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

250 ml bottle, from Matkroken Stokka. BB date 15.01.15. ABV is 3.5%. Dark red colour, moderate to low pink head. Lovely aroma of sweet and sour cherries, cherry kernels, almonds / almond essence / marzipan. Sweet flavour with loads of sweet and sour cherries, also hints of almonds. Too sweet, but still a guilty pleasure to drink.

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

250 ml bottle, sure where I got it, possibly from Matkroken Stokka. BB date 26.03.14. ABV is 4.5%. Deep red colour, small off-white / pinkish head. Strong aroma of sour cherries, almond essence and marzipan. Moderately sour, fairly sweet and very fruity flavour, with loads of cherries and almond essence. Would like some more acidity and less residual sugar.

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

250 ml bottle, from Matkroken Stokka. BB date 02.01.2015. ABV is 4.5%. I expected something bright red, but the colour is peachy to orange-brownish. Large off-white head. Strong sweetish aroma of ripe and over-ripe raspberries. Fruity flavour, sweet, but not as much as I feared. Raspberries and other undefined ripe fruits. Hardly any bitterness.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken, at a slightly reduced price. ABV is 6.7%. Hazy pale yellow colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma of citrus, tropical fruits, pine and spruce. Slightly sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, moderate bitterness. Good beer.

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

500 ml bottle, from the Danish importer. ABV is 6.5%. Clear deep golden colour, huge white head. Sweetish aroma, more like 6.5% Czech lager than an IPA, notes of flowers, hints of oranges. Fairly sweet flavour, some oranges, caramel and alcohol, followed by a surprisingly sharp and very bitter medicinal finish. Unbalanced. Did not like this one much.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Golden colour, large white head. Aroma of fruity and grassy hops, hints of orange marmalade. Refreshing flavour, mid between dry and sweet, citric notes, moderate hops.

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

355 ml bottle, from Systembolaget, shared by my son Steinar. Dark brown colour, small beige head. Aroma of cold coffee and brown malts. Distinct flavour of sharpish coffee and slightly dry malts. Not really a favourite of mine.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger (also available there on 355 ml bottles). Red colour, thin off-white head. Strong and lovely aroma of ripe raspberries and raspberry flowers. Medium sweet flavour, distinct notes of raspberries throughout, refreshing. Nice fruit beer.

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

Sample from bottle, at Vectura-messe, Deep golden colour. Fruity and piney American hops in aroma and flavour. Bitter aftertaste, nearly an IPA. Okay.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Enticing aroma, roast malts, chocolate, vanilla and bourbon. Can’t say I can detect the blueberries. In the flavour the blueberries come through quite distinctly though, with a fruitiness that meets the sweetness of the malts. The expected notes of chocolate, vanilla and bourbon are there, but more in the background. Too sweet and fruity for an imperial stout? Perhaps, but this is a great beer anyway.

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

355 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 10.5%, 90 IBU. Pitch black colour, impressive brown head. Roasty aroma, roast malts, strong coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice, tar, wood and a hint of smoke. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet and rich flavour, roast malts, liquorice and strong coffee galore, bitter hops in the finish. High "Wow!" factor.

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

355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Pink to red colour, moderate off-white head with a hint of pink. Unusual aroma of cherries, marzipan, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla and oak. The flavour is sweet but not cloying, again notes of cherries, maple syrup, bourbon and oak. Interesting, unusual - and good.

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

355 ml bottle, 2017 release, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 14.2%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate to small white head. Distinct aroma of bourbon, oak and vanilla. Medium sweet flavour, again with distinct notes of bourbon, oak and vanilla, moderate hops. Warming mouthfeel.

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

355 ml bottle, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.9%. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Moderate to low creamy beige head. Aroma of piney American hops, the roasty notes are fairly subdued. Distinctly hoppy flavour, piney and grapefruity hops galore, dry roasty notes and bittering hops in the finish.

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

Sample from bottle at Vectura-messe. Orange colour. Aroma of crystal malts and orangey American hops. Sharp hoppy flavour throughout. Not the best beer from Founders.

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

355 ml bottle, 2017 release, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.7%. Pitch black colour. moderate tan head. Nice aroma of roast malts, maple syrup, coffee, chocolate, vanilla and oak. Sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, some bourbon whiskey and bittering hops in the finish. Impressive beer.

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

355 ml bottle, vintage 2014, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.2%, 50 IBU. Deep ruby colour, large to moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of Scotch whisky and bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate, grain and dust. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. Warming mouthfeel. Not bad at all.

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

750 ml bottle, as Founders Blushing Monk 2015, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.2%. Beautiful clear red colour, moderate pinkish-white head. Lovely and intense aroma of ripe raspberries and raspberry candy. Sweet flavour (too sweet for some, I’m sure - but not for me), raspberries and raspberry candy galore, some tart hints and very moderate bittering hops the finish. The alcohol is well hidden, dangerously drinkable. A fine dessert beer. I was about to write "the big bottle is for sharing", but then I noticed it was empty - and I’m here alone. Oh well ....

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

Shared 750 ml bottle at local tasting. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Interesting and delightful aroma of ripe raspberries and dark chocolate, hints of marzipan and coffee. Rich mouthfeel and flavour, raspberries and dark chocolate again, sweet but acceptable, smooth and creamy. First class!

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Clear deep golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma of white kandij sugar syrup, ripe bananas and dust, hints of green peppercorns and ginger. Sweet flavour, notes of white kandij sugar syrup and malt sugar, with a much needed counterpoint in spicy notes of green peppercorns, ginger and moderate hops. Might well have another one, but not necessarily in the same session.

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

330 ml bottle, soon available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.6%. Beautiful clear reddish brown colour, large off-white head. Pleasant aroma of malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar and mild Christmas spices. Relatively light bodied for its strength and style. The flavour is not as sweet as I feared, but has otherwise the same elements as the aroma. Mild spices and very moderate hops in the finish. Please disregard that it is brewed by the biggest brewery corporation in the world - this is a good beer!

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

330 ml bottle, from Det Bette Ølhus, Aalbæk. ABV is 9.0%. Clear deep golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup and alcohol. The flavour is moderately sweet (but not as sweet as the aroma made me fear) with spicy notes, also white kandij sugar and herbal hops, the alcohol is evident.

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

330 ml green bottle, as Stella Artois Alcohol Free, from Coop Extra Prestemarka, Tau. ABV is 0.0%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of malts and porridge. Soft mouthfeel. Malty flavour, not too bad for a n/a beer.

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

Keg halfpint at The Stag pub, Aberdeen. Pale golden colour, white head. Minimal "dusty" aroma. Dry flavour, some citrus, not much to write home about.

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

Keg halfpint at The Stag pub, Aberdeen. Pale golden colour, white head. Minimal "dusty" aroma. Dry flavour, some citrus, not much to write home about.