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

May 2013: 375 ml corked green bottle, kindly shared by our beerpal Ole Anders. Pitch black colour, large to moderate tan head. Interesting aroma of roasted malts, honey and exotic woods. Solid roasty flavour, bitter finish. I’m getting slightly drunk ...

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

330 ml can, as Mikkeller Burst IPA, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 5.5%. Nearly clear pale golden colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of citrus, ripe yellow stonefruits, pineapple and mango. Citric flavour, also hints of other said fruits but not sweet, also sprucetips. Decent bitterness. Good beer, refreshing.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11%. Deep brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar syrup, mild spices and dark dried fruits. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, a hint of anise. Low bitterness.

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

330 ml bottle, as Gulden Draak Brewmaster, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.5%. Amber colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of malts, caramel, kandij sugar syrup, mild spices, a hint of oak. Soft and rich mouthfeel. The medium sweet flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but the oaky notes are more pronounced now. Pleasant to drink.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, vintage 2020, limited edition, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Shared with my son. ABV is 7.0%. Clear and deep red colour, like a fine claret, shortlived pink head. Lovely aroma of farmhouse and cherries. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, sour cherries and lemons.

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

Aug. 2013: 375 ml corked & caged green bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 6.5%. Beautiful deep red colour, large pink head. Interesting aroma of sour cherries, farmhouse, dust and almond essence. Sour flavour, sour cherries galore, tart and slightly astringent. Moreish.

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.7%. Golden colour, big white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian yeast, fruity esters, spices and floral and fruity hops. The flavour is spicy and yeasty with a sweet and fruity body, and a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. Only drawback is that the alcohol is not particularly well hidden, so if you get drunk on this beer, you understand why. Still a beer I’ll be happy to drink again!

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Deep golden colour, huge and lasting off-white head. Very nice aroma of fermenting fruits, herbs, spices and farmhouse. The flavour is dominated by pleasant fruity hops (Hallertauer and Styrian Goldings) on a background of malts and brettanomyces elements, with spicy notes. Not too sweet, not too bitter, not sour. Alcohol is well hidden. In short, not as "wild" as I expected, should be palatable even for "tame" beer drinkers.

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

375 ml green "champagne" bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 12.0%. Cloudy dark reddish brown colour, big to moderate off-white to beige head. Strong and intense sweetish aroma of dark malts, brown sugar and caramel, hints of oak and fortified wine. The flavour is very sweet and malty, with the same elements as the aroma - but it barely escapes the "cloying" category by a partial balance of American hops (Nugget, Cascade and Centennial). Not an "easy drinking" beer, but who expects a barley wine to be? A great "sipping beer", on a day when your "sweet tooth" needs to be satisfied.

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

500 ml bottle, kindly brought home from Copenhagen by my wife. Brew #199, ABV is 5.9%. Hazy deep golden colour, huge white (slightly off-white?) head. Lovely fruity aroma of Amarillo hops, notes of citrus, hints of resin and tropical fruits. The zesty flavour has distinct and fruity Amarillo hops from start to finish, on a decent malty background - well balanced. Not too sweet. Moderate but sufficient bitterness. A pleasant drop.

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

1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.2%. Dark orange to brown colour, hazy. Big and lasting pale orange to beige head. The sweetish aroma has notes of pine, ripe fruits, raisins and molasses. Full and warming mouthfeel. Rich flavour with loads of malty sweetness, notes of raisins, caramel, molasses and udefined fruit, while the high IBU makes itself known towards the end, through a substantial and resinous hoppy bitterness.

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, as Rogue Captain Sig’s Northwestern Ale, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy brown colour, huge light tan head. Nice aroma of fruity American hops (Horizon, Amarillo and Cascade). The flavour has a considerable malty sweetness with hints of caramel, which probably is necessary to balance the 80 IBU. The fruity and resinous hops add more to the flavour than just bitterness, but the finish is nonetheless quite bitter. Good stuff.

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

On tap at Bishop’s Arms Järntorget, Göteborg. Hazy, deep golden colour, moderate head. Lovely aroma and flavour of Amarillo hops, grapefruity and resinous notes. Very refreshing.

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

On tap at The Rover, Göteborg. Deep golden colour, nice and creamy head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops, notes of citrus and tropical fruits. Distinctly hoppy and resinous flavour, with a spicy finish and a bitter aftertaste. Good stuff!

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Systembolaget. ABV is 5.8%. Called a "strong pale ale" by the brewery. Dark copper to chestnut colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of lightly roasted malts, caramel, burnt toast and fruity hops, hints of bakery. In the flavour the fruity hops are well balanced against the malts and moderate roastiness, with a moderately bitter and slightly nutty finish. Good stuff!

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

750 ml bottle, 2008 vintage (assemblage January 2009), bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. Bottle No. 00276. ABV is 11.0%. Sediment in the bottle. Hazy orange-brown colour, moderate to low off-white head. Some of the haziness might be chill haze, I started drinking it too cold. Very nice sourish-fruity aroma with a distinct brettanomyces character. The flavour is distinctly sour but not extreme, very fruity and tart (notes of sour cherries and Bramley apples), hints of oak, with just the right hoppy bitterness in the dry finish. The alcohol is well hidden - if someone had told me that this was a 6% beer, I would gladly believe it. A very fine beer, but it requires that you are into the sour stuff (a "sourhead") to really appreciate it.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is formidable 13.25%. Very cloudy brown colour, moderate creamy head. Pleasant aroma of malts, caramel and raisins. Incredibly warming mouthfeel. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness, notes of rum-raisin and caramel, balanced by a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, as Larché Thomas Becket Blonde de Bourgogne, now available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.5%. Pale golden / blonde ale, slightly hazy, with a huge white head. Lovely strong aroma of fruits and spices (cloves and coriander?). The flavour is distinctly citrussy, followed by spicy notes and a moderate hoppy bitterness. Fairly crisp and dry. Refreshing and very pleasant to drink.

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

Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Complex aroma, chocolate, coffee, soy sauce, prunes. Full and rich flavour, loads of malty sweetness, also some fruitiness, loads of chocolate and caramel, notes of coffee.

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

Bottle, ABV 10%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Hazy orange to amber colour, moderate head. The aroma and flavour are oaky with hints of whisky and funky notes. Interesting and powerful beer.

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

Bottle, ABV 11%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Orange to amber coloured beer, moderate off-white head. Aroma of oak, fortified wine, American caramel malts and American hops. The flavour has strong notes of bitter American hops throughout, also oak and alcohol.

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Vaaland Spesialbutikken, Bryne. ABV is 3.9%. Pale golden colour, big white head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops, notes of tropical fruits, hints of honey. The flavour is zesty with fruity hops again, notes of citrus. Not very sweet. Nice bitterness in the finish. I’m a sucker for beers like this, esp. in summer.

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

500 ml bottle, batch #240, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.5%. Light brown hazy colour, big off-white head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops and orange peel, also notes of Belgian ale yeast and mild spices. The flavour is a bit too sweet for a beer for sweaty farm workers, but still good - also fruity, yeasty and spicy notes, hints of caramel, with a distinct hoppy bitterness and a hint of smoke in the finish.

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

On tap at Olympen ("Lompa"), as "Lompas Vinter", renamed after Christmas. Black colour, moderate tan head. Nice aroma of mild coffee and dark malts, hints of chocolate and liquorice. The flavour is moderately roasty with a moderate malty sweetness, hints of dark chocolate. Quite good.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Also available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 7.8%. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy, with a big white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast, banana, coriander and mild spices. In the flavour, American hops dominate with a substantial bitterness from start to finish, on a more subtle background of "Belgian" sweetness with some citrussy and spicy notes. This cross between a Belgian triple and an American IPA is a reminder that Italy is one of the most interesting "new" craft beer countries in Europe.