Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Cask conditioned this is just an excellent ale. Enough said. Rerate May 14 2002: Had this one again today from can + bottle (bottle slightly better) in Norway, not nearly as good as cask conditioned, but still a very drinkable ale. Could use a little more aromatic hops. Rerate 2: I take back what I said about can vs. bottle. I found a retailer who stores the cans cold, and they're a helluva lot better than the frequently skunky (clear!) bottles, which are stored warm at my other retailer's. Well kept, I just love the nutty freshness of this ale.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

(500 ml bottle). Exquisite aroma, beautiful colour, very bitter aftertaste (perhaps too bitter?) Rerate: I regret part of my first comment: The flavour is NOT too hoppy - it’s just an acquired taste. And the aroma IS exquisite!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Rerate 13. April: I deliberately avoided pouring the yeast in this time, beer is clear deep golden, like a bitter or an IPA. Flavour is more balanced, still a substantial bitterness but not unpleasant. Very little wheat character, in a blind test I'd say this was a decent IPA or possibly an ESB. Original rating: 500 ml, bottle conditioned. Batch #128. The brewers say this beer should be consumed on Easter Day and not during Lent. I’d better re-rate shortly after Easter - maybe they mean that the beer is too fresh now? Anyway, I HAD too try it now, once it was for sale. The beer has a hazy golden, nearly orange colour. Initially large head, doesn’t last to the end. Lovely hoppy aroma with hints of citrus, honey and leather. Flavour is very bitter from start to finish (loads of hops and coriander, peppery mouthfeel) , while the beer otherwise is light bodied like a wheat beer should be. This means that the hops and spices are overdone here, and the subtleties of a wheat beer do not survive. Those who love American IPAs might like it, but to me this is my least favourite Nøgne Ø beer so far.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

500 ml red can, now available in Norway ("hooray!" - NOT!). I saw this low carb beer in England too (but resisted buying it there), it’s contract brewed by German brewers Gebr. Maisel for some shady London company wanting to profit on the American-inspired "low carb" craze. www.redlightbeer.com Maybe Maisel feel as if their brewing skills are sold for "prostitution" (in terms of craft pride) - that could explain the "redlight" name of the beer... I’m sure it will become popular in the "redlight districts" of Europe - or maybe not .... Anyway, like all(?) low carb beers the colour is very pale straw coloured, head goes from large & fluffy to none. There actually is some aroma: grass and hints of citrus. Not much flavour of course, but better than feared, at least it’s not offensive - fairly clean with a faint hint of hops. Watery and slightly metallic mouthfeel, as expected. Aftertaste is next to none. But seriously - why "low carb" beers? Go for a walk in stead!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

33 cl bottle, bought at Selfridge’s, London. Deep amber colour, hazy. Large head. Aroma and flavour are rather alcoholic, with caramel, brown sugar, oak and hints of barnyard. Sweetness is reasonably balanced by the hoppy bitterness, which also has some not-so-desirable metallic edges. Mouthfeel is warming and a bit peppery. An unusual beer, well worth sampling, but DIVINE?? I don’t think so - go for the Trappists in stead, they have better connections "upstairs".

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

25 cl bottle, bought at Selfridge’s, London. Amber colour, large and fluffy lingering head. Vinous dry sherry-like aroma, elements of oak and leather too. Flavour is again sherry-like, medium dry (or medium sweet, if you like), loads and loads of oak, hints of German "Weinbrand", warming mouthfeel as expected from a 12% ABV beer, but the beer doesn’t feel inappropriately alcoholic. A substantial hoppy bitterness in the finish balances the sweetness nicely. Plays in the Premier League of beers, this one.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

A weaker version (4.75%) is sold in Norway. I don't like this stuff. Metallic bitter and unpleasant aftertaste. Better on tap in Germany (original strength), but still not one of my favourites.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Draught (keg) at Hogan’s, Darlington. Amber colour, low head. Moderate toffee aroma. Smooth, malty, easy drinking "bitter" in the North-Eastern style, low bitterness. Reminds me of Tetley’s.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, bought at Selfridge’s, London. This bottle conditioned "original" IPA has a slightly hazy deep golden colour and a fluffy head. The hops are what it’s all about in the aroma and flavour - lovely citrussy aroma with hints of oak and leather, flavour has a distinct resin-like bitterness with notes of grapefruit on a subdued background of dusty malty sweetness. Interesting beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

275 ml bottle, at The Beehive, Brentford, London. Deep golden colour, moderate head. Aroma like a decent standard bitter. Reasonably hoppy flavour. Not bad for a beer this low ABV.