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

568 ml green bottle, bought at Vaaland Spesialbutikkken, Bryne. ABV is 4.5%. Contains sulphites. Made with pears as the sole fruit. Crystal clear extremely pale greyish-greenish yellow colour, pours very fizzy with a moderate but short-lived head. Moderate aroma of pears and oxidised apples. Thin mouthfeel. Flavour of pears (of course), pear drops and sugar, but not extremely sweet. Could have been better, could have been worse.

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

Shared 500 ml bottle, from a Tesco store in Gloucester. Black colour, moderate beige head. Nice aroma of butterscotch caramels. Roasty clean flavour, coffee, hints of chocolate, a slight acidity. Okay.

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

Keg pint at Beaumont House, Dublin. Black colour, the standard Guinness nitro head. Aroma and flavour nearly indiscernible from the regular Guinness. Much better than I feared.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Keg halfpint at Dublin Airport. Amber colour, creamy off-white head. Moderate aroma, some malts. Creamy mouthfeel. Smooth malty flavour. Nice enough to drink.

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

Keg pint at the Owain Glyndwr, Cardiff. Served too cold. Dark ruby colour, nearly black. Small off-white to beige head (not nitro). Very moderate aroma, roast malts and burnt potato skin. The flavour has notes of moderately roasted malt, quite dry, hints of smoked meat and burnt potato skin. Light bodied. Not great, but far from undrinkable.

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

500 ml bottle, from Tesco Express, Belfast. ABV is 5%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate white head. Meaty aroma, notes of broth - weird. Bland and boring dry flavour - weak malts, and no sign of the Mosaic and Cascade hops. What a sick joke!

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: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 5%. Hazy pale yellow colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of mango, pineapple and papaya, hints of pine. Smooth flavour of said fruits, also citrus, not too sweet, hints of sprucetips and pine needles, but the bitterness is moderate to low. Good beer.

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

Keg halfpint at Brew Dock, Dublin. 8% ABV. Black colour, tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of chocolate. Smooth and slightly sweet flavour, notes of chocolate and moderately roast malts, hints of oatmeal and vanilla. Very good!

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

Keg halfpint at Brew Dock, Dublin. Black colour, no head. Aroma of roast malts, hints of cherries and marzipan. Fruity and mildly roasty flavour, notes of cherries, a hint of almonds.

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

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 6.2%. Slightly hazy golden to orange colour, moderate to small white head, decent lacing. Aroma of oranges, dust and pine. Moderate carbonation, smooth mouthfeel. Citric and piney flavour, decent bitterness.

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

500 ml bottle, as Brehon Just Because DIPA, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 8.5%. Deep golden to copper colour, large white head. Aroma of malts and orange marmalade, some piney notes too. Resinous and distinctly bitter flavour, sweetish notes of caramel or crystal malts, hints of grapefruit and bitter orange marmalade. A typical American West Coast DIPA - from Ireland.

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

330 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 5.2%. Very dark brown to black colour, huge beige head, overcarbonated. Dryish aroma of roast malts, hints of mild coffee and dark chocolate, a whiff of dark berries. Thin mouthfeel. Dry flavour of moderate roast malts, hints of mild coffee, dark chocolate and prunes.

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

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 5.5%. Deep reddish brown colour, large to moderate off-white to beige head. Distinct aroma of brown malts and roasted macadamia nuts, a hint of silage. Smooth mouthfeel. Pleasant flavour of nuts and brown malts, not too sweet, hints of prunes and earthy hops, easy drinking.

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

330 ml can, as The White Hag Magic Mist Juicy Pale Ale, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 5.0%. Slightly hazy pale golden colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of citrus and tropical fruits, a hint of spruce. The flavour is moderately citric, followed by notes of melon and tropical fruits. Low piney bitterness in the finish. Decent, but not exceptional.

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

750 ml waxed bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.66%. Slightly hazy pale yellow colour, moderate to small white head. Strong aroma of apricots, oak and brettanomyces / farmhouse, spicy hints. The flavour has some fruity acidity, but is not extremely sour. Distinct notes of apricots, brettanomyces and oak, moderate hops. Moreish.

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

330 ml can, unfiltered and unpasteurised, as The White Hag Atlantean New England IPA. ABV is 5.4%. Pale yellow colour, only slightly hazy. Moderate white head. Nice aroma of tropical fruits, pine and spruce. Light bodied. The flavour has some citrus and tropical fruits with a slight sweetness, followed by pine / resin and spruce tips. Not bad, but does not really stand out from the crowd.

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

Keg halfpint at Graingers, Dublin. Pale golden colour, white head. Zesty and citrussy aroma and flavour, light bodied but good. Decent beer, quite enjoyable.

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

Keg halfpint at Graingers, Dublin. Slightly hazy amber colour, white (or slightly off-white) head. Moderate fruity aroma, notes of berries. The flavour is sweeter than expected, some malts (including some mild roasty ones), hops and woody notes, but not perfectly balanced.

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

330 ml can, as The White Hag Yule Christmas Ale, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Brewed with honey, fresh cinnamon and ginger. ABV is 7.2%. Slightly hazy brown colour, moderate off-white head. Malty aroma, notes of caramel, honey, cinnamon and ginger. The flavour is also malty, but not as sweet as I feared. Again notes of honey, cinnamon and ginger, but they are fairly well balanced. Notes of dark dried fruits too, and some caramel. Moderate hops. Pleasant to drink.

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

500 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 8.0%. Slightly golden colour, moderate to small white head. Aroma of malts, grain, yellow plums, old jam, a hint of pine. Citric mouthfeel. The flavour has citrus, yellow plums and pine / resin, fairly bitter finish. Okay, but not really great.

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

Keg halfpint at the River Bar, Dublin. ABV is 4.5%. Golden colour, white head. Moderate citrussy aroma. Distinctly hoppy flavour, apples(?, can’t read my own handwriting), very bitter, probably partly due to a lack of body.

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

Keg halfpint, as McGargles Big Bangin’ IPA, at The Long Stone, Dublin. ABV 7.1%. Golden colour, white head. Nice hoppy aroma, fruity notes. Nice but distinct hoppy flavour, fruity, not too sweet, not too dry, good bitterness, easy drinking for its strength.

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

Keg halfpint, as McGargles Session IPA, at Mulligan’s, Dublin. ABV 3.8%. Hazy deep golden colour, white head. Decent aroma of fruity and piney hops. Distinctly hoppy flavour, fruity and piney notes again, light bodied, but still surprisingly good for a 3.8% beer.

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

April 2009: Rerate, 500 ml bottle, as Okells Aile Smoked Celtic Porter, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is now 4.7%. My comments are basically the same as for "Branded Drinks Coal Fire Porter", so the two beers must indeed be identical. A lovely drop! Original rating: 500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger, under its alias "Branded Drinks Coal Fire Porter". (Are you sure they are exactly the same beer?) ABV is 4.6%. BB date Oct 08. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Lovely aroma of chocolate, roasted malts and plums, with a hint of liquorice. Distinctly roasty flavour with notes of coffee, hints of peat, smoke and tar, bitter finish. The mouthfeel could have been fuller, but this is still a good beer!