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

330 ml stubby bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 8.5%. Brown colour, huge beige head. High (too high) level of carbonation, even in the mouth. Fairly strong aroma, very much a "typical Belgian dubbel": notes of brown malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar and mild spices. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but is not too sweet. The hops are very moderate, I’d like some more. Still a decent and drinkable beer as it is.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.0%. Clear chestnut to mahogany colour, large off-white head. Aroma of smoked malts and bonfires, but not quite as intense as I expected (or feared). The flavour has a moderate malty sweetness with some caramel, and distinct notes of smoked malts and smoked meat. Moderate hops.

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

Shared 500 ml bottle at Mandag i Annen, Cardinal. Dark reddish brown colour, off-white head. Pleasant aroma of lightly roasted malts, black bread and alder smoke. Smooth flavour, moderate alder smoke and black bread again, a slight fruitiness, moderate hops. Lots of flavour for a 4.2% beer. A full bottle for me next time, please!

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

500 ml bottle, from MENY Grønland Torg, Oslo. ABV is 4.3%. Pale yellow colour, large white head. Moderate aroma of smoked sausage. Ordinary helles flavour with a little smoke added. Moderate hops in the finish. Nice enough to drink, but did not blow my socks off.

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

500 ml bottle, vintage 2024, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Also available at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 5.9%. Clear and deep reddish brown colour, large off-white head. Aroma of smoked malts and smoked meat. Malty flavour, slightly sweet, smoked malts galore. Moderate to low bitterness.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

(500 ml bottle). Well, any idiot can recognize that this beer has MORE aroma than (nearly) any other beer, and MORE flavour than a lot of beers. But to make a 100% honest rating, I have to ask myself: Do I actually LIKE the overpowering smell of smoked meat? Sadly, the answer is NO. I'm a beer drinker, not a goddamn sausage maker! The flavour is not quite as overpowering smoky as the aroma - at least you get a notion that you're drinking a beer and not just liquid smoked meat. Still, it tastes like something that has just been saved out of the burnt-out ruins of a brewery. Like any Marzen, it is quite light bodied (when you try to ignore the smokiness, of course). I probably have to admit that Rauchbiers are not my cup of tea - sorry, beer - but would still like to sample the Urbock as I imagine that a heavier beer would carry the smokiness better than a Marzen. Did I mention that this beer at least LOOKS good? - good head, beautiful dark copper colour.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Mahogany coloured beer, large beige head. INTENSE and pretty extreme aroma of smoked meat and burnt-out ruins of wooden houses, hints of tar. The flavour is also intensely smoky, but there is also a malty sweetness to back it up. Moderate hops in the finish. You have to be impressed (one way or another) by this beer - but I have trouble deciding if I really LIKE the overwhelming smokiness. I know a lot of people LOVE it - I’ll just say: Give it a try!

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

500 ml bottle, bought at KaDeWe, Berlin. With the Ae S Märzen’s overpowering aroma of smoked sausages in mind, I opened the Weizen with trembling anticipation and fear. The beer is murky brown, and pours with an enormous greyish off-white head. Intense aroma of smoked pork / uncooked bacon, which nearly overpowers the normal hefe elements (cloves and banana) that are faintly present in the background. Flavour has some uncooked bacon notes too, but they are not as overpowering as in the aroma. Fairly smooth to drink, but let’s face it: smoked pork is not what I want to smell nor taste in a beer. Sorry!

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

500 ml bottle, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 4.6%. Clear and beautiful reddish brown (or brownish red) colour, moderate off-white head, nice lacing. Aroma of cherrywood smoked malts, hints of smoked salmon and smoked meat. The mouthfeel is surprisingly citric. Flavour of citrus, berries and smoked malts with an ashy dry finish, moderate bitterness. A good and unusual smoked Rotbier.

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

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Pale yellow colour, huge white head.Sweetish aroma, floral, spicy / herbal and grassy notes. The flavour is crisp and not too sweet, spicy and herbal notes again, decent hops in the finish. Original rating: Draught in Nice, France. Listed simply as "Affligem" on the menu, but I presume it was the Blond. Served in appropriate glass. Golden colour, low head, moderate carbonation. Very pleasant and spicy aroma and flavour, notes of oak and yeast too. Good beer!

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

330 ml bottle, from Carrefour, Cartagena (Spain). ABV is 6.8%. Dark brown colour, decent off-white head. Nice aroma of brown malts and brown kandij sugar and caramel, also spicy notes of Belgian ale yeast. High level of carbonation in the mouth. Moderately malty and spicy flavour, notes of brown bread and brown kandij sugar, but not very sweet. Nice enough.

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

Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting. Golden colour, moderate white head. Typical aroma and flavour of Belgian blonde ale, white kandij sugar and mild spices. Okay.

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

750 ml corked bottle, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.5%. Pours with a huge white head, which slowly gives way to a golden beer. Pleasant typical triple aroma of Belgian yeast, fruit and a mild spiciness. The flavour is fresh and fruity, again with a mild spiciness, alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming. Moderately sweet, the finish is slightly peppery, with moderate hops.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, batch #01, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, moderate carbonation, small and shortlived white head. Moderate aroma of apples and hops. Slightly dry and crisp flavour with a nice fruity acidity of apples, the apple flavours are nicely balanced with the hops. A hint of sulphites. Pleasant to drink.

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

750 ml clear bottle, capped but with swingtop for resealing. From Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7%. Clear rosé to orange colour, pours sparkling with a shortlived white head. Aroma of raspberries and redcurrants more than apples, barely a hint of hops. The flavour has also dominant raspberries and redcurrants, with apples in the background, a hint of hops in the finish. I prefer the ordinary Aga Humlepung.

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

1 US pint can, from Bestofbeers, Denmark. ABV is 7.0%. Black colour, huge tan head. Aroma of roast malts and lactose, also notes of chocolate. Fizzy mouthfeel. Medium sweet flavour of roast malts, lactose, coffee and dark chocolate.

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

473 ml can, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 8.2%. Hazy golden to orange colour, small white head. Aroma of fresh and mixed citrus fruits, also some stale orange marmalade in the background. The flavour is sweet, fruity, alcoholic, unrefined, very bitter and unbalanced. Still not undrinkable.

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

650 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 6.5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Sourish malty aroma, hints of bourbon, oak and rye bread. Medium sour and malty flavour - and that’s about it, very little here that invites you to take another sip. Could not possibly finish a whole bottle on my own.

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

750 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.6%. Orange to amber colour, huge off-white head. Distinct aroma of rye whiskey oak barrel, hints of caramel and dark dried fruits. The flavour has a slight malty sweetness, again followed by notes of rye whiskey or bourbon oak barrel, caramel and brown sugar, dark dried fruits and mild spices. Moderate hops. Overcarbonated, fizzy mouthfeel.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar; Stavanger. Orange to brown colour, small white head. Aroma of peat and beechwood smoked malts, also smoked salt (when you know it’s there). Medium dry flavour, distinct notes of said smoked ingredients. Hints of bourbon barrel in the finish. Not really my cup of tea, but drinkable.

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

RBESG 2016 in Barcelona. Shared can at Rosses i Torrades. Very dark brown colour. Roasty aroma and flavour, medium dry, well hopped. An average brown ale.

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

250 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 3.1%. Extremely pale greyish-yellow colour, huge white head. Strong aroma of mandarin juice and other citrus fruits, notes of orange candy. The flavour is sweet (too sweet) with mandarin notes, but still fairly refreshing. Would have been even more refreshing if it had been less sweet, and had a little more citrus acidity.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Bottle, RBESG 2005, Grand Tasting. Strong aroma of Christmas spices, sweet malts and vegemite. Very SWEET flavour, molasses galore. Far too sweet in my book.

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

Sampled RBESG 2006 Grand Tasting. Amber colour, moderate head. Reasonably hoppy aroma (Goldings). Moderate hops in the flavour too, but the body is too thin.

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

330 ml clear bottle, bought at ICA Middelthon, Stavanger. ABV is 0,0%. Pale golden colour, big white head. Moderate carbonation in the glass. First a fresh "skunky" whiff, then the usual n/a beer aroma of over-boiled vegetables, maize grit and baby porridge. The mouthfeel is watery and soft, the flavour is fairly dry with a hint of citrus, moderate and slightly metallic hops in the finish. Not completely undrinkable.