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

330 ml bottle in a thin cardboard box, batch #057, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 17.2%. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Strong and complex aroma of tar, sea water, iodine, old rope, heavily roasted malts, coffee, salty liquorice, dark chocolate, smoke and ashes. Extremely rich mouthfeel. The flavour is very sweet with loads of malt sugar, dark syrup and molasses, coffee, liquorice and chocolate, hints of smoke. No doubt a fair amount of hops here too, but they nearly drown in all the sweetness. A beer to be cellared for many more years, I assume.

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

375 ml clear corked bottle in cardboard box, from Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget. ABV is 13%. Deep golden colour. no carbonation. Intense aroma of oxidised cider apples, hints of oak (though apparently this ice cider has not been matured on oak). Intense and very concentrated and very sweet flavour of apples, dessert apples as well as cider apples. A very interesting and unusual cider, I have never tasted anything like it. Irresistably moreish. The price in Norway is ridiculously high, though.

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

500 ml bottle, as Strathaven / Craigmill Lord Kelvin Centennial, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.7%. Deep copper coloured beer, moderate head, slightly off-white. Pleasant aroma of caramel and ripe red fruits. The flavour has notes of caramel, brown bread baked with dark syrup, and lightly toasted malts, balanced by a moderate fruitiness and decent hops in the finish. Just the slightest touch of ginger and chocolate. A very enjoyable brew. Even though Lord Kelvin himself miscalculated the age of the earth by some billion years, he probably still deserves a toast in his honour.

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

Shared bottle at local tasting. ABV is 7.5%. Deep golden colour, large white head. Lovely aroma of Simcoe hops, notes of citrus fruit, pine and resin, and not more catpiss than you need to say purrrr. Distinctly hoppy flavour, notes of grapefruit and pine needles. A very fine single hop IPA.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Vintage 2010, shared bottle at local tasting. ABV is 13%. Black colour, hardly any head. Intense aroma of concentrated malts and fusel alcohols, vanilla and bourbon. The fusel brings the aroma score down. Intense and complex flavour, much better than the aroma, loads of vanilla, chocolate, roasted malts and bourbon, sweet but not too much.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.7%. Pitch black colour, large and lasting brown head. Interesting aroma: smoke, tar, roasted malts and fruity hops. The flavour is roasty and smoked, with fruity hops in the background. Not too bitter. I would probably like it even better with less smoked malts and a little more hops, but then it would be a different beer ... As it is, it is certainly worth sampling.

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

500 ml bottle, a gift. ABV is 4.9%. Black colour, large to moderate brown head, nice lacing. The aroma has moderate roasty notes (mild coffee, chocolate and liquorice), also strong fruity and acidic notes (hops, lemons and orange peel), hints of coriander. The aroma seems a bit misplaced, but that might just be due to old habit. Smooth flavour, very pleasant to drink, mild roasty notes. Not much acidity in the flavour, just a hint of orange peel in the background. Moderate hops. Not sure if I could identify the coriander, if I did not know that it should be there. Don’t know if March of the Penguins will be imported to Norway (most other WB beers are, so it is likely that it will) - I would buy again.

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

Shared bottle at local tasting. ABV 8.0%. Amber colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Distinctly hoppy aroma and flavour, grapefruity and piney notes. Very "American", good stuff.

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

Bottle, vintage 2010, at local tasting, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 10.1%. Bottle No. 543 out of 804. I drank it a bit too warm. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Strong malty and vinous aroma, oaky notes. Sweet flavour, malty and oaky. Decent hops in the finish.

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

355 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Golden colour, slightly hazy, large and lasting white head. Nice aroma of American hops, with fruity and piney notes, also some malts. The flavour is hoppy with notes of piney and grapefruity American hops - but not extreme for an American IPA. A touch of crystal malt sweetness. Bitter aftertaste. Pretty good beer.

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

On tap at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival, Drammen. Very dark brown (nearly black) colour, moderate beige head. Dryish roasty aroma, notes of coffee. Dry roasty flavour, notes of coffee and unsweetened liquorice, hints of ashes. Roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish. Very tasty.

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

On tap at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival, Drammen. Pitch black colour, low tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, coffee and some malty sweetness, notes of oak / bourbon barrel (more in the flavour than in the aroma). Good beer.

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

On tap at Fermentoren, Aarhus. For once I pass on writing own comments, and choose simply to quote the brewery’s tasting notes, which seemed quite accurate to me: "The Thornbridge Sequoia American Amber Ale has beautiful citrus and pine notes that come from our generous additions of Amarillo, Centennial and Chinook hops. It is smooth and velvety in the mouth with the toasted malts giving it a medium body with hints of roasted hazelnut, toffee and caramel malt flavours. Sequoia, a beautiful beer for all occasions!"

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

(Now renamed Wild Raven.) On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Creamy beige head. Nice aroma of fruity and piney hops, some roasty notes in the background. The flavour is also fruity and piney with plenty of hop character, with a dry roasty and medium bitter finish. Good stuff.

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

330 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 8%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate to small white head. Pleasant aroma of Speyside whisky, notes of caramel, toffee, vanilla and berries, hints of rye bread. The flavour has some sweetness, but not too much. Distinct whisky notes, but still well balanced, with the same elements as in the aroma. Moderate hops.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. Cloudy golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Pleasant hoppy aroma, notes of citrus, pine and spruce, some spicy notes too. Soft carbonation. The flavour has first a slight sweetness, then grapefruity and resinous hops take over the show, and last through the long and bitter aftertaste.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. ABV is 7.9%. Cloudy golden colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma of tropical fruits, esp. mango. The flavour is medium sweet (maybe too sweet), with distinct notes of tropical fruits throughout. Low bitterness.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. ABV is 8%. Cloudy yellow colour, moderate white head. Intense aroma of tropical fruits and citrus. Refreshing flavour for its strength - citrussy, with some tropical fruits, and moderate piney / resinous hops in the finish.

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

355 ml can, from Bris Ølutsalg, Jørpeland. ABV is 4.7%. Deep golden to orange colour, large white head. Nice wheaty aroma, notes of cloves, citrus and banana. Light bodied. Nice wheaty flavour too, a slight sweetness but not too much, again with cloves, citrus and banana. Moderate hops. Might well buy again.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy deep golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of tropical fruits and spruce / pine. Distinctly hoppy flavour throughout, on a moderately sweet background. Citrussy and resinous notes, bitter finish. Good stuff.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Jørpeland. ABV is 5.5%. Hop is Hallertauer Tradition. Hazy orange to brown colour, small off-white head. Strong aroma of ripe and over-ripe bananas, also hints of cloves, brown bread and caramel. The flavour is first citrussy, followed by cloves and banana, some caramel, very moderate hops. A very nice and drinkable hefeweizen.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Sauda. ABV is 7.0%. Deep reddish brown colour, moderate off-white to beige head. Very malty aroma with loads of caramel, hints of Christmas spices. Rich mouthfeel. Rich and malty flavour with plenty of caramel and Christmas spices, sweet but not too much, moderate bittering hops.

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

500 ml bottle, from Ales By Mail. ABV is 4.4%. Deep golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of fruity hops. Fruity and zesty flavour of Cascade hops, well balanced, good bitterness, pleasant to drink.

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

500 ml green bottle, as Healeys Cyder Rattler Original, Cornish cloudy cyder. ABV is 6%. From British Corner Shop. Pale golden colour, pours sparkling with a white head. Only the faintest haziness, far from "cloudy". Aroma of sour and bittersweet cider apples. The flavour is more sweet than dry, but still rather crisp. Very moderate tannins. Pleasant to drink.

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

500 ml clear bottle, as Taunton First Press Original Vintage Cider, from British Corner Shop. ABV is 6%. Clear deep golden, pours moderately sparkling with a shortlived white head. Pleasant aroma of bittersweet cider apples with tannins, notes of oak, hints of sulphites. Semi-dry flavour, notes of cider apples with moderate tannins, feels rather light bodied for its strength, again notes of oak and hints of sulphites