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

750 ml "champagne" green bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Limited edition of 7500 bottles, my botttle No. 3470. ABV is 11.0%. Deep golden to brown colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Excellent aroma of sherry, whisky, figs, vanilla and oak, also notes of heather honey. The flavour is fairly sweet with a warming mouthfeel, again notes of sherry, whisky, vanilla, heather honey and raisins. Still relatively light bodied for an 11% beer. Some "dusty" bog myrtle and very moderate hops in the finish.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV was 10%. Cloudy brown colour, minimal head. Very moderate carbonation, like a Southern English cask ale. Vinous aroma, notes of oak and balsamic vinegar, coriander and orange peel. The flavour has notes of alcohol (not very well hidden), fortified wine, coriander (and undefined spices) and orange peel, with distinct hops throughout. Somehow the flavour elements seem not perfectly balanced. Maybe too much bitterness and alcohol crashing with the more delicate wheaty elements? Goes down well enough though.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

330 ml bottle, brought home from Turkey by my wife. ABV is 5.5%. Murky greyish brown colour, big to moderate off-white head. Moderate aroma of lightly roasted malts, a hint of chocolate. The flavour is bland and boring, bready notes with a slight acidity. Very far from being a great beer, it is not totally undrinkable though. Probably better with food than on its own.

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Fenaknoken, Oslo. Brew #909, ABV is 4.5%. Organic, unfiltered and unpasteurised "kellerbier". Hazy pale golden colour, big and lasting white head. The aroma has a pleasant mix of fruit, malts, toffee and butterscotch, hints of honey and resin too. The flavour has first a tolerable balance between the malts and hops, but also some coarse "traditional homebrew" notes, which I am not entirely happy about in such a delicate beer style. Some resin in the finish, unpleasant hints of metal and cardboard.

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Fenaknoken, Oslo. ABV is 4.5%. The label advertises "Vikingfestivalen 2009". Dark brown colour, big to moderate beige head. Interesting aroma of juniper, resin and hops, hints of lightly roasted malts, some smoke, mild coffee and chocolate. The mouthfeel is fairly thin and dry. The flavour is dominated by juniper, the finish has some coffee and resin and is otherwise dry and "dusty", with just a slight acidity.

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Fenaknoken, Oslo. ABV is 4.5%. Brew #925. Some sediment in the bottle. Pale yellow colour, slightly hazy, huge white head. Strong perfumed aroma, distinct notes of ripe bananas and cloves. Light bodied and crisp mouthfeel. The flavour has notes of cloves, with a "dusty" finish, but I’d like a more pronounced presence of malts. Still refreshing and drinkable.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

330 ml clear bottle, ABV is 4.7%. Despite being bought at ICA Gourmet in Oslo: this not a beer for gourmets, nor for people who love good beer. Crystal clear pale yellow colour, big to moderate head. "Skunky" sweetish aroma, notes of citrus. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is fairly sweet with a hint of citrus, minimal bitterness. Boring as hell, but not repulsive when cold. May serve as a thirstquencher on hot days, for people who otherwise would buy Corona or Sol. My first bottle (which I actually paid for) will also be my last.

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

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.5%. Organic, ingredients include sugar and ascorbic acid (E300 - vitamin C). Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Brewed with English ale yeast. Weak aroma of floral hops, some "dusty" notes too. The flavour is first fairly sweet and malty, with a "dusty" finish. Some metallic hops in the aftertaste, with notes of wet cardboard to boot. Ridiculously poorly hopped for something going under the name of "IPA". Would not be a great beer, whatever name they had chosen. Nope, this is simply not good enough.

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

750 ml swingtop bottle, as St Germain Page 24 Réserve Hildegarde Bière de Garde Blonde, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.9%. Pale golden colour, just a slight haziness, big white head. Nice aroma of "Belgian" (French, actually) yeast, with spicy / peppery notes. Some fruit and grass too. The flavour is first crisp and moderately spicy / peppery, leading to a fruity moderate sweetness, ending in a moderately hoppy and spicy finish and aftertaste. A truly enjoyable bière de garde - will buy again.

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

330 ml bottle, as Larché Thomas Becket Blonde de Bourgogne, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.5%. Pale golden / blonde ale, slightly hazy, with a huge white head. Lovely strong aroma of fruits and spices (cloves and coriander?). The flavour is distinctly citrussy, followed by spicy notes and a moderate hoppy bitterness. Fairly crisp and dry. Refreshing and very pleasant to drink.

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

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 4.8%. Brewed with organic barley malts, wheat malts, oats and hops. Deep golden to amber colour, big slightly off-white head. Aroma of fruity hops, notes of oranges, hints of caramel. The flavour is smooth with notes of toffee and moderate hops, nice enough to drink but not really very exciting. An OK refreshment though.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 40857, January 2009. ABV is 8.0%. Pitch black colour, big tan head. Intense and lovely aroma of fine malt whisky, notes of oak and peat, hints of vanilla and dark chocolate. Strong flavour of dark malts and fine whisky, peaty and oaky notes, also notes of coffee, hints of liquorice and tar. Moderate bitterness in the finish. Pretty brilliant stuff.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 01232, March 2009. ABV is 8.0%. Pitch black colour, big tan head. Strong aroma of whisky cask, notes of peat, tar and vanilla. Intense but well rounded flavour of malt whisky, oak, malty sweetness, coffee and tar. Moderately bitter aftertaste.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.7%. Hops are Boadicea, Styrian Goldings and Columbus. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Pleasant hoppy aroma, also notes of fruits, hints of honey, toffee and blackcurrant leaves. The well rounded flavour has a nice balance between distinct malts and pleasant hops, some fruity sweetness, honeyish notes, the alcohol is noticeable but not disturbing. Moderately bitter aftertaste. Good beer.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.2%. Contains sulphites. Deep golden colour, big head rapidly diminishing. Aroma of ginger, syrup and and some fruit, hints of toffee. The flavour is very sweet, syrupy and sugary, with a moderate but nice ginger burn in the finish. Hardly any hops. Not really my kind of beer, but drinkable.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV was 5.5%. Brewed with lemongrass. Cloudy brownish golden colour, creamy off-white head. Moderate but nice aroma of lemongrass and undefined mild spices, with a faint hint of butterscotch. Refreshing flavour and mouthfeel, the lemongrass is there, but is not overdone. Moderate but noticeable hops. Very moreish. Could well be made a permanent brew - should appeal to "the general public", as well as beer geeks who want a nice refreshment.

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

conditioned, ABV is 7%. Dark brown opaque colour, huge tan head. Moderate aroma of malts, bakery, caramel and coffee, hints of chocolate. The flavour is malty with some caramel and weak coffee, with hints of chocolate, but the finish has unfortunately distinct and unpleasant notes of wet cardboard and cigarette ashes, some metallic notes too. Could have been a good beer - as it is, it is not good enough.

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

750 ml bottle, vintage 2008, sparkling, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.0%. Pale golden colour. Pours moderately fizzy with a very short-lived white head. Moderate carbonation in the glass. Aroma and flavour of fermenting sweet eating apples (varieities: Gravenstein, Summerred and Aroma), hints of sulphur and oak. Definitely drinkable.

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

330 ml bottle, at Olympen, Oslo. ABV was 8.0%. Dark ruby colour, nearly black. Minimal tan head, low carbonation. Nice aroma of roasted malts, sweetened coffee, chocolate and dark dried fruits. The flavour is fairly sweet with a distinct roastiness, notes of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice.

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

330 ml bottle, as BrewDog Speedball, at Olympen, Oslo. I think the ABV was 7.8%. Deep amber to reddish colour, moderate head. Distinct aroma of American hops, and some honey. The flavour is first distinctly hoppy and rather bitter, then the flavour is mellowed when the malts and the special ingredients come through (guarana, kola nuts and heather honey - I can’t identify the Californian poppy), as the beer warms up a little. All in all a pleasant mouthfeel and an enjoyable beer.

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

330 ml bottle, at Olympen, Oslo. ABV was 10%. Imperial stout matured in Islay whisky casks. Black colour, dark ruby in the highlights, low tan head. Moderate carbonation. Intense peaty and smoky aroma, distinct notes of Islay whisky, tar, shore-washed seaweed and salty seas. Very salty, peaty and ashy flavour, with a solid roastiness and a moderate sweetness. The bitterness is fairly moderate though, compared to this beer’s other extreme qualities.

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

330 ml bottle, at Østkantfolk, Oslo. ABV was 4.7%. Golden colour, low head. Very pleasant aroma of European hops, notes of heather. Very fizzy mouthfeel. Standard pilsener flavour, nothing wrong with it, nothing very special. Maybe a hint of birch sap and honey. More bitterness and less carbonation would be desirable.

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

On tap at Olympen, Oslo. Cloudy orange colour, low white head. Strong yeasty and fruity aroma, also notes of cloves, coriander and oranges / orange peel. The flavour is wheaty and fruity (oranges) with yeasty and spicy notes. A bit sweet and "heavy" for a cross between Witbier and a Belgian Ale, but nice enough.

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

355 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy. Big white head. Lovely aroma of American hops, piney and citrussy notes, also hints of blackcurrants. The flavour is very bitter (too bitter) from the first sip, with piney and resinous notes. There is some malty and fruity sweetness, but not enough to balance the bitterness. The long aftertaste is chinine-like and very bitter.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Despite being brewed with some brettanomyces and bacteria, this is a Fruit Beer, not a Sour Ale. Starts pouring out of the bottle by its own will. Brownish red colour, moderate head. Pleasant aroma of "tyttebær" / lingonberries (= a kind of wild Nordic mountain / forest cranberries), also notes of "old farmhouse attic". The flavour has distinct notes of tyttebær, and is fairly dry, with a very moderate acidity (much less than expected). This is no fruit lambic. The finish is a bit "empty", I’d like some bitterness there. The 8% alcohol is nowhere to be found though - untill you rise from the chair ... If I did not know the ABV, I would recommend this as a nice refreshment beer after hard work, fridge cold. As it warms up, it does not improve, and while still being definitely drinkable, it does not quite live up to the high standards of Nøgne Ø. Should (and will) not be a permanent beer in the Nøgne Ø range.