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

355 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 10.5%, 90 IBU. Pitch black colour, impressive brown head. Roasty aroma, roast malts, strong coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice, tar, wood and a hint of smoke. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet and rich flavour, roast malts, liquorice and strong coffee galore, bitter hops in the finish. High "Wow!" factor.

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

355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Pink to red colour, moderate off-white head with a hint of pink. Unusual aroma of cherries, marzipan, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla and oak. The flavour is sweet but not cloying, again notes of cherries, maple syrup, bourbon and oak. Interesting, unusual - and good.

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

355 ml bottle, 2017 release, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 14.2%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate to small white head. Distinct aroma of bourbon, oak and vanilla. Medium sweet flavour, again with distinct notes of bourbon, oak and vanilla, moderate hops. Warming mouthfeel.

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

355 ml bottle, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.9%. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Moderate to low creamy beige head. Aroma of piney American hops, the roasty notes are fairly subdued. Distinctly hoppy flavour, piney and grapefruity hops galore, dry roasty notes and bittering hops in the finish.

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

Sample from bottle at Vectura-messe. Orange colour. Aroma of crystal malts and orangey American hops. Sharp hoppy flavour throughout. Not the best beer from Founders.

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

355 ml bottle, 2017 release, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.7%. Pitch black colour. moderate tan head. Nice aroma of roast malts, maple syrup, coffee, chocolate, vanilla and oak. Sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, some bourbon whiskey and bittering hops in the finish. Impressive beer.

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

355 ml bottle, vintage 2014, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.2%, 50 IBU. Deep ruby colour, large to moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of Scotch whisky and bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate, grain and dust. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. Warming mouthfeel. Not bad at all.

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

750 ml bottle, as Founders Blushing Monk 2015, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.2%. Beautiful clear red colour, moderate pinkish-white head. Lovely and intense aroma of ripe raspberries and raspberry candy. Sweet flavour (too sweet for some, I’m sure - but not for me), raspberries and raspberry candy galore, some tart hints and very moderate bittering hops the finish. The alcohol is well hidden, dangerously drinkable. A fine dessert beer. I was about to write "the big bottle is for sharing", but then I noticed it was empty - and I’m here alone. Oh well ....

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

Shared 750 ml bottle at local tasting. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Interesting and delightful aroma of ripe raspberries and dark chocolate, hints of marzipan and coffee. Rich mouthfeel and flavour, raspberries and dark chocolate again, sweet but acceptable, smooth and creamy. First class!

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Clear deep golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma of white kandij sugar syrup, ripe bananas and dust, hints of green peppercorns and ginger. Sweet flavour, notes of white kandij sugar syrup and malt sugar, with a much needed counterpoint in spicy notes of green peppercorns, ginger and moderate hops. Might well have another one, but not necessarily in the same session.

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

330 ml bottle, soon available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.6%. Beautiful clear reddish brown colour, large off-white head. Pleasant aroma of malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar and mild Christmas spices. Relatively light bodied for its strength and style. The flavour is not as sweet as I feared, but has otherwise the same elements as the aroma. Mild spices and very moderate hops in the finish. Please disregard that it is brewed by the biggest brewery corporation in the world - this is a good beer!

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

330 ml bottle, from Det Bette Ølhus, Aalbæk. ABV is 9.0%. Clear deep golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup and alcohol. The flavour is moderately sweet (but not as sweet as the aroma made me fear) with spicy notes, also white kandij sugar and herbal hops, the alcohol is evident.

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

330 ml green bottle, as Stella Artois Alcohol Free, from Coop Extra Prestemarka, Tau. ABV is 0.0%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of malts and porridge. Soft mouthfeel. Malty flavour, not too bad for a n/a beer.

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

Keg halfpint at The Stag pub, Aberdeen. Pale golden colour, white head. Minimal "dusty" aroma. Dry flavour, some citrus, not much to write home about.

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

Keg halfpint at The Stag pub, Aberdeen. Pale golden colour, white head. Minimal "dusty" aroma. Dry flavour, some citrus, not much to write home about.

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

500 ml bottle, as Allendale Wagtail English Bitter, from Ales by Mail. ABV is 3.8%, IBU 33. Hops are Target, Fuggles and Goldings. Malts are pale, amber and dark crystal. Deep golden colour, a slight haze in the finish. Moderate to low white head. Aroma of malts, dried fruits and marmalade. The flavour is moderately malty and fairly fruity, hints of caramelized orange marmalade, but not really sweet. Moderate hops in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4%. Malts are pale, Vienna and Munich, hops are Columbus, Cascade and Citra. IBU is 45. Golden colour. Gusher bottle, moderate to small white head. Moderate aroma of grain, malts, bread and earthy hops. The flavour is fairly dry, with distinct earthy and grapefruity hops throughout.

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

Shared 500 ml bottle at Tau Slipp. ABV is 4%. Golden colour, white head. Moderate aroma, a hint of citrus and cornflakes. Light bodied and refreshing, but a bit boring. Hints of citrus, cornflakes and grain. Allendale can do better than this.

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

500 ml bottle, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of fruity and piney American hops, some catty hints, also notes of stale orange marmalade. Slightly dry flavour, some malts, grapefruity and some stale and "dusty" notes, solid bittering hops. A half-decent session IPA.

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

Shared 500 ml bottle at local tasting. ABV is 6%. Brown colour, off-white head. Nice malty aroma, notes of caramel and roast nuts. Malty flavour, moderately sweet, medium roast malts and roast nuts, some caramel.

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

500 ml bottle, from Ales By Mail. ABV is 7%, IBU 52. Chestnut to mahogany colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of ripe red and dark fruits, hints of rye bread and bitter orange marmalade, also lightly roast malts. The flavour has moderately roast malts, mild coffee, rye bread and earthy and orangey hops. Reasonably good beer.

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

500 ml bottle, from Ales by Mail, ABV is 5.5%, 77 IBU. Malts are pale, caramalt and Vienna, hops are Columbus, Bramling Cross, First Gold and Galaxy. Golden colour, slightly hazy. Moderate white head. Pleasant hoppy aroma, notes of tropical fruits and citrus, hints of pine. The malty base is slightly sweet, but this is first and foremost a hopdriven ale, with grapefruit, pine needles and resin, also hints of tropical fruits, and a solid bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. This is an IPA in my book.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of citrus, pine needles and tomcat. Medium dry and refreshing flavour, with distinct grapefruity and piney hops throughout, ending in a solid bitterness.

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

355 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Black colour, large beige head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee and dark chocolate. The flavour has a slight sweetness, distinct notes of coffee but not overdone, also chocolate and decent hops, hints of roasted nuts. Good beer.

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

355 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.8%. Clear golden colour, large white head. Aroma of yuzu fruit and other citrus zest. The slightly dry flavour has also notes of yuzu and citrussy hops with a hint of pine, also a hint of blueberries. Medium bitter finish.