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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Brown colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Malty aroma, notes of toffee and caramel. Malty flavour too, not too sweet, a hint of toffee again, a slight fruitiness, moderate earthy hops in the finish. Well balanced.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Opaque yellow colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma of tomcat / catpiss, also citrus and pine needles. The flavour has citrus, tropical fruits, alcohol and pine needles, with a resinous bitterness in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, batch #599, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Deep reddish brown colour, moderately hazy. Moderate beige head. Aroma of medium roast malts, notes of burnt caramel and burnt breadcrumbs. The flavour has the same elements, with moderate bittering hops and more roast malts in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, as Grünerløkka Imperial Nøttebrun Brown Ale, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of brown malts, roasted nuts, burnt breadcrumbs. The flavour has the same elements, also hints of burnt caramel and dark chocolate, moderate earthy hops.

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

330 ml bottle, as Bira 91 Blonde Summer Lager, from Helgø Meny Stadionparken. ABV is 4.5%. Very pale golden colour, small white head. Sweetish aroma of pilsener malts and boiled rice, hints of newmown grass. Citric mouthfeel. Dull and "neutral" flavour, way too little hops. Won't buy again.

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

440 ml can, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%. Slightly hazy pale yellow colour, pours sparkling with a small and shortlived white head. Moderate but nice aroma of apples, a hint of piney hops. Very refreshing and medium dry flavour with moderate citric hops.

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

440 ml can, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%, IBU 25. Slightly hazy golden colour, moderate to small white head. Sweetish aroma of pilsener malts, hay and grass, also hints of herbal hops and caramel. Citric and moderately fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour has sweetish malts and moderate herbal hops, fairly bitter aftertaste.

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

June 2014: Shared 500 ml bottle at local tasting, from Voldby Købmandsgaard. ABV is 6.0%. Reddish dark amber colour. Aroma of Christmas spices, malts and spruce - but unfortunately also a hint of vomit. Strong and medium sweet flavour of Christmas spices and spruce - some may find it "over the top", but I like it. A little more hops wouldn’t hurt though.

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

330 ml bottle, as By the Horns Wolfie Smith Amber IPA, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 5.2%. Deep golden colour, large white head. Nice hoppy aroma of grapefruit, spruce and pine. Soft mouthffeel. Flavour of smoke, ashes, pine and sharp bittering hops. Not good, unbalanced.

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

330 ml bottle, batch #8, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 4.8%. Deep golden to brownish colour, minimal white head. Sourish / acidic aroma, notes of brettanomyces / farmhouse and vinegar. Fairly sour and acidic / vinegary flavour, with a dry and woody finish. Moderate hops. I’ve had worse beers (also from this brewery), but will hardly buy again.

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

330 ml bottle, BB date yesterday. ABV is 6.1%. Hazy brownish-orange colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, solvent, lemons and vinegar. Medium sour flavour, notes of oak, oaked wine, over-ripe lemons and red wine vinegar. Medium bitter finish. Not quite my cup of tea.

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

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.1%. There is certainly no lack of carbonation now, the glass fills completely by beige foam, and the dark brown (nearly black) beer appears very slowly. Roasty aroma, notes of coffee, wood and ashes. Dry roasty flavour, but not sourish, notes of coffee, liquorice, wood and charcoal. I’m upping the score several points. Original rating: 330 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 5.1%. Black colour, no head nor any carbonation. Roasty dryish aroma with notes of wood and ashes. Sourish flavour with dry roasty notes, again wood and ashes. The lack of carbonation is an obvious fault, but I don’t think this would have been a great beer even with carbonation.

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.9%. Black colour, large tan head. Aroma of roast malts and coffee, hints of Irish whiskey, vanilla, lactose and dark chocolate. Slightly dry flavour with notes of roast malts, strong coffee, Scotch whisky, oak and peat smoke, only a hint of lactose.

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

Cask halfpint at the Brewery Shades, Crawley. 6.6%. Black color, small beige head. Aroma of liquorice and wood. Distinct and slightly sweet flavour of liquorice, tar and wood, also salt of hartshorn and one spice that I can’t pinpoint. The hops are too moderate.

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

Cask halfpint at The George (JDW), Croydon. 5%. Deep golden to pale copper colour, minimal head and carbonation. Moderate aroma. Malty flavour with earthy hops in the finish. Not very great.

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

500 ml bottle, batch #3, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%, BU 12. Hazy deep brown colour, moderate to small beige head. Strong aroma of yeast, also notes of malts, hints of Christmas spices. Flavour of sourish malts and yeast, hints of caramel, prunes and Christmas spices. Won't buy again.

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

355 ml can, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%. Pale golden colour, only a slight haziness. Moderate to small white head. Aroma of pilsener malts, lime and sea air. Citric and thin mouthfeel. Flavour of lime with a hint of sea salt. Decent as a summer refreshment.

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

330 ml can, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%, IBU 25. Hazy yellow colour, moderate white head. Aroma of citrus and pineapple. Refreshing citric flavour, hints of pineapple and other tropical fruits, low bitterness with hints of pine needles and dill in the finish.

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

330 ml can, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%. Slightly gushing can, overcarbonated. The glass fills completely by white foam, and the hazy pale yellow beer underneath appears only slowly. Aroma of oranges and cloves. Citric and fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is too sweet for a hefeweizen, notes of lactose and sweet oranges, a hint of cloves.

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

330 ml bottle, from Bunnpris Sauda. ABV is 4.7%. Hazy orange to brown colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Aroma of malts, juniper berries, cloves and liquorice, can't detect the vanilla. The flavour has the same elements, distinct cloves and juniper berries, a hint of vanilla. Quite good and interesting, even though the various spices might be said to be less than perfectly balanced.

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

500 ml bottle, as Harvey's Dark Mild, from Seven Cellars. ABV is 2.8%. Mahogany colour, moderate to small off-white to beige head. Malty aroma, notes of brown bread, caramel and nuts. Slightly sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, hints of blackberries and blackcurrants, minimal hops.

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.2%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of hops and moderately roasted malts, hints of seaside (the oysters? - or is it just my imagination?). Silky smooth and very pleasant flavour, mild roasty notes, well balanced hops. Truly enjoyable, impossible to dislike.

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

650 ml bottle, 2012 vintage, kindly shared by abemorsten. Black colour, moderate tan head. Lovely and balanced aroma between the smoked and roast malts. Roasty and smokey flavour too, but here the notes of "smoked sausage" come through a bit too strong for my taste.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of blueberries, chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee and moderately roasted malts. Pleasant flavour of roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate and blueberries, a slight fruity acidity, dry finish with moderate hops. Very enjoyable.

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Golden colour, slightly hazy. Pours very fizzy with a large white head. Moderate but pleasant and inviting aroma of fruity and floral American hops (Columbus, Amarillo and Challenger). Fizzy mouthfeel, not very creamy. Light bodied. Pleasant moderate flavour of American hops. Easy drinking, nice enough. Might be true to style (I don’t really know, I did not live in pre-prohibition America), but this can hardly be said to be Mikkeller’s most interesting and challenging beer (nor was it intended to be, probably).