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

Cask conditioned at the White Horse, Parsons Green, London. Copper colour, moderate to low head. Very aromatic, dark fruits and barnyard. Dry hopped in the cask at the pub? Interesting hoppy and spicy bite from start to finish. An excellent bitter! (A pint I had later at The Tottenham was not nearly that good. A well kept cask is a must!)

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

Cask conditioned at the 32nd Cambridge Beer Festival, gravity dispense. Like the name says - black. LOVELY roasty aroma with strong notes of chocolate, hints of plums and prunes. Flavour is definitely dark chocolate with some coffee roastiness. Very good.

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

Cask conditioned at the 32nd Cambridge Beer Festival, gravity dispense. Pale golden colour. Lovely citrussy sweet aroma, hints of honey. Some natural carbonation, zesty. Some wheat character. A nice hoppy bitterness throughout. Another great session beer from Oakham.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2005 Grand Tasting. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Pleasant roasty aroma, notes of coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Flavour is roasty and smokey, notes of tar. A solid beer!

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

275 ml bottle, vintage 2010, kindly and unselfishly shared by gunnar. ABV is 11%. Pitch black colour, moderate to low brown head. Lovely and intense aroma of roast malts, molasses, caramel, liquorice, vanilla and sweetened coffee. Intense but also smooth flavour, with the same elements as in the aroma, prunes, oaky and vinous notes. Moderate hops, amazingly well balanced and easy drinking for its strength. I want more of this!

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

355 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 10.5%, 90 IBU. Pitch black colour, impressive brown head. Roasty aroma, roast malts, strong coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice, tar, wood and a hint of smoke. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet and rich flavour, roast malts, liquorice and strong coffee galore, bitter hops in the finish. High "Wow!" factor.

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

500 ml, bottle No. 026773, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 8.5%. Tawny colour, large white (or slightly off-white) head. Aroma of dark dried fruits, sultanas, oak and sweet biscuits. Moderately sweet flavour with the same elements, also hints of dried apricots and caramel, moderate hops (Ernest and Olicana, Target, Goldings, Challenger and Northdown). Smooth mouthfeel Very drinkable already, no sharp edges.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

440 ml can, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 8.0%. Black colour, large tan head. Aroma of roast malts, strong coffee and dark chocolate / cocoa, a hint of vanilla. Rich mouthfeel. The flavour is not too sweet (despite the name), and has the same elements as the aroma, with the vanilla a bit more pronounced now. Very good beer.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.1%, 186 IBU, 71 EBC. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Large and lasting beige head. Delightful aroma of American hops, notes of citrus (incl. orange marmalade) and tropical fruits, also pine, hints of coffee. The flavour is medium sweet with notes of chocolate and mild coffee, but first and foremost well hopped, with citrussy and resinous hops throughout. The bitterness is, however, not as extreme as I feared , but solid enough. Another fine beer from Midtfyns and home brewer Claus Christensen.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Herbarium. ABV is 10%. Deep reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Strong sweetish aroma of caramel, brown sugar, syrup, dark dried fruits and heather honey, hints of oak and leather. Flavour of the same elements (except the leather), dark dried fruits (including raisins) come up front. Sweet, but not cloying. Moderate hops. A very enjoyable beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

375 ml lilac waxed bottle, batch #1529, Cardinal Pub, Stavanger. ABV is 13.2%. Black colour, large to moderate tan head. Aroma of oak, molasses, dark rum, coconut, vanilla, chocolate and dark malts. Rich and warming mouthfeel. Very sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, low bitterness. Probably good for cellaring for many more years.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

375 ml bottle, waxed top (black metallic wax), Cardinal Pub, Stavanger. ABV is 13.3%. Pitch black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of molasses, dark malts, oak, maple syrup, vanilla, dark rum and bourbon. Rich and warming mouthfeel, low carbonation. Very sweet and rich flavour with the same elements as the aroma, Dessert in a bottle!

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

375 ml slim clear bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken, at an outrageous price. Batch 2016-02. ABV is 10.5%. Deep golden to orange colour, no carbonation. Lovely aroma of concentrated apple juice / apple cider. Extremely sweet and nice concentrated flavour of Norwegian dessert apple varieties, some acidity, hints of oak and sulphites.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 12.3%. Pitch black colour, small tan head. Aroma of smoke, roast malts, oak and whiskey. Rich and warming mouthfeel. Rich and strong flavour, medium sweet, notes of roast malts, coffee, smoke, liquorice, oak and bourbon whiskey.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Very dark brown to black colour, small tan head. Aroma of roast malts and coffee, hints of chocolate, oak and leather. Warming mouthfeel. Sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also notes of caramel and brown sugar. Very enjoyable.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Shared bottle at Bryne tasting. Dark reddish brown colour. Pleasant aroma of bourbon, oak, vanilla and raisins / sultanas. Excellent flavour with the same elements, also notes of various dark dried fruits and brown sugar.

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

A pint and a half, from keg at The Dog & Bell, Deptford. ABV is 8.8%. Imperial stout with coffee and coconut. Black colour, moderate tan head. Very nice roasty aroma and flavour, the coffee and coconut are there, but not overdone. Also notes of liquorice and dark chocolate, moderate bittering hops. A fruity hint of prunes. Not too sweet, very well balanced. A very good beer, I hope to see this gem in Norway soon.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

June 2019: 650 ml bottle, as Rip Current Dangerous Undertow Belgian-style Abbey Ale, Bourbon barrel series, generously shared by bergstaden, many thanks! ABV is 13%. Dark brown colour, no head. Intense aroma of bourbon and oak, also notes of molasses. Lovely flavour of bourbon and oak again, medium sweet, not even a hint of fusel, very good. Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

330 ml bottle, as Nøgne Ø A Christmas Carol Barrel Aged Ekstra God Jul Sherry Cask edt. ABV is 16.5%, IBU 30. At Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of malts, molasses, brown sugar, oak and old sherry. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also hints of mild spices. Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer!

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

April 2017: 330 ml bottle, from Ales By Mail. Vintage 2014. ABV is 10.5%. Pitch black colour, minimal tan head. Aroma of roast malts, leather, horse stable, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of molasses and oak. Very moderate but sufficient carbonation. The rich and medium sweet flavour has roast malts, vinous notes, dark dried fruits, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of oak. Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 16%, 50 IBU. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of sherry, oak, chocolate, honey and juniper. Vinous flavour with the same elements, some fruity acidity. Easy drinking for its strength. Excellent beer, but hardly worth the outrageous price.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, at an outrageous price. Purchased at Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 16%, IBU 50. Black colour, small beige head. Aroma of roast malts, mild coffee, dark chocolate, oak and "spicy" white wine. Excellent vinous and oaky flavour, chocolate and honey notes, raisins, a hint of juniper, sharpish bittering hops in the finish. Warming mouth- and throatfeel.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, kindly brought home from Copenhagen by my wife. Brew #201, ABV is 7.0%. Black colour, huge chocolate brown creamy head. Very nice roasted aroma, dark malts, chocolate, coffee. Hints of dark dried fruits as the beer warms up. Creamy mouthfeel. The flavour has distinct notes of coffee and roasted malts, also notes of chocolate and English liquorice, with a firm roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish. Good stuff!

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

On tap at Bishop’s Arms Järntorget, Göteborg. ABV was 9.0%. Served in "brandy" snifter. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Pleasant roasty aroma with notes of coffee, liquorice, chocolate and prunes. The flavour is distinctly roasty and moderately sweet with a certain warmth from the alcohol, notes of chocolate, port wine and prunes. Excellent beer!

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

375 ml bottle, kindly shared by my beer pal Olav, who bought it at Nørrebro Bryghus. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Aroma of acidic fruits and red wine, also notes of dark chocolate and mild coffee. Intense flavour of strong coffee and oak, also notes of dark bitterchocolate, hints of red wine. Bitter hops in the finish.