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

500 ml bottle, brew #838, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Amber to brown colour, moderate off-white creamy head. The aroma has malts, some fruit, juniper, resin and hops. Fizzy mouthfeel, could have been fuller. The flavour has resin, some malts and moderate "dusty" / dry hops in the finish. Not bad, but probably better with "trøndersodd" than on its own.

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

12 fl. oz bottle, thanks to BA richgo6. Orange coloured beer, slightly hazy, with a huge off-white head. Nice hoppy aroma, very fruity. The flavour is also quite hoppy throughout, with resinous notes and some malty sweetness. Not bad at all. The style seems more American than English to me, though - but what do I know?

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

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Deep golden to amber colour. Unusual aroma of dusty attic, caramel malts and hops. Tolerably hoppy flavour, with some "unfresh" notes.

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

375 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Also bought at Vaaland Ølutsalg, Bryne. Bottle conditioned, sediment in bottle. Pale golden colour, slightly hazy, large head. Very nice and fruity aroma, moderately spicy. The flavour has also spicy and fruity notes, slightly more rounded than their Sparkling Ale. Inspired by English (Burton-on-Trent) pale ales, but there seems also to be a "Belgian" touch here. Very nice and drinkable.

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

330 ml green bottle. Copper coloured beer, large off-white head with an orange hue. Moderate aroma of malts, caramel and some "dusty" hops. Hints of artificial candy and cooked vegetables. Moderate carbonation, soft mouthfeel. The flavour has some fruitiness and a considerable sweetness, notes of caramel, grit and cooked vegetables. Very moderate hops in the finish. Nice try, but not impressive.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at SuperBest Aalborg. ABV is 5.4%. Ingredients include shredded almonds, orange peel and vanilla sugar. Orange colour, big off-white head with an orangey hue. Pleasant aroma of fruity and floral hops, hints of toffee and spices. Soft mouthfeel, moderate carbonation in the glass. The flavour has very moderate hops and a sugary sweetness, with a slight acidity in the finish. Drinkable, but not impressive.

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

500 ml bottle, thanks to my beerpal Olav who brought it home from the Orkneys. ABV is 6%. Deep golden colour, big to moderate white head, some lacing. Fairly nice aroma, fruity and herbal hops, also noticeable malts, hints of toffee. The flavour has acceptable malts but is not very sweet, with distinct herbal and "dusty" English hops in the finish. Okay.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.7%. Hops are Boadicea, Styrian Goldings and Columbus. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Pleasant hoppy aroma, also notes of fruits, hints of honey, toffee and blackcurrant leaves. The well rounded flavour has a nice balance between distinct malts and pleasant hops, some fruity sweetness, honeyish notes, the alcohol is noticeable but not disturbing. Moderately bitter aftertaste. Good beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 3

Bottle, ABV 6.5%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Orange colour, slightly hazy, moderate head. "Rotten" and infected aroma, some notes of citrus too. The flavour has some notes of citrus and caramel, but is generally "unfresh" and has very little to brag about.

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

Bottle, ABV 7.5%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Reddish brown colour, moderate head. The aroma has notes of brown malts, caramel, dark dried fruits and oak, quite nice. The flavour has brown malts and rye bread, a little caramel and oak, not very sweet. The mouthfeel is a bit thin for a beer of this strength.

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

330 ml clear bottle in cardboard box, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget) - also at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.4%. Clear mahogany coloured beer with an off-white to beige head. Intense aroma of oak rum cask, notes of vanilla, spices, alcohol, brown sugar, treacle, rum-raisin and dark dried fruits. The flavour is distinctly oaky, but more mellow and rounded (without the strong notes of fresh wood) compared to the ordinary Innis & Gunn. Moderate sweetness, moderate notes of rum and spices, dry finish, very moderate hops. Should not be drunk too cold.

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: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, from Selfridge’s food store, London. ABV is 6.8%. Golden colour, large white head. Fairly nicearoma of grassy, herbal and fruity hops, hints of candy. The flavour is fairly sweet, the alcohol is not very well hidden. Fruity and slightly spicy flavour Original rating: Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Golden colour. Nice but moderate fruity aroma. Fruity and somewhat acidic flavour. Not too impressive.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting, as Bøgedal #71. Dark ruby colour, nearly black. Large tan head. Vinous aroma, some roasty notes. Malty sweet flavour, plenty of caramel, some complexity. Not bad.

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

500 ml bottle, as Duchy Originals Organic Select Ale, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Also available in Norway at Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.2%. Clear and deep amber colour, moderate off-white head. Fairly strong and sweetish aroma with vinous and fruity notes (dates, figs), also notes of malts, pastry and caramel. The mouthfeel is fairly rich and full. The flavour is malty but not very sweet, earthy notes, some toffee and caramel, with fruity hops in the finish, leaving a decent bitterness in the aftertaste. Not bad at all.

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

Bottle conditioned. 500 ml clear bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Beautiful amber colour, huge and fluffy head lasts "forever". Lovely hoppy aroma, also notes of red wine vinegar, oak and barnyard. Interesting flavour with a substantial hoppy bitterness, oaky and vinous notes. Relatively dry. Notes of balsamic vinegar too, but the beer is neither sour nor sweet (does that make sense?). A very good beer in my book.

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Bottle conditioned (?), ABV is 5.5%. Clear amber to brown colour, moderate head. Strong sweetish and hoppy aroma, notes of strawberries, blackcurrants, figs, caramel and Christmas pudding. Pleasant flavour with moderately sweet fruity notes, some biscuity notes and caramel too. Distinct hops throughout. Soft and pleasant mouthfeel. A nice Christmas ale this one!

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. "Conditioned in the bottle". ABV is 6%. Copper coloured, slightly hazy. Moderate beige head. Very nice aroma, vinous notes, also notes of rum-drenched raisins, oak and Christmas pudding. Rich flavour with substantial malts, hints of Christmas pudding, caramel, spices, oak and port wine. Decent hops dominate the finish and the bitter aftertaste. A very nice Christmas ale!

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.8%. Reddish amber to brown colour, low off-white head. Minimal carbonation, nearly flat. Moderate but nice aroma of caramel, toffee, berries and dried fruits, with some oak in the background. Flavour has plenty of caramel, and a substantial bitterness in the finish and aftertaste, and a sweetish reminder of the relatively high ABV, but little else than that. Not an easy-drinking ale this one, and not particularly interesting either. Still better than many run-of-the-mill ales.

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

500 ml green bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black, nice brown head. LOVELY vinous aroma with oak, raisins, chocolate, roasted malts, liquorice, some coffee. The flavour has much of the same elements as the aroma, chocolate and sweet malts (but not too sweet) are in front. A roasty and hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste. Very full and rich mouthfeel. Blimey - this IS an excellent beer! LUVVERLY!

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. Possibly filtered, but probably not pasteurised. ABV is 5.3%. As a cask ale it was voted "Champion Winter Beer of Britain 1998". Chestnut coloured beer, rich off-white to beige head. Very nice malty aroma with oaky and vinous notes, also caramel and dark fruits. Malty flavour with caramel, some raisiny and vinous notes, moderate hops. Moderate carbonation, soft mouthfeel. A pleasant beer to drink.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 4

Cask at the GBBF 2008. Deep golden colour, low coarse head. No carbonation in the glass. Strong aroma of marzipan / artificial almond essence and cherries. The flavour is also dominated by marzipan / almond essence with moderate cherries, but leaves overall an "unfresh", too sweet and rather nasty impression. Might have been slightly better if colder and with some carbonation. Worst beer of the festival for me.

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

Cask at the the GBBF 2008. Amber colour. Very nice aroma of dark fruits, butterscotch and oak. The flavour is fairly well balanced between the malts (with some caramel) and decent hops.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Very nice roasty aroma with notes of oak, raisins and fortified wine. The flavour is sweet, oaky and moderately roasty, nice.