Saison
Nøgne Ø

SaisonSaison
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From:
Nøgne Ø
 
Norway
Style:
Saison
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 10.32%
Reviews:
143
Ratings:
265
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 27, 2018
Added:
Feb 08, 2006
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  10
14°P, 25 IBU

Ingredients: Wheat and lager malt; East Kent Goldings and Crystal hops; Belgian ale yeast, and our local Grimstad water
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Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Luminous lemon (when backlit) with much less yeast than expected. Perhaps it's hiding in the bottom of the bottle. The pearl colored crown is a tightly packed collection of glassy bubbles that doesn't look very Belgian. A smattering of sticky lace decorates the sides of the glass in the form of half-moons and assorted curlicues.

The nose is fresh and clean, with an abundance of lemony, herbal, light spicy, modestly musky aromas that are due to what smells like a wonderful Belgian yeast strain and two well-chosen hops (East Kent Goldings and Crystal). There's no horse blanket, since Brettanomyces isn't used, but there is a subtle funk of a different nature.

Since the first mouthful was good, but wasn't outstanding, I've decided to add the good stuff from the bottom of the bottle to the glass. The beer is now signficantly murky and the flavor should be more intense as well. At least I hope so.

My opinion hasn't changed a whole lot. Saison is a much better than average version that doesn't deliver the transcendence of an expertly crafted Belgian ale. That's okay, roughly 99% of the world's beer doesn't either. The body/mouthfeel is partly to blame, but that isn't the whole story. On second thought, it might be most of the story.

The malt backbone (wheat and 'lager' malt) does a good job of anchoring the bottom end and providing an underlying cereal grain sweetness rather than an overattenutated crisp dryness. Things begin to dry out on the finish, which is where the top notes of yeast and spice begin to find their groove.

Lemon, lemongrass and a potpourri of spices (clove, cardamom, white pepper) share the spotlight. I'm beginning to agonize over the flavor score, and wish, yet again, that 4.25 was an option. The beer's outstanding drinkability means that the glass will probably be empty before any firm conclusions can be drawn.

The mouthfeel is the only (minor) disappointment. Undercarbonation is the main reason. Saisons should be lush and fluffy, with an ethereal creaminess that caresses the mouth and tongue. None of that is true here.

Other than the amazingly delicious Porter and Imperial Stout, Saison might be my favorite Nogne beer to date. It's tantalizingly close to greatness and is already there in terms of drinkability. Cutting through the waffling, I will gladly buy multiple bottles in the future.
Mar 05, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by jroof1 from Massachusetts

Nov 27, 2018
Photo of saboliver
Reviewed by saboliver from England

3.71/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy, no head, relatively few bubbles. Buttery, biscuity aroma with some earthiness and farmyard notes. Grain flavours with some yeastiness. Low to medium carbonation, with fine bubbles and very slight fizz on the tongue. Not much bitterness at first, more later. A few fruity notes comes through with further sips. A flavour reminiscent of pate coming through with later bitterness. Fairly smooth to drink. Tastes less than its percentage. An enjoyable, somewhat rustic ale but relatively light in terms of flavour.
Aug 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by priley from England

Jul 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.68 by Foley67 from Scotland

Jul 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by dsshuck from Delaware

Jun 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by jrfehon33 from Pennsylvania

May 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.82 by sephyrott from Spain

May 06, 2017
Photo of vinicole
Reviewed by vinicole from England

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle. Cloudy light marmalade colour. Thin wispy head.
Over ripe fruit aroma. Yeasty.
Sweet. Very light bitter. Fruit and yeast again. Some grain.
Light feel. Decent carbonation. Balanced but unassuming.
Apr 28, 2017
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

3.24/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottled
Pours a slightly hazy golden body with decent enough white head
Wheat and aspirin aroma that barely registers
Wheat and lemon flavour with a touch of honey
Apr 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by louislouis91 from Ireland

Mar 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.77 by Hip_Hop_Hooray from Wales

Dec 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.01 by stephenlee from England

Nov 26, 2016
Photo of DJ-Hophead
Reviewed by DJ-Hophead from England

4.19/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
330 ml bottle M and S, Bristol - Pours cloudy golden with a large white foamy head. Medium carnobnation. Nice lacing. Aroma - ripe fruits, floral notes, yeasty feel. Taste - sweet, ripe fruit forefront, yeasty middle, crisp bitter finish. Very well rounded saison, worth checking out..
Oct 13, 2016
Photo of Dzu
Reviewed by Dzu from Russian Federation

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured into chalice.
L: Light amber color with a weak white foam head.
S: Hops, limon, light fruits.
T: Interesting with biterness. Notes of peaches and apples.
F: Smooth, medium carbonation and body.
O: Too ordinary for me.
Sep 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Hanyuu from Finland

Jul 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.01 by PierceTheElder from California

Jun 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by steverx8 from England

May 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.3 by risenz from England

Mar 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by sammorito from Virginia

Nov 05, 2015
Saison from Nøgne Ø
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 265 ratings