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

On tap (keg) at Sherlock Holmes Pub, Aarhus. Copper coloured beer (the pub was not very well lighted, though), low creamy head. Predominantly malty aroma and flavour with notes of toffee, hints of hazelnuts. Moderate bitterness in the finish. Smooth and easy drinking.

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Deep golden to orange colour, hazy, big white head. Very nice aroma of fruity Crystal hops, notes of oranges and tropical fruits. The flavour is distinctly hoppy from start to finish, "bitter" - well yes indeed, but not "brutal". Fairly dry, a more pronounced maltiness would not hurt. Still, a very pleasant and drinkable beer as it is.

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

500 ml bottle, thanks to my beerpal Olav who brought it home from the Orkneys. ABV is 4.5%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate white head, decent lacing. Moderate but nice aroma with fruity and malty notes, hints of nuts and toffee. Moderately malty and nutty flavour with "dusty" English hops throughout. Okay, but not remarkable.

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

500 ml bottle, thanks to my beerpal Egil. ABV is 5.0%. Deep golden colour, big and lasting white head. Pleasant fruity aroma of hops, notes of orange marmalade and toffee. The flavour is well hopped throughout, with a sufficient malty backbone, the finish is very bitter with some metallic notes.

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Hazy golden colour, big white head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of fruity American hops. The flavour has first a distinct malty sweetness, immediately followed by a powerful hoppiness. Overwhelmingly bitter finish and aftertaste with grapefruity and resinous notes, even hints of wormwood..

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Vaaland Spesialbutikken, Bryne. ABV is 4.5%. Copper coloured beer, big to moderate off-white head. Very nice aroma, first fruity hops with notes of various berries, then caramel, bakery and malts (some of them lightly roasted). The flavour is first malty, with notes of caramel and brown bread, then some moderate fruity hops. Not too sweet. The finish has a moderate bitterness, mixed with notes of slightly burnt malts.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger, as "Integrated Bottling Solutions Hop & Glory". Brewed for Integrated Bottling Solutions by Ventnor Brewery, Isle of Wight, England. ABV is 5.0%. Amber colour, big and lasting head. Moderate aroma, a little fruit, some toffee. The flavour has some malts, toffee and a moderate fruitiness. Acceptable hops in the finish. Not too bad.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008, gravity dispense. ABV was 5.5%. Golden brown colour, no head. Moderate aroma of fruity hops, notes of blackcurrants. The flavour is first malty with notes of honey and caramel, then a hoppy bitterness takes over and lasts through the aftertaste - fruity hops first, then a "dusty" finish.

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

Cask (hand pump / beer engine) at the GBBF 2008. Deep amber colour, minimal head. Interesting fruity and spicy aroma. Fruity and herbal flavour, slightly spicy, quite nice.

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

Cask (hand pump / beer engine) at the GBBF 2008. ABV was said to be 4.4%. Copper coloured beer, minimal head. Malty aroma with decent notes of fruity hops (dark fruits). Malty flavour, notes of caramel but not really sweet, moderate "dusty" hops in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.8%. Amber to brown colour, decent head. Malty and nutty aroma with notes of caramel and bakery. The flavour is nutty and malty too, but also with a noticeable fruitiness, and decent hops in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, bought at Systembolaget. ABV is 5.8%. Called a "strong pale ale" by the brewery. Dark copper to chestnut colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of lightly roasted malts, caramel, burnt toast and fruity hops, hints of bakery. In the flavour the fruity hops are well balanced against the malts and moderate roastiness, with a moderately bitter and slightly nutty finish. Good stuff!

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.5%. Brewed with American Chinook and Columbus hops. Golden colour, large foamy head. Pleasant hoppy aroma and flavour, both with notes of citrus and dry white wine. Bitter finish. Okay beer, but I’d like the malts to come through too.

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

500 ml brown bottle, Christmas 2006, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Reddish amber colour, moderate head. OK but moderate aroma of bakery and earthy hops. Flavour is nicely balanced between the malts and hops, and makes this a very drinkable premium bitter, but there is nothing that really "stands out" and makes the beer "something special" for Christmas. Might as well be an all-year beer. Okay, but is probably better from a well kept cask.

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. This is an "organic" beer. Clear golden colour, large and lingering head. Moderate but okay aromatic hops with notes of honey. Flavor is instantly "dusty" hops (First Gold and Hallertau), then some hints of honey and caramel, while a distinct but not overdone hoppy bitterness carries you through, and stays with you in the aftertaste. Not bad, but I am not convinced that Hallertau is the best hop for a golden ale.

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Copper coloured, large and lingering creamy light tan head, leaves a nice lacing. Very nice aroma of toast, roasted malts, burnt caramel, orange marmalade and aromatic hops. Powerful flavour of roasted malts, burnt toast, caramel, brown bread and nuts. A distinct hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. Not a beer of the "easy drinking" kind, but has definitely character. I might have liked a tad more sweetness to balance the bitterness, but this is still an excellent beer. As the beer warms up, the malts come even more in front, and the bitterness is somewhat less dominant.

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Bottle conditioned, ABV is 5.0%. According to the label, the beer is now available only in bottles. The beer gushes out of the bottle when opening. Hazy reddish brown colour, huge, creamy and long lasting off-white head. Vinous aroma with notes of moderate malts, barnyard and balsamic vinegar. Flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, but there is also a moderately sweet maltiness with hints of caramel. Moderate carbonation in the glass. Bitter aftertaste. I get a "homebrew" feeling with this one. I like it!

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

Cask conditioned at The Golden Lion, York. Served at correct temperature. ABV was 5.5%. Deep golden colour, creamy head. Pleasant malty aroma, hints of malt vinegar and fruity hops. Fairly rich and smooth flavour, well balanced between the malts and hops.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Deep golden to amber colour, huge head. Moderate aroma with a little malts and a touch of cooked vegetables. Soft and pleasant mouthfeel, moderate malts & hops make this an easy-drinking bitter, slightly fruity but nothing really remarkable. OKish.

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

On tap at The Rover, Göteborg. Clear dark amber to chestnut colour, creamy head. Moderate malty and toffee aroma. Pleasant malty and mellow flavour with some grapefruity hops in the finish. A nice and drinkable bitter.

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

On tap at The Rover, Göteborg. Copper coloured, low head. Nice nutty and hoppy aroma, notes of toffee and grapefruit. Hoppy flavour on a decent malty base, grapefruity elements, "dusty" hops in the finish, bitter aftertaste. A bitter well above average.

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

500 ml bottle, under its new name "Adnams The Bitter", bought at Ole Simon, Sandnes. Amber colour, large and lasting creamy off-white head. Moderate toffee aroma, hints of nuts and oak. Flavour is nutty with a distinct hoppy bite in the finish. Not bad.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

355 ml bottle, at The Rover, Göteborg. Amber colour, large to moderate creamy head. Hoppy sweetish aroma, strong notes of blackcurrants / blackcurrant leaves. Flavour is sweetish and reasonably malty, some blackcurrant notes, but far too little bitterness for an ESB.

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

Keg at The Bishop’s Arms, Göteborg. Deep golden to amber colour. Nice hoppy aroma with notes of toffee and sherry. Rich malty flavour with notes of toffee, caramel and some oak, but a little too sweet for my taste.

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

500 ml oldfashioned milk bottle - nice design. Copper coloured, moderate head. Lovely hoppy aroma, hints of ripe fruits and caramel. Bramling Cross hops account for a distinct bitter flavour and aftertaste, quite dry - I'd like some more malts to balance the hops, but that's the style, I guess. Still, this is a nice beer - will definitely buy again.