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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Madla. ABV is 7.0%. Moderately hazy golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Aroma of oranges and other citrus fruits, hints of tropical fruits and sweat. Medium sweet and citric flavour, also notes of yellow stonefruits. Moderate bitterness.

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

Nov. 2020 Shared can from Vinmonopolet Hillevåg, vintage 2020. Hazy yellow to orange colour, white head. Mandarin / tangerine and tropical fruits in aroma and flavour, quite sweet (too sweet?). And there's nothing "Christmassy" about it. Not my choice for Christmas dinner, anyway.

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

330 ml can, probably from Vinmonopolet Norheimsund. ABV is 5.4%. Deep red to purple colour, hazy, large to moderate pink head. Aroma of over-ripe berries ("fruits of the forest"), lactic acid and lactose. Very sweet flavour, lactose galore (overkill), also lactic acid and loads of said berries. Won't buy again.

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

330 ml can, as Cervisiam Pablo's Esco-Bar, from Vinmonopolet Herbarium or Madla. ABV is 8%. Cloudy yellow to orange colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of tropical fruits (papaya, guava, mango), some citrus too, a hint of caramel. The flavour is very sweet (too sweet) with loads of lactose and caramel, nearly drowning the notes of citrus and tropical fruits, a hint of sprucetips.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6%. Hazy orange colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of lactic acid and strawberry jam. Medium sour flavour of lactic acid and strawberries. Refreshing.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. ABV is 8%. Cloudy yellow colour, moderate white head. Intense aroma of tropical fruits and citrus. Refreshing flavour for its strength - citrussy, with some tropical fruits, and moderate piney / resinous hops in the finish.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.6%. Hazy yellow colour, moderate white head. Aroma of fruity and spicy hops, notes of citrus and tropical fruits, a hint of spruce. Juicy flavour with the same elements as the aroma, moderate bitterness.

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

500 ml bottle, brought to a tasting by someone who had bought it in Riga. ABV was 6%. At first I thought that he was pulling my leg, and that the content of the bottle really was a "radler" (cola beermix). Apparently it was the real thing. Reddish brown colour, low head. Minimal aroma, hints of cola. Flavour of RC Cola and cinnamon - weird. Not my idea of a Baltic porter.

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

This beer comes in a nifty 300 ml octagonal A leCoq brown glass bottle, bought in Riga. ABV is 5.0%. Pale golden colour, large to moderate white head. Fruity and flowery aroma, quite nice. The flavour is also fruity and quite refreshing. Lemony finish. Some more malts and bittering hops might have been a good idea. Light bodied, soft mouthfeel. No masterpiece, but better than I feared.

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

500 ml can, bought in Riga, as "Cesu Premium Alus Limited Edition", but I suspect the "Limited Edition" only refers to the design of the can, not the beer inside! ABV is 5.2%. Pale golden colour, large and lasting white head. Fruity aroma with notes of candy. Fizzy mouthfeel, light bodied, thin. The flavour is fairly sweet with fruity notes, low bitterness. No masterpiece this one.

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

500 ml can, bought in Riga. ABV is 5.0%. Very pale golden colour, crystal clear, with a large and lasting white head. Very moderate aroma, slightly sweetish with citrussy notes. Light bodied, thin mouthfeel. Sweetish flavour, lemony notes, moderate hops. Pretty bad, but I’ve had worse pale lagers.

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

330 ml clear bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. This "Indian" beer is a gimmick brew of Trio Bryggeri (50% Mack owned), Skien, Norway. The beer is brewed with "the purest Norwegian water", but claims to be a "Product of India - Chakra Brewery". There is no evidence on the internet to suggest that the "Chakra Brewery" actually exists. And even if it did exist, it would hardly brew with "Norwegian water", would it? The beer is extremely pale yellow coloured, with a low head that disappears rapidly. The "skunky" / fruity / lemony whiff in the aroma is actually the best thing about this beer. Flavour is very bland and dull with just a hint of lemons, hardly any bitterness. Fizzy mouthfeel. Ice cold it may serve as a thirstquencher, or to wash down a hot curry, but for people looking for tasty beers, this is one to pass.

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

May 2019: Cask 1/3 pint at the 46th Cambridge Beer Festival, 2019 (not in the festival programme). Black colour, tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, mild coffee notes.

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

Cask conditioned at the 32nd Cambridge Beer Festival, gravity dispense. Black / dark brown colour. Fruity aroma mixed with a moderate roastiness. A bit thin mouthfeel despite the ABV. Moderate roast flavour with coffee and prunes notes.

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

This beer seems to need a split in the BeerPal database - my 330 ml bottle (in France), simply named "Chang Beer", was a typical standard pale lager at 5.0% ABV, and can’t possibly be "the same beer" as a 6.4% "strong lager"??!! Anyhow, my beer pours with a golden colour and a large head. "Neutral" lager flavour, not offensive, moderate sweetness. Okay with a spicy Thai meal.

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

330 ml bottle, simply as Chang Beer 4.2%, now in Norwegian grocery stores. Extremely pale yellow colour, nearly colourless. Moderate to low white head. Aroma of baby porridge and grass. The flavour has some sweetish pilsener malts and hints of citrus, making the beer not undrinkable - but this is certainly not something to seek out.

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

This beer seems to need a split in the BeerPal database - my 330 ml bottle (in France), simply named "Chang Beer", was a typical standard pale lager at 5.0% ABV, and can’t possibly be "the same beer" as a 6.4% "strong lager"??!! Anyhow, my beer pours with a golden colour and a large head. "Neutral" lager flavour, not offensive, moderate sweetness. Okay with a spicy Thai meal.

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

330 ml bottle, a birthday gift from my son Steinar, who brought it back from Normandie. ABV is 5%. Top fermented, unpasteurised. Very cloudy brownish yellow colour, moderate white head. Distinct and pleasant gueuze-like aroma of farmhouse and lemons, also spicy notes. The flavour has a moderate lemony acidity, and distinct hops throughout, rather sharp in the finish. Spicy notes again. "Dusty" finish. Nice enough to drink.

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

Draught at Den Tatoverede Enke, Copenhagen. Deep brown colour. Moderate aroma of malts, caramel and brown sugar, not unpleasant. Flavour is malty sweet with spices, brown sugar notes.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

500 ml clear bottle, bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. ABV is 5.2%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate white head. Fairly strong artificial banana aroma, not very pleasant, kind of sickly actually. The flavour is somewhat better than the aroma, notes of artificial "banana" candy throughout, but the sweetness is not overpowering, and there are notes of malts, toffee and hops too. The finish is reasonably hoppy. Would I drink it again, if for free, in order not to insult the host? Yes I would. Will I (ever again) pay good money for it myself? No way!

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

Cask conditioned at the Spread Eagle, London. Smoother and less bitter than the canned version. Aroma and flavour have strong elements of english malt vinegar, but are not really acidic. Maybe the cask was a bit "over the hilltop"? Can, Norwegian version (4.7% ABV) - first rating: Most English 'bitters' are not very bitter at all - but this one is! Too bitter for my taste. Rerate: It's NOT too bitter for my taste! (What was I thinking the first time I had it? I must have been out of my mind!) The nutty bitterness is just right, great refreshment on a hot day. Not outstanding, but a GOOD ale, for sure.

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

500 ml clear bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.7%. Golden colour, moderate white head. First a fairly nice aroma of Fuggles and Goldings hops, and, as our American friends would point out: some "skunk" due to the clear bottle. Hints of toffee too, but ending "artificial" and weird. The flavour is fairly dry, and the mouthfeel is not particularly rich. Some toffee again, and tolerable hops - but really not a beer to blow my socks off. Won’t buy again.

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

On tap (keg) at Sherlock Holmes Pub, Aarhus. Copper coloured beer (the pub was not very well lighted, though), low creamy head. Predominantly malty aroma and flavour with notes of toffee, hints of hazelnuts. Moderate bitterness in the finish. Smooth and easy drinking.

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

330 ml unlabelled bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. Golden colour, moderate to low white head. Strong sweetish aroma, notes of flowers and artificial banana candy. The flavour is not quite as sweet as the aroma made me fear, but has still notes of banana candy. Minimal hops. Weird, but not undrinkable.

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

750 ml corked "champagne" bottle. Bought in Norway (Vinmonopolet). Pours very fizzy, moderate carbonation in the glass. No lasting head. Hazy golden colour. Intense aroma of cider apples, notes of barnyard, hints of ammonium, oak and leather. Fairly mellow flavour of cider apples, hints of oak, sweeter than expected from a brut. OKish and easy drinking, but lacks "bite". Bottle might have been over the hilltop.