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

Bottle conditioned, at Ølkulinarisk Aften, Måltid restaurant, Kristiansand. This beer nearly left me speechless - I’d never have expected a 16% ABV beer to be this wonderful and well balanced. LOVELY aroma and flavour, where notes of oak, fortified wine, coffee and chocolate come in front. A great match with chocolate dessert, could probably also have been a great match with the very mature stilton cheese we had as the previous course (NØ Amber was a bit light-weight for the stilton IMO).

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. Bottle conditioned. ABV is 10%. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Unusual perfumed aroma, dark fruits, liqueur, some oak, chocolate and liquorice. Very intense perfumed and sweet flavour, surprisingly moderate roastiness, notes of liquorice, hints of tar. Moderate hops in the finish. Not an easy drinking beer, but definitely something out of the ordinary.

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

330 ml bottle, at Olympen, Oslo. ABV was 8.0%. Dark ruby colour, nearly black. Minimal tan head, low carbonation. Nice aroma of roasted malts, sweetened coffee, chocolate and dark dried fruits. The flavour is fairly sweet with a distinct roastiness, notes of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice.

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

500 ml unlabelled bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, big chocolate brown head. Lovely aroma of whisky barrel (possibly used for sherry before whisky?), but the whisky elements are not overdone - also notes of chocolate, dark dried fruits, vanilla and coffee. Full and rich mouthfeel. The flavour has a pronounced malty sweetness and well balanced roastiness, again notes of oak, sherry, dark dried fruits, vanilla and coffee - also moderate notes of tar. An excellent example of how good oak aged impy stouts can be, when the balance is just right.

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

Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Complex aroma, chocolate, coffee, soy sauce, prunes. Full and rich flavour, loads of malty sweetness, also some fruitiness, loads of chocolate and caramel, notes of coffee.

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

Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Black colour, low brown head. Intense peaty, salty and smoky aroma of Islay whisky cask. The flavour has intense notes of peat, salt, smoke and tar, also notes of strong coffee and alcohol.

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

Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Dark brown colour, nearly black, low head. Nice aroma of coffee and roasted malts. Coffee in the flavour too, also notes of alcohol and oak, there is also a slight acidity.

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.

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

Bottle, as Hoppin’ Frog B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout, ABV 9.4%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Surprisingly moderate aroma of oats and roasted barley, notes of mild coffee, hints of chocolate. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness, verging on sickly, and loads of roasted barley too. Notes of coffee, hints of liquorice and dark chocolate. Slightly acidic finish. Not the best impy stout I’ve had.

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

355 ml can, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.5%. Pitch black colour, moderate chocolate brown head. Nice aroma of roasted malts / roasted barley, chocolate, coffee and bakery. Intense flavour of malts (malty sweetness + heavily roasted malts/barley), notes of strong coffee, molasses and dark bitter chocolate, ending in a distinct bitterness (both from the hops - 98 IBU - and the roastiness). Possibly the most awesome canned beer in the world.

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

Bottle, courtesy of Nøgne Ø representative at "Onsdag i Annen", Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Lovely aroma of bourbon oak cask/barrel with notes of vanilla, coffee and dark chocolate. The flavour has strong notes of vanilla, coffee and dark chocolate. Overall brilliant!

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: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet). ABV is 9.0%. Pitch black colour, big brown head. Very nice aroma of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. The flavour has heavily roasted malts galore (bordering on cremation), also liquorice, tar and extremely strong coffee. There is also a huge hoppy bitterness from start to finish, and the alcohol is noticeable. The flavour is overall a bit of an "overkill", could have been better balanced. Still quite impressive, a small glass of this beer could stand in for a cup of espresso after dinner. Improves a bit as the beer warms up, a certain sweetness comes through, to balance (some of) the bitterness.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008. Pitch black colour, no head. Intensely roasty aroma, some undefined perfumed notes too. The flavour is sweet, winey and roasty. Good beer.

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

Cask, gravity dispense, at the GBBF 2008. ABV was said to be 9.5%. Pitch black colour, minimal head. Complex roasted aroma with notes of oak, dark chocolate, liquorice and tar. Intense flavour of cocoa / chocolate, figs(?) and coffee(?) - I have some difficulties reading my own handwriting here .... Warming mouthfeel, oaky and alcoholic notes. A great sipping beer.

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

250 ml bottle, shared with Ole_R, thx! ABV was 13.0%. Imperial stout stored 5 months in a whisky barrel, simply called "Mikkeller Black As Night". Pitch black colour, brown head that does not last very long. Nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee, tar, oak and liquorice. Intense oaky, roasty and very sweet flavour, alcohol is noticeable but not as much as expected. Long and bitter aftertaste.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle # 12436. 39.5 degrees P, 65 IBU, ABV 17.5%. Pitch black colour, short-lived brown head. Intense and lovely aroma of dried dark fruits, liquorice, coffee, oak and tar. The flavour is intensely roasty with strong notes of coffee, liquorice and alcohol. A bit "raw", needs at least 1 year’s cellaring (probably more) to reach its potential. However, I think it is not a good idea for Nøgne Ø to make stronger versions of DH each year. 16% ABV, like DH First Ed. had, is definitely strong enough!

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: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

500 ml bottle, batch #195, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 11.0%. Pitch black colour, one of the darkest beers I’ve ever seen. Chocolate brown medium-sized creamy head, does not last forever. Unusual aroma of dark malts, coffee, chocolate, liquorice, prunes - some vinous notes too. The mouthfeel is first surprisingly light for such a strong and dark beer, probably due to the acidity. The flavour is very acidic and lemony, which is crashing completely with the other flavour elements: smoke, tar, coffee, liquorice. I’m sorry, but adding wild yeast to this brew was not a good idea. Without the wild yeast it would have been a great beer, now it’s too much on the weird side. Nice try, but won’t buy again.

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

375 ml bottle, kindly shared by Ole_R. ABV was 14%. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Lovely roasty and vinous aroma, notes of calvados and blackcurrants. Extremely sweet and very roasty flavour, notes of liquorice, dark cherries and dark chocolate, distinct hoppy bitterness and tar in the finish. Alcohol is noticeable. Combined with the strong flavour elements, this leaves the impression that the beer is even stronger than it actually is - I might have guessed 18-20%.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, creamy tan head. Distinct aroma and flavour of chocolate and vanilla, also roast malts and mild coffee. Rich mouthfeel. Sweet, but has a dry aftertaste.

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

June 2016: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. BB date 05.03.2015. ABV is 9.5%. Black colour, large beige head. Aroma of roast malts and liquorice. Roasty flavour too, plenty of liquorice, salty and hoppy finish. Nice enough, but not as complex as I hoped for.

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

473 ml can, as Evil Twin / Prairie Even More Bible Belt, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 13%. Pitch black colour, large to moderate tan head. Aroma of chocolate / cocoa, roast malts, mild coffee, vanilla, only a hint of chili. Rich mouthfeel. The moderately sweet flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but the chilies are more pronounced now, with a hint of smoke (smoked chilies? - or a little smoked malts?). A slight chili burn in the aftertaste, moderate bittering hops.