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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Cuvée Royale Brut Reserve, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo (bought in October 2011). ABV is 9%. Hazy pale yellow colour, huge white head. Refined aroma of farmhouse (does that make sense?), farmhouse kitchen / brettanomyces, hints of oxidised fruits and mild spices. Crisp, medium dry and spicy flavour. Moderate hops. Well balanced, "refined" seems to be the right word for the flavour too. The alcohol is well hidden. Quite enjoyable.

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Dark Brut, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 12%. Hazy dark brown colour, huge beige head. Fairly interesting aroma, malts, chocolate, Belgian ale yeast, stewed dark fruits, hints of farmhouse and spices. The flavour is medium sweet and malty with moderately roasty and chocolatey notes, also spices, notes of prunes and other dark fruits. Moderate hops. Some warmth, but the alcohol is otherwise well hidden. An unusual Belgian, complex and well balanced, a beer to savour - but the big bottle is for sharing!

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

750 ml capped dark green bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 8.4%. Golden colour, slightly hazy, large white head. Strong and pleasant aroma with distinct spicy notes, also some fruit and light syrup. The flavour is medium sweet and distinctly spicy throughout, a little fruit too. Distinct hops in the finish. Very drinkable for its strength. A fine triple!

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

750 ml dark green capped bottle, as La Rulles Bière de Gamme La Grande 10 Millesime 2011, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 10%. Deep golden colour, large white (or slightly off-white) head. Strong and pleasant "typically Belgian" aroma, with spicy and fruity notes. The flavour is medium sweet and spicy, notes of malts, alcohol and some fruit. Noticeable hops in the finish. Pretty good stuff, only drawback is that the alcohol is not very well hidden.

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

Shared 250 ml bottle at local tasting, bought at Carrefour, Cartagena, Spain. ABV is 4.3%. Hazy red colour, moderate pinkish-white head. Intense sweetish aroma of ripe and over-ripe raspberries. Sweet flavour of ripe raspberries and raspberry jam. Little here to remind you that this actually is a beer.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Shared bottle at local tasting. Deep golden colour, low white head. Lovely and beguiling aroma of brettanomyces lambicus, white wine vinegar and farmhouse. Sour and acidic flavour, clean, lemony and vinegary - but (in a perverted sense): GOOD!

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

Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting, thanks to gunnar. ABV is 13%. Black colour, minimal brown head. Aroma of cold coffee, hints of woodwork. Intense roasty flavour, quite dry, strong coffee and bittering hops.

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

375 ml dark green bottle, at local tasting, as Hof ten Doormal Wit Goud Witloofbier. ABV is 8%. Cloudy orange colour, moderate head. Wheaty aroma with notes of spices, nice. Medium sweet wheaty and spicy flavour, the alcohol is noticeable.

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

Shared bottle at local tasting. Hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Very nice aroma, fruity and spicy. Medium sweet flavour, distinctly spicy, also noticeable hops.

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

Shared bottle at local tasting. ABV 8.0%. Amber colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Distinctly hoppy aroma and flavour, grapefruity and piney notes. Very "American", good stuff.

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

Shared bottle, as Barbar Bok, at local tasting, ABV was 8.5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Strong malty and alcoholic aroma and flavour, hints of honey. A bit better than average, but not really my cup of tea.

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

At Copenhagen Beer Festival. Hazy golden colour, sparkling. Decent aroma of brettanomyces (sour fruit, farmhouse, horse blanket), but not extreme. The medium sour flavour has also the typical brettanomyces character, but fairly well balanced and not too extreme. Should work well as a beginner’s gueuze.

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

Sample from bottle, Copenhagen Beer Festival. Brewed with cherries, strawberries, raspberries and lemon. Hazy amber to brown colour. Intense / extreme sweetish fruity aroma. Extremely fruity flavour, very (but not cloyingly) sweet. The lemon ensures some freshness in its character.

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

Sample from bottle, Copenhagen Beer Festival. Amber colour, some chill haze. Sweetish and spicy aroma. The flavour is not quite as sweet and spicy as expected, and the beer is fairly drinkable. Maybe not my favourite beer for daily indulgence, but a nice change-of-pace beer. Will buy again when I can find it.

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

330 ml bottle, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. ABV is 8.8%. Mahogany coloured beer, large off-white head. Malty aroma, notes of caramel, but also some fruity and spicy notes. Gordon / John Martin are known for some pretty sweet beers, so I braced myself to tolerate an enormous sweetness. Well, their Xmas is sweet, but not more than I’m able to handle. Very rich and malty flavour, notes of caramel, dark dried fruits and mild spices. The sweetness is to some degree balanced by moderate hops in the finish. Not a beer to go with Christmas dinner, but excellent to savour on its own, or with Christmas cookies, chocolate and fruit. Will buy again, if I can find it for Christmas.

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

330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 8%. Brown colour, large off-white head. Strong sweetish malty aroma, notes of caramel and brown kandij sugar, hints of dark fruits and chocolate. The flavour is also malty with notes of caramel - sweet, but not too much. Also notes of brown kandij sugar, and a very moderate spiciness in the finish. Very moderate hops. Smooth and pleasant to drink.

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

330 ml bottle, a gift from OleR. Wow - I really owe that man a few beers now! Vintage 2009. ABV is 13%. Pitch black colour, huge chocolate brown head. Lovely complex aroma of roasted malts, leather, oak, bourbon, vanilla and dark chocolate. The flavour is roasty with notes of strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate, but also notes of oak and bourbon, hints of liquorice. A distinct hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish. Impressive stuff!

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

330 ml swingtop bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 9%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Aroma of moderately roasted malts and Belgian ale yeast, notes of mild coffee, hints of chocolate and dark dried fruits. The flavour is sweeter than the aroma made me expect, notes of malt sugar and molasses, hints of caramel and chocolate, roasty coffee notes in the finish, a moderate hoppy and roasty bitterness in the aftertaste. Decent, but a bit too far out on the sweet side for me.

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

330 ml bottle, as DDB Boskeun Speciaal Paasbier, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. ABV is 10%. The glass fills completely by white foam, and the golden beer underneath appears only very slowly. Strong aroma of Belgian ale yeast, with fruity and spicy notes, also notes of white kandij sugar syrup and alcohol. Sweet flavour, with spicy, fruity and yeasty notes. The alcohol is noticeable, but not dominant. Peppery aftertaste.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, at local tasting, thanks to abemorsten. ABV is 6%. Deep golden to orange colour, moderate carbonation, no head. Strong musty and funky aroma, notes of horse stable, hints of oak. The flavour is sharp and funky, hints of bitter cider apples, peppery finish.

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

330 ml bottle, as X-mas Zinnebir, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. No vintage mentioned on the bottle, so I assume it is 2010, and that this is the same recipe as 2009. ABV is 6.5%. Mahogany colour, huge beige head. Spicy aroma, also notes of dark dried fruits, caramel and brown bread. Soft and rich moutheel. Malty and spicy flavour, some caramel and brown kandij sugar without being too sweet, some roasty notes, well balanced mild Christmas spices, peppery and hoppy finish. Very enjoyable.

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

330 ml bottle, as Struise Nieuwpoortse Roste Jeanne, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. ABV is 7%. Brewed for the Heksenfeesten (Witch Fest) in Nieuwpoort, July 2010. Amber colour, clear first, cloudy brown in the end. Huge off-white head with an orangey hue. Moderate aroma of brown kandij sugar, caramel and spices. The medium sweet flavour has moderate malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar and mild spices, "dusty" and slightly metallic hops in the finish. The mouthfeel could have been richer.

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

330 ml bottle, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. ABV is 12%. Deep golden colour, some floaties. Huge white head. Strong and complex aroma of spices, Belgian ale yeast, brown kandij sugar, caramel, oak and alcohol. Very sweet flavour, but still with a refreshing character. Strong and complex fruity and spicy notes, hints of oak, decent hops in the finish. Very enjoyable.

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

330 ml bottle, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. ABV is 7%. Deep golden colour, clear first, cloudy when the yeast is poured in the end. Huge white head. Lovely aroma of citrussy and resinous American hops. The flavour is medium sweet with resinous hops, a hint of orange marmalade. Quite good.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 8%. Cloudy dark brown colour, huge and lasting beige head. Aroma of wood, dark fruits and spices, hints of leather. Outstanding flavour with oaky and vinous notes, also notes of dark candi sugar and dark dried fruits. Fairly sweet, moderate hops in the finish. Expensive, but worth it.