Der Kollaborator Dobbelbock

Nøgne Ø Der Kollaborator Dobbelbock is a collaboration beer brewed by Nøgne Ø in Grimstad and Ægir Brewery in Flåm where the beer has been brewed in both breweries using the same ingredient except for the water being different. Kjetil travelled to Flåm to help brew the Ægir version and Evan made the trip to Grimstad to help brew the Nøgne version. It is a doppelbock style of beer and the one I got to taste on draft at the Nøgne Christmas beers release party in Grimstad is the Nøgne version. 

I believe this was 7% and had a dark brown to reddish brown appearance and a small beige head. Aroma was very impressive, lots of caramel, malt, chocolate and sweetness and on the palette it was quite sweet and dare I say a little spicy. Now I know why Patrick's in Kristiansand had put their 2 kegs into cellaring as this is the idea Christmas beer to have available on draft. I love doppelbock beers and my all time favourite is Salvator from Paulaner brewery in Germany. 

The Nøgne version has it all that is expected in this style of beer, malty sweetness, quite a thick chewy beer with some dark fruits and chocolate flavours. Gets a bit boozy after a while and all the sugar residue makes the alcohol more intense. Either way I really really liked this beer and am happy to have tried it and unhappy to hear that is will not be available in bottle, one can't win them all and it is only right that some of these great Nøgne brews are only available in Norway.

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Primator

Nøgne Ø Primator is brewed by the 2013 Norwegian home brewer winner, Jorg Solheim at Nøgne Ø. The winning beer was called "Jesus" and Jorg also won best Lager & IPA at this years competition. 

Primator is a doppelbock with 8% alcohol and has a low IBU of 29, this style of beer is know as liquid bread in a bottle. A lovely malty beer with little focus on the hops and mostly on the malts and yeast. Mahogany in colour, quite a large head with higher than expected carbonation which was nice as it helped to dampen the sweetness and alcohol a little. Aroma got bigger and bigger as the beer became warmer, lots of sweet malt, raisins, plums and loads of other dark fruits.

The taste was really nice and as suggested, this beer would work very well with game meat, I tried it with a strong hard cheese and it was a match in heaven. As was the aroma, lots of dark fruits and some bitter chocolate on the tongue, maybe even some rum. Having Salvator from Paulaner & Ayinger's Celebrator as 2 of my favourite German beers, this beer is right up my alley. 

Always great to see Nøgne supporting the Norwegian home-brewers, with such great classics like Two Captains & Andhrimnir being previous winners. Another great craft beer using the best of ingredients from Norway, worth buying a bottle or two id you see it. 

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