HaandBryggeriet Nissefar Review

This Norwegian Holiday Ale comes with more than fine taste, it comes with a story. HaandBryggeriet is “Hand Brewers,” one of the new breweries to emerge in the explosion of craft brewing in Scandinavia. It’s four guys experimenting in a 200 year-old stone horse sable. And doing very well!

Nissefar, which means “Father Christmas,” pours nearly black with very little foam on top. The aromas is

Nøgne Ø Winter Ale Review

Nøgne Ø is an outstanding Norwegian brewery pushing against a traditional lager-only beer culture. I previously reviewed their collaboration Special Holiday Ale. Today, we turn toward their Winter Ale. At least that’s the name on the US import. In other Scandinavia the name is God Jul, which in Norwegian means “Merry Christmas.”

Ø Winter Ale pours deep, dark brown with a no visible head. At least for a few seconds, and then

Nøgne Ø Special Holiday Ale Review

The label of this beer has a silhouette of the 3 Magi traveling on camels to find the Messiah. Three brewing kings collaborated on Special Holiday Ale – Nøgne Ø of Norway, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales of Michigan, and Stone Brewing from California.

Special Holiday Ale pours brown with a few bubbles but no head. Sweet malts, juniper, cherry and sage greet your nose. I pick up