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

500 ml can, as Donzoko Super King Smoked Helles, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 4.8%. Slightly hazy and very pale straw colour, huge white head. Aroma of smoked malts and floral hops. A little citrus, smoked malts and weak herbal hops in the flavour.

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

April 2013: 500 ml bottle conditioned, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.2%. Golden colour, slightly hazy when the yeast is poured in, moderate white head. Aroma of hay, mild herbal spices, chocolate and dust, hints of smoke. The flavour has a mild fruity acidity, followed by chocolate, smoke and moderate hops. Apparently they have used some pale chocolate malt and a little smoked malt here. The smoke is probably there to celebrate the Severn Valley Railway. An unusual bitter, but not bad.

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

750 ml bottle, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 6.0%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup, honey and stewed fruits. The flavour is moderately citric and floral, distinctly yeasty, with hints of honey.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

July 2017: Cask from the wood, halfpint, at the SPBW 1st National Woodfest, Castleford. Black colour, tan head. "Dusty" and dull aroma. Fairly light bodied. Mild roasty notes in the flavour, while a certain fruity acidity helps the drinkability.

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

July 2019: Shared 330 ml can, ABV 8%. Brought home from Cambodia by Holmen1. Black colour, beige head. Moderate roasty aroma. Roasty flavour too, some sweetness, Okay, but could use some more bitterness.

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

Shared bottles at HaandBryggeriet. ABV 7%. Reddish brown colour, low head. Strong sourish aroma of crowberries and lemony gueuze, notes of farmhouse. Sour flavour, notes of crowberries and oak. Interesting, but will probably improve with a year or two in a cool cellar.

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

Shared bottle, as Thisted 2 Triple Pilsner. Amber colour, moderate white head. Aroma of malts, hints of ripe berries. Dry flavour, decent hops / bitterness.

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

Shared bottle, as Thisted Høst, RBNAG 2011. ABV is 6.0%. Amber colour, moderate head. Nice malty aroma with notes of toffee, caramel and some butterscotch, hints of ripe berries. The moderate flavour has the same elements as the aroma.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011. Still cider. Pale straw colour. Strong and nice aroma of cider apples, oak and sulphites. Medium dry flavour, same elements as the aroma.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is moderate 4.5% - still it is defined as a "starköl" according to Swedish law (sic). Golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of sweetish crystal malts, caramel and orange marmalade. Moderate carbonation. The flavour is first soft and smooth with a nice balance between the malts and hops, then some "dusty" notes, immediately followed by a less pleasant and very sharp and medicinal bitterness, which lasts throughout the long aftertaste. A weird effect of Nelson Sauvin hops.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

330 ml bottle, from distributor Strag. ABV is 6.3%. Introduced at Ølfestivalen Nærbø. Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle, some chunks / floaties in the glass. Cloudy brown colour, moderate off-white head. Sourish aroma of Belgian ale yeast, wood and a possible infection? Moderate carbonation in the glass, soft mouthfeel. The flavour is much better than the aroma - malty and bready with hints of brown kandij sugar and some wood, but is not very sweet. Does not taste infected. Decent hops in the finish.

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

Shared bottle, RBNAG 2011. ABV 5.5%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Low head. Moderate aroma, dryish roasty notes, cold coffee, woodwork. Dry flavour, coffee, hints of wood and ashes.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo, quadruple bottle at least 3 y.o. Dark brown colour. Minimal carbonation, oxidised, but still drinkable. Loads of malty sweetness in both aroma and flavour.

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

330 ml bottle, as Santa Margarida Cerveza Artesanal de Trigo, from Carrefour, Cartagena. ABV is 4.2%. Golden colour, hazy in the end, huge white head. Wheaty aroma, notes of cloves, hints of citrus, banana and dust. The flavour is citrussy and somewhat acidic, minimal hops. Refreshing, but not very interesting.

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

330 ml bottle, from my local grocery store. ABV 4.7%. This is a completely new recipe this year, from Lervig’s head brewer Mike Murphy. Dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Moderate malty aroma, some caramel. Easy drinking Münchener dunkel flavour, some caramel but not too sweet, some mild roasty notes, hints of brown bread. Has not the body of stronger Yule beers, of course, but should satisfy the average Norwegian’s need for a beer to go with his traditional pork rib dinner, especially with a dram of aquavit at the side.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Batch #677. ABV is 6%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Aroma of smoked malts, a hint of roasted malts / coffee in the background. The flavour is fairly smooth, with some mild roasty notes and hints of coffee and chocolate - and plenty of smoke, of course. I am no fan of extremely smoked lagers, but this one is not too extreme. Fairly drinkable, but probably not a beer I’ll buy very often.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6%. Deep golden to amber color, moderate off-white head. Sweetish aroma of new-mown grass, caramel and nuts. The flavour is quite sweet and sugary, with notes of caramel, honey and nuts. Very moderate hops. A bit too far out on the sweet side, but not undrinkable.

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

375 ml bottle, vintage 2009, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 6.5%. Very murky brown colour with a pinkish hue, moderate off-white head. Strong sourish aroma, notes of red wine vinegar, oak and farmhouse / barnyard. Sour flavour, notes of red wine vinegar, lemons and oak, hints of caramel.

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

375 ml dark green bottle with silver foil top, capped and corked. ABV is 4.2%. Soon available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Golden brown colour, moderate to low white head. Aroma of malts, cellar, fruit and kandij sugar, hints of oak. The flavour is fruity, moderately acidic and quite sweet, sugary and oaky notes. Faro is maybe not my favourite beer style, but this is a nice "change of pace" beer.

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

330 ml bottle, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%, EBC 31.7, EBU 29.2. Stamwortgehalte 16 degrees. Cloudy brown colour, moderate to low off.white head. Strong aroma of smoked meat, with some faint sweetish malty notes in the background. The flavour has strong notes of smoke, with just the right maltiness and decent hops. Bitter finish. I am not a big fan of smoked beers, but this one was quite drinkable.

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

355 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 5.8%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Huge and lasting beige head. Moderate aroma of dark / roasted malts and ice coffee, a hint of dark chocolate. Soft, dry and quite drinkable flavour, notes of black malts and mild coffee, hints of dark chocolate and ashes. Nothing exceptional here, but okay. Won’t buy again though.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Shared bottle at local tasting. ABV is 5.3%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Pleasant aroma of Cascade hops, citrussy notes, also notes of pine and tropical fruits. Very bitter flavour, too bitter in the dry finish, one-dimensional.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 3.5%. Black colour, large to moderate greyish-brown head. Dryish roasty aroma with notes of ashes, woodwork, cold coffee and unsweetened cocoa, a hint of fruity hops. Too much carbonation in the mouth. Dry roasty flavour, notes of wood and cold coffee, moderate and slightly resinous hops in the finish. Will try again if I can find it on cask, but the bottle (overpriced in Norway) does not inspire me to buy another.

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

Shared bottle, as Barbar Bok, at local tasting, ABV was 8.5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Strong malty and alcoholic aroma and flavour, hints of honey. A bit better than average, but not really my cup of tea.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.1%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, large to moderate white head. As the beer is hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, Styrian and Cascade, I expected the aroma to be something special, but it isn’t - just grassy notes on a background of malt sugar. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is clean, medium sweet and tolerably well hopped for a pale lager - yes, this is a lager, and not much of a "hybrid". At 33 IBU it is hardly an IPA by any stretch of the mind. Grassy finish. Drinkable, but won’t buy again.