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

330 ml bottle, from MENY Stadionparken. ABV is 3.8%. Deep golden to brown colour, slightly hazy. Large white head. Strong aroma of American hops fruity (grapefruit, pineapple) and piney notes. Relatively light bodied, but not too bad for a 3.8% beer. Packed full of hop flavour - quite dry, but loads of grapefruity and piney hops throughout. Not too bitter though. Quite impressive for a beer of this ABV.

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

330 ml bottle in cardboard box, as BrewDog Dog A, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 15.1%. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Intense aroma of vanilla, molasses, oak, fusel alcohols, coffee, liquorice and chili. Moderate carbonation. Intense roasty flavour, quite sweet, loads of coffee, vanilla, liquorice and molasses. A nice warming throatfeel from the chili. Not easy drinking, but fairly impressive.

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

On tap at Mandag i Annen at Cardinal, a leftover keg from Nærbø Ølfestival. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant malty aroma, notes of chocolate and heather honey. Rich and malty complex flavour, medium sweet, notes of molasses, chocolate and honey, hints of oak and smoke, moderate hops.

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

Keg halfpint at The Wild Boar, Aberdeen. Deep golden colour, white head. Aroma and flavour of grapefruit, and grapefruity and piney hops. Very refreshing.

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

Sample at BrewDog tasting, Stavanger. Impressive appearance: pitch black colour, large brown head. Lovely roasty aroma with notes of coffee, cocoa and vanilla. The flavour is a tad less impressive but still good - with the same elements as the aroma, and decent hops in the finish.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.0%. Moderately hazy pale yellow colour, large white head. Aroma of pineapple and other tropical fruits, also citrus. Light bodied. Citrus and tropical fruits in the flavour too, but not very sweet. Hints of pine needles. Moderate bitterness.

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

Sample from bottle at Copenhagen Beer Festival 2013. Served too cold. Black colour, moderate beige head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of cold coffee, unsweetened cocoa and wood. Very dry roasty flavour, coffee notes. Some hops in the finish. Not very complex, but nice enough to drink.

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

Sample from bottle at Copenhagen Beer Festival 2013, served a bit too cold. Deep golden to brown colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of "dusty" hops, a hint of toffee in the background. The medium dry flavour has a distinct and sharp hoppy bitterness throughout, but I get little hop flavour besides the bitterness. Not that great, really.

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

Keg at The Bishop’s Arms, Göteborg. Deep golden to amber colour. Nice hoppy aroma with notes of toffee and sherry. Rich malty flavour with notes of toffee, caramel and some oak, but a little too sweet for my taste.

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

Cask halfpint at The Last Post, Guernsey. ABV is 3.9%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Nice malty aroma. Smooth to drink, a slight fruitiness, malts, nuts and a hint of toffee. Very moderate hops.

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

500 ml clear bottle, from a Sainsbury Local in Whitton, London. ABV is 4.5%. Copper colour, large white head. Typical Shepherd Neame aroma of lightstruck hops, not unpleasant though. Also toffee notes. The flavour has also toffee notes, but is not very sweet. Hints of citrus. Moderate hops. Nice enough to drink.

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

275 ml bottle, vintage 2010, kindly and unselfishly shared by gunnar. ABV is 11%. Pitch black colour, moderate to low brown head. Lovely and intense aroma of roast malts, molasses, caramel, liquorice, vanilla and sweetened coffee. Intense but also smooth flavour, with the same elements as in the aroma, prunes, oaky and vinous notes. Moderate hops, amazingly well balanced and easy drinking for its strength. I want more of this!

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

On tap at Top1 Forever restaurant, Royal Victoria Dock, London. Pale golden color, low white head. Aroma and flavour are more malty than hoppy, this is more of a Bavarian Helles than a Pilsener. Moderate diacetyl comes through as the beer warms up a little.

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

Sample from bottle at Copenhagen Beer Festival 2013. Clear golden brown colour, moderate white head. Moderate fruity and malty aroma, hints of ripe berries. Pleasant malty flavour, not very sweet, notes of toffee and nuts, decent hops in the finish, well balanced. Quite enjoyable.

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

355 ml bottle, ABV 5.1%, at Robert Raikes’ House (a Samuel Smith pub), Gloucester. Served ice cold. Golden colour, moderate white head. Distinct aroma of apricots. The flavour is medium sweet, not cloying, with distinct apricots throughout. Low bitterness.

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

550 ml bottle, at the Robert Raike’s House (a Samuel Smith pub), Gloucester. Served ice cold. ABV is 5%. Nearly black colour, ruby in the highlights. Moderate beige head. Lovely aroma of chocolate, cocoa and vanilla, hints of marshmallows. Fairly light bodied. Medium sweet flavour of chocolate, cocoa and vanilla again. Low bitterness.

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

Rerate, 330 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.2%. Less sharp aroma this time, but pine needle extract dominates. The flavour seems also slightly less sharp, but is hoppy enough. Dry finish. Original rating: Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting. Cloudy orange colour, large head, slightly off-white. Sharp aroma of spruce, pine needle extract and solvent. Sharp hoppy flavour, mellowed by some rye "ripe berries" notes. Not in perfect balance.

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

330 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.4%. Black colour, creamy tan head. Aroma of fruity and piney hops, hints of roast malts and chocolate. The flavour has plenty of piney hops with some fruit, medium dry, also roasty notes of coffee and dark chocolate.

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

330 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. Hazy brownish-yellow colour, low white head. Strong aroma of piney hops, The medium dry flavour has loads of piney hops, also some grapefruity notes. Bitter finish. Fairly good beer. * 330 ml can is now available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.4%.

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

Sample on tap at What’s Brewing Beer Festival, Stavanger. Called a "session IPA", ABV 4.3%. Clear pale golden colour, white head. Distinct aroma of fruity hops, tropical fruits galore, esp. mango. Light bodied as expected, but refreshing. The flavour has distinct hops throughout, tropical fruits first, then a solid bitterness.

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

330 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 5.4%. Black colour, low beige head. Aroma of chocolate, bonfires and smoked meat - a weird combination. Easy drinking, smooth mouthfeel. The smoke is there, but does not dominate. Chocolate malt and some fruity tones, moderate hops. Nice enough.

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

500 ml bottle, as Allendale Black Grouse Oaked Porter, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4%. Malts are pale, amber, crystal, wheat, chocolate and cara. Hops are Target, Fuggles and Bramling Cross. IBU is 17. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Aroma of roast malts, chocolate and mild coffee, hints of oak. The flavour is mid between dry and sweet, with the same elements as the aroma, a hint of caramel. Very moderate hops, a little more would not hurt.

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

500 ml bottle, from Det Gode Brygg, Sandnes. ABV is 4.2%, IBU 31. Hops are Columbus and Cascade, malts are pale, dark crystal and dark cara. Amber colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of fruity hops, also some caramel. Fairly well hopped flavour, spicy and fruity notes, slightly sweet, again some caramel.

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

Cask halfpint at the Argyll Arms. Black colour, minimal beige head. Nice aroma of chocolate, hints of mild coffee. Smooth mouthfeel. Smooth flavour too, some lactic sweetness, but not too much. Chocolate and mild coffee again, moderate hops in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, from SPAR Jørpeland. ABV is 4.7%. Clear deep golden colour, small white head. Aroma of grassy, floral and herbal hops, hints of honey. Malty but fairly dry flavour, toffee first, with reasonably distinct herbal hops, bitter and medicinal / metallic aftertaste.