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

Bottle RBESG 2006, Grand Tasting. Black colour, no head. Exquisite aroma: roastiness, fine coffee, chocolate, liquorice, oak and tobacco. The flavour has a definite malty sweetness, roastiness with coffee notes, and plenty of dark chocolate. Rerate 2008, 330 ml can, new brewery: Pitch black colour, huge brown head. The aroma is perhaps a tad less impressive than the first time, but still very, very good. The flavour elements are still the same.

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

375 ml corked & caged bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.5%. Clear and deep brown colour, huge off-white head. Aroma of calvados, ice cider, oak, raisins and brown sugar. The flavour is rich, fruity and pleasant, but not too sweet, and has the same elements as the aroma, also moderate bittering hops. Dry finish.

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

330 ml bottle, bought in Edinburgh. ABV is 7.0%. This is an organic beer. Opaque very dark brown colour, nearly black. Large and lasting creamy tan head. Floaties from the sediment when I pour the last third of the bottle too vigorously. For once I can fully agree with the commercial description on the label: "A strong ale with a wonderfully rich aroma and flavour of fruit cake, treacle and plum." Add that the aroma also has notes of oak and alcohol, and that the very malty flavour also has decent hops in the finish and long aftertaste - and I have pretty much described this brilliant ale.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Dark brown beer with a huge beige head. Very fine and complex aroma with vinous notes, also notes of oak, spices, cocoa, red berries and dark fruits, hints of barnyard and tobacco. The flavour is sweet, vinous and fruity, quite smooth for 9% ABV beer. Moderate hops. Many of the elements of the aroma stay with you through the flavour and aftertaste. An excellent beer!

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

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. ABV was 6.5%. Black colour. Very nice aroma and flavour of smoked and roasted malts, tar and liquorice. Bitter finish. I really liked this one!

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008. ABV of this English Strong Ale is 9.0%. Deep golden colour, low head. Lovely aroma of oak, rhum-drenched raisins and fortified wine. Warming mouthfeel. The flavour is again full of oak and raisins, also notes of bitter oranges and toffee, with a hoppy bitterness in the finish. Excellent beer.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate head. Lovely vinous aroma with notes of oak, fruit and berries. The flavour is also pleasantly oaky and fruity, with a "refreshing" touch which is quite astonishing for a 13% ABV beer. Well, you get an idea that this is a strong beer, but not as strong as it actually is. It is not too sweet, and the aftertaste is moderately spicy. A great beer!

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. ABV is 4.0%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Aroma of cocoa and coffee, hints of tar, wood and leather. Creamy mouthfeel. The flavour is dominated by cocoa / chocolate, also notes of coffee, brown bread and burnt caramel, a little fruit too. Pretty good.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Beautiful deep amber colour, large off-white head, leaves a nice lacing. Sweetish aroma with plenty of malts, notes of caramel, bakery and raisins. The flavour is very rich and malty, but also fruity with well balanced hops. Not too sweet. Hoppy aftertaste. A first class premium bitter in my book.

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, bought at the GBBF 2008 for takeaway. ABV is 5.5%, IBU 35. Deep amber to orange colour, decent off-white head with an orangey hue. Very nice aroma of Cascade hops, notes of citrus and honey. The flavour is also dominated by Cascade hops, but there is a sufficient malty base to balance the hops. Moderately bitter aftertaste. American Pale Ale is an underrated style IMO, this is an example. Great balance is more interesting for me than "hop monsters". Good beer!

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Deep amber to copper colour. Rich, very big and lasting off-white head. Lovely vinous aroma, also notes of brown candy sugar, caramel and various spices. The flavour is very rich and sweet, with plenty of malts, brown sugar and spices. Moderate hops in the finish.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 04062. ABV is 8.0%. Pitch black colour, big to moderate and creamy tan head. The whisky oak cask with peaty smoke and notes of vanilla and sherry comes through immediately in the aroma, followed by notes of roastiness (roast malts, coffee) and chocolate. The flavour has loads of rich malty sweetness, immediately followed by distinct notes of peaty smoke - it is quite amazing what impact the whisky cask has. Dark chocolate in the middle. The finish has a firm bitterness from the hops and burnt malts, while the peaty smoke lasts through the long aftertaste. A truly impressive beer, but if you don’t like scotch whisky at all, this might not be the beer for you. Not easy drinking, but a great sipping beer, and a real treat for any lover of peatiness.

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

375 ml "champagne" bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 13.1%. The beer is pitch black, impenetrable for light (hence the name). Nice brown head. Intense aroma of malts, alcohol, coffee, burnt sugar and vanilla. The flavour is intense and overwhelming: an aggressive malty sweetness, backed up by honey and dark sugars, with distinct notes of roasted barley (but not quite as extreme in that respect as I expected ), the coffee is distinct, and the vanilla is also noticeable. Distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. Warming mouthfeel. This is a "sipping beer", to be savoured slowly - definitely not a "refreshment beer". Not for the squeamish or faint hearted.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.0%. Hazy brownish yellow colour, huge white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast, fruits and spices. The flavour is fairly sweet (maybe a tad too sweet? - or maybe not) with a distinct spiciness, some fruit and noticeable hops. Good stuff.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Brewed by Mikkeller at Nøgne Ø, Norway. Batch #418, ABV is 10.9%. Pitch black colour, huge chocolate brown head. Lovely aroma of dark roasted malts, coffee and chocolate, hints of dark fruits. Intense flavour of coffee (can’t say if the "weasel" coffee was worth the price, though), also a massive malty sweetness and a solid roasty and hoppy bitterness, lasting through the long aftertaste. Not for sissies.

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

330 ml bottle, at Olympen, Oslo. ABV was 10%. Imperial stout matured in Islay whisky casks. Black colour, dark ruby in the highlights, low tan head. Moderate carbonation. Intense peaty and smoky aroma, distinct notes of Islay whisky, tar, shore-washed seaweed and salty seas. Very salty, peaty and ashy flavour, with a solid roastiness and a moderate sweetness. The bitterness is fairly moderate though, compared to this beer’s other extreme qualities.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 01232, March 2009. ABV is 8.0%. Pitch black colour, big tan head. Strong aroma of whisky cask, notes of peat, tar and vanilla. Intense but well rounded flavour of malt whisky, oak, malty sweetness, coffee and tar. Moderately bitter aftertaste.

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

Bottle, 6.8% ABV, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Beautiful reddish brown colour, low off-white head. Excellent aroma and flavour with vinous and oaky notes, also strong notes of American hops. Very good! ("Beer of the Gathering" for me.)

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

Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Black colour, low head. Lovely but fairly moderate aroma of whisky cask (oak), vanilla and coffee, hints of dark chocolate and alcohol too. The flavour has distinct notes of alcohol, smooth whisky and coffee, warming mouthfeel. An enjoyable brew.

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

Bottle, courtesy of Nøgne Ø representative at "Onsdag i Annen", Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Oak aged, a blend from several casks/barrels. Pitch black colour, brown creamy head. Strong aroma of whisky cask, dark chocolate, honey and coffee. Strong sweet flavour of honey and coffee, bitter finish, aftertaste of cocoa and dark bitter chocolate with some sourish and medicinal notes.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar and importer HaandBryggeriet. ABV is 13%. Pitch black colour, big brown head. The aroma is first woody and dusty, followed by roasty notes of coffee and dark chocolate. Very rich mouthfeel. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness and roastiness, woody notes, also notes of brown sugar, dark bitter chocolate and coffee, bitter hops in the finish. Woody aftertaste.

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, huge tan head. Pleasant roasty aroma, notes of coffee and dark chocolate, some fruity hops, hints of wood. The flavour is moderately roasty with notes of dark malts, coffee and dark chocolate. A moderate but distinct roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish, balanced by a moderate but sufficient malty sweetness. Good stuff.

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

330 ml bottle, from Systembolaget. ABV is 5.5%. Black colour, big brown head. Lovely aroma of roasted malts, dark bitter chocolate and coffee, hints of English liquorice. The flavour is roasty with notes of coffee, hints of liquorice, dark chocolate and burnt toast. Some fruity notes in the background. Distinct bitter finish, both from the hops and the roasted malts.

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

330 ml bottle, batch 016, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Black colour, big brown head. Moderately roasty and oaky aroma with strong notes of vanilla and freshly baked buns, also hints of liquorice, chocolate and dark died fruits. The flavour has strong roasty coffee notes, also distinct notes of peat smoke / malt whisky. Hints of English liquorice, bitter hops in the finish. Awesome beer!

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. (A couple unpasteurised kegs will also be available at Cardinal.) ABV is 10%. Murky brown colour, big cream-coloured to beige head. Lovely aroma of American and New Zealand hops (Chinook, Simcoe, Centennial, Pacific Gem and Nelson Sauvin), fruity and resinous notes, hints of heather honey and orange marmalade. The flavour has of course loads of hops, but the bitterness is not too extreme. Piny, resinous and grapefruity notes. A pleasant malty sweetness balances the hoppiness. The high ABV is noticeable, but not really disturbing. A worthy brew to celebrate Nøgne Ø’s batch #500.