5 Rabbit / Nøgne Ø Naked Rabbit (Conejo Desnudo)

Brewed By: 5 Rabbit Cerveceria in Bedford Park, IL /Nøgne Ø in Grimstad, Norway

Purchased: 750ml bottle bought at Binny's in Chicago, IL; 2014

Style/ABV: Pale Ale/Fruit Beer, 6.6%

Reported IBUs: ?

I wanted to jump on this beer sooner than later. This Pale Ale collaboration between 5 Rabbit and Nøgne Ø is brewed with "juniper and mango." That sounds great, except the weather outside has been cold and shitty. About 5 Rabbit Cerveceria: 

5 Rabbit Cerveceria is an Illinois-based craft brewery launched in 2011. The brewery has a unique perspective, focusing on Latin-themed craft beer. The company is lead by CEO Andrés Araya, Creative Director Randy Mosher, and brewmaster (and former Goose Island employee) John J. Hall. For more info about the brewery, check out their Facebook or their website. 

About Nøgne Ø:

Nøgne Ø is a brewery based out of Grimstad, Norway. The brewery was founded in 2002 by homebrewers Gunnar Wiig and Kjetil Jikiun. The name Nøgne Ø, which translates to "naked island," is a poetic term used by the poet Henrik Ibsen to describe the stark, barren landscapes visible in the rough sea off Norway's coast. The founders co-opted the term, because they felt it was symbolic for their passion to share their beer. Sort of like a flasher, only with beer and not balls. This "uncompromising brewery" loves Marris Otter malt and American hops. With a passion to show you their goods and brew bold beer, what could you complain about?  

The Naked Rabbit is a collaboration, as previously stated. The back of the bottle reads: 

"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. 

The name is a mashup of our brewery names: Nøgne Ø means "naked island." It has been an honor to work with Norway's first and most important craft brewery."

5 Rabbit / Nøgne Ø Naked Rabbit (Conejo Desnudo)

This yields something very reminiscent to a Pale Ale: a slightly hazy, golden-orange, pale affair. The beer kicks up two fingers of fluffy, white, sustaining head. The head leaves nice lacing, is hop fueled, blah blah. The beer is carbonated nicely. 

The aroma is one note, like a baroque juniper symphony. Some Bach apologist will show up and defend the nuances of baroque, and your eyes will glaze like adult industry psychology majors with broken dreams. I was cracking this beer to protest the cold weather, but all I smell is Christmas. Juniper, pine, Christmas trees, Midwest forests, and some suggestions of mango that are otherwise held hostage by the overt juniper.

The taste is much more in line with what I was hoping for. Here the mango gets to shine, with refreshing waves of apple, apple slaw salad, mango, sweet pine, and big floral hops. This leans in the direction of mango and pine, with hints of floral and fruity juniper in the taste. This is clean with little in the way of malts. There's maybe some faint caramel sugars in the back, but this mostly rides on carbonation and hops with the fruity adjuncts brightening things up.

As far as fruited Pale Ales go, this is really solid. It's incredibly juicy and refreshing at 6.6%, with a light-full to medium-light body, tons of carbonation, juicy fruits, and good depth and complexity. I mean, you really can't ask more from this beer. While the aroma is unsettling, this does settle into something incredibly enjoyable. I'd be very happy butt chugging this in the Summer months. To recap, this opens with big refreshing pine, mango, and apple/slaw up front; that gives way to really nice hoppy notes, with floral pine, floral mango, some hints of citrus, and mild bitterness; the back end lingers with mango, apple, pine, juniper, and some faint caramel. This finishes clean and refreshing, and is actually both unique and drinkable.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Decent Above-Average here. Very good for a Pale Ale. My only regret is this beer's limited availability and the price. I'd like to see this in a 6-pack on the regular. I'm going to pair this food with leftover Italian chicken with mozzarella and tomatoes, but I think you could go with some more inspired Summer dishes. Like many of 5 Rabbits beers, I think this beer would be a great food pairing vehicle. 

Random Thought: Go see Gone Girl. It was fantastic...minus some potential misogynistic implications that I am still exploring.