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

RBESG 2016 in Barcelona. Shared bottle at BrewDog bar. Russian imperial stout, 12.5%. Pitch black colour, tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla and oak. Well hopped, some smoke. Slightly warming mouthfeel, but dangerously easy drinking for its strength. Excellent beer.

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

July 2020: 750 ml bottle, vintage 2020, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.7%. Golden colour, large to moderate white head. Lovely aroma of spicy saison yeast, brettanomyces, farmhouse kitchen, apple cider, oak, hints of fresh fruits and lactid acid. Rustic flavour with spicy saison yeast, brettanomyces, oak, moderate lactic acid, hints of lemons. Moderate bitterness. A very good beer!

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

750 ml bottle, vintage 2018, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Roasty, oaky and slightly vinous aroma, hints of rose petals. Smooth but rich flavour, notes of roast malts, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, oak. Noticeable bittering hops in the finish. An exquisite beer!

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

May 2018: 750 ml bottle, vintage 2017, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. ABV is 7.5%. Hazy pale golden colour, moderate white head. Beguiling aroma of spicy saison yeast, white wine oak barrels and lambic / brettanomyces / farmhouse. Moderately sour flavour, again notes of spicy saison yeast, oaked wine and brettanomyces, also lemons and distinct spicy hops. Excellent beer - expensive, but worth it.

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

Dec. 2020: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken, shared with my son. ABV is 8.8%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate to small beige head. Aroma of roast malts, caramel, oak, whiskey?, vanilla, dark dried fruits. Nice roasty and oaky flavour, not too sweet, with the same elements as the aroma. Decent hops in the finish. Very good beer.

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

375 ml bottle, vintage 2022, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon and chili. Medium sweet flavour, with loads of chocolate and a nice chili burn. Moderate hops. Enjoyable.

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

375 ml square bottle, vintage 2022, from Vinmonopolet Odda, at an outrageous price. ABV is 10%. Apple varieties are Summerred, Aroma and Gravenstein. Still ice cider, deep golden to orange colour. Aroma of apples, some of them oxidised, concentrated apple juice. Very sweet and lovely flavour of concentrated apple must / juice / cider.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

January 2022: Shared 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 13.2%, IBU 50. Black colour, small brown head. Lovely aroma, roast malts, dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee and liquorice. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, salty finish.

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

650 ml bottle, kindly shared by gunnar and our beerpal Ole Anders. ABV is 10%. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Excellent aroma, notes of roasted malts, tobacco and leather. Very roasty flavour, fairly sweet, but still remarkably balanced by decent hops.

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

440 ml can, from the brewery webshop. ABV is 8.5%. Cloudy / opaque golden colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of citrus and various tropical fruits, hints of spruce. Full but soft mouthfeel. Equally pleasant flavour of tropical fruits, citrus and sprucetips, moderately sweet. Moderate bitterness. Very enjoyable.

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

500 ml bottle, vintage 2016, from Cafe Chic Oldschool, Hjørring. ABV 8.5%. Served at near room temperature. Colour of an XO cognac, small head, slightly off-white. Vinous aroma, notes of raisins and oak. Malty and oaky flavour, hints of caramel and dark dried fruits.

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

440 ml can, small batch edition 18.1, from the brewery webshop. ABV is 9%. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts, bourbon, fusel alcohols, molasses, vanilla, chocolate, oak and coffee. Roasty and medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, fusel is now less distinct, moderate hops. Very tasty beer.

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

330 ml bottle in cardboard cylinder, from Kalø Whisky & Vin. ABV is 9.0%. Dark brown to black colour, tan head. Rich and moderately roasty aroma and flavour with distinct notes of Port cask, hints of Scotch whisky.

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

500 ml bottle in cardboard box, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Bottle No. 054614. ABV is 8.5%. Reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Distinct aroma of raisins and other dark dried fruits, hints of orange marmalade and cognac. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also noticeable bittering hops, hints of bitter oranges. Good now, but will also handle a few years of cellaring.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11%, 25 IBU. Hazy and very dark reddish brown colour, moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of malts, caramel, raisins and other dark dried fruits, bourbon, oak and vanilla. Rich and warming mouthfeel. The flavour has distinct notes of oak, brandy, bourbon whiskey, dark dried fruits, hints of mild spices, caramelized British orange marmalade and vanilla. A very fine beer!

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

33 cl bottle (as Kasteel Bier Bruin), at Les Moules Belgian restaurant in Prague. Served too cold. Beautiful deep brown to ruby colour. Large head which disappears rapidly. Aroma of dark malts, oak, old sherry, spices and leather. Flavour is very malty and sweet with a warming mouthfeel, elements of Christmas spices and old sherry. Very good. Yummy!

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

330 ml ordinary capped bottle in an oversized metal cylinder with a wooden lid - apparently you pay for more than the beer here. Batch #2466, bottle #11090 out of 15500. ABV is 16%, IBU 100. Purchased at Vinmonopolet Herbarium. Pitch black colour, moderate to small tan head. Strong aroma of coffee, molasses, brown sugars and dark malts. Rich and warming mouthfeel. Very sweet flavour, to some degree balanced by distinct bittering hops, and otherwise the same elements as the aroma. Also hints of chocolate and liquorice.

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

December 2020: 330 ml bottle, from Vinoble Frederikshavn. ABV is 9.1%. Pitch black colour, large to moderate brown head. Aroma of roast malts, liquorice, coffee and chocolate, hints of tar. The flavour is not too sweet, with distinct notes of the same elements as the aroma, also moderate bittering hops. Excellent beer.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Herbarium, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Opaque greyish-brownish-yellow colour, moderate white head. Strong and lovely aroma of citrus and tropical fruits, hints of pine and spruce. Equally lovely and chewy flavour (yes, I love Idaho 7!) with citrus galore, also tropical fruits, sprucetips and pine needles. Moderate bitterness. Sufficient malty and oaty backbone.

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

500 ml bottle, at Olympen, Oslo. Beautiful reddish colour, large to moderate off-white head. Lovely complex aroma of American hops, notes of various fruits, hints of spices. Delightful hoppy flavour, well balanced with the malts, notes of red fruits / berries, blackcurrants and blackcurrant leaves, extremely drinkable. Great with a mutton dinner, or alone. A "school example" of English subtlety paired with American quality hops in a moderate ABV "session" ale.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 10.8%. Black colour, big tan head. Strong roasty aroma, notes of coffee, bourbon, vanilla and oak. Strong roasty flavour, medium sweet, notes of strong coffee, caramel and bourbon, hints of liquorice. Bitter finish.

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

500 ml shared bottle at local tasting. ABV is 5.6%. Very dark brown to black colour, large and creamy beige head. Very nice vinous aroma, also notes of fruity hops, mild roasty notes. Distinctly hoppy flavour, more piney and resinous than fruity, roasty notes (coffee). Good stuff.

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

500 ml bottle, batch #761, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9%. 45 IBU. Pitch black colour, large and creamy tan head. Very nice aroma with roasty and fruity notes, notes of sour berries, oak, red wine vinegar, mild coffee and dark chocolate. The flavour is sweet and roasty, notes of coffee, dark bitter chocolate and liquorice. Bitter finish.

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

750 ml corked bottle, at a tasting with Garrett Oliver. ABV is 11.3%. Black colour, brown head. Aroma of oak, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, hints of fusel alcohols. Lovely smooth flavour, vanilla, chocolate and bourbon. Very enjoyable.

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

330 ml bottle, as Põhjala ÖÖ Imperial Baltic Porter. ABV is 10.5%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. The aroma has notes of roast malts, caramel, dark chocolate, molasses. Fairly sweet and rich flavour, with the same elements as in the aroma, also notes of liquorice, sweetened coffee and bittering hops. Pretty impressive.