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

330ml bottle, as Tamamura Honten House IPA, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Deep golden to brownish orange colour, moderate white head. Aroma of earth, wood and slightly stale orange marmalade, fruity and resinous hops. The flavour has first a rich malty and fruity sweetness, then powerful American(?) hops take over with loads of resinous and grapefruity bitterness. Enough sweetness remains to balance some of the bitterness. Clearly a real treat for the hopheads.

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

330 ml bottle, vintage 2007, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Hazy brownish orange colour, big and lasting off-white head with a pale orange hue. Fairly strong sweetish aroma with notes of candied fruits (figs, actually), caramel and malts, hints of cinnamon. The flavour has notes of cinnamon and other mild spices, figs, caramel and malts, great sweetness nicely balanced by decent hops in the finish. Some alcoholic warmth, but not dominant. Some wood in the aftertaste. An interesting beer, pleasant to drink.

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

633 ml bottle, vintage 2009, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6%. Deep golden to amber colour, big and lasting off-white head. Interesting and unusual fruity aroma, which probably is due to the biwa fruit, but also fruity hops. The flavour is zesty and fruity, but not very sweet nor sour, with distinct hops in the dry finish. Some woody notes in the aftertaste. A very drinkable beer!

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

350 ml bottle, at Café Luna, Aalborg. ABV was 5.8%. Served in a "Trappistes Rochefort" (!) glass. Black colour, low beige head. Nice moderately roasty aroma and flavour, notes of mild coffee and dark chocolate, well balanced hops in the finish. Smooth and pleasant to drink - would buy again.

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

275 ml nip bottle, at London Pub, Aalborg. ABV was 8.1%. Dark ruby colour, minimal beige head. Low carbonation. Intense aroma of malts, molasses, caramel and oak. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness, molasses, fruity, vinous and oaky notes (port wine, sherry), low bitterness.

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

750 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 0058 out of 318 from this batch. ABV is 10.4%. This is a blend from B.A. Rasputin and B.A. Amarillo. Recommended drinking temperature 10 degrees C. Cloudy dark brown colour, big beige head. Excellent complex aroma, fruity American and European hops, vinous notes, hints of oak, red wine vinegar and leather. The flavour has notes of over-ripe and decaying fruits, a substantial malty sweetness, hints of chocolate and coffee in the background, moderate and "dry" hops in the finish.

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

750 ml corked and wired bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.5%. Very pale golden colour, huge white head. The aroma has notes of Belgian ale yeast (spicy and fruity), white candi sugar and fruity and flowery hops. The flavour is sweet, spicy and well hopped, very drinkable for its strength. Spicy and moderately bitter finish.

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Denmark (Føtex or SuperBest, Aalborg). ABV is 6.6%. Cloudy dark brown colour, big to moderate creamy head. Lovely aroma of American hops, notes of citrus, fir tree forest and flowers, also notes of caramel malts. Refreshing flavour, the hops dominate with notes of resin and grapefruit, but there is also a noticeable sweetness of caramel malts. Some hints of roastiness and chocolate too. Fairly bitter finish. Good beer!

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

1 pt. 9 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is not stated on the label. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Intense aroma of fruity and piney American hops. The flavour has loads of piney hops with a massive bitterness, but it is not too extreme (pretty close, though). There is some malty sweetness, but the beer is not as sweet and alcoholic as many other American Imperial IPAs. Good stuff.

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

375 ml capped and waxed green bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Malts are pale, vienna and cara-red, Zeus hops. Cloudy dark brown colour, big beige head. Strong sweetish aroma of oak, caramel malts and brandy, vinous notes. Rich mouthfeel. The flavour is oaky, malty and vinous, but not too sweet. Moderate but noticeable hops and chocolate in the finish. A jolly good beer!

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Also sampled bottled, but the bottle lacked carbonation, so my rating is for the tap version. Black (= very dark brown) colour, moderate tan head. Very nice aroma and flavour with roasty notes, coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice - also some vinous notes with hints of oak and dark dried fruits. Jolly good stuff!

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

Bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%, 50 IBUs. Dark reddish brown colour, big to moderate beige head. Aroma of sweet malts, caramel, peat smoke and over-ripe red berries, also vinous notes with hints of oak. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness and caramel, peat and oak, with a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish and aftertaste.

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

355 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.6%, 70 IBUs. Reddish brown colour, big and lasting off-white head. Nice aroma of floral and citrussy hops (dry hopped with Amarillo), also sweetish notes of caramel and orange marmalade. The flavour has also notes of orange marmalade and caramel malts, but is not extremely sweet. There is a distinct hoppy bitterness towards the end, with grapefruity and resinous notes, lasting through the long aftertaste. Good stuff.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Christian. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Spicy aroma of brettanomyces and Nelson Sauvin hops. Effervescent spicy flavour, notes of gooseberries, white grapes and brettanomyces.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Christian. ABV is 11%. "Triple Bock" with Hallertauer and Horizon hops. Very dark ruby colour, nearly black. Big to moderate beige head. Oaky aroma, notes of dark dried fruits, vinous notes. Oaky flavour, much the same elements as the aroma, but not too sweet. Distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish.

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

1 US pint can, from Seven Cellars. ABV is 7.8% Cloudy / opaque yellow colour, moderate white head. Intense aroma of spruce, citrus and tropical fruits. Fizzy and citric mouthfeel. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, moderately sweet, moderate to low bitterness.

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

1 US pint can, from Seven Cellars. ABV is 7.8%. Hopped with Mosaic, Incognito & Lupulin Powder. Hazy pale yellow colour, large white head. Aroma of citrus, tropical fruits and spruce. Flavour with the same elements as the aroma, not too sweet. The bitterness is moderate.

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

1 US pint can, as Barrier 2x Dry Hopped Money India Pale Ale, from Seven Cellars. ABV is 7.3%. Moderately hazy pale golden colour, large white head. Strong aroma of piney hops, hints of grapefruit, spruce and mint. The flavour is mid between dry and sweet, notes of sweet grapefruit, pine needles and resin, a hint of mint. Fairly bitter finish.

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

330 ml bottle, as Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mud (cake is not mentioned on the bottle), brewed by Omnipollo at Brouwerij de Molen. Available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger, which previously stocked the Bourbon BA version. ABV is 11,0%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roast malts, caramel, molasses, syrup, chocolate, vanilla, pecan nuts. Sweet and smooth flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, also notes of coffee and moderate bittering hops.

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

On tap at Mandag i Annen at Cardinal, a leftover keg from Nærbø Ølfestival. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant malty aroma, notes of chocolate and heather honey. Rich and malty complex flavour, medium sweet, notes of molasses, chocolate and honey, hints of oak and smoke, moderate hops.

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

Sample at BrewDog tasting, Stavanger. Impressive appearance: pitch black colour, large brown head. Lovely roasty aroma with notes of coffee, cocoa and vanilla. The flavour is a tad less impressive but still good - with the same elements as the aroma, and decent hops in the finish.

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

750 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.4%. Hazy brown colour, moderate but lasting off-white head. Very nice aroma of fruity and piney American hops, some sweetish malts in the background. The flavour is dangerously drinkable and even refreshing for a beer of this strength, some sweetness but no too much. And of course large amounts of American hops, fruity first, with a massive resinous bitterness in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken, ABV is 9%. Nearly black colour, large beige head. Vinous aroma, notes of raisins and other dark dried fruits, hints of oak, chocolate and tobacco. Light bodied and very drinkable for its strength and style. Roasty and vinous flavour, notes of roast malts, red wine, coffee, dark dried fruits, hints of chocolate.

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

On tap at Copenhagen Beer Festival 2013. Very dark brown to ruby colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Pleasant aroma of American hops, on a background of roasted malts with mild coffee notes. The flavour is also mildly roasty with a nice amount of fruity American hops, not extreme. Slightly warming mouthfeel, otherwise the alcohol is well hidden. Good stuff.

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

473 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Bergen Storsenter, thanks to my niece. ABV is 8%. Opaque dirty yellow colour, large to moderate white head. Aroma of pine, pineapple and other tropical fruits, citrus. Flavour with the same elements as the aroma, medium sweet. Decent bitterness.