Aku Aku Lemongrass Ale

Nøgne Ø Aku Aku Lemongrass Ale is another brew from Nøgne that was brewed especially for the Aku Aku Tiki bar in Oslo. 5.5% very light yellow in colour and quite hazy, initial aroma had some ginger but very little lemongrass and spicy. The lemongrass was a lot more dominant on the palette and I did not like this after-taste at all, dare to say it was like drinking a lemon toilet spray at times. 

Quite soapy and had some mild bitterness but did not get much malt at all. Nice to have tried this and possible during the summer drinking this cold might be a lot more approachable, either way this time round it was a flop for me. Tyttebær is finally joined by another beer as my worst ranked Nøgne beer.

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Asian Pale Ale

Nøgne Ø Asian Pale Ale is a light and refreshing pale ale with generous amounts of lemongrass added later in the brewing process. Aku Aku was a previous lemongrass beer from Nøgne Ø that i did not like, this version appeals a lot more to me and I can taste and understand the crispiness that the lemongrass adds to this version.

Brewed with malted barley, wheat and rye malts and pacifica, cascade and nelson sauvin hops. As always, Nøgne Ø like to push the barrier here by adding some extra ingredients to make the beer even more multi-dimensions. Not happy with just adding lemongrass, 2 other ingredients were added that compliment the lemongrass. Bitter orange peel and bergamot leave which gives this pale ale a more citrus and herbal aroma and taste.

Light yellow to golden in colour, very big scum and in the beginning it felt over carbonated, but after a few minutes when the beer adjusted to outside temp this was no longer an issue. Aroma had definitely lemongrass in it, along with some light malt, spices and citrus tones. 

Taste had lots of lemongrass and this beer would work very well with lightly spice foods. Body was medium with a nice long bitterness that was both from the lemongrass and the hops and at 4.5% alcohol and just 10 IBU it had great balance between aroma and taste.

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Global Pale Ale

Nøgne Ø Global Pale Ale is pretty much the latest beer to leave the production line, make it into bottles and is currently being rolled out to shops in Norway.


13 different hops from all over the globe, from England, Slovenia, New Zealand, Czech Republic, USA, Germany & Australia, this sounds very hoppy already.

Appearance is a little darker than the regular Pale Ale with a hazy golden to amber colour with a large white head. Right off the bat, the aroma jumps right out of the bottle and gives you a few slaps on the face, telling you that this baby is very hoppy, fresh and going to make your tongue tingle. Some pine, grapefruit and grassy tomes in this gorgeous aroma that initially is quite strong but gradually mellows out. Lots of fresh citrus fruits, the aroma on this beer is up there with the regular IPA from Nøgne Ø which says a lot about the very high quality of this beer.

What I loved about this beer is the balance and drink ability, having 13 different hops but still have an IBU of just 40 and not be too bitter and overpowering is what make Nøgne Ø Global Pale Ale a great people beer. There is a mild spiciness in the taste and the bitterness and carbonation is spot on, this will be a great hoppy craft beer to have available in the local food shops in Norway. 

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Naked Rabbit

Nøgne Ø Naked Rabbit is a collaboration brew between 5 Rabbit Cerveceria who are an Illinois based craft brewery and Nøgne Ø. This beer is a Pale Ale brewed with both juniper berries and mango and as it states on the label:

"A chance encounter between our two breweries led to a realization of some common values and a collaboration was born. It turns out that juniper from the cool north and mango from the torrid south are soulmates, amplifying each other and blending perfectly in this characterful pale ale. Motueka, Pacific Jade and Hallertaue Blanc hops add to the beautiful piney, fruity aroma."

Was really looking forward to trying this pale ale as I love mango, plus this beer being a rare one to get my hands on. Appearance was of a typical American Pale Ale, dark yellow to light golden in color with a medium sized egg white head. Then on to the aroma, wow it had so much freshly cut mango in it and not the stinky mango that many other beer have when using this fruit. It was both delicate and fresh and not over powering in anyway, I was in love with this beers aroma and could not wait to taste it. As for the juniper berries, they I find are difficult to pin point in a beer and only after smelling dried ones that I had in the kitchen, was i then able to find them slightly in this beers aroma.

The taste was just as good with more juicy ripe mango, orange citrus tones and a slight piney touch from the hops but all of this was gently in the front. The malt backbone was there and well balanced with the bitterness so it was not just a beer that tasted mango, taking away the mango it was also a great pale ale. Medium carbonation, this really is a juice bomb of a beer that is packed with fruity flavors and so easy to drink.

Yes the body of the beer could have been a touch more filling but the key to this beer is the balance between the malt, mango, juniper berries and spicy hops. As I mentioned above, have tasted a few mango DIPA recently and they all smelly of stinky mango like an over ripped one, where as this beer has a more delicate freshly cut mango touch to it which is great and I love. Highly rated as this now only is a great tasting beer but also a style and blend that I really like, people have complained about the price of this beer in Norway, in my opinion it is worth it and I would not bat an eye in buy many more bottles if it came my way. 

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Pale Ale

Nøgne Ø Pale Ale finally made its return to the shelves of BA on Vasagatan so I was able to try it. Pale golden in colour with a large off-white head, aroma was very hoppy and citrusy with a very fresh floral hops aroma, would even go out to say a bit soapy. Quite a bitter taste in the beginning, followed by some biscuit malt with a slight sweetness from the malts. Medium to a full bitterness in my opinion with some grassy note. This beer had a very good balance between bitter hops and lightly sweetened malt and is a very good example an American Pale Ale.

Not being a huge Pale Ale lover it is difficult for me to judge this some, but in saying that it definitely is one of the better Pale Ales I have tried and would pick this before a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale any day even though it is a lot more expensive. Another very well balanced and clean flavoured brew from the people at Nøgne again. Refreshing and hoppy with a sufficient malt backbone is how I would sum up this beer, definitely need to drink more Pale Ale during the summer.

 

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