Tap @ the brewery. It’s a different style from Rudolfs Røde (the other strong Christmas beer from Qvart this year) but there is also some similarities to be found. They are both malt driven and relatively strong in alcohol, they are made to harmonize with the classic Norwegian Christmas table, i.e. not too sweet and dominating but solid enough to cope with fat meat, roast, mustard and various spicy flavors. Juulekvelden på kjerringa is even more malty and toasted than Rudolf, but less hoppy and even if it has some fruity flavors as well they are more in the direction of dry fruit. Even some hint of dark chocolate and coffee is to be found. I believe this one is also sweeter from the rich malt feeling, but the higher alcohol contents are balancing this fine and avoiding the sticky caramel flavor at the same time as the malt are hiding the alcohol from becoming boozy. As both beers are fine companions for the Christmas food I think the main difference is that this one is closer to the British tradition of a strong malty ale and Rudolf is more in the direction of American hoppy red ale tradition. They are both fine samples of Christmas beers, but my favorite would be Rudolf this year.

Shared bottle at the yuletide beer tasting on board Fridtjofen 13th and 14th of December 2019. Dark brown. Medicinal aroma and taste of yuletide spices and Jägermeister. Slightly overcarbonated.

Shared bottle at Fritjofens juleølsmaking. Dark brown to black colour. Nice roasty and slightly spicy aroma. Okay flavour, moderately roasty and spicy, slightly vinous. Decent beer. Will re-rate when/if I have a whole bottle/can.

Forholdsvis pålitelige notater fra årets maritime juleølsmaking ombord på Fridtjofen: 0,33 flaske. Brunsvart med fint skum som varer til siste dråpe. Lakrisssjokolader, solbær og julekrydder. Selv om dette var tidlig i smakingen fremsto denne som en av de bedre, og julestemingen er i anmarsj.

Delt med flere på vår årlige juleølsmaking. Dyp rødbrun. Middels høyt kremaktig skum. Lett nøttearoma. Myk munnfølelse. Smaken karamell. Litt jul her.

Two 330ml bottles bought at Vinmonopolet Langnes. Shared with friends. Solid beige head leaving rich lacing on the glass. Near-black body. Appealing dark malt-driven aromas, mid-sweet. Dark caramel flavours added by a gentle coffee twist. Nicely roasted ending, mid-sweet. Fine depth. Decent Yuletide feel. (Den store juleøltesten, Gleipner, Tromsø 22.11.2019).

Håndverkeren 151118.Dark amber color with a beige head. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee, cocoa. Flavor is roasted malt, coffee, dried fruits, bread, cocoa. Complex beer.

Bottle, at Håndverkeren. A dark brown beer with a small beige head. Roasted malts, toast, fall dried fruits, hints of coffee and cocoa, some piney hops and alcohol in the aroma. It's full bodied, lightly warming and smooth on the palate, with a soft bitterness. Roasted malts, dark dried fruits, brown sugar, toast and cocoa in the flavor. Long finish. Perhaps a tad warming, but very nice indeed. 181115

06.11.2018, 0,33l bottle @ home:
Big bubbly-creamy mediumlasting head, clear dark amber color. Aroma is slightly sweet fruity, yeast, very ripe banana, minerals, grass, alcohol, leafs, toast, raisins, roasted grain, fruit stones, bubblegum, soil. Taste is slightly dry boozy, weeds, sour grass, bark, booze, fruit stones, soil, almond essence, yeast, roasted grain, old leafs. Longlasting bitterness, harsh boozy mouthfeel. Not really my cup of coffee.