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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is formidable 13.25%. Very cloudy brown colour, moderate creamy head. Pleasant aroma of malts, caramel and raisins. Incredibly warming mouthfeel. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness, notes of rum-raisin and caramel, balanced by a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish.

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

750 ml bottle, 2008 vintage (assemblage January 2009), bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. Bottle No. 00276. ABV is 11.0%. Sediment in the bottle. Hazy orange-brown colour, moderate to low off-white head. Some of the haziness might be chill haze, I started drinking it too cold. Very nice sourish-fruity aroma with a distinct brettanomyces character. The flavour is distinctly sour but not extreme, very fruity and tart (notes of sour cherries and Bramley apples), hints of oak, with just the right hoppy bitterness in the dry finish. The alcohol is well hidden - if someone had told me that this was a 6% beer, I would gladly believe it. A very fine beer, but it requires that you are into the sour stuff (a "sourhead") to really appreciate it.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Opaque black colour, dark ruby in the highlights. Nice and creamy beige head. Very interesting aroma, strong notes of raspberries and balsamic vinegar, on a subtle background of vanilla, malts and chocolate. The flavour was extremely sour and acidic, with notes of raspberries, red wine vinegar and undefined sour fruits, hints of chocolate. Interesting beer, but too far out on the sour side to be a favourite of mine. Maybe not a good idea to make a DARK beer this sour? - people kind of expect a fairly different flavour profile from the dark stuff.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. This is Old Tom blended with Fentimans Ginger Beer (the latter is actually not a beer at all, but a softdrink like "ginger ale" - only with REAL ginger as an ingredient). Mahogany coloured beer, big beige head. Distinct aroma of ginger, also fruity and slightly vinous notes, hints of caramel. The flavour is rich and sweet, a bit too much on the sugary side, with distinct notes of stem ginger in syrup. Some hops and a ginger burn in the finish. I definitely prefer the "ordinary" Old Tom to this one - and also Chocolate Tom if I need a change. However, Ginger Tom is far from undrinkable, if you happen to like ginger - which I fortunately do.

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

750 ml corked bottle, bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. ABV is 7.5%. Clear very pale golden colour (like a continental pilsener), big and lasting white head. Very moderate aroma, some spicy, fruity (banana) and yeasty notes. Fizzy and peppery mouthfeel. The flavour is distinctly spicy / peppery, on a background of fruity sweetness. The ABV is not particularly well hidden. Okay beer, but I hoped for something even better.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. No GTIN code on the label, but the "Finnfest" commander general confirms that it is brewed by Van Steenberge. ABV is 4.5%. Ingredients include sugar. Clear pale golden colour, huge white head, no traces of sediment in the bottle. Sweetish "pale lager" aroma, notes of grass, some fruit and yeast. The flavour is moderately sweet with a somewhat sharp hoppy "bite" in the finish. Not a remarkably good beer, but drinkable.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. ABV is 6.0%. Golden colour, huge white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast and spices, hints of farmhouse kitchen. The flavour is mildly spicy and quite refreshing, but I’d like some more hops in the finish. A very drinkable beer all the same.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

500 ml clear bottle, bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. ABV is 5.2%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate white head. Fairly strong artificial banana aroma, not very pleasant, kind of sickly actually. The flavour is somewhat better than the aroma, notes of artificial "banana" candy throughout, but the sweetness is not overpowering, and there are notes of malts, toffee and hops too. The finish is reasonably hoppy. Would I drink it again, if for free, in order not to insult the host? Yes I would. Will I (ever again) pay good money for it myself? No way!

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Systembolaget. ABV is 5.8%. Called a "strong pale ale" by the brewery. Dark copper to chestnut colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of lightly roasted malts, caramel, burnt toast and fruity hops, hints of bakery. In the flavour the fruity hops are well balanced against the malts and moderate roastiness, with a moderately bitter and slightly nutty finish. Good stuff!

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, bought at Systembolaget. ABV is not mentioned on the label. Cloudy golden colour, big white head. Strong and very yeasty aroma, notes of baking yeast and bread dough. Also notes of over-ripe bananas, rotting fruits and cloves. Fresh mouthfeel, refreshing flavour with moderately fruity and spicy notes, but the finish is rather dull and bland.

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

500 ml bottle, 2009 vintage, kindly procured from Systembolaget by OleR, thanks! ABV is 7.5%. Copper to mahogany coloured beer, huge beige head. Nice aroma of burnt caramel, earth and bakery. The flavour is distinctly malty with loads of caramel, baked goods and chocolate, but is not too sweet. Distinct hoppy bitterness and burnt toast in the finish. Bitter aftertaste. Unusual and earthy character, not necessarily "easy drinking", but certainly one to savour.

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

355 ml, from Systembolaget, Sweden, thanks to OleR. ABV is 5.45%. Very dark brown colour, big and lasting beige head. Fairly moderate but pleasant aroma of heather honey, also notes of roasted malts, caramel, chocolate, fruity hops and mild coffee. The flavour is not as sweet as I feared, but the heather honey has a distinct presence throughout, nicely balanced by the hops. There is also a moderate roastiness, again with moderate notes of caramel, chocolate and mild coffee. Unlike the brewers I would not call this a "robust" porter, but it is certainly a good one all the same.

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

330 ml bottle, contract brewed by Krönleins Bryggeri, Sweden, for Hønefoss Brygghus, Norway - another "brewhouse" that does not brew. ABV is 4.7%. Thanks to OleR for procuring the bottle. The recommendation on the label to drink it "ice cold" makes me somewhat sceptical ... Golden colour, big white head. Acceptable pilsener aroma, moderately sweetish, notes of floral hops and some fruit. The flavour is fairly fresh and crisp, moderate sweetness, too moderate hops. Definitely drinkable, but not very "special" in any way.

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

330 ml bottle, thanks to OleR. Brewed for Hønefoss Brygghus, Norway, by Krönleins Bryggeri, Sweden. ABV is 4.7%. One has to accept that Hønefoss Brygghus is another "brewhouse" that does not brew (the slogan "Drink locally" is thus ridiculous) , but why on earth do they commission a pale lager in the Norwegian style "sommerøl", contract brewed by mediocre Krönleins? Norwegian macro breweries have plenty of boring "sommerøl", there is absolutely no need for another one. HB’s Juleøl (a stout brewed by Det Lille Bryggeriet) was decent, this one is not undrinkable, but certainly no masterpiece. The recommendation on the label "To be drunk ice cold" gives you some idea about what to expect. Deep golden colour, much darker than other "sommerøl", moderate white head. Sweetish unpleasant aroma, typical Swedish macro. Notes of artificial candy and rotting vegetables. The flavour is fortunately much better than the aroma, some moderate malts and hops are around, and the beer is not too sweet.

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

(500 ml can, in Sweden). Golden colour, good thick head. Sweet candy aroma. Flavour is sweet and alcoholic, but not as cloying and disgusting as some other Swedish lagers of this strength. Slightly lighter and fresher than the most horrific specimens of this style. At least I was able to finish this one. No reason to keep a festival for it, though.

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

330 ml bottle, thanks to OleR. ABV is 4.7%. Unpretentious name and label design from Mack this time. Pale golden colour, big white head. Tolerable but sweetish pilsener aroma, notes of apples, grass and flowers. The flavour is fresh, slightly fruity and fairly crisp, but the finish is too "empty", more hoppy bitterness would be desirable. Goes down well though.

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

330 ml green bottle with pull-off cap, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.4%. Very pale yellow colour, big head. Sweetish fruity and grassy aroma, also notes of candy. Sweet flavour, far too sweet for a pale lager, notes of fruit and candy. Low bitterness. Not my kind of beer.

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

500 ml bottle from Systembolaget, thanks to Ole R. ABV is 5.9%. Black colour, big to moderate tan head. Intense aroma of smoked and roasted malts, notes of bonfires and tar. The flavour is also roasty and smoky, initially fairly dry, with just a slight sweetness and acceptable hops in the finish. Hints of liquorice. Ashy aftertaste.

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

500 ml bottle, from Systembolaget, thanks to Ole R! ABV is 4.5%. Dark brown colour, big and lasting tan head. Nice aroma of caramel malts and fruity hops, hints of roasted malts, resin and smoke. The flavour is well balanced between the malts and hops, some roasted notes, hints of burnt caramel, nuts, pine and resin, dry and bitter finish. Long bitter aftertaste.

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

750 ml screwcap green bottle, from Vinmonopolet (bestillingsutvalget). ABV is 11%. Pours moderately sparkling, no lasting head. Very pale golden colour. Aroma of sweet eating apples, also notes of cider apples and flowers. The flavour is medium sweet (or perhaps medium dry?), anyway this is the driest Norwegian cider I have tasted so far (most of them are made with sweet apples only). The flavour has again a mix of sweet eating apples and moderately bitter cider apples, unfortunately the alcohol is fairly noticeable. Bitter finish.

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

330 ml bottle, vintage 2007, kindly shared by Ole_R. ABV is 13%. Deep red colour, low tan head. Vinous aroma, notes of claret, red wine vinegar and barnyard. The flavour is (more or less) "typical Flemish Red", notes of red wine vinegar, some lemony notes, astringent finish. Moderate hops. The high ABV is extremely well hidden, I might have guessed that the beer was half as strong as it actually is.

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

375 ml bottle, kindly shared by Ole_R. ABV was 14%. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Lovely roasty and vinous aroma, notes of calvados and blackcurrants. Extremely sweet and very roasty flavour, notes of liquorice, dark cherries and dark chocolate, distinct hoppy bitterness and tar in the finish. Alcohol is noticeable. Combined with the strong flavour elements, this leaves the impression that the beer is even stronger than it actually is - I might have guessed 18-20%.

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

500 ml brown bottle, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.3%. Pours very fizzy with a moderate white head that soon disappears. Golden colour. Moderate aroma of cider apples and oak. The flavour is very dry and tart, astringent finish. Notes of cider apples of course, hints of oak. Noticeable acidity with a hint of lemons. I can imagine this cider would go well with a dish of fat fish (salmon, trout, mackerel etc.) - on its own it is nearly too astringent for me.

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

500 ml clear screwcap bottle, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.7%. Hazy with some sediment in the bottle. Pours hazy deep golden, no carbonation. Very nice aroma of cider apples, farmhouse kitchen and oak, hints of sulphites. The flavour is fairly dry, tart cider apples dominate, hints of spices, oak and sulphites. I must admit I’d like just a little carbonation for a "fresher" mouthfeel, but this is still a nice and drinkable cider, if your preferences are on the dry side. Personally I wouldn’t mind a bit more sweetness.

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

Draught, sampled at Gladmat festivalen, Stavanger, served too cold. This is a light bodied golden ale with a low head, obviously brewed to satisfy the majority of Norwegian beer drinkers who believe that beer = pilsener. This will be the first ale that many of them have ever tasted, and as an introduction to the world of ales for "the ignorant multitude" this is acceptable. But the experienced ale drinker will find that "Kvek" (Valdres dialect for being quick, bright, alert, vigilant) has just too little of everything, even though there’s nothing wrong or offensive about it. Light maltiness and fruitiness in aroma and flavour. If given the choice, I’d prefer this ale to most pilseners, but if you have access to the products of the Valdres farm brewery, their "Staut" dark ale is the one you’ll want. Also sampled bottled, even more boring than from draught.