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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.1%. Black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee, woodwork and dark chocolate. The flavour is medium dry with notes of black malts and coffee, hints of wood. Moderate hops. The mouthfeel is not very rich. I’d like some more sweetness, some fruitiness, and some more hops - but I suppose you can’t have everything. Not a bad beer, though.

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

Big bottle (750 ml?),as Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. "Oatmeal" and ABV are not mentioned on the label. Mahogany coloured beer, large to moderate beige head. Nice aroma of lightly roasted malts, brown bread, caramel and nuts. The flavour has very much the same elements as the aroma, and is not too sweet. Hints of chocolate, moderate hops. The mouthfeel is fairly light and smooth. Moreish. A very drinkable beer!

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

355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar,Stavanger. ABV is 8.2%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of citrussy American hops. Distinct flavour of citrussy and resinous American hops, fairly dry. Light bodied for its strength. Dangerously drinkable. Oh dear, was the bottle empty already?

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.0%. Pitch black colour, modest carbonation, low brown head. Strong aroma of chocolate, liquorice, molasses, coffee and alcohol. The rich flavour has notes of roasted barley, liquorice and strong coffee, medium sweet. Bitter hops in the finish.

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

650 ml bottle, as Southern Tier Imperial Mokah, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.0%. Pitch black colour, moderate to low tan head. Lovely strong aroma of predominant chocolate, also notes of vanilla and coffee. The flavour has loads of dark chocolate, vanilla and strong coffee, with bitter hops (Columbus and Chinook) in the finish. Extremely powerful stuff.

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

330 ml bottle, vintage 2010, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Cloudy reddish brown colour, huge cream-coloured head. Lovely vinous and funky aroma, notes of farmhouse, red wine vinegar and oak. The flavour is fruity and moderately sour (but not vinegary), notes of grape juice, funk and oak. An interesting and drinkable beer!

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.0%. Pitch black colour, huge brown head. Roasty aroma with notes of chocolate and mild coffee. Rich and moderately sweet roasty flavour, with notes of strong coffee and dark chocolate. Bitter finish and aftertaste.

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

Big bottle (750 ml?), Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV not mentioned on the label. Deep golden to amber colour, slightly hazy. Large to moderate white head. Sweetish aroma of crystal malts and American hops, notes of orange marmalade. The flavour has American hops on a fairly sweet malty base, the IPA bitterness is there, but not extreme. Hints of bitter orange marmalade. Okay.

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

1 pt. 9.4 fl.oz. bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Hazy deep golden colour, huge white head. Intense aroma of guava and other tropical fruits, Belgian ale yeast and mild spices. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is "Belgian", but with the unusual addition of guava. Drier than expected. Spicy / peppery finish.

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

500 ml swingtop bottle, bought in Spain. ABV is 5.0%. Cloudy pale golden colour, large white head. The aroma is first dusty and grainy, then the typical hefeweizen features (cloves and banana) come through. The medium dry flavour has also some grainy notes, moderate notes of cloves, an apple-like acidity in the finish. Like most hefeweizens it is refreshing and fairly nice to drink - but not the best example of the style.

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

750 ml corked and wired bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.0%. Very pale yellow colour, huge white head. Strong fruity, yeasty and spicy (cloves a.o.) aroma. The flavour is spicy with some fruit and white kandij sugar, but the sweetness is nearly too much. Still a good beer, but if it is worth the high price in Norway is debatable.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 4.9%. Very cloudy brownish yellow colour, large white head. Typical hefeweizen aroma of cloves and banana. The medium dry flavour has also moderate notes of cloves, even more moderate notes of banana. Refreshing and very drinkable - maybe not the greatest h.w. around, but good enough for me.

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

750 ml corked bottle, from Vinmonopolet. R.E. No. 1297-0, R.S. No. 3075/0. Vintage 2009, G No. 1184850. Pale golden colour, Pours with moderate carbonation. Nice aroma of cider apples, hints of farmhouse, oak and sulphites. Pleasant mouthfeel, not too fizzy. Lovely and refined flavour of cider apples, medium dry, notes of oak, just a hint of sulphites. The best Spanish sidra I’ve had, actually one of the best ciders regardless of country.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 8.0%. Cloudy very dark brown colour, large tan head. Nice aroma of brown malts, bakery and banana split, a hint of cloves. The flavour is refreshing for its strength, notes of brown malts, brown bread, spices and banana, hints of chocolate, very moderate hops. The alcohol is well hidden. Good beer!

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

330 ml can, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 4.5%. Ingredients include maize and E-405 and E-224. Pale yellow colour, coarse white head that dies almost instantly. Industrial sweetish aroma, notes of maize and cooked vegetables, hints of citrus. Bland and uninteresting flavour, but not completely void of hops. Drinkable only when cold.

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

330 ml bottle, as Quilmes Cerveza, from Super Cor, La Manga (Spain). ABV is 4.9%. Pale yellow colour, pearly carbonation, low and short-lived head. Sweetish aroma, notes of maize, grass and citrus. Tolerably fresh flavour, notes of citrus. An okay refreshment on a hot day, nothing more.

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

330 ml bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 6.5%. Deep golden to copper colour, pearly carbonation, low head, slightly off-white. Malty aroma, some caramel, some fruit. Fizzy mouthfeel. Moderately malty flavour, some caramel but not very sweet. Very moderate hops.

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

700 ml "champagne" bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 4.1%. Very pale straw coloured cider, pours very fizzy with a large white head that dies instantly. Nice aroma of cider apples and sweet eating apples, a hint of sulphites. Moderate carbonation in the mouth. Nice sweet flavour of sweet eating apples and oxidised cider apples, a hint of of sulphites.

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

500 ml bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga (Spain). ABV is 5.1%. Hazy dark brown colour, large off-white head. Strong aroma of banana and cloves, hints of brown bread in the background. The refreshing flavour has notes of brown bread, banana and cloves, some citrus in the finish. A pleasant surprise to find this in the Spanish lager desert!

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

330 ml bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 5.2%. Gluten free version of the ordinary Ambar Especial, suitable for people with coeliac disease. Label very similar to the ordinary version, you really have to look out for the words "Apta para celiacos", if this is the version you need. Deep golden colour, low white head. Fairly nice aroma of malts, herbs and cloves. Soft mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Malty flavour, a hint of caramel, not very sweet. Tolerable hops in the finish. Astonishingly good (well, my expectations were low), possibly the best coeliac-friendly beer I’ve had.

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

330 ml bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga. Pure malt beer, ABV is 6.4%. Deep golden to brown colour, moderate white head. Aroma of herbal hops, malts (including some caramel malts) and cloves. The flavour is fairly malty with a hint of caramel, herbal hops in the finish. Not bad for Spain.

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

330 ml can, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 4.8%. Golden colour, low head. The aroma has some malts, otherwise it is "industrial" and uninteresting. The flavour is maltier than the Aliada Tipo Pilsen (which was displayed side by side), and there are some hops in the finish - unfortunately the bitterness is metallic and unpleasant.

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

"Champagne" bottle, from Carrefour, Cartagena. ABV is 4.1%. Golden colour, no lasting head. Aroma and flavour of sweet eating apples, just a hint of sulphites. Fizzy mouthfeel. Among the more anonymous of Spanish sidras, but drinkable.

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

330 ml clear bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga (Spain), at a price about 5x as much as an average Spanish supermarket lager - without being the least better. ABV is 5%. Pale golden colour, pearly carbonation, low white head. "Skunky" and grassy Heineken-like aroma, also sweetish hints of citrus. Very bland and neutral flavour for a German Reinheitsgebot pale lager - I assume hops should be one the 4 elements, but the brewers sure haven’t used much of them! A faint hint of citrus, slightly metallic finish (as far as there is any finish at all). One to forget.