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

500 ml bottle, as Strathaven / Craigmill Aleberry Fruit Beer, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.6%. Damsons are not specifically mentioned on the label, only "Clyde Valley berries". Golden colour with a faint peachy hue, moderate head, slightly off-white. Fairly strong aroma of over-ripe fruits / berries, also strong notes of toffee and grain. The flavour has distinct fruity / berry notes, but is fortunately not sweet and sugary, nor sour. Hints of toffee, distinct hops in the finish and aftertaste. Fairly decent beer.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 3.8%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate but nice aroma of butterscotch and toffee. Refreshing flavour, some malts, nutty and toffee notes, hints of butterscotch, very moderate hops in the finish, not too sweet. Certainly not an IPA by any stretch of the mind, but definitely drinkable.,

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger (only 1 keg available there, I’m afraid). Cloudy orange-brown colour, large and creamy beige head. Sweetish fruity and vegetal aroma (the pumpkins, I assume), also notes of piney American hops. Effervescent mouthfeel. The flavour is fruity with notes of pumpkins, but is not too sweet. Spicy notes too, decent American hops throughout. Very drinkable.

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

750 ml clear screwcap bottle, vintage 2010, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 8.5%. This is a still cider from the first Norwegian cidery using primarily homegrown French and English cider apple varieties, not only sweet eating apples. Golden colour, no carbonation. Moderate but nice aroma of cider apples. Dry and nutty flavour of oxidised and bitter cider apples. Interesting, and better with food than on its own.

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

375 ml clear corked bottle in cardboard box, from Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget. ABV is 13%. Deep golden colour. no carbonation. Intense aroma of oxidised cider apples, hints of oak (though apparently this ice cider has not been matured on oak). Intense and very concentrated and very sweet flavour of apples, dessert apples as well as cider apples. A very interesting and unusual cider, I have never tasted anything like it. Irresistably moreish. The price in Norway is ridiculously high, though.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.3%. Hazy deep golden colour, large white head. Wonderful aroma of tropical fruits, crushed white grapes, citrus and crushed gooseberries. The flavour is a burst of fruity New Zealand hops, also with resinous notes, on a medium sweet malty base. Bitter finish, long and very bitter aftertaste, but not too extreme. Excellent beer!

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Cloudy amber to brown colour, large and creamy off-white head. Lovely aroma of fruity (particularly grapefruit) and piney American hops (Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo). The flavour is distinctly piney and resinous, the hops immediately take command of the malts in the background. Not very sweet, dry and bitter finish.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.0%. Cloudy dark brown colour, moderate but lasting off-white head. Moderate aroma of sultanas, oaked fortified wine, rum-raisin and liqueur-filled chocolates. The flavour is oaky / woody with notes of sultanas / raisins and other dark dried fruits, but not nearly as sweet as I feared. The hops are very moderate. Nice and drinkable, but has not quite the complexity of best Belgian ales in the abt / quadrupel style. Still well worth sampling.

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

330 ml bottle in a thin cardboard box, batch #057, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 17.2%. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Strong and complex aroma of tar, sea water, iodine, old rope, heavily roasted malts, coffee, salty liquorice, dark chocolate, smoke and ashes. Extremely rich mouthfeel. The flavour is very sweet with loads of malt sugar, dark syrup and molasses, coffee, liquorice and chocolate, hints of smoke. No doubt a fair amount of hops here too, but they nearly drown in all the sweetness. A beer to be cellared for many more years, I assume.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Deep golden colour, large white head. Lovely aroma of Nelson Sauvin hops, with notes of gooseberries, white grapes and tropical fruits, also a hint of pine. The flavour is medium sweet and very fruity, Nelson Sauvin elements dominate, but the beer is not too bitter. The Belgian / French saison yeast is more subdued. A fine and very drinkable beer!

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

750 ml capped dark green bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 8.4%. Golden colour, slightly hazy, large white head. Strong and pleasant aroma with distinct spicy notes, also some fruit and light syrup. The flavour is medium sweet and distinctly spicy throughout, a little fruit too. Distinct hops in the finish. Very drinkable for its strength. A fine triple!

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Dark Brut, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 12%. Hazy dark brown colour, huge beige head. Fairly interesting aroma, malts, chocolate, Belgian ale yeast, stewed dark fruits, hints of farmhouse and spices. The flavour is medium sweet and malty with moderately roasty and chocolatey notes, also spices, notes of prunes and other dark fruits. Moderate hops. Some warmth, but the alcohol is otherwise well hidden. An unusual Belgian, complex and well balanced, a beer to savour - but the big bottle is for sharing!

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

750 ml dark green capped bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 5.2%. Golden colour, large white head.Lovely aroma of fruity American hops, also some piney notes. Fairly light bodied. The flavour is also dominated by American hops from start to finish, piney and fruity notes, bitter finish, but not overdone. Regarding style: Yes, the beer is brewed in Belgium, but the style is closer to an American Pale Ale than a Belgian Ale.

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Cuvée Royale Brut Reserve, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo (bought in October 2011). ABV is 9%. Hazy pale yellow colour, huge white head. Refined aroma of farmhouse (does that make sense?), farmhouse kitchen / brettanomyces, hints of oxidised fruits and mild spices. Crisp, medium dry and spicy flavour. Moderate hops. Well balanced, "refined" seems to be the right word for the flavour too. The alcohol is well hidden. Quite enjoyable.

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

750 ml green "champagne" bottle (a gift), as Fournier Frères Poiré. ABV is 2.5%. Very pale straw coloured, pours very fizzy with a large white head that soon disappears completely. Moderate aroma of sweet pears and drier perry pear varieties. The flavour is sweet and very fruity, pears of course, but also notes of sweet apples. A hint of oak and sulphites in the finish. Quite refreshing when cold.

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

500 ml can, a gift. ABV is 5.2%. Very pale golden colour, large white head. Moderate sweetish aroma, some floral and grassy notes. Thin and watery mouthfeel. The flavour is quite bland, the hops are too modest, but there are no offensive side flavours.

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

Rerate, 500 ml bottle, from Bris Ølutsalg, Jørpeland. ABV is 4.0%. Clear deep golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of malts and ginger. The flavour is moderately malty but not sweet, with distinct notes of ginger, also fairly distinct bittering hops. And it is NOT very sour / infected! Ginger warmth in the aftertaste / throatfeel. I'm upping the score quite a bit. Original rating: 500 ml bottle (a gift), as Little Valley Organic Bottle Conditioned Ginger Pale Ale. And yes, it is "fairtrade" and vegan - and "CAMRA says this is real ale". My oh my - you don’t even have to drink it. BUYING it is apparently enough to ensure your passage through the pearly gates. ABV is 4.0%. "Best before" February 2010 - that might explain a lot. Cloudy golden colour, large to moderate white head. Strong aroma of ginger, sweetish fruity and sugary notes. The flavour is really sour, lemony and acidic from the first to the last sip (yes, I mean really SOUR - probably far more than intended by the brewer), with a moderate ginger burn. Dryish finish. Probably infected - certainly not something I would pay good money for. But I am a polite fellow - somehow I managed to finish the bottle.

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

Bottle, unpasteurised, kindly shared by our beerpal Ivar at local tasting. ABV is 5.6%. Orange to amber colour, low white head. Strong aroma of fruity hops. Distinct hoppy flavour, quite nice.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV is 4.5%. Orange to amber colour, moderate white head. Nice hoppy aroma (Sovereign and Nelson Sauvin), fruity notes (gooseberries, green grapes). Lovely hoppy flavour, well balanced, some toffee. Very drinkable.

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

Bottle conditioned, as Manchester Marble Organic Lagonda IPA, 5% ABV. Kindly shared by gunnar. Golden colour, large to moderate white head. Moderate but nice hoppy aroma, notes of spruce. Hoppy flavour too, not very sweet. Piney and grapefruity notes. Good beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. The aroma has notes of brown bread, some caramel and smoked meat. The flavour has notes of smoked meat, malts and brown bread, a little hops in the finish.

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

Can at local tasting, as Meister Max 8% Lager Beer, shared by our beerpal Olav. Pale yellow colour, moderate white head. Terrible industrial aroma, chemical waste and raw alcohol. Disgusting sweetish chemical flavour. Undrinkable.

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

Can, as Sakara 10% King, at local tasting, shared by our beerpal Olav. Golden colour, moderate white head. Sweetish "industrial" aroma, but also some nicer notes of spices (cinnamon etc.). Sweetish chemical flavour, notes of alcohol, hints of spices.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Shared bottle at local tasting. ABV is 5.3%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of Cascade hops, citrussy notes, also notes of pine and tropical fruits. Very bitter flavour, too bitter in the dry finish, one-dimensional.