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

March 2015: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. BB date was 09.2013, appears to have cellared well. ABV is 5.5%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Decent aroma of chocolate / cocoa and coffee. The flavour is neither too sweet nor too dry. Notes of chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee and moderate but noticeable hops. Well balanced and enjoyable.

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

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, now available in Norway (ICA). ABV is 4.6%. Pale golden colour, large head. There’s an initial Heineken-isch whiff when you open the bottle (an American would probably say "skunky"). In the glass the moderate aroma has notes of maize (corn) and cooked vegetables, hints of flowers and honey. Spritzy mouthfeel. The flavour actually has some malts, and also moderate hops in the finish, so this one is far from being the worst pale lager I’ve tasted. Quite drinkable.

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

Pale golden colour, good head. Moderate flowery and citrussy aroma. A clean, fresh tasting lager. Nothing remarkable, but a great beer to wash down a spicy pizza.

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

Pale golden colour, light bodied, an average / run of the mill lager in every sense. Nothing offensive about it, but Peroni Nastro Azzurro is better. It's so average it could be named "Neville Chamberlain" without bringing shame to the name.

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

330 ml bottle. Golden colour, low to none head. Fruity aroma, hints of strawberries. Pale bock qualities, alcoholic warmth. Not bad, but not remarkable either.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2006. Cloudy golden colour. Funky aroma with notes of wine vinegar. Tastes like ... duh, sour horsepiss and horse droppings (not that these are part of my staple diet, but this is what I imagine they would taste like, when fermented), some woody notes too. Not my cup of tea (uh, beer) this one. Sorry.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

Bottle, RBESG 2006. Hazy brownish amber colour. Made with 5% grape juice (and fermented with wine yeast?) Vinegary aroma with strange notes of horsepiss and rotting garbage. Woody and funky flavour where the grape juice barely shines through, without the necessary freshness. If I want a sour beer, I’d rather have a gueuze, thank you.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

330 ml bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet). Amber colour, large white head. Moderate malty aroma with notes of toffee and some fruity hops. Flavour is moderately malty with some caramel and tolerable hops, but this is really not much more than "average" beer. Some metallic notes in the aftertaste.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2005 Grand Tasting. Cloudy brown colour. Strong brandy-like aroma, oaky and alcoholic like hell. Extremely oaky flavour, not too sweet. Apparently the sour version (infected with lactobacillus bacteria, available only in North America) tastes quite different, even though it is based on the same recipe.

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

330 ml bottle, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Moderately hazy reddish brown colour, small off-white head. Aroma of caramel and over-ripe red berries, hints of mild spices. Medium sweet and malty flavour with the same elements, also distinct bittering hops in the finish.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6%. Hazy yellow colour, moderate white head. Aroma of lemon, lime and tropical fruits. Citric mouthfeel and flavour, not too sweet, light bodied, refreshing, low bitterness.

Aroma: 3 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

330 ml green bottle, as Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, from Coop Extra, Tau. Crystal clear pale golden colour, small white head. "Skunky" Heineken-like aroma, also sweetish notes of wort and baby porridge. Citric mouthfeel. The flavour has some citrus, and metallic bittering hops in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.9%. Pale golden colour, a slight haziness, large white head. Aroma of sweetish pilsener malts, Belgian ale yeast, and floral and fruity hops, notes of plums. Flavour with the same elements, also distinct spicy notes, both from the yeast and the bittering hops.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.7%. Hazy brownish-golden colour, large to moderate white head. Yeasty and vinous aroma, hints of redcurrants. Fresh and vinous flavour, notes of spicy saison yeast, again hints of redcurrants, followed by distinct bittering hops. Quite good.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 4.8%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of malts and wort, also notes of grassy and herbal hops. Malty flavour, some sweetness, noticeable herbal and sharp-ish bittering hops in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 3.7%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of floral and citric hops. Light bodied as expected, but not bad for a 3.7% beer. Decent hoppy flavour with fruity and herbal notes, ending in a noticeable bitterness. Went down smoothly. Might buy again.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.2%. Black colour, moderate beige head. The flavour has the expected notes of roast malts, mild coffee and chocolate, but also a distinct fruitiness. The flavour is smooth, roasty and fruity, with chocolate and mild coffee again, and hints of oysters and the tellina molluscs that have been added to the boil. A very enjoyable beer, might buy again.

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

Dec. 2012: 750 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.4%. Amber colour, large off-white head. Lovely aroma of fruity and floral hops. The fairly sweet flavour has notes of crystal malts, balanced by pleasant fruity and slightly spicy hops. Medium bitter finish.

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

750 ml bottle, probably from Voldby Købmandsgaard. ABV is 9.5%. Dark brown colour with floaties, moderate off-white to beige head. Pleasant aroma of malts, caramel, orange peel and raisins, hints of mild spices. Medium sweet and mildly spicy flavour, again with notes of orange peel and raisins. Very moderate hops. A quite interesting and pleasant beer, which I’ll be happy to buy again for Christmas.

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

750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Hazy golden colour, large white head. Strong sweetish aroma of American hops and carapilsener malts, notes of citrus fruit / orange marmalade. Soft mouthfeel. Sweet flavour with distinct and fruity American hops throughout. A tasty and enjoyable beer, the alcohol is not well hidden though. Medium bitter finish. Tastes more or less like an American IPA, not much "pilsener" about this one.

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

330 ml bottle, as Birra del Borgo 25 dodici Natale, ABV 8.0%, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Clear and deep reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of Belgian ale yeast, mild spices, brown kandij sugar, sultanas and orange peel. Medium sweet flavour, spicy, again with notes of kandij sugar, sultanas and orange peel. Tasty.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 7%. Deep golden colour, minimal white head, low level of carbonation. Aroma and flavour of honey, pomegranate, hazelnuts, resin and herbs. Medium sour, low bitterness.

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

Shared 750 ml bottle. ABV is 5%. Pale golden colour, white head. Both aroma and flavour has hints of honey, but the beer is not very sweet. Also spicy saison yeast and decent bittering hops.

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

330 ml bottle, probably from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark, or possibly CITTI-Markt, Flensburg. ABV is 7.5%. Cloudy deep golden to amber colour, huge white head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops (mainly citrus, also various tropical fruits), also some herbal notes. The flavour has a more "coarse" character, dominated by yeast, resin and pinewood. Bitter finish.

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

Shared 330 ml bottle. Hazy pinkish-peachy colour, white head. Aroma and flavour. of over-ripe raspberries, medium sweet. Not the best from Birra del Borgo.