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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, large and creamy beige head. Firm roasty aroma, notes of coffee and chocolate, hints of liquorice and woodwork. Moderately roasty flavour, medium dry, with the same elements as in the aroma, followed by a distinct hoppy bitterness. Roasty and hoppy aftertaste. Well balanced and highly drinkable.

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

440 ml can, shared with my son, from Bier Huis, Ossett. ABV is 7.4%. Hazy yellow to orange colour, small white head. Aroma of citrus / grapefruit. Distinct flavour of citrus zest and grapefruit juice, with a fairly bitter resinous and grapefruity finish and aftertaste.

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

375 ml green frosted corked & caged bottle, batch #01301, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8%. Hazy golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse and oak. Medium sour flavour, notes of brettanomyces, oak, oxidised cider and wine, lemons and white wine vinegar. Well balanced.

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

Beer No. 5 of my flight of beers at the brewery tap. Pitch black colour, tan head. Heavily roasty aroma and flavour, notes of strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Pretty good stuff.

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

355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.6%. Copper colour, large to moderate white head. Distinct hoppy aroma, notes of pine, honey and orange marmalade. Rich mouthfeel. The flavour is medium sweet, distinct notes of pine needles, orange peel and grapefruit, also caramel and honey. Reasonably bitter finish.

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

440 ml can, as Deep Creek Dusty Gringo Imperial Brown Ale, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. ABV is 6.8%. Deep brown colour, large beige head. Lovely aroma of fruity and resinous hops, some malts and brown bread in the background. Malty flavour with some roast and toast and caramel, hints of chocolate, followed by resinous hops, with a fairly bitter finish.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 12%. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts, cocoa and vanilla. Very sweet flavour with plenty of cocoa and vanilla, also roast malts and sweetened coffee. Moderate hops.

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

Keg halfpint at Craftsman Company / Excite the Enthusiast Coffee & Ale House, Aberdeen. ABV was said to be 9%, but this is almost certainly a version brewed in Scotland. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of vanilla and chocolate. The flavour is pleasantly sweet, with distinct notes of chocolate and vanilla. No sign of espresso coffee, so I wonder if this might be the allegedly retired ordinary Imperial Café Racer version at 8% ABV? Anyway, this is a lovely beer.

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

330 ml bottle, vintage 2010, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Cloudy reddish brown colour, huge cream-coloured head. Lovely vinous and funky aroma, notes of farmhouse, red wine vinegar and oak. The flavour is fruity and moderately sour (but not vinegary), notes of grape juice, funk and oak. An interesting and drinkable beer!

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

Big bottle (750 ml?),as Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. "Oatmeal" and ABV are not mentioned on the label. Mahogany coloured beer, large to moderate beige head. Nice aroma of lightly roasted malts, brown bread, caramel and nuts. The flavour has very much the same elements as the aroma, and is not too sweet. Hints of chocolate, moderate hops. The mouthfeel is fairly light and smooth. Moreish. A very drinkable beer!

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

Shared bottle. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Nice malty and oaky aroma. The flavour is malty and distinctly oaky, Not too sweet. Decent hops in the finish. Pleasant to drink.

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

On tap at Schouskjelleren. Black colour, moderate tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, both have notes of coffee, liquorice and dark bitter chocolate. Fairly dry, decent hops in the finish. Good beer.

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

500 ml bottle, at Olympen, Oslo. ABV 6.4%. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Surprisingly moderate aroma, some roasty notes, hints of coffee and liquorice. The flavour is definitely roasty with notes of coffee, fairly dry. Smooth and pleasant to drink, will buy again. Inderøy’s best beer so far.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo, ABV 6.1%. Bronze colour. Well hopped aroma and flavour. This is a nice strong ale in a "typically English" style, well balanced between the malts and hops: Very good. This is a kind of beer I always appreciate - even in the course of a long tasting with lots of beers.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Why are always the best beers served near the end of the tasting? Golden to amber colour, this is a Belgian-style golden strong ale, with lovely spicy and fruity notes in both aroma and flavour. Well balanced and not too sweet. Very good.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Bronze colour. I was getting slightly inebriated when this beer finally came up in the tasting, but had still the capacity to recognize the qualities of a fine barleywine. Well balanced and pleasant aroma and flavour, malty and sweet but not too extreme. Strong, but not too alcoholic - smooth to drink for its strength. Very good.

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops (citrus, tropical fruits), also roasted malts and mild coffee. The medium dry flavour has also a mix of fruity hops and roasted malts, smooth first, then a pronounced hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish. Good stuff, very drinkable for its strength.

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

330 ml bottle, ABV is 6.7%. Will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Brown colour, huge off-white to beige head. Pleasant spicy aroma, notes of brown kandij sugar, dried figs and oak. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, and is not too sweet. A very drinkable dubbel!

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Ruby colour, decent beige head. Malty aroma, some oaky and vinous notes. Very malty flavour, notes of caramel and oak. Nice beer!

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Dark Brut, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 12%. Hazy dark brown colour, huge beige head. Fairly interesting aroma, malts, chocolate, Belgian ale yeast, stewed dark fruits, hints of farmhouse and spices. The flavour is medium sweet and malty with moderately roasty and chocolatey notes, also spices, notes of prunes and other dark fruits. Moderate hops. Some warmth, but the alcohol is otherwise well hidden. An unusual Belgian, complex and well balanced, a beer to savour - but the big bottle is for sharing!

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Deep golden colour, large white head. Lovely aroma of Nelson Sauvin hops, with notes of gooseberries, white grapes and tropical fruits, also a hint of pine. The flavour is medium sweet and very fruity, Nelson Sauvin elements dominate, but the beer is not too bitter. The Belgian / French saison yeast is more subdued. A fine and very drinkable beer!

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

330 ml bottle, as BrewDog Hops Kill ? Imperial Red Ale, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 7.8%. Mahogany coloured beer, moderate but creamy off-white head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops, notes of crushed gooseberries, citrus and tropical fruits, hints of herbs. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, with fruity and piney notes, bitter but not too much. There is also a sufficient malty sweetness to balance the hops. This is one of BrewDog’s better beers.

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

From cask at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival, Drammen. Cloudy brown colour, low off-white head. Distinct aroma of citrussy and piney hops, some sweetish malts in the background. Lovely hoppy flavour, citrussy (esp. grapefruity) notes. Resinous and piney notes too. A solid bitterness in the finish. For all hopheads: Hallelujah!

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

Shared bottle at local tasting, as Clown Shoes First Anniversary Ale Hoppy Feet 1.5 Double Black India Pale Ale. ABV is 10%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Strong and pleasant hoppy aroma, some mild roasty notes in the background. Distinct and powerful piney / hoppy flavour, fairly dry, moderate roasty notes. Massive bitterness in the finish.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, BB date 07.2013, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Slightly hazy golden colour, large white head. Lovely aroma of farmhouse kitchen and dry white wine, also hints of tropical fruits. The flavour is medium sweet, maybe not quite as fresh as it ought to be, but still very good. Fruity / citrussy and mildly spicy notes. Enjoyable, will buy again, and sample when fresher.