Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

330 ml bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 5.2%. Gluten free version of the ordinary Ambar Especial, suitable for people with coeliac disease. Label very similar to the ordinary version, you really have to look out for the words "Apta para celiacos", if this is the version you need. Deep golden colour, low white head. Fairly nice aroma of malts, herbs and cloves. Soft mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Malty flavour, a hint of caramel, not very sweet. Tolerable hops in the finish. Astonishingly good (well, my expectations were low), possibly the best coeliac-friendly beer I’ve had.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Sample from 500 ml can, as Amber Classic, Westerheim stand at Smak 09. ABV is 5.2%. Golden colour, moderate head. Moderate malty aroma. The flavour is clean and fairly malty for a pilsener, with moderate hops in the finish.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Sample from 500 ml bottle, as Grand Imperial Porter, Westerheim stand at Smak 09. ABV is 8.0%. Extract / stammwürz is 18.1%. Very dark brown colour, moderate tan head. Moderate malty and roasty aroma, notes of bakery. Rich mouthfeel. The flavour is malty and sweet with roasted notes, plenty of caramel.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

500 ml brown silk print bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Also available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. Beautiful copper colour, large tan head. Malty sweetish aroma, notes of caramel and bakery. Malty sweet flavour, loads of caramel, sweeter than I appreciate. Very moderate hops in the finish.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet (bestillingsutvalget). ABV is 5.6%, extract 12.2%. Golden colour, big head. Moderate aroma of pilsener malts and grassy and herbal hops. The flavour is fairly sweet and malty with hints of honey, moderate herbal hops.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Sample from 500 ml unpasteurised bottle, as Piwo Zywe, Westerheim stand at Smak 09. ABV is 6.2%. Deep golden colour, big head. Malty aroma, also notes of red berries. Fruity sweetish flavour, also notes of butterscotch.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

330 ml can, as Amstel Cerveza Radler (Limon), from Aldi Estepona, Spain. ABV is 2%. Cloudy / murky straw colour, moderate to small white head. Aroma of lemons and lemon zest. Flavour of lemonade, a little malts in the background.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

330 ml bottle, bought in Rhodos. ABV is 6%. Mahogany colour, small beige head. Malty aroma with notes of caramel and brown bread. Malty flavour too, slightly sweet, with notes of caramel and brown bread again. Minimal hops. Drinkable, but far from exceptional.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

An average lager. Very average! I think it was better the first times I tried it, many years ago (pre-Heineken), but then, my taste may have changed. After they bought the Amstel brewery, Heineken seem to have decided that Amstel should be their "Number 2" brand, in respect of both quantity and quality.

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

Well, if the ordinary Amstel isn't bland enough for you... God bless! There's really not much to say in favour of this brew - but a glass of it IS drinkable if you have to drive afterwards.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

330 ml clear slimline bottle with pull-off cap, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Low carb beer. Ingredients include fermentable sugar. Crystal clear very pale golden colour, large and lasting head. The "skunky" whiff when opening the bottle actually is the best thing with this beer. Grassy and artificial weak aroma. Nearly flavourless, just a faint hint of citrus. Bland and boring as hell. Watery and thin moutheel. Pass.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 3

500 ml can, supplied by my friend Olav. Brewed by "Dutch Export Breweries". ABV was 11.6%. Golden colour, moderate head. Weak aroma, a hint of white wine and honey. Very sweet and alcoholic flavour. Pretty bad.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at LIDL Norway (contract brew). Very pale straw coloured, tolerable head. Weak aroma, hints of flowers and honey. Flavour is typical "neutral" pilsener / pale lager, but the "boiled" notes in the finish suggest that this beer might be brewed by Trio Bryggeri, Mack’s partner brewery (50% Mack ownership) in Southern Norway. Typical Trio house character.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Cloudy pale yellow colour, small white head. Aroma of tropical fruits, also pine and spruce. The flavour is a bit on the sweet side, with notes of tropical fruits nectar, also notes of pine needles and sprucetips, but the bitterness is moderate.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

On tap at Mandag i Annen, Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV was said to be 12.5%. Pitch black colour, minimal head. Aroma of roast malts, vanilla, raisins and nuts. Nutty and roasty flavour, again vanilla and raisins, oaky notes.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 0.5%. Hazy pale yellow colour, small white head. Aroma of pineapple and other tropical fruits, some citrus and spruce too. Light bodied as expected. Citric flavour, notes of tropical fruits too, hints of pine needles, dry finish, low bitterness. Definitely one of the better n/a beers I've had.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4.2%. Hazy pale yellow colour, large white head. Pleasant aroma of citrus and tropical fruits. Light bodied as expected, citric and fizzy mouthfeel. Not too bad for its ABV, though. Citric flavour, also notes of tropical fruits, not too sweet, moderate to low bitterness, moreish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5%. Very pale golden colour, only the slightest haziness. Moderate to small white head. Moderate aroma of malts, flowers and honey. Crisp and refreshing flavour, slightly on the dry side (still with some residual sweetness), moderate but nice herbal hops.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Bryne. ABV is 5.3%. Hazy pale yellow colour, large white head. Moderate aroma of tropical fruits, citrus, grain and dust. Fizzy and citric mouthfeel. Citric flavour, also notes of pineapple and other tropical fruits, moderate piney notes, low bitterness.

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

April 2017: 330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet; Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy, moderate white head. Aroma of pine, spruce, grapefruit and mango Well hopped flavour with same elements as the aroma. Not too sweet, good bitterness, easy to drink. Might well buy again.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, as Amundsen Ink & Dagger Gluten Free Session IPA, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.2%. Slightly hazy and very pale straw colour, moderate to small white head. Aroma of fruity hops, notes of citrus, pineapple and mango. Citric and thin mouthfeel. Medium dry flavour of citrus, hints of tropical fruits, tolerable bitterness. An okay summer refreshment, but the stronger version of Ink & Dagger is a better choice.

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

On tap at the brewpub. Served at cellar temperature. Orange to amber colour, slightly hazy. Moderate white head. Moderate but nice aroma of fruity hops, hints of pine / spruce. Hoppy flavour, piney / resinous and fruity notes. Good beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Bryne. ABV is 6.5%. Moderately gushing can. Hazy yellow colour, moderate white head. Aroma of spruce, pine, citrus and pineapple. Citric and fizzy mouthfeel. Flavour of citrus, pineapple and hints of pine needles. Low bitterness, short finish. Not bad, but there are oh so many similar beers - and this one does not stand out in any way.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Hazy pale yellow colour, some floaties, moderate white head. Distinct and pleasant aroma of peaches, pineapple and passionfruit. Citric and pleasant mouthfeel. Flavour of said fruits, also citrus, not too sweet, piney finish, nice bitterness. Might well buy again.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

330 ml can, as Amundsen Super Santa Choco Shake Stout, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.7%. Black colour, moderate beige head, Sweetish aroma of vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon and lactose. The flavour is not as sweet as the aroma made me fear, but has otherwise the same elements as the aroma. Moderate hops in the finish.