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

Bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Jan Magnus. ABV is 6.0%. In addition to barley malts and hops it is brewed with rye malts, wormwood, juniper berries, rowan berries and liquorice root. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of caramel with some unusual spicy and herbal notes, hints of berries. Fairly dry flavour, moderate notes of spices and rowanberries. Decent beer, but with all these interesting ingredients I kind of expected a stronger herbal "punch" in the flavour.

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

750 ml corked bottle, from Vinmonopolet. R.E. No. 1297-0, R.S. No. 3075/0. Vintage 2009, G No. 1184850. Pale golden colour, Pours with moderate carbonation. Nice aroma of cider apples, hints of farmhouse, oak and sulphites. Pleasant mouthfeel, not too fizzy. Lovely and refined flavour of cider apples, medium dry, notes of oak, just a hint of sulphites. The best Spanish sidra I’ve had, actually one of the best ciders regardless of country.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 4.9%. Very cloudy brownish yellow colour, large white head. Typical hefeweizen aroma of cloves and banana. The medium dry flavour has also moderate notes of cloves, even more moderate notes of banana. Refreshing and very drinkable - maybe not the greatest h.w. around, but good enough for me.

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

500 ml swingtop bottle, bought in Spain. ABV is 5.0%. Cloudy pale golden colour, large white head. The aroma is first dusty and grainy, then the typical hefeweizen features (cloves and banana) come through. The medium dry flavour has also some grainy notes, moderate notes of cloves, an apple-like acidity in the finish. Like most hefeweizens it is refreshing and fairly nice to drink - but not the best example of the style.

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

Big bottle (750 ml?), Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV not mentioned on the label. Deep golden to amber colour, slightly hazy. Large to moderate white head. Sweetish aroma of crystal malts and American hops, notes of orange marmalade. The flavour has American hops on a fairly sweet malty base, the IPA bitterness is there, but not extreme. Hints of bitter orange marmalade. Okay.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.1%. Black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee, woodwork and dark chocolate. The flavour is medium dry with notes of black malts and coffee, hints of wood. Moderate hops. The mouthfeel is not very rich. I’d like some more sweetness, some fruitiness, and some more hops - but I suppose you can’t have everything. Not a bad beer, though.

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

Shared magnum bottle at RBNAG 2011, as Saison Dupont Cuvée Dry Hopping, vintage 2011. ABV 6.5%. Hazy straw colour, moderate white head. Grassy hops in the aroma. Decent hoppy bitterness in the flavour. Can’t really say that it’s so much better than the ordinary Saison Dupont - but might be able to tell the difference if I sampled them side by side?

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011. Golden colour, slightly hazy. Nice hoppy aroma, hints of tropical fruits. Decent hoppy flavour, the alcohol is well hidden.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011. ABV 5%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Very mild roasty aroma. Light bodied. Mild roasty flavour, dry, refreshing.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Attractive chestnut colour, moderate off-white head. Decent malty aroma, notes of caramel and brown sugar. The flavour is also malty with caramel, but not overly sweet. The hops (First Gold) are very moderate. Still a quite drinkable Christmas ale.

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

Shared bottle, RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Dark brown colour. Sourish aroma and flavour, farmhouse notes, lemony and gueuze-like despite the darker colour.

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

Shared bottle, RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Barrel aged 6 months, with currants added. Reddish brown colour. Intense farmhouse aroma, sour fruit, oak and spices. Sour flavour, good but not impressive.

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

Shared bottle, RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Deep golden to amber colour. Main impression of both aroma and flavour is "moderate everything" - but this would probably stand out as a decent saison if sampled on its own, and not in immediate connection with many sours. Decent hops in the finish.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Black colour, no head. Intense aroma of dark malts, molasses and raisins.The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, with loads of alcohol.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Reddish colour. Aroma and flavour of red berries, hints of oak. A decent beer - not your "typical" barleywine, but that is probably still the closest style.

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

On tap at Schouskjelleren, Oslo. Pale golden colour, moderate white head, nice lacing. Very moderate aroma, some fruit, hints of honey. Soft mouthfeel. Pleasant smooth flavour of fruity hops, a moderate grapefruity bitterness in the finish. Easy drinking and refreshing.

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

330 ml bottle, from Ølfestivalen Nærbø 2011. Bottle No. 0270 out of 2000. Still available at Vaaland, Bryne. Hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma of catty and citrussy hops, notes of blackcurrant leaves and pine needles. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, quite dry and very refreshing. Notes of pine needles with a strong grapefruity bitterness.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, from a potential importer. ABV is 6.7%. Chestnut to mahogany colour, large beige head. Fairly ordinary aroma of lightly toasted malts, brown bread and caramel. The flavour is medium sweet and malty, notes of caramel and brown bread, hints of burnt sugar. Not bad.

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

Rerate, 500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV 19%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Just a little tan foam on top, not what you would call a "head". Malty and roasty aroma, hints of salty liquorice, old rope and oak. The flavour is intensely malty and roasty, with loads of sweetness and salty liquorice. The alcohol is clearly present. Interesting beer, but a bit too far out on the weird side. 15% ABV (2010 version) was strong enough ... Original rating: Sample at Ølfestivalen Nærbø. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Strong and intensely malty aroma and flavour, moderate roasty notes. Also notes of fortified wine. Decent hoppy bitterness too. Warming mouthfeel, of course - but the beer feels surprisingly balanced, and not extremely alcoholic for its 19% ABV. Will rerate as soon as I get a whole bottle.

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

330 ml shared bottle, kindly provided by our beerpal Jan Magnus. ABV 5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Mildly roasty aroma, notes of chocolate and mild coffee. Fairly dry flavour, medium roasty, notes of mild coffee, hints of dark bitter chocolate. Tolerable hops in the finish.

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

Bottle shared by gunnar, thanks! - as Cigar City Humidor Series H India Pale Ale, aged on Spanish cedar. Jai Alai is not mentioned on this label, but it is apparently the same beer. Deep orange colour, large white head. Strong aroma of cedar wood and fruity hops, hints of spices. Distinctly hoppy flavour throughout, very bitter and minty finish and aftertaste.

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

750 ml swingtop bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Despite the name, this is not a stout by any stretch of the mind, but a "Christmas spiced" version of their ordinary Staut, which is listed at RateBeer as a brown ale (English session style porter might be more appropriate). Dark brown colour, moderate off-white head. Moderate aroma of malts and Christmas spices, hints of liquorice. Smooth and soft flavour and mouthfeel - malts, caramel and Christmas spices (incl. cinnamon).

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

330 ml stubby bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 7.5%. Pale golden colour, slightly hazy in the end, huge white head. Aroma of grassy hops and mild spices. The flavour is quite refreshing for its strength, not too sweet, some fruity notes and mild spices again, moderate hops in the finish. Fairly decent beer, might buy again - but a slight metallicness in the aftertaste makes me uncertain about that.

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

Bottle, unpasteurised, kindly shared by our beerpal Ivar at local tasting. ABV is 5.6%. Orange to amber colour, low white head. Strong aroma of fruity hops. Distinct hoppy flavour, quite nice.

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

Shared bottle at local tasting. 5.8% ABV. Black colour, moderate beige head. Malty aroma, notes of caramel and chocolate, mild roasty notes. The flavour has much the same elements as the aroma, but is a bit too sweet.