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

Shared 375 ml waxed bottle at Mandag i Annen, Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 13.9%. Pitch black colour, small head. Chocolate dipped raisins in aroma and flavour, also notes of fusel in the aroma, but not in the flavour. An exclusive and delightful "box of chocolates", to be enjoyed in small portions.

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

440 ml can, as FrauGruber Shakerato Imperial Stout Biermischgetränk, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 10.6%. Pitch black colour, large and creamy brown head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Roasty and moderately sweet flavour with distinct notes of coffee, vanilla and chocolate, moderate bittering hops.

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

500 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.6%. Hazy yellow colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of yellow stonefruits, pineapple and various tropical fruits. The flavour has also notes of said fruits, some citrus too. Low bitterness. Delicious beer.

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

350 ml bottle, as OmCider Fatlagra Holka, from the cidery. ABV is 8%. Deep golden colour, no carbonation. Pleasant aroma of concentrated cider and apple juice. Lovely sweet flavour of concentrated apple juice, oak and red wine, a hint of sulphites.

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

February 2013: Rerate, 500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Batch No. 511. ABV is 10.0%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Nice roasty aroma, notes of exotic woodwork, coffee, liquorice and dark chocolate. The flavour is roasty, malty and quite sweet, notes of sweetened strong coffee, chocolate and liquorice, some spicy notes. Bitter hops in the finish. First impression: Powerful - spicy - roasty - impressive - very tasty!

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

Spicy and peppery are the key words here. An interesting brew, something quite out of the ordinary - but given the choice, I would most definitely still prefer the Chimay Blue.

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

Norwegian Christmas beers are brewed in the original strong (appr. 6,2% ABV) and a watered down (appr. 4,5%) version. Make sure you get the strong versions (applies to all breweries) - they are just so much better! Aass is the best of them all. Spicy, caramelly, rich and rounded flavour that goes well with traditional Scandinavian Christmas fare.

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

Very cloudy, rather murky light brown colour. Like most weissbiers it pours with a large head. Plenty of cloves, ripe bananas, oak and hints of smoke in aroma and flavour. A little more hops for the aftertaste would have been good, but this is none the less a first class hefe-weizen. Recommended!

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

Always a winner! - at least when the alternatives are average lagers. The bitter and coffee-like aftertaste may not be a favourite with everyone. Rerate: Well, I'll never turn down a Guinness - but still has to take off a few points. It's good, but not THAT good!

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

330 ml mock "stoneware" glass bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%. Chestnut coloured beer with a big and lasting tan head. Lovely aroma of various fruits and spices, hints of farmhouse kitchen and red wine vinegar. The flavour is malty with moderate notes of dried fruits and spices. Nice one.

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

(33 cl bottle, now available in Norway). Deep golden to amber colour, large head. Very nice aroma of dried and ripe fresh fruits and herbs, yeast, malts, oak and pipe tobacco. Flavour is spicy with an alcoholic warmth (no surprise at 10% ABV), elements of dried fruits, medicinal herbs and brown candy sugar. Herbal aftertaste. A very good beer that packs a real punch.

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

(500 ml bottle, bought in Denmark). Beautiful dark reddish brown colour, large head. Fine aroma of oak, toffee, dark chocolate and Colombian coffee beans. Full malty flavour with a little alcoholic bite, but not too much. Roasted notes, hints of English liquorice, bitter dark chocolate and smoke. The long aftertaste has strong black coffee notes with a hoppy bite. This is a first class beer! You'll need more than one to make you a "ryggvelter", though. Baaah!

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

(330 ml swingtop bottle, bought in Denmark). Copper colour, hazy, good thick head. Lovely aroma of spices, leather and caramel - from the aroma, I’d swear this was a Belgian ale. Bottom fermented it is, and it’s easier to sense this is a lager through the flavour and aftertaste, which still are very good. Malty flavour, mild spices and caramel without too much sweetness. Lightly hopped. Moreish.

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

(330 ml bottle). Beautiful deep amber colour, just slightly hazy. Great head. INTENSE aroma of spiced alcohol (nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon), hints of ammonium chloride too. Flavour is malty and spicy, but not as intense as you'd expect from the aroma. Sweetness seems just right. Aftertaste is good, but a bit short. An interesting beer, like so many Belgians.

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

Original rating: Sweeter than I expected, this is still an attractive and refreshing Hefe-Weissbier. Started drinking it with a warm meal, not a good idea - much better on its own or with a light snack. Enormous long-lasting head, pleasant but not very strong aroma. Flavour has all the good elements a beer of this style should have, a bit too sweet though. Rerate: Sweetness does not come through quite as much this time. Lovely aroma. A good hefe!

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

This is a nice Irish dry stout, giving Guinness real competition. Best on tap, but nice from the widget can too.

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

This is a nice Irish dry stout, giving Guinness real competition. Best on tap, but nice from the widget can too.

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

(500 ml bottle). Pours with an enormous lasting head, colour is cloudy golden brown. Overwhelming lovely sweet aroma of ripe bananas, "bubblegum" and spices, hints of oak. Flavour is refreshing and slightly spicy (cloves, cardamom), a little more hops than most Weissbiers.

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

(500 ml bottle). Norwegian micro oatmeal stout. Black (= very dark ruby) colour, some sediment, good head. Nice aroma of roasted malts with some coffee, dark chocolate and cigar box. Mellow, smooth and pleasant flavour, can't detect the oats, some roastedness, hints of coffee. Easy drinking. Aftertaste is OK, but I'd like some more hops. Rerate: I should add that there also is a moderate but noticeable smokiness.

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

(Bottle conditioned, 500 ml.) ABV is now 6.0%. Hazy deep golden to amber colour, thick creamy head that leaves a nice lacing. Lovely citrussy hops aroma on a background of oak, hay, tobacco and spices. Flavour is grapefruity bitter on a well rounded malty background, hints of spices. Plenty of Cascade hops in the long aftertaste. This is very good! Amazing what the Nøgne Ø enthusiasts of small town Grimstad have achieved in almost no time in the business of brewing quality beers!

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

Cask conditioned at the Smithfield, Derby. Golden colour. Lovely citrussy aroma. Complex hoppy, herbal and citrussy flavour. This is very good! - obviously related to its excellent low ABV brother, the JHB.

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

(Bottle conditioned, 500 ml). Another new Yule/Christmas beer from the craft brewers of Nøgne Ø. Very dark brown to ruby colour, decent head. Nice aroma of dark malts, caramel and spices (cardamom and cloves). Unashamedly sweet with a velvety mouthfeel, but not cloying. Rich and malty flavour with caramel, distinct cardamom and cloves (also some ginger and nutmeg??). Sufficient hops and spices in the aftertaste. Very good beer! I’m sure it’s nice enough with cookies, but definitely a treat on its own!

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

(500 ml bottle). Another traditional Kloster Dunkler Doppelbock, ABV is 7%. Colour is dark brown to ruby, good light tan head. Fine aroma of oak, coffee and cigar box. Heavily roasted to burnt malty flavour, alcohol shines through. Roast bitterness in the aftertaste. Not quite as good as the Weltenburger Kloster Asam, but still very good.

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

Cask at The Cricketers, Ipswich. Black colour, moderate roasted malts aroma. Flavour is all roasted and smoked malts with some faint vinegary sidenotes. Very nice.

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

(Sampled 0,5 liter can.) Good head, cloudy golden colour. Lovely aroma of citrus and spices, refreshing light flavour. A good hefe, recommended for everyone who loves the style.