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

330 ml bottle with red wax top, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 10.8%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Aroma of roast malts, oak, red wine and whiskey. The flavour has the same elements, and is fortunately not too sweet. Noticeable bittering hops in the dry and slightly salty finish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 2 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 3

Shared bottle at local tasting. Deep golden to orange colour. Intense and dryish aroma of coffee beans, quite unexpected (if I hadn’t read the label) in a beer this pale. Not good at all. Dry flavour of coffee beans and ashes, some hops in the finish. Not a beer for me - the worst I’ve had from De Molen.

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

On tap at Schouskjelleren, Oslo. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Rich aroma of solid malts, roasty as hell, loads of oak / whiskey cask. Extremely rich flavour of whiskey cask, loads of vanilla, chocolate and roasty coffee. Very good.

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

750 ml bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Christian. ABV is 13%. Pitch black colour, big tan head. Strong aroma of tar, old rope, coffee, leather and dark malts. Roasty flavour, intense notes of coffee, roasted barley and loads of hops. A truly impressive beer!

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 11.2%. Black colour, big to moderate tan head. Oaky and vinous aroma, also notes of dark malts, leather, chocolate and coffee. The flavour has overall the same elements as the aroma. Excellent beer!

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

Green-waxed bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Ivar. ABV 12.5%. Black colour, moderate brown head. Oaky and roasty aroma, hints of fusel alcohols and leather. Roasty flavour, notes of oak (whisky cask).

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

Bottle, kindly shared by abemorsten. ABV is 8.4%. Gusher bottle. Black colour, huge greyish beige head. Nice dryish smoked aroma, notes of ashes, hints of tar and old rope. Flavour of dominant smoke, smoked meat and ashes. Too dry.

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

750 ml corked, wired and waxed bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 28 out of a batch of 429 bottles. Brewed 7. Oct. 2009. ABV is 15.2%. OG 1150, FG 1041. Nugget and Saaz hops, 53.9 EBU. Pours reddish brown without any visible carbonation and no head. Intense and attractive aroma with vinous and oaky notes, also notes of dark dried fruits, curacao liqueur and tangerine. The flavour has an overwhelming sugary and malty sweetness, with some fruity and vinous notes. The absence of carbonation makes the mouthfeel oily and cloying, and the alcohol is noticeable. The relatively high EBU kind of disappears behind all the sweetness. Declared fit for 25 years of cool and dark cellaring - sounds like a really good idea, if you are of the patient kind, and have faith in your own life expectancy.

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

750 ml corked and wired bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.9%, EBU 36. Hazy deep golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of Belgian ale yeast, notes of fruits and mild spices. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is spicy, with a distinct hoppy bite in the finish. Fairly dry.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008, gravity dispense. Cloudy golden colour, moderate head. Nice fruity / berries aroma. Berries in the flavour too (blackcurrants, boysenberries) with a moderate but nice hoppy finish.

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

330 ml bottle, as De Molen Fruit & Kruid Blond, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken (or possibly Sandnes Kvadrat). ABV is 6.2%. Brownish golden colour, slightly hazy, with a small white head. Aroma of lychee and other tropical fruits, some malts. Nice citric flavour, notes of lemongrass and Belgian ale yeast, hints of dill and lychee. Not very bitter.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by abemorsten. ABV is 5.2%. Apparently matured on toasted oak chips. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Big to moderate beige head. Nice aroma of mildly roasted malts, wood and ashes. The flavour is dry, oaky and moderately roasty. A slight acidity in the finish.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 9.5%. Amber to orange colour, moderate off-white head. Very nice aroma, hints of oak, honey and coriander. Sweetish flavour, notes of honey, molasses and coriander, hints of oak.

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

330 ml capped and waxed bottle, brewed 7th Nov. 2009, bottled 6th Dec. 2009. Bottle No. 190 (of 1284 from this batch). OG 1115, FG 1031. EBC colour 308.9. EBU 99.9. ABV is 10.2%. Declared good for 25 years if kept cool and dark - feels like a sort of sacrilege to drink it now ... Pitch black colour, big and lasting brown head. Lovely roasty aroma, distinct notes of coffee and dark bitter chocolate. The flavour has an intense roasted character, notes of coffee and dark bitter chocolate again, also hints of liquorice, molasses and dark dried fruits. Bitter hops in the finish. Brilliant stuff.

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

Shared bottle. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee, liquorice, oak and old brandy. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma. Very good beer.

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

180 ml red-waxed capped green bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bordeaux barrel aged. Bottle No. 484 out of a batch of 600 bottles. Brewed 31. March 2010, bottled 21. Sept. 2010. O.G. 1105, F.G. 1027. ABV 13%. 99.9 EBU. Bittering hops Premiant, final hops Saaz. Pitch black colour, very low and coarse tan head. Strong and intense aroma with roasty notes, also notes of sweetened strong coffee, chocolate, oak and claret. Minimal carbonation in the glass. Rich flavour, loads of malty sweetness and strong roasty notes, also strong oaky notes with just a hint of claret. Will probably benefit from a few years’ cellaring. Declared good for 25 years if stored cool and dark. Recommended serving temperature 15 degrees C.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

330 ml red waxed bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.9%. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Aroma of roast malts, sweat, bourbon, oak and coconut. Roasty and slightly sourish flavour, notes of malts, coffee, red wine vinegar, bourbon, oak and coconut. Not as great as I anticipated.

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

180 ml bottle with green waxed top, kindly shared by my beerpal Ivar. ABV is 12%. Pitch black colour, no head, minimal carbonation. Lovely complex aroma, oak, roasted malts, molasses, bourbon and coffee, a touch of fusel alcohols keeps me from giving it a full score. Warming mouthfeel. Oaky flavour with roasty, bourbon and vinous notes, complex and excellent.

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

180 ml black-waxed capped green bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bruichladdich barrel from 1972. ABV is 9.5%. Bottle No. 364 out of a batch of 1776 bottles. Brewed 3. Dec. 2009, bottled 7. June 2010. Bittering hop Nugget, final hop Amarillo, 96.9 EBU. OG 1100, FG 1030. The beer starts gushing out of the bottle shortly after opening. Pitch black colour, huge to big tan head. Strong aroma of peated whisky, tar, old rope and salty seas, also strong roasty notes. The flavour is roasty with a certain malty sweetness, dominated by peat smoke, oak and tar, the high bitterness feels kind of subdued. A pretty impressive beer in my book, but not the right choice if you hate Islay whisky.

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

Corked bottle, shared at local tasting. ABV is 4.8%, 30,4 EBU. Bittering hop is Premiant, late hops Cascade and Amarillo. Golden colour, moderate white head. Fresh aroma of brettanomyces, farmhouse, oxidised apple cider, hints of oak. Dry flavour, brettanomyces character, oaky notes, notes of dry cider, moderately sour but not vinegary. Decent hops in the finish. Light bodied, very refreshing.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.2%. Pale straw coloured beer, huge white head. Very nice and strong spicy and wheaty aroma. Spicy and moderately fruity flavour, peppery and moderately hoppy finish.

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

180 ml green bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.5%. Bottle No. 169 out of a batch of 1416 bottles. Brewed 8th March 2010. OG 1098, FG 1028. Czech hops, bittering hop: Premiant, aroma hop: Saaz. Recommended serving temperature 10 degrees C. Black (= very dark brown) colour, big and lasting fluffy beige head. Strong aroma of coffee, hints of dry wood. The flavour has also strong notes of coffee, with a roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. Quite dry, just a slight acidity. Good, but not brilliant.

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

750 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 0058 out of 318 from this batch. ABV is 10.4%. This is a blend from B.A. Rasputin and B.A. Amarillo. Recommended drinking temperature 10 degrees C. Cloudy dark brown colour, big beige head. Excellent complex aroma, fruity American and European hops, vinous notes, hints of oak, red wine vinegar and leather. The flavour has notes of over-ripe and decaying fruits, a substantial malty sweetness, hints of chocolate and coffee in the background, moderate and "dry" hops in the finish.

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

750 ml corked and wired bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.2%. Deep golden to amber colour, slightly hazy, with a decent white (or slightly off-white) head. Very nice spicy aroma, notes of Belgian ale yeast, also some fruity hops. The flavour is pretty far out on the sweet side, with distinct spicy and hoppy notes. The alcohol is noticeable though. Warming mouthfeel. Fairly impressive beer.

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

180 ml red-waxed capped green bottle, as De Molen Mooi & Machtig Cognac B.A., courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 027 out of a batch of 624 bottles. ABV is 17.4%. OG 1150, FG 1030. Brewed 9. Oct. 2009, bottled 20. Sept. 2010. Bittering hop Premiant, final hop Czech Saaz, 51.3 EBU. Cloudy brown colour, low off-white head. Strong aroma of malt sugar, molasses, alcohol and cognac oak barrel. Very moderate carbonation in the glass. Very sweet flavour, with malts, molasses, alcohol, fortified wine and oak galore. The bitterness seems very moderate. A bit too far out on the sweet side for my taste, but definitely worth sampling.