looks. Great carbonation signs, which is affirmed by the mouthfeel. From the nose, I detect vinegar-soaked berries with a hint of spices. At the tongue, it provides a superfruity, stonefruit bitter and sour combo. The acidity lies over as a steady carpet. A real face-twister, this one.

NØGNE Ø «Julequad 2023» (%) 4/6

Nose is subtly fruity. Close to no carbonation at all- something that doesn’t really matter that much, given the texture of the beverage. Medium to thick body, flat with somewhat rustique, fig-infused with spicy and mouldy chocolaty boozyness.

ÆGIR «Juling» (11.5%) 4/6

Murky brown-red in looks, topped by a creamy head- this heavyweighter bears notes of caramel, dried fruits and oak. The taste is massive, an alcoholic sting to even out the floral notes. Mediumbodied with a somewhat sweet at first, but also sharp edge, suitable for the strong ale- style. 

NØGNE Ø «A Christmas Carol Extra» (16.5%) 5/5 

Beautiful nose of chocolate, tobacco, fruit and oaky finish. Superdelish, Sweet intro that quickly evolves throughout the mouthfull: From the sugary Sweet into, to the fruity main characteristics, this delicious, smooth  balanced

Medium- to fullbodied, with a distinct hoppy finish.

7FJELL “Julestemning” (8%) 4/6

Dark as night, creamy head. Distinct nose of coffee, albeit heavily coloured by Xmas spices and herbs. Tastewise, it’s perfectly carbonated for this mediumbodied stout to be. Highlighting the aforementioned coffee, followed by chocolaty features and a dash of licorice- topped by a sense uof heat and bitterness, as the hops sets in.

MACK «Juleøl 2023» (4.5%) 4/6

A clean, amber look covered in creamy layer of bubbles. Lightl malty and caramelly nose. Light to mediumbodied, extremely great balance of the malty side and the mild hops. More than just a thirstquencher, but will serve that purpose as well, for sure.

OSLO BREWING «Weizenbock» (4,7%) 3/6

Murky brown visuals is what we’ve got here. Fruity, caramelly nose. Light to medium body that makes it go really well with most foods, even as a refreshment on it’s own. Lightly Sweet and hopped. Mild, not overly sweet or unbalanced in any way.

MACK «Vellagret Juleøl 2023» (4,5) 4/6

Dark amber, visuals, pouring large cremè  head. Nose is sweet toffee, bread and wood. Mouthfeel: medium-to-lightbodied, carefully carbonated. Smooth entrance of sweet malty grains, building a sense of mateurity midway. Subtle but balanced. Nice one to revisit several times during the coming holidays.

MACK «Vellagret Julebokk 2023» (9%) 5/6

Looking clean and transparent, although much darker than its predecessor (which I tasted yesterday), this has all them same quality and neuances- albeit much more, to a greater extent. One can tell from the head when pouring, as well as the deep caramel nose. This time though, it sits pretty much perfect on the palate too… Just, right up there you know. Mediumbodied mouthfeel, aged well, deep sweet & dried fruits, with an alco-bite to it which suits the aftertaste perfectly. 

7FJELL «Hyrdestund 2023» (6,5%) 4/6

Looking fresh grass-like autumn-yellow, nose is packed with distinct X-mas spices and wheat. As for taste: Yeasty, orange peel and farmhouse and lightly hoppy. An supersmooth light-weighter to pair with most heavy meals during the Yuletide.

E.C. DAHLS «Kong Vinter 2023» (7%) 4/6

Lightly brown in color with nice head poured. Very fruity those with hints of banana and wheat. Great bubbly action. Short sweet intro before the banana and malts comes into play for play. Super nice balanced hoppy layer too. 

E.C. DAHLS “Lillebjørns Juleøl» (6%) 4/6

Ruby red in looks, creamy head to top. Much fruity nose to trace here, mandarins, stonefruit. The taste is superb too, enhancing the mentioned tastes. Pointing in citrusy directions w/caramellish edge to it. Really nice!

NØGNE Ø «God Jul 2023» (8,5%) 4/6

Always look forward to this one, every year. The head poured looks more like a café crème, the nose is cinnamon, dried apple, 

And a hint of pepper, perhaps. And the actual taste? Oh yes! Medium bid, not too dense. A prototype of a classic Norwegian Christmas beer in 2023, full of spices, licorice, coffee, and a well hidden, subtle hint of sweetness. Always very good, this year being no exception.

7FJELL «Mørk Juleøl 2023» (%) 4/6

Dark, Amber in looks, seemingly great bubbly action going on. Nose reflecting roasted coffee subtly. Great carbonation. Superb balance, smooth and refreshing at the same time, with light sweet notes dominated by the coffee. Delicious.

RINGNES «Juleøl 2023» (4,7%) 3/6

Looking bright red with decent head in glass. Subtle notes of caramel and fruit. On the palate, it’s light-to mediumbodied, sweet  with a nicely rounded off dry finish. A bit bland compared to its heavier brother, but still quenchable for sure.

7FJELL “7 Sorter 2023” (6,5%) 3/6

Dark brown little if none viscocity. Special nose consisting of spices, cucumber and more. Tastewise, it’s powerful, highly bitter (especially during the aftertaste) and the the texture is quite strong. I get quite a bit of licorice. 

OSLO BREWING «Yuletide Bock» (4,7%) 3/6

Amber red in looks, with small signs of carbonation. Nose is clearly distinct fruity. Taste is quick sweet inteo followed by subtle smokey vibes. Lightbodied and shortlasting- still nice tasting.

OSLO BREWING «Cabin Ale» (%) 4/6

Dark brown esthetics, nice bubbly head. Coffeish on the nose. Nutty, smoked followed by delicious sweet brown toffeish candy sugar- all culminating in a sweet & bitter «fight» in the end. Delicious!

RINGNES «Juleøl Sterk» (6,3%) 5/6

Shines beautifully brown through the glass with creamy head.  Deliciously nut and OAK in the nose. Medium-bodied, superb balance. Rustique, rye bread and nutty intro, which slides smoothly into sweet malty middle witch in turn adjusts to a delicate tobacco-woody bitter ending. Smoother than any years before this year.

HANSA «Julebrygg» (4,7%) 4/6

Breaks the lightbeam beautifully red with much foam to top. Very wort/malty/nutty aroma with distinct woody notes. Fruity, then sweet, much bread, lightbodied. Highly balanced and suitably subtle hoppiness. Very nice, long aftertaste.

BORG «Juleøl» (6,5%) 4/6

So dark that it is non-transparent and creamy small head poured. Nose of dried fruit and roasted malts. Fruity taste too, with coffee coming through without being overly dominating. Lightbodied for its ABV to be- but without creating much disturbance in the balance, just a little sharp sting to it in the late stages. Smooth sweet aftertaste rounding off.

E.C. DAHLS «Juleøl» (6%) 5/6

Murky amber, pouring great head to top. Nose sends assocciations towards sweet toffee-notes, wintery snow crystals and traditional Xmas’y vibes. As for taste? Refreshing, at the same time as it shows mateurity, caramel & Sweet chocolaty elements, entangled in a super-balanced hoppy veil. Long aftertaste emphazising the sweet side again towards the end. Brilliant.

BERENTSEN «JOL» (4.7%) 4/6

Let’s slowly kick off the Xmas ball of 2023! Brownish-red, with beautiful white head to nach. Clean and structured nose of dark fruits and malts. Body is light to medium, taste enhances the fruityness. Balanced and a bit exciting (stemming from the use of the Norwegian type of yeast, Kveik. Long-lasting for its low ABV to be, and a definite pairing for foods.

SAGENE «Hvit Jul» (0%) 3/6 (2023)

Malty-yeasty nose. Lots of bubbly action. Light in colour as mouthfeel which is light bodied. Quite sweet, but a decent alternative. 

SAGENE «Rød Jul» (4.7%) 3/6 (2023)

Red’ish colour pouring nice white head. Subtle fruity nose. Great carbonation, light bodied. Also light in taste, but will pair gently with most foods or just on it’s own. Shortlived aftertaste.

SAGENE «Sterk jul» (6.5%) 5/6

Beautiful nose, rich in figs, old basement and a lightly spiced feel.

Burnt dark malty taste with medium mouthfeel and superb balance. Nice bubbles and delicious rounded deep sweet features in focus. A definite will drink again this year.