Samples. Reason enough to beer blog, I'd say, and when things from Norway come in the mail all the better. I had the porter from Nøgne Ø last year and seem to have loved it so this 9% bigger sibling was a welcome sight. I've also had their Julesnadder, a Christmas beer, last year care of Knut the Swell and a surprise package in the mail but didn't even review it or take a note or nuttin'. I either failed as a beer blogger or was taking a stand. Can't remember.

So, it's darn good thing I can make it up to the gods of the tickers with this one. It pours inky with a mahogany rim all under the darkest mocha head yet. Maybe the colour of melty chocolate ice cream. Maybe the colour of the blood of a gingerbread boy. It is all mint and unsweetened licorice when near the nose. In the mouth, a huge creamy texture opens to blackened toast, espresso, dark chocolate with a long and increasingly bitter finish all framed by more of that minty hop until they fade leaving nothing but cigarette ash and mocha-cocoa, a surprisingly appealing combo. Thick and heavy. Concentrated. Like light beer syrup.

BAers lick the spoon and ask if there is any more.