Beer Reviews by SIGMUND

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# Beer Origin Style Score Date
5101 Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Denmark Imperial Stout 4.3

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Brewed by Mikkeller at Nøgne Ø, Norway. Batch #418, ABV is 10.9%. Pitch black colour, huge chocolate brown head. Lovely aroma of dark roasted malts, coffee and chocolate, hints of dark fruits. Intense flavour of coffee (can’t say if the "weasel" coffee was worth the price, though), also a massive malty sweetness and a solid roasty and hoppy bitterness, lasting through the long aftertaste. Not for sissies.

Jun 28, 2009
05:10:28 PM
5102 North Coast Old Stock Ale United States English Barleywine 4.2

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, 2007 vintage, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.7%. Dark reddish brown colour, slightly hazy, big beige head. Strong aroma of sweet sherry, oak, malts and caramel. The flavour is very sweet and malty, again with strong notes of sweet sherry and caramel, ending in a hoppy bitterness. Powerful stuff, a beer to sip slowly. Should not be drunk too cold.

Jun 28, 2009
05:05:28 PM
5103 Rogue American Amber United States Amber Ale 3.5

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, as Rogue American Amber Ale, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. The beer starts pouring out of the bottle by its own will. Dark amber colour, moderate beige head. Malty and bready aroma, notes of bakery and caramel, also some fruity hops, hints of spices. The flavour is malty and earthy with caramel and toffee, decent hops in the finish.

Jun 28, 2009
05:01:28 PM
5104 Jolly Pumpkin / Nøgne Ø / Stone Special Holiday Ale United States Spiced Beer 4.2

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.0%. Bottle conditioned. Chestnut coloured beer, huge and creamy lasting tan head. Nice aroma of caramel, spices and dark fruits. Rich and full mouthfeel. The flavour is malty, rich and sweet, with loads of spices - but I’d have trouble identifying which ones, if I didn’t know. I would also have guessed that there was some aniseed or liquorice in there. There is a distinct hoppy bitterness and more spices in the finish. Interesting stuff!

Jun 28, 2009
04:59:28 PM
5105 Rogue Chocolate Stout United States Chocolate Stout 4.2

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Black colour, huge brown head. Sweetish aroma with strong notes of chocolate / cocoa, also notes of vanilla. Silky mouthfeel. The flavour is moderately sweet, again with dominant notes of chocolate / cocoa and vanilla, but also a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. Not bad at all.

Jun 28, 2009
04:56:28 PM
5106 Nøgne Ø Tiger Tripel Norway Abbey Tripel 4.3

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.0%. Hazy brownish yellow colour, huge white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast, fruits and spices. The flavour is fairly sweet (maybe a tad too sweet? - or maybe not) with a distinct spiciness, some fruit and noticeable hops. Good stuff.

Jun 4, 2009
08:26:04 PM
5107 Estrella Damm Daura (Apta Para Celíacos) Spain Pale Lager 2.9

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

330 ml bottle, as Estrella Damm Daura, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.4%. Suitable for coeliacs. Pale golden colour, big to moderate head. Sweetish aroma, not unpleasant though, notes of fruit and maize. The flavour is fairly sweet and fruity, with tolerable hops. Not too bad.

Jun 4, 2009
08:18:04 PM
5108 Estrella Damm Inedit Spain Witbier 3.4

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

750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 4.8%. Pale straw colour, slightly hazy, huge to moderate white head. Moderate wheaty and citrussy aroma, with notes of coriander and orange peel, also a hint of liquorice (when you know it should be there). The flavour is moderately citrussy, with moderate notes of coriander. The liquorice is barely discernible in the flavour. Light bodied, not very sweet, with minimal hops. "Empty" finish, but an otherwise nice and refreshing beer.

Jun 4, 2009
08:11:04 PM
5109 Rogue Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale United States IPA 4.0

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, as Rogue Captain Sig’s Northwestern Ale, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy brown colour, huge light tan head. Nice aroma of fruity American hops (Horizon, Amarillo and Cascade). The flavour has a considerable malty sweetness with hints of caramel, which probably is necessary to balance the 80 IBU. The fruity and resinous hops add more to the flavour than just bitterness, but the finish is nonetheless quite bitter. Good stuff.

Jun 4, 2009
08:03:04 PM
5110 V&S Original Sparkling Apple Wine (Pärlande Äppelvin) Finland Cider 3.2

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

750 ml clear screwcap bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 11.5%. Pale yellow colour, sparkling, no head. Aroma and flavour of bitter cider apples and sweet eating apples, notes of sulphur and oak. The alcohol is noticeable in this strong cider. Fizzy mouthfeel. Not too bad.

May 27, 2009
07:44:27 PM
5111 Grans Grill Øl Norway Pale Lager 2.4

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

330 ml clear bottle, from REMA 1000. ABV is 4.7%. Golden colour, big white head. Aroma of over-boiled vegetables and maize baby porridge, also notes of grassy hops. The flavour is moderately citrussy (which is quite nice) and slightly grassy, some sweetness but not too bad, minimal bitterness. Empty finish.

May 20, 2009
03:58:20 AM
5112 Atna Øl Stabburøl Norway Kellerbier 3.0

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Unfiltered and unpasteurised Kellerbier. ABV is 4.7%. Cloudy pale golden colour, moderate white head. The aroma is yeasty and grassy, hints of honey. Moderate flavour with some hops, hints of citrus. Low bitterness. "Empty" mouthfeel. Not much to write home about here. Atna’s organic "Nakenbad" is a better choice.

May 19, 2009
06:01:19 PM
5113 Aass After Beach Norway Pale Lager 2.0

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

330 ml clear bottle. ABV is 4.7%. Pale golden colour, big white head. Weak aroma, notes of wheat and citrus. The flavour is moderately sweetish and slightly wheaty with just a hint of citrus, nearly void of any bitterness. Boring and overpriced. Might possibly be the same beer as Aass After Ski, with a different label? The brewery denies this, though.

May 19, 2009
05:48:19 PM
5114 Beersel Oude Geuze Belgium Gueuze 3.9

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

375 ml "champagne" bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.0%. Pours with an enormous white (possibly slightly off-white) head, which slowly reveals a beer of hazy deep golden colour. Lovely complex aroma of farmhouse and fermenting fruits, hints of oak and spices. The flavour is fairly sour and tart, with a dry finish. Some hops in the aftertaste. Good stuff!

May 16, 2009
05:00:16 PM
5115 Moss Pilsner (Original Mossepils) Norway Bohemian / Czech Pilsener 2.4

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

330 ml brown bottle, bought at Berentsens Brygghus, Ølutsalget, Egersund. ABV is 4.7%. Brewed by Berentsens Brygghus according to old recipes from Moss Bryggeri. Very pale golden colour, big to moderate white head. Aroma of malts, baby porridge and cooked vegetables, reminds me of a n/a beer. Very little carbonation in the glass, soft mouthfeel. The flavour is fairly "neutral", with a very moderate malty sweetness and moderate hops. Far from undrinkable, but boring. I’d prefer Berentsens Rogalands Pils and Økologisk Pils to this one. I don’t really think it was a great service to the good people of Moss town to have this recipe revived.

May 9, 2009
05:19:09 PM
5116 Cesu Christmas Porter Latvia Baltic Porter 2.3

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

500 ml bottle, brought to a tasting by someone who had bought it in Riga. ABV was 6%. At first I thought that he was pulling my leg, and that the content of the bottle really was a "radler" (cola beermix). Apparently it was the real thing. Reddish brown colour, low head. Minimal aroma, hints of cola. Flavour of RC Cola and cinnamon - weird. Not my idea of a Baltic porter.

Apr 24, 2009
06:30:24 PM
5117 Isle of Skye Red Cuillin United Kingdom Bitter 3.4

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

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway (bought at Vaaland, Bryne). ABV is 4.2%. Amber coloured beer, moderate off-white head. Aroma of malts, English malt vinegar, fruits and silage. The flavour is malty but also very fruity, hints of berries and malt vinegar, "dusty" hops in the finish. Not really brilliant.

Apr 23, 2009
05:39:23 PM
5118 Borg Pilsner Lite Norway Light / Lite Lager 1.6

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 3

500 ml can, ABV is 4.5%. Pale golden colour, big white head. Very moderate sweetish aroma, notes of candy. The flavour is utterly bland and boring, notes of pear drops in the sweetish finish. Another "lite" beer to be avoided.

Apr 17, 2009
02:02:17 PM
5119 BrewDog Trashy Blonde United Kingdom Blonde Ale 3.6

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

330 ml bottle, bought at ICA Middelthon. ABV is 4.1%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate hoppy aroma, notes of new-mown grass, a hint of honey. Soft mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, with a resinous bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. Can’t detect the "passion fruit" though. OK beer.

Apr 16, 2009
06:21:16 PM
5120 Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine United States American Barleywine 4.0

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

1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.2%. Dark orange to brown colour, hazy. Big and lasting pale orange to beige head. The sweetish aroma has notes of pine, ripe fruits, raisins and molasses. Full and warming mouthfeel. Rich flavour with loads of malty sweetness, notes of raisins, caramel, molasses and udefined fruit, while the high IBU makes itself known towards the end, through a substantial and resinous hoppy bitterness.

Apr 14, 2009
06:10:14 PM
5121 Stone India Pale Ale United States IPA 4.1

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.9%. Deep golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Lovely hoppy aroma, notes of citrus and tropical fruits. The zesty and fruity flavour is distinctly hoppy from start to finish, on a sufficient malty background. Ends in a grapefruity bitterness, but it is not overdone. Long bitter aftertaste. More to my liking than the Arrogant Bastard. Good stuff!

Apr 14, 2009
06:07:14 PM
5122 Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale United States Strong Ale 3.6

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.2%. Dark brown to ruby colour, big to moderate light tan head. Nice but surprisingly moderate aroma of floral and fruity hops. "Arrogance" shows its face in the flavour, with a distinct and aggressive hoppy bitterness from start to finish. There is a certain malty sweetness in the background, but I cannot say the Arrogant Bastard belongs in the "well balanced" category. It is probably not meant to belong there. Perhaps I am "not worthy" after all? My wife said she liked it, though. Spooky ...

Apr 14, 2009
06:04:14 PM
5123 North Coast Brother Thelonious United States Belgian Strong Ale 3.5

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

355 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.4%. Pours very fizzy. Deep copper to mahogany coloured beer, moderate off-white head. Aroma of Belgian ale yeast and brown sugar, some vinous notes. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is malty sweet with strong notes of brown sugar, also some spicy notes, moderate but distinct hops in the finish. The high ABV is noticeable.

Apr 14, 2009
05:57:14 PM
5124 Copper Dragon Challenger IPA United Kingdom Bitter 3.4

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.8%. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate but pleasant fruity aroma of Challenger(?) hops, also notes of butterscotch and fudge, hints of candy. Light bodied, thin mouthfeel. The flavour belongs to a standard bitter (in a blind test I would probably have guessed that the ABV was closer to 4.0% than 4.8%), moderate malts and hops, slightly fruity - but the hops are certainly not plentiful enough to justify the label "IPA". The troops in India in Victorian times would probably not recognise this as an IPA - but the average bitter drinker in a modern English pub will probably be satisfied with this one as a "somewhat-stronger-than-average" session bitter.

Apr 14, 2009
05:55:14 PM
5125 Copper Dragon Best Bitter United Kingdom Bitter 3.4

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.0%. Amber colour, moderate white head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of malts and toffee, hints of herbal hops. Zesty flavour of malts, nuts, fruity and herbal hops. Bitter aftertaste. Not really remarkable, but a decent enough bitter.

Apr 14, 2009
05:53:14 PM