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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.3%. This beer is apparently named after the original idea of "painting the town red" (see label). Listen, taggers and other vandals: it might have seemed funny the first time, but it’s not funny any more! The beer is more brown than red, slightly hazy, and pours with a moderate to low head. Are you sure this beer is not bottle conditioned? Moderate carbonation, soft mouthfeel. Pleasant aroma of malts, earth, caramel, blackcurrant leaves and dark fruits. Flavour is perfectly balanced between the malts and hops, not too sweet, despite some caramel in the background - no off-flavours here: Melton Red tastes like BEER, and a damn good one too!

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Copper coloured, large and lingering creamy light tan head, leaves a nice lacing. Very nice aroma of toast, roasted malts, burnt caramel, orange marmalade and aromatic hops. Powerful flavour of roasted malts, burnt toast, caramel, brown bread and nuts. A distinct hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. Not a beer of the "easy drinking" kind, but has definitely character. I might have liked a tad more sweetness to balance the bitterness, but this is still an excellent beer. As the beer warms up, the malts come even more in front, and the bitterness is somewhat less dominant.

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

375 ml slimline bottle, vintage 2022, bought at the cidery. ABV is 10%. Apple variety is Aroma. Clear and deep golden colour, no carbonation. Aroma of concentrated apple juice, oak and sulphites. Very sweet and intense flavour, with the same elements. Excellent stuff.

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

500 ml bottle. as Thisted Limfjords IPA (Overgæret Baltic IPA), from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 6.5%. Very dark brown to black colour, large to moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts, chocolate, mild coffee, piney hops. Flavour with the same elements, also citric / grapefruity hops, good bitterness. Pleasant to drink, would buy again.

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

250 ml screwcap bottle, vintage 2022, from Vinmonopolet Odda, at an outrageous price. ABV is 12.5%, apple varieties are Asfari and Aroma. Clear and deep golden colour, still, as most ice ciders are. Pleasant aroma of apples, some of them oxidised, hints of oak. Very sweet flavour of concentrated apple juice / cider, hints of oak and sulphites.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Sandnes Kvadrat. ABV is 8.5%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Small beige head. Sweetish aroma of ginger, malts, caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, gingerbread and other cookies. The flavour is moderately sweet (not as sweet as I feared), well balanced, with the same elements as the aroma. Very moderate hops. Enjoyable.

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

April 2012: 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11%. Pitch black colour, low tan head. Lovely roasty and malty aroma, notes of coffee, liquorice, tar and oak. Low carbonation. Very roasty flavour, notes of strong coffee, English liquorice and malt sugar. Bitter finish, long bitter aftertaste. Not for the faint of heart.

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

440 ml can, as Salikatt Embla 2023 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bock, from Vinmonopolet Sola. ABV is 8.5%. Black colour, large tan head. Aroma of bourbon, roast malts, coffee, liquorice, chocolate, vanilla and oak. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements, moderate hops.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Sola. ABV is 8.0%. Opaque yellow colour, large to moderate white head. Lovely aroma of citrus and tropical fruits, hints of sprucetips. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Sola. ABV is 8.0%. Murky brownish-yellow colour, moderate white head. Aroma of peaches (fresh and stewed), pineapple and fresh apricots, a hint of sprucetips. Rich mouthfeel. Flavour of citrus and said fruits, hints of pine needles, but the bitterness is low. Some sweetness, but not too much. Good beer.

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

750 ml clear bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.5%. Clear signal red colour, moderate pink head. Aroma of apples, cherries, blackcurrants and redcurrants. The flavour has the same elements, the cherries are dominant.

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

November 2020: Shared can, from Vinmonopolet Hillevåg. The best beer of the annual Yule beer tasting 2020 at Lilland Bryggerihotell. "Riskrem Festive Porter" - now, that's something for you! Black (or very dark brown) colour, small head. And the brewers are not lying: Both aroma and flavour have notes of cherries, vanilla, almond, cream and cinnamon. Sweet, but not too much. The roastiness is very subdued. A delightful beer. *2023 vintage, on tap: Mainly the same, but the vanilla seems a bit overdone this year.

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

April 2014: 500 ml bottle vintage 2014, Cardinal Pub & Bar; Stavanger. Ingredients include fig purée. 8 different malts are used. Hops are Chinook, Simcoe, Amarillo and Coloumbus. ABV is 10.2%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. The aroma has notes of dark malts, tar, woodwork, coffee, liquorice and dark chocolate, hints of dark dried fruits. The flavour is medium sweet, very tarry and roasty, notes of salty liquorice, strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Hints of citrussy hops and dark dried fruits. Bitter and salty finish. Powerful stuff!

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 10.0%. Murky yellow to orange colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of apricots and tropical fruits. Good mouthfeel, not too alcoholic. Medium sweet flavour, again notes of apricots and tropical fruits, also some citrus, a moderate piney bitterness in the finish. A truly enjoyable beer!

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Hazy yellow colour, moderate white head. Strong and pleasant aroma of peaches, apricots and tropical fruits, also notes of spruce. Citric mouthfeel. Flavour of said fruits, also some citrus fruits, a distinct resinous bitterness in the finish. Good beer.

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

440 ml can, as Hogna Calcutta "Session IPA" #043 Olicana & Harlequin, from Birk Bryggeriutsalg, Klepp. ABV is 4.7%. Cloudy / opaque yellow to orange colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of peaches, apricots and oranges, hints of tropical fruits. Good mouthfeel for its ABV. Pleasant flavour of said fruits, not too sweet, well balanced, with a decent bitterness in the finish. Might well buy again.

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

May 2020: 330 ml bottle, batch #24, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.6%. Never mind that the guys at Nedstrand bryggeri can't spell "exaggeration", this appears as an interesting beer. Very dark brown colour, nearly black, with a moderate tan head. Malty aroma, notes of brown malts more than roast malts, hints of nuts. Smooth mouthfeel. Rich and malty flavour, some sweetness but not too much, with toasted and roasted malts, a hint of chocolate, decent hops, nicely balanced. Enjoyable to drink.

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

375 ml corked & caged green bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Slightly hazy golden colour, large white head. Pleasant aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, rural kitchen, oxidized apples, lemons and oak. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, lemons and oak, fairly dry.

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

750 ml corked & caged dark green bottle, vintage 2021-2022, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Orange to pink colour, large off-white head. Aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse kitchen, oxidized apples, oak and lingonberries. Dry and sour flavour, notes of lingonberries, lemons, sour apples, brettanomyces and oak.

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

440 ml can, as Salikatt Lakeside Cold IPA, from Vinmonopolet Madla. ABV is 6.5%. Slightly hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of oranges, lime, peaches and tropical fruits. Lagerish mouthfeel. The flavour has again notes of said fruits, some sweetness but not too much, a distinct hop bitterness in the finish.

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

July 2012: Rerate, 500 ml bottle, batch #437, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.4%. Deep golden to orange colour, large white head. The aroma is more piney and resinous, tropical fruits are more subdued, notes of orange marmalade. The flavour is medium sweet, notes of orange marmalade again, and of course a solid hoppy bitterness throughout. Hops are Hercules, Citra, Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo and Sorachi Ace. Original rating: Sample at Copenhagen Beer Festival. Hazy orange colour. Lovely aroma of fruity (tropical fruits) hops, piney / spruce / resin too. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, with a solid bitterness in the finish. Good beer.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, vintage 2021-2022, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.0%. Deep golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of farmhouse / brettanomyces, rustic kitchen, oxidised apples, oak, hints of apple cider vinegar. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, salted lemons and oak.

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

Stoneware swingtop bottle, as Rogue XS Dead Guy Ale, from Costco, Sacramento. The ordinary Dead Guy Ale is not a favourite of mine, but this one is much better. Mahogany colour. The aroma is okay, but not outstanding. The flavour is excellent, malty and vinous with notes of toffee and caramel, also decent hops. Pleasant warming mouthfeel.

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Germany. ABV is 5.2%. Hazy golden colour, large head. Lovely weissbier aroma, plenty of cloves, some banana too but not as much as in some other hefes. Cloves also in the flavour, which is light bodied, refreshing and not too sweet. A slightly lemony finish. A very enjoyable hefe!

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

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget). Cloudy / muddy brownish colour, large and lasting off-white head. Lovely hefeweizen aroma, full of ripe bananas and cloves, also notes of other spices, leather and tropical fruits. Flavour is zesty and mildly spicy, some citrus, and even decent hops for a h.w. Very nice!