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

May 2018: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6%. Clear deep golden colour, pours sparkling with a shortlived white head. Pleasant aroma of cider apples and oak. Dry flavour, cider apples and oak again, "dusty" finish. * Sampled again Oct. 2023, 750 ml corked & caged green bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6%. Even more "farmhouse" character this time, very good cider.

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

330 ml can, from Nærbutikken, Åkrafjordtunet. ABV is 4.7%. Murky brownish-golden colour, moderate to small white head. Fruity aroma of kveik, with notes of yellow plums, also notes of juniper and pine. Citric flavour, followed by notes of juniper and resin, hints of yellow plums, distinct bitterness in the finish.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11.8%. Black colour, large tan head. Aroma of molasses, alcohol and chocolate cake. The flavour is better than the aroma, distinct notes of roast malts, chocolate, coconut and vanilla. Moderate hops in the finish. Warming mouthfeel.

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

750 ml corked & caged dark green bottle, vintage 2022, from Vinmonopolet Odda. ABV is 7%. Clear and pale golden colour, pours moderately sparkling with a small and shortlived white head. Nice aroma of apples, hints of hops and sulphites. Crisp and dry flavour of apples and moderate hops, a hint of sulphites.

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

750 ml capped dark bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.0%. Pale golden colour, pours vigorously sparkling with a large white head that actually lasts a while. Dry-ish aroma of quince and herbs, apples in the background. Very dry and crisp flavour of quince and apples, a hint of sulphites.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Small beige head. Aroma of roast malts and burnt breadcrumbs, hints of figs and cinnamon. More distinct figs and cinnamon in the flavour, also roast malts, burnt breadcrumbs and moderate bittering hops in the background.

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

330 ml can, as Black Isle Organic Scotch Ale, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Dark reddish brown colour, large to moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of malts, caramel, brittle, blackberries and blackcurrants, over-ripe red berries, some earthy hops. The flavour has also notes of malts and caramel, but is not too sweet. Again notes of brittle, hints of berries, distinct earthy hops in the finish.

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

Shared bottle at Bryne tasting. Very pale straw colour. Decent apple aroma (Summerred). Sweet apple flavour, clearly sweeter than the ordinary Drengen. Quite good.

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

November 2013: Cask half pint at JDW Victoria Station, London. ABV was 4.3%. Deep golden colour, low white head. Moderate citrussy aroma. Pleasant lemony and zesty flavour, refreshing, with decent NZ hops throughout. A beer I could drink a lot of.

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

January 2021: 750 ml clear bottle, batch 1140420, blend: Medium søt. From Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Orange to red colour, pours sparkling with an off-white head. Aroma of strawberries, rhubarb and apples. Sweet flavour, strawberries dominate, also rhubarb and sweet apples.

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

440 ml can, from Helgø MENY Hundvåg. ABV is 4.7%. My Norwegian beer No. 4000 (well, that number includes a few ciders, meads and sakes). Slightly hazy golden to orange colour, large white head. Aroma of tropical fruits, hints of citrus and coconut, maybe not quite as fresh as desirable. Flavour of citrus and some tropical fruits, hints of sprucetips, low bitterness. Okay, but not the best in this series.

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

440 ml can, as Monkey Brew Centaurus A Imperial Stout, from Vinmonopolet Sola. ABV is 10.6%. Dark brown to black colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of chocolate, vanilla and roast malts. Medium sweet flavour, chocolate, vanilla and roast malts again, hints of mild coffee and liquorice, moderate bittering hops.

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

June 2021: 500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Moderately hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of fresh bread, hints of newmown grass and yellow plums. Refreshing flavour, medium dry, hints of bread and yellow plums again, moderate herbal hops in the finish.

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

November 2022: 500 ml can, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 3.5%. Hazy yellow colour, huge white head. Pleasant and strong aroma of tropical fruits, melon and citrus, hints of sprucetips. Light bodied as expected, citric mouthfeel. The flavour is also citric with hints of tropical fruits, also quite bitter, nearly medicinal in the aftertaste.

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

750 ml clear bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Clear golden colour, pours sparkling with a large to moderate white head. Moderate aroma of oxidised eating apples. Flavour also of oxidised apples, apple peel and apple cores.

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

500 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of malts and caramel, a hint of mild Christmas spices. The flavour is not too sweet - malts, caramel and mild spices again, a hint of smoke, moderate hops. Decent mouthfeel for a 4.5% beer. A good choice if you want a shot of aquavit at the side.

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

June 2019: Cask halfpint at The Beehive (JDW), Gatwick Airport. ABV 5.0%. Single hopped with Admiral. Deep golden colour, white head. Moderate malty and earthy aroma. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. The flavour has earthy hops with a decent bitterness.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.5%. Slightly hazy amber to reddish brown colour, large white head. Malty aroma, notes of toffee and brown bread with syrup, distinct notes of coffee. Flavour of mild coffee, malts, toffee and caramel, not too sweet, a hint of dried dates. Very moderate hops. I was skeptical to adding coffee to an altbier, but it has been done with moderation, so the beer stands forth as pretty well balanced.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.5%. Pitch black colour, minimal tan head. Sweetish aroma of roast malts, chocolate, honey and treacle. Moderate to low carbonation. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also notes of coffee, roasted nuts and moderate bittering hops.

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

750 ml corked and caged "champagne" bottle, from Aldi Estepona. ABV is 4.1%. https://www.mayador.com/sidra-espumosa-mayador . Clear and pale straw colour, moderately sparkling, no head. Aroma of cider apples, hints of cellar. Flavour of cider apples, hints of funk and oak.

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

On tap at Mandag i Annen, Cardinal, Stavanger. Hazy pinkish-orange colour, large head. Aroma and fairly sour flavour of citrus, passionfruit, pineapple and sour raspberries.

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

On tap at Mandag i Annen, Cardinal, Stavanger. Murky straw colour, moderate to small white head. Aroma and flavour of tropical fruits and pine, not very sweet. Dry finish.

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

January 2014: 500 ml bottle, Cardinal’s Christmas Beer Tasting 2013. ABV is 10.1%. Hazy brown colour, large beige head. Very strong sweetish aroma of caramel, brown sugar and coriander. Very sweet and malty flavour, loads of caramel, brown sugar, liquorice and spices. Overwhelming. Might be a good idea to cellar this one for a few years. Would buy again. Sampled again January 2024: Even better now!

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

November 2015: Shared 500 ml bottle, bought in Denmark but can’t remember where. Very dark brown colour, beige head. Moderate aroma of brown kandij sugar, figs and dust, some spicy hints. Flavour of dried figs, also kandij sugar and mild spices. Warming throatfeel.

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. Opaque yellow to orange colour, moderate head of poor retention. Nice aroma of passionfruit purée. The flavour is moderately lactic sour, with distinct notes of passionfruit. Nice and refreshing, but requires that you like passionfruit.