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

(500 ml can). Norwegian "summer beers" are the work of the devil! While their ordinary pilseners are summer beers good enough, every brewery, of some reason, now makes a lighter and blander version for the summer months. The one from Mack is not the worst of its kind, but that doesn't mean it's a good beer. Typical pilsener colour (not as extremely pale coloured as the ones from some other breweries), very good head, weak flowery aroma, weak grassy flavour (as far as there is any flavour at all), low bitterness. This is for the target group who wants an ice cold thirstquencher without much taste.

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

330 ml can, as Mack Tradisjonell Julebokk, from Vinmonopolet Sauda. ABV is 9%. Dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of malts, brown bread and caramel. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet and rich flavour, notes of various types of malts, distinct caramel, burnt breadcrumbs, mild spices, dark dried fruits, moderate hops.

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

500 ml can, from Coop Extra, Tau. ABV is 4.7%. Slightly hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of fruity hops, some piney notes too. The mouthfeel is not too bad for a 4.7% session IPA. The flavour has typical "West Coast" notes of grapefruit and piney hops, decent bitterness. Maybe not so very special, but still one of Mack's better beers, this one.

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

500 ml can, from SPAR Jørpeland. ABV is 4.7%. Nearly clear golden colour, moderate to small white head. Pleasant floral and herbal aroma of Saaz hops. Fairly crisp flavour, herbal hops again, moderate bitterness in the aftertaste. There has been many disappointments from Mack during the last few years, but this beer is not bad at all.

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

500 ml can, probably from Coop Extra, Tau. ABV is 4.7%. Nearly clear pale golden colour, large white head. Distinct aroma of citrus / orange peel and wheat, a hint of coriander seeds. Thin body. Moderate wheaty flavour with citrus and coriander, very moderate hops.

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

(500 ml can). Typical pils pale golden colour, large head diminishing rapidly. Moderate herbal pils aroma, flavour is slightly drier than the ordinary Mack pilsener. Not offensive, but not much to remember either. With all the beer varieties Mack brew, you'd think they could come up with something more exciting than umpteen varieties of uninteresting lagers.

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

A Christmas beer for the "cool" ice beer generation - oh my God! Well, it's probably not exactly an ice beer, just the average bland lager with just a little more flavour to pretend it's a "Xmas" beer. Pathetic! The ice beer generation will probably stick to ice beer or pils for Christmas anyhow, so why bother? 0,5 liter can in white and silver, commercial description in English only, even though the beer is sold primarily (or solely?) in Norway. Wow - cooool! - (can't believe there are assholes who actually think so!) Low head, golden colour, just a faint trace of spice (cardamom?) in the flavour. Aftertaste is weak but not foul, at least they have had the decency to add some hops to the stuff.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 3

500 ml can. Another beer from Mack for the target group teenagers+ (who are presumed not to be able to drink beers with traceable hops), but this time they have decided to make a beer that (at least) LOOKS like a normal Christmas beer. And unlike their "smrprty" beer, this one even has a bit of aroma and flavour (but not much hops, of course ...). Amber colour, huge head which lasts a while. Weak aroma, some caramel sweetness and Christmas cookies. Soft and thin/watery mouthfeel, some malty sweetness with hints of caramel and Christmas cookies. Hardly any bitterness at all. Not offensive, but very boring!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

(275 ml bottle.) Very dark/black, good tan head. Aroma is malts and coffee, flavour is sweet and malty with coffee and chocolate notes, hardly any bitterness. This beer proves that a low ABV beer can be flavourful, but it's just too sweet to be a favourite of mine.

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

May 2016: Shared 500 ml bottle at local tasting. ABV is 4.6%. Beautiful ruby colour (fairly pale for a porter), moderate beige head. Moderate malts in the aroma, not very roasty. A hint of caramel, vanilla and very thin coffee. Medium dry flavour, mild coffee, a hint of chocolate. Very moderate hops. Easy drinking.

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

250 ml bottle, as Maes Pils, at the Manneke Pis, Tenerife. ABV is 5.2%. Pale golden colour, big to moderate white head. Sweetish aroma of honey and flowers. Thin mouthfeel. Bland flavour, but some hops in the finish.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Black colour, low tan head. Pleasant roasty and fruity aroma, hints of exotic woodwork. Very little carbonation. Warming mouthfeel, The flavour is heavily roasty, notes of very strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate, not very sweet. A solid hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Cloudy brown colour, creamy beige head. Lovely aroma of Australian hops, notes of tropical fruits and fir needles. Intense flavour of hops throughout, again with notes of tropical fruits and grapefruit, fir and pine needles and resin. There is a sufficient malty backbone, but not much sweetness. The bitterness is firm, but not too extreme. Jolly good.

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

On tap at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival, Drammen. Pitch black colour, low tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, coffee and some malty sweetness, notes of oak / bourbon barrel (more in the flavour than in the aroma). Good beer.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy deep golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of tropical fruits and spruce / pine. Distinctly hoppy flavour throughout, on a moderately sweet background. Citrussy and resinous notes, bitter finish. Good stuff.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger, Golden colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of citrus and tropical fruits, some spicy notes too. The well balanced flavour has notes of citrussy and resinous hops throughout, but is not too bitter. Also spicy notes (coriander). An excellent fusion between witbier and IPA, dangerously drinkable.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, large and creamy beige head. Firm roasty aroma, notes of coffee and chocolate, hints of liquorice and woodwork. Moderately roasty flavour, medium dry, with the same elements as in the aroma, followed by a distinct hoppy bitterness. Roasty and hoppy aftertaste. Well balanced and highly drinkable.

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

On tap at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival. Golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of piney and citrussy American hops. Piney and resinous flavour. Quite good beer.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Cloudy dark orange colour, large off-white head. Aroma of citrus fruit (esp. oranges) and pine. Luscious hoppy flavour, with notes of bitter orange marmalade, grapefruit, mango and resin. In other words: Lots of hoppy flavours in addition to the expected solid bitterness, which is still not to extreme. A wonderful beer!

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Black colour, large and creamy beige head. Pleasant aroma of fruity and piney hops, with some mild roasty notes in the background. Delightful flavour of luscious hops, with a mildly roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish. Good stuff!

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

November 2020: 330 ml can, as Magic Rock Murk-Life Balance Hazy Pale Ale, from Vinmonopolet Sola. ABV is 5.0%. Brewed with Australian hops, according to the brewery website. Cloudy yellow colour, moderate white head. Lovely and intense aroma of a wide range of tropical fruits, also citrus and spruce. Fairly light bodied. The flavour is more dry than sweet, moderate notes of pine needles, sprucetips and said fruits.

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

330 ml can, as Magic Rock Murk-Life Balance Hazy Pale Ale, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.0%. Hazy pale yellow colour, huge white head. Pleasant aroma of citrus, pineapple and various tropical fruits. Citric flavour, not too sweet, also notes of tropical fruits. Low bitterness.

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

On tap at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival. Reddish brown colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma of piney and resinous American hops, hints of grapefruit and catpiss. The flavour is also hoppy with resinous and piney notes.

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

440 ml can, as Magic Rock Stiggy Pop NEIPA, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Stigberget is not mentioned on the can. ABV is 7.3%. Hazy golden colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of citrus, guava and over-ripe pineapple. Citric flavour, also notes of yellow stonefruits and tropical fruits. Moderate bitterness in the finish.

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

568 ml green bottle, bought at Vaaland Spesialbutikkken, Bryne. ABV is 4.5%. Contains sulphites. Made with pears as the sole fruit. Crystal clear extremely pale greyish-greenish yellow colour, pours very fizzy with a moderate but short-lived head. Moderate aroma of pears and oxidised apples. Thin mouthfeel. Flavour of pears (of course), pear drops and sugar, but not extremely sweet. Could have been better, could have been worse.