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

473 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.0%. Slightly hazy and very pale golden colour, moderate white head. Distinct aroma of ripe yellow plums. Fruity and refreshing flavour, notes of yellow plums and citrus, a moderate piney bitterness in the finish.

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

473 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.4%. Very pale golden colour, large to moderate white head. Nice aroma of grapefruit, honey melon and pine, hints of menthol and camphor. The mouthfeel is a bit thin. Flavour of citrus, moderate to low bitterness. Fairly refreshing.

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

473 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.2%. Hazy orange to pale brownish colour, moderate white head. Aroma of pine, spruce, yellow stonefruits and grapefruit. Citric flavour, some sweetness, also notes of yellow stonefruits, a moderate bitterness in the finish. Pleasant to drink.

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

November 2022: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6%. Hazy brown colour, large off-white head. Aroma of malts, raisins, oak and old sherry. Fizzy and sourish mouthfeel. The flavour is drier than expected, but has the same elements as the aroma.

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

One of the best Norwegian lagers. Moderate carbonation, head disappears quickly. Even though the pilsnermalt is dominant, the use of münchener- and whiskeymalt adds some interesting notes to the aroma and flavour. Malty sweetness is quite well balanced by the hops.

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

Was brewed by Tou Bryggeri in Stavanger, a Ringnes subsidiary which they closed. As with other brewers, I hate it when they call something "draught beer" ("fatøl") when it actually comes out of a can. This beer differs only marginally from Tou Pilsner, hops are slightly more accentuated. Not too much flavour except for the hops. I find nothing 'unique' about the head! Drinkable beer, after all.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Copper coloured Christmas beer, brewed for the Norwegian grocery store market when the traditional "klasse F" Christmas beers could be sold only through the government owned Vinmonopolet stores. This beer is an example of the fact that the Juleøl style NEEDS an ABV of 6,2% - 7% to be decent. The beer looks good, but that's all. Bland metallic flavour, just a hint of caramel. It's stunning how little taste they have managed to put into this beer. Low score in all Xmas beer ratings in Norwegian newspapers - well deserved. BTW, like (nearly) all Norwegians, I believed that Norwegian Juleøl was a style in its own right - I actually learned from RateBeer that they could be classified as Vienna. (I don't know if people living in Vienna would agree.) Fortunately, the best "klasse F" beers are a lot better than this.

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

This traditional 'klasse F' (strong) Christmas beer has the last years been given the lowest or second lowest 'klasse F' rating in Norwegian newspapers. I can understand why - it's now too lightbodied for its strength, flavour is slightly metallic, a substantial bitterness is not balanced by an equally substantial malty sweetness like a real 'Juleøl' should have. Colour is reddish brown, low head. I think this beer was considerably better 20 - 30 years ago, before Tou Bryggeri (Stavanger) became part of the Ringnes group.

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

This used to be my local pilsner before Ringnes closed the Tou brewery and moved production to Oslo - I wish I could give it a higher rating. It was probably the most bitter of all Norwegian pilsners, which may be said to give it some character. Fizzy carbonation, head disappears quickly. Good from draught in summer, otherwise you will find that the new Tou Blå (Blue) has a lot more going - if it is still available. I have stubbornly refused to drink even a drop of Tou Pilsner after production was moved to Oslo.

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

Cask conditioned at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) 2008. Golden colour, low head. Moderate pale malts and some fruit in the aroma and flavour, tolerably well hopped.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

330 ml bottle, batch #001, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.7%. Moderately hazy pale golden colour, some floaties. Shortlived white head. Very moderate aroma, but I had a cold, so my sense of smell might not be right. Sour flavour, notes of lactic acid and sour green gooseberries.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Nearly black colour, small beige head. Aroma of roast malts, burnt breadcrumbs, thin coffee. Light bodied for its strength. The flavour is fairly dry with piney hops and a very bitter aftertaste, otherwise the same elements as the aroma.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Slightly hazy golden to orange colour, small white head. Aroma of grain and herbal hops. Citric mouthfeel. The flavour has distinct bittering hops throughout, very bitter aftertaste. Hardly a beer I'll bother to buy again.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011. Still cider. Pale straw colour. Strong and nice aroma of cider apples, oak and sulphites. Medium dry flavour, same elements as the aroma.

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

355 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.2%, IBU 31, OG 1049. Golden colour, moderate white head. "Dusty" aroma, only a hint of honey. Slightly sweet and floral flavour, with notes of honey. Moderate bittering hops in the finish.

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

On tap at the brewery. Deep golden to amber colour. Pleasant aroma and flavour of fruity (citrus, tropical fruits) and piney (pine needles, resin) American hops. Still fairly smooth to drink (for a DIPA). Enjoyable

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

650 ml bottle, in Sacramento. Golden colour, white head. Typical well hopped West Coast IPA in both aroma and flavour, with notes of pine and citrus, but still quite harmonious and refreshing, not too extreme. Could easily be one of my regular beers.

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

On tap at the brewery. Black colour, tan head. A decent, well made and well balanced stout, with a nice roastiness but not too extreme. Pleasant to drink outside the brewery in the October sun.

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Hops are Strata and Cashmere. Hazy pale yellow colour, large to moderate white head. Distinct aroma of melon and yellow stonefruits. The flavour has notes of citrus fruits, also melon and yellow stonefruits, a hint of sprucetips, low bitterness.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Clear golden colour, white head. Hoppy aroma and flavour, dry and piney bitterness, not so much fruitiness. Typical West Coast IPA.

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

Bottle from Traditional Scottish Ales, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV is 4.5%. Beautiful deep brown colour, moderate beige head. Very nice malty aroma with vinous notes, caramel and dark dried fruits, hints of oak. Malty flavour, preserved fruits, hints of oak, moderate bitterness.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.1%. Pale golden colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of Trappist yeast, white kandij sugar syrup and mild spices, a hint of orange peel. Fizzy mouthfeel. The medium sweet flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but the spicy notes are more distinct now. Also a noticeable hop bitterness in the finish.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. ABV is 9%. Deep reddish brown to ruby colour. Very oaky and malty aroma and flavour, with plenty of caramel.

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

August 2013: 500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5%. Clear brown to copper colour, moderate white head. Malty aroma with notes of toffee, caramel and nuts, hints of over-ripe fruits. The flavour is also malty but not very sweet, some fruity notes, hints of oak, nuts and caramel, fairly bitter and slightly roasty finish. More "contemporary" in style than Traquair House Ale and Jacobite Ale, but this one is also a fine beer.

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

33 cl bottle, bought at Selfridge’s, London. Beautiful brown to ruby colour, good beige head. Complex aroma of oak and sandalwood, some pine too, old sherry, leather, pipe tobacco, sour cherries, prunes, hints of smoke . Flavour is woody with a pronounced roastiness, coffee notes, strong tea, hints of bitter chocolate, excellent hoppy bitterness. A truly delightful beer!