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

On tap at the brewpub. Served at correct cellar temperature. Deep golden to amber colour, creamy head, leaves a nice lacing. Moderate but nice aroma of toffee and butterscotch. Flavour is moderately malty and mellow with "dusty" hops (East Kent Goldings). Some bitterness in the finish / aftertaste. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to make it stand out from your average bitter either.

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

On tap at the brewpub. Served too cold. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy. Moderate head. Strong (and I mean REALLY strong) aroma of butterscotch / diacetyl - some hate it but I like it! Flavour is moderately malty with some butterscotch notes, some hops in the finish, but not very interesting.

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

On tap at the brewpub. Very pale colour, nearly crystal clear, appearance more of a Kristallweizen than a Hefe. Served with a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass, not IN the beer, T.G. Moderate head. Typical weissbier aroma: citrus, banana and cloves. The aroma was somewhat "disturbed" by the fact that the brewer was cleaning the brewing vessels with the door open while I was there, a strong wort aroma filled the brewpub, but that’s a rather charming part of the game IMO. The flavour is more citrussy / lemony than most German weissbiers. Light bodied and refreshing, a very moderate bitterness in the finish. An okay thirstquencher, but certainly no masterpiece.

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

Draught at the brewpub. Served far too cold. EBC 169.7, IBU 27. Black colour, moderate creamy tan head. Roast malts, coffee, smooth and velvety, well hopped, well balanced. Easy drinking despite its strength.

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

Draught at the brewpub. EBC 18.2, IBU 23. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy, good thick head, moderate carbonation. Dominant Cascade aroma and flavour. Quite good IPA.

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

Draught at the brewpub. Served far too cold. This is a seasonal Yule/Christmas ale. Deep reddish brown colour, hazy. Pleasant malty aroma and flavour with caramel and spices. A bit too carbonated for my taste.

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

Draught at the brewpub. EBC 4.8, IBU 13.5. Hops used are Saaz, Perle and Nugget. Very pale golden colour, slightly hazy. Lovely flowery aroma and flavour. Light bodied, reasonably bitter finish. Decent pils.

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

Draught at the brewpub. EBC 61, IBU 18. Hops used: Cascade. Too carbonated for my taste, served far too cold. Dark ruby colour. Fruity (plums) aroma, like many English porters. Roast malty flavour, rather dry. Quite bitter finish, both from the roast malts and plenty of Cascade hops.

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

This beer is inspired by US West Coast steam ale. EBC 21,8, IBU 15,8. Copper coloured, crystal and chocolate malts are used. Several hop varieties are used, East Kent Goldings and Liberty are mentioned. Moderate fruity aroma, flavour is dusty malty with a dusty hops finish. Undefinable lack of balance, made worse by serving the beer far too cold. Too carbonated.

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

On tap at Oslo Mikrobryggeri. Reddish amber colour. Lovely aroma of caramel and butterscotch. Flavour of malts, tobacco, caramel and butterscotch. OKish.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11%. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of chocolate and mild coffee, a hint of vanilla and almonds. Thick and warming mouthfeel. Medium sweeet flavour, notes of chocolate, vanilla, almonds, liquorice and mild coffee. A moderate bitterness in the finish.

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

November 2016: Cask half pint at The Old King’s Head, Borough, London. Deep golden colour, white head. Moderately malty aroma and flavour, sharpish hops in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.3%. Pale golden colour (probably the palest British ale I’ve ever seen), slightly hazy. Moderate white head. Moderate fruity aroma. Flavour has some some citrussy notes and fairly decent hops, light bodied, dry bitter finish. In a blind test I might have guessed that this was a kölsch, or even a well-hopped pils. The lager malt used may explain that. An okay beer for a hot summer’s day, but I wouldn’t mind having some noticeable malts around, to balance the Fuggles hops.

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

500 ml brown bottle, Christmas 2006, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Reddish amber colour, moderate head. OK but moderate aroma of bakery and earthy hops. Flavour is nicely balanced between the malts and hops, and makes this a very drinkable premium bitter, but there is nothing that really "stands out" and makes the beer "something special" for Christmas. Might as well be an all-year beer. Okay, but is probably better from a well kept cask.

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.8%. Reddish amber to brown colour, low off-white head. Minimal carbonation, nearly flat. Moderate but nice aroma of caramel, toffee, berries and dried fruits, with some oak in the background. Flavour has plenty of caramel, and a substantial bitterness in the finish and aftertaste, and a sweetish reminder of the relatively high ABV, but little else than that. Not an easy-drinking ale this one, and not particularly interesting either. Still better than many run-of-the-mill ales.

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

Cask conditioned at Ye Olde Dolphin Inne, Derby (Heavyweight Beer Festival, February 2005). Gravity dispense. Brown to ruby colour, some natural carbonation, no head. Malty aroma and flavour like expected from a "Scottish" style ale, but this one also has a tolerable hoppy bitterness. Hints of dark bitter chocolate. Not a bad try from the Otter Brewery.

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

330 ml bottle, from Fenaknoken, Oslo. ABV is 4.5%. Golden colour, huge and lasting white head. Fairly strong fruity and spicy aroma, "typically Belgian". High level of carbonation, even in the mouth. Light bodied. Moderately spicy flavour, fairly dry for a Belgian ale, moderate hops (some more would be desirable). Nice and refreshing, but obviously not one of the "grand crus" of Belgium.

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

375 ml corked & caged green bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Slightly hazy golden colour, large white head. Pleasant aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, rural kitchen, oxidized apples, lemons and oak. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, lemons and oak, fairly dry.

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

375 ml corked & caged green bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Slightly hazy golden to orange colour, moderate to small white head. Aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, lemons, rustic kitchen and oak. Very sour flavour, nearly too sour for me, notes of brettanomyces, lemons, lactic acid, white wine vinegar and oak.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, vintage 2020, limited edition, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Shared with my son. ABV is 7.0%. Clear and deep red colour, like a fine claret, shortlived pink head. Lovely aroma of farmhouse and cherries. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, sour cherries and lemons.

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

Sample from 375 ml corked green bottle, at Cardinal’s stand at Øl- og Akevittmessen in Stavanger. Hazy golden colour, fizzy white head. Complex and funky aroma and flavour, fairly acidic, notes of farmhouse and lemons. Proved quite popular at the festival.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger, sample at Mandag i Annen. Pale golden colour, white head. Grassy aroma. The flavour has fairly decent hops for a "Mexican" lager.

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

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 6.0%. Milky / opaque / "dirty" pale yellow colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of citrus and various tropical fruits. Citric mouthfeel. Flavour again of citrus and tropical fruits, moderately sweet. Hints of oatmeal. Low bitterness.

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

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 8.5%. Dirty yellow colour, large to moderate white head. Lovely aroma of citrus, tropical fruits and a hint of honey. Medium sweet flavour, notes of honey, citrus and tropical fruits, ending in a moderate piney /resinous hop bitterness.

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

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 6.3%. Dirty yellow colour, huge white head that takes "forever" to settle (overcarbonated). Pleasant and fresh aroma of citrus, apricot and various tropical fruits. Citric flavour, also notes of tropical fruits, slightly sweet, with a fairly sharp bitterness in the finish.