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

Shared large corked bottle, brought home from France by my son Steinar. ABV is 4.5%. Golden colour, pours very fizzy with a large but short-lived head. Strong aroma of cider apples and oak, hints of sulphites. Moderate carbonation in the glass. Medium sweet flavour of cider apples and eating apples, hints of oak and sulphites. Père Magloire may be best known internationally for their Calvados, but apparently they make decent ciders too.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Golden-brown colour. Spicy and "typically Belgian" aroma. Pleasant and moderately spicy flavour, not too sweet, again "typically Belgian". A decent trappist, but not of the trailblazing kind.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, as "Comte Louis de Lauriston Cidre Brut de Normandie", from Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget. Christian Drouin is not mentioned on the label, but I assume he is the distributor. ABV is 4.8%. Golden colour, pours very fizzy with a huge but short-lived white head. Strong aroma of oxidised cider apples and sulphites. The flavour is medium sweet with notes of cider apples and sulphites. Slightly astringent finish. Nice enough to drink.

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as "Famille E. Dupont Cidre Bouché Effervescent Naturel", vintage 2007. From Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget. ABV is 5%. Bottle conditioned. 80% of the blend comes from the bitter-sweet apple varieties Mettais, Binet Rouge and Frequin, with 20% Judaines and Petit Jaune for acidity. Gushes out of the bottle when the cork is popped, pours very fizzy, moderate carbonation in the glass. Golden colour, white head disappears instantly. Nice aroma of cider apples and sweet eating apples, with a hint of oak. Flavour of moderately oxidised cider apples, medium sweet. Slightly tart finish with hints of oak and sulphites. Easy drinking.

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

750 ml swingtop bottle, from Vinmonopolet, nettbutikken. ABV is 6.9%. Deep golden to amber colour, big to moderate white (or slightly off-white) head. Spicy and herbal aroma, hints of flowers and honey too. The flavour is fairly sweet and malty with caramel and moderate hops, hints of honey, the alcohol is noticeable. Lacks the crisp freshness of the Hildegarde Blonde.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. BB date 19.11.13. ABV is 5.7%, 18 IBU. Hazy pale golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma with loads of banana, also cloves and wort. The flavour is not too sweeet, cloves and some banana, noticeable hops. Quite good.

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

Sample from bottle at Copenhagen Beer Festival, as Jade Bière Blonde. I did not take note of the brewery, but thought it was Belgian - but might well be mistaken. I hope I’m rating the the right beer. Pale golden colour. This is an ordinary pilsener / pale lager with a little malts in aroma and flavour, and a slight acidity in the finish. Drinkable, but nothing special.

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

750 ml swingtop bottle, from Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget. ABV is 4.9%. Some sediment in the bottle, I turned it upside down. Hazy pale yellow colour, huge white head. Strong aroma of wheat ale yeast, notes of coriander and cloves, hints of citrus and banana. The flavour is wheaty and moderately yeasty, notes of coriander and cloves again, while the orange peel is very subdued. Noticeable but very moderate hops. Very refreshing.

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

750 ml green "champagne" bottle, as La Choulette Bière du Nord La Triboulette Bière Blonde Artisanale, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 5%. Golden colour, pours rather fizzy, moderate white head. Malty and grainy aroma. Malty and slightly nutty flavour, a hint of pepper in the aftertaste. Not much hops. Drinkable but boring, not very "artisanale" in my book.

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

750 ml corked bottle, as Abbaye de Vaucelles Bière Blonde Artisanale, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. Front label says 7.5% ABV, rear label says 7% ABV. Golden colour, pours rather fizzy, large to moderate white head. Moderate aroma of malts, hints of spices. The flavour is fairly malty with a moderate spiciness, which saves the beer from being really boring - but the hops are too moderate.

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

July 2016: 750 ml corked & caged green bottle, as Au Baron Cuvée des Jonquilles Blonde, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7%. Very pale golden colour, huge white head. Very nice fruity and spicy aroma. Slightly sweet, fruity and lightly spicy flavour, easy drinking and quite enjoyable, but a little more bittering hops would not hurt.

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

Oct. 2017: Shared 750 ml bottle at local tasting., from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Malty aroma, hints of brown kandij sugar and mild spices. Well balanced and harmonious flavour, again with notes of brown kandij sugar and mild spices.

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

Dec. 2017: 750 ml corked & caged bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6%. Reddish brown colour with lots of floaties, moderate white head. Malty and vinous aroma, notes of ripe red fruits. The flavour is not too sweet, medium malty with some fruit. Very moderate hops. Fair enough.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Hazy yellow colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of pine, spruce, grapefruit / citrus and tropical fruits, apricot. The flavour has the same elements, decent bitterness. Good beer!

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

750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.5%. Pale golden colour, pours sparkling with a huge but shortlived head. Aroma of cider apples, horse stable, oak and sulphites. Very dry and crisp flavour of slightly oxidised apples, hints of oak and sulphites.

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

May 2018: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6%. Clear deep golden colour, pours sparkling with a shortlived white head. Pleasant aroma of cider apples and oak. Dry flavour, cider apples and oak again, "dusty" finish. * Sampled again Oct. 2023, 750 ml corked & caged green bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6%. Even more "farmhouse" character this time, very good cider.

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

August 2020: 330 ml clear bottle, from Vinmonopolet Lyngdal. ABV is 6%. Golden to rosé colour, pours sparkling with a shortlived white head. Fresh aroma and flavour of various apple varieties, moderately sweet, a hint of sulphites. Nice one.

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

750 ml bottle, vintage 2022, from Vinmonopolet Klepp. ABV is 5%. Golden colour, pours sparkling with a large but shortlived white head. Lovely aroma of various apple varieties. Semi-dry flavour ("brut" is an exaggeration from the cidery), again pleasant notes of various eating apples and cider apples. Might well buy again.

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

December 2012: 750 ml bottle from Vinoble / Voldby Købmandsgård, shared at local tasting. Pale golden colour, moderate white head. Fairly strong fruity and mildly spicy aroma. Fairly refreshing flavour for its strength, medium sweet, spicy with a hint of honey.

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

330 ml can, from ALDI Estepona, Spain. Brewed for Aldi by Brasserie Champigneulles, France. ABV is 6.6%. Clear deep golden colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of malts, toffee, caramel and grass. Smooth flavour, slightly on the sweet side, caramel notes, very moderate herbal hops.

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

330 ml can, from ALDI, Estepona, Spain, as Karlsquell Ley de Pureza 1516. ABV is 4.9%. Brewed in the EU for Brasserie Champigneulles, France. Clear golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma of malts and grass. Fairly bland flavour, with more malts than hops.

Aroma: 2 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 2

September 2018: 330 ml blue bottle, from Helgø Meny Maxi, Sandnes. ABV is 0.5%. Hazy pale golden colour, moderate to small white head. The aroma has notes of lightstruck hops, wheat, baby porridge and citrus, a hint of vomit. Citric and thin mouthfeel. The flavour has some sweetness, with distinct and unpleasant notes of baby porridge and overcooked vegetables.

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

June 2015: 750 ml bottle from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. BB date 05.03.2015. ABV is 6.5%. Pale straw colour, huge white head. Nice spicy and yeasty aroma, some fruity notes too. The flavour has some fruity acidity and mild spicy notes. Very moderate hops. Kind of refreshing, but not very exciting.

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

April 2017: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. BB date 08.01.2015. ABV is 5.5%. Pale golden colour, clear first, hazy when the yeast is poured in the end. Large white head of poor retention. Strange aroma of dust, sea water, cooked vegetables. Soft mouthfeel. Fairly dry and refreshing flavour, hints of salt, mild spices and citrus. Moderate hops.

Aroma: 2 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

July 2016: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Cloudy brown colour, moderate to low off-white head. Unpleasant aroma of stomach acid / vomit and spices. Fizzy mouthfeel, overcarbonated. The flavour is medium malty and slightly spicy, but the aroma ruins it all. Drainpour. Won’t buy again.