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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of blueberries, chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee and moderately roasted malts. Pleasant flavour of roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate and blueberries, a slight fruity acidity, dry finish with moderate hops. Very enjoyable.

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

Keg halfpint at Brew Dock, Dublin. 8% ABV. Black colour, tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of chocolate. Smooth and slightly sweet flavour, notes of chocolate and moderately roast malts, hints of oatmeal and vanilla. Very good!

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Opaque yellow colour, large white head. Lovely aroma of various tropical fruits, also hints of citrus. Juicy flavour with the same elements as the aroma. Very enjoyable.

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

355 ml bottle, shared by gunnar. Pitch black colour, moderate to low brown head. Nice aroma of chocolate / cocoa, molasses and coffee. Same elements in the flavour, add a little liquorice and decent hops, and you’re there. Good stuff.

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

440 ml can, from KWM Wines & Spirits. ABV is 6%. Opaque dirty yellow colour, large white head. Pleasant aroma of various tropical fruits, also notes of citrus, hints of spruce. Citric mouthfeel. The flavour has again notes of tropical fruits and citrus but is not too sweet, also pine needles, moderate bitterness. Good beer.

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

500 ml swingtop bottle, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.4%. Dark brown colour, huge beige head. Lovely strong aroma of banana, cloves, mildly roasted malts and rye bread, a hint of chocolate. Bready flavour with mildly roasted malts and chocolate again, some cloves and banana in the background. Not too sweet. Low on hops, as normal for the style, but the roasted malts make the finish acceptable. Beautifully balanced, a very fine Dunkelweizen.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.0%. Cloudy / opaque brownish-yellow colour, moderate white head. Distinct aroma of citrus (tangerine) and tropical fruits (mango), also notes of spruce. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is fruity but not too sweet, with the same elements as the aroma. Moderate bitterness in the finish. Well balanced and pleasant to drink.

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

330 ml can, unfiltered and unpasteurised, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.3%. Pale golden colour, large white head. Pleasant hoppy aroma of tropical fruits, especially mango. Slightly dry and distinctly fruity flavour (tropical fruits again), with a piney / resinous and medium bitter finish. Well balanced

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

Pint from nitro keg at Hargadon Bros. in Sligo. Black colour, creamy tan head. Nice roasty aroma. Astonishingly full and creamy mouthfeel for a beer clocking in at only 4%. Pleasant roasty flavour, notes of coffee and dark chocolate. Better than Guinness Draught.

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

Nov. 2012: Shared 750 ml bottle, 2010 Vintage, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Deep ruby colour, moderate cream-coloured head, Lovely sweet & sour aroma, vinous notes with oak galore, red wine vinegar, silage and farmhouse kitchen. Sweet and sour flavour too, oaky, vinous, well rounded and harmonious.

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

Shared 750 ml green bottle, as Young & Wild Fontan-Elle. Hazy orange colour, lasting white head. Lovely aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, lemons, oak and white wine vinegar. Sour flavour, notes of lemons, oak and brett.

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

440 ml can, as Buxton Double Gatekeeper Export Porter, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 8.2%. Black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roast malts, chocolate and coffee. Flavour with the same elements, mid between dry and sweet.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

440 ml can, as Vocation Special Edition Toucan Tropic DDH IPA, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 6.7%. Moderately hazy yellow colour, moderate to small white head. Moderate aroma of tropical fruits and citrus. The flavour has a lot more going on, distinct notes of various tropical fruits, also citrus, yellow stonefruits and pine needles. Moderate sweetness, very well balanced and enjoyable.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Shared bottle at local tasting. Cloudy greyish yellow color. Nice aroma of oak, honey and Sauternes. Unusual and very interesting flavour, spicy and herbal notes, and distinct notes of the Sauternes oak barrel,

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

Keg halfpint at The Dog & Bell, Deptford. ABV is 5.9%. Black colour, tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, notes of coffee and liquorice, distinct bittering hops. A very good and well balanced porter.

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

Sept. 2020: 500 ml clear bottle, from Seven Cellars. Batch C89, produced October 2017, bottled March 2019. ABV is 8.4%. Deep golden colour, pours moderately sparkling with a shortlived white head. Distinct and pleasant aroma of cider apples and oak, a hint of sulphites. Slightly dry flavour, again cider apples and oak, tannins and sulphites in the finish.

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

Jan. 2016: 750 ml capped and corked green bottle with yellow foil, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. Golden colour, pours very effervescent with a large white head that soon dies out. Lovely and intense aroma of cowshed, horse stable, farmhouse kitchen, oak and old gooseberry jam, hints of white wine vinegar and over-ripe peaches. Sour, tart and moderately astringent dry flavour, notes of brettanomyces and oak, hints of over-ripe lemons and white wine vinegar. Impressive stuff.

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

375 ml corked & caged brown bottle, 20th Anniversary Limited Edition, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.0%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Strong aroma of roast malts, chocolate and coffee, hints of caramel, roast nuts and oak. Smooth mouthfeel and flavour. Excellent medium dry to lightly sweet flavour of roast malts, coffee and dark chocolate, hints of liquorice, caramel and roast nuts again.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Sauda. ABV is 10%. Very dark brown colour, looks nearly black in the glass. Moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of malts, brown kandij sugar syrup and dark dried fruits. Relatively light bodied for its strength. The flavour is not too sweet, but has the same elements as the aroma, with very moderate hops. Pleasant to drink.

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

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, batch #2500, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 15.5%, IBU 50. Very dark brown colour, small tan head. Aroma of dark malts and chocolate, distinct notes of juniper and honey. Sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, hints of dark dried fruits. Warming mouthfeel.

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. Dent t'Owd Tup was voted Champion Winter Beer of Britain in 1999, a fact that is still proudly displayed on the label. Black colour, reddish brown in the highlights. Decent creamy tan head, does not last forever. Moderate but very nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee, hints of chocolate, leather and plums. Concerning the flavour, for once I find it appropriate to quote the commercial description / tasting notes: "The dominant roast character is balanced by a warming sweetness and a raisiny, fruit-cake taste which lingers on into the long aftertaste, making this a very satisfying drink." Pretty much spot on, if you ask me. A combination of maltiness and fruitiness carries the beer through, and Northdown hops are used for both aroma and flavour. Good stuff!

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. Possibly filtered, but probably not pasteurised. ABV is 5.3%. As a cask ale it was voted "Champion Winter Beer of Britain 1998". Chestnut coloured beer, rich off-white to beige head. Very nice malty aroma with oaky and vinous notes, also caramel and dark fruits. Malty flavour with caramel, some raisiny and vinous notes, moderate hops. Moderate carbonation, soft mouthfeel. A pleasant beer to drink.

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. ABV is 4.5%. Bottle conditioned. Deep golden colour, huge white head. Lovely hoppy aroma with notes of citrus / grapefruit and pineapple. The flavour is also distinctly hoppy throughout, with grapefruity notes, but there is also a tolerable malty base. Refreshing, even though I drank it a bit too warm. The excellent Durham Brewery proves they can brew good beers with a moderate ABV too.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Deep brown colour, large to moderate tan head. Vinous aroma, sherry, oak, raisins, dark fruits. Very rich, malty, sweet, fruity and vinous flavour. Robust and far from easy drinking - still very, very good! This must be a classic old ale - one to save for Christmas (after dinner).

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. Dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Large and creamy tan head. Pleasant vinous aroma, notes of prunes and tobacco, hints of liquorice, chocolate and red wine vinegar. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy. Flavour of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate, a hint of liquorice. Moderate hops in the finish. Good beer!