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

April 2018: 650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.5%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Intense aroma of roast malts, coffee, cinnamon, almonds, cocoa, vanilla and chili. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma (they are all actual ingredients), moderate hops. The habanero chilies leave a very subtle burn in the finish. Impressive beer.

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

Nov. 2014: Sample on tap at What’s Brewing Beer Festival, Stavanger. Black colour, tan head. Chocolate and vanilla in the aroma. Medium sweet flavour, chocolate and vanilla galore, some roasty coffee notes in the finish.

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

Jan. 2020: Shared 440 ml can. Black colour, minimal brown head. Aroma of roast malts, lactose, molasses, vanilla and coffee - kind of sickly sweetish. Very sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma. Alcoholic. Too sweet.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%, IBU 42. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Distinct aroma of strawberries and marzipan, hints of roast malts, chocolate and mild coffee. Soft mouthfeel. Flavour of roast malts and coffee, some fruity acidity from the strawberries, hints of chocolate and marzipan, moderate bittering hops. Would have been a better beer without the strawberries concentrate and almond liqueur essence.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11%. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee, roast malts, caramel and lactose. Sticky mouthfeel. Sweet and cloying flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, moderate bittering hops.

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

Dec. 2016: 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.8%, 46 EBU. Nearly black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate malty aroma, caramel, roast malts, liquorice, hints of Christmas spices. Fairly sweet flavour, distinct liquorice and caramel, roast malts, coffee, some spices. Piney bittering hops in the finish.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

375 ml waxed bottle, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 14.5%. Black colour, shortlived brown head. Distinct aroma of chocolate / cocoa, molasses, oak and rum. Thick, warming and oily mouthfeel. Very sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also a distinct chili burn in the aftertaste.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

330 ml can, from the brewery. ABV is 12%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. The aroma is fairly moderate, with the expected notes of roast malts, mild coffee and dark chocolate. The flavour is medium dry, with distinct notes of roast malts, strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate, also distinct bittering hops. Good beer!

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.9%, EBU 59. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of roast malts, oatmeal and chocolate. The flavour is roasty with notes of coffee and chocolate, distinct bittering hops. Not too sweet.

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

Shared bottle at Bryne tasting. Black colour, minimal head. Boozy aroma of molasses and rum, a hint of fusel. The flavour is better, notes of rum and oak.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 10%. Pitch black colour, small brown head. Aroma of roast malts, black rye bread, only a hint of spices and orange zest. Medium sweet flavour, notes of roast malts, coffee, dark chocolate and dark rye bread, hints of caraway and orange zest. Ginger and alcohol warmth in the mouthfeel. Pleasant to drink.

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

Oct. 2018: Shared 330 ml bottle. Black colour, beige head. Aroma of roast malts and caramel. Sweet flavour, again with roast malts and caramel, a hint of liquorice.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 9%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roast malts, cocoa, cherries, lactose and vanilla. Fizzy mouthfeel. Sweet flavour (too sweet) with notes of roast malts and said adjuncts, moderate bittering hops in the finish. Would have been a better beer without the adjuncts.

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

330 ml bottle, from Edeka Sophienhof, Kiel. ABV is 9.2%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Pleasant aroma of chocolate, roast malts and coffee. Roasty flavour, moderately sweet, notes of strong coffee, chocolate and cocoa.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 2

Sept. 2020: 330 ml bottle, vintage 2014, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10%. Brewed with 7% balsamic vinegar. Black colour, no head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee, chocolate and balsamic vinegar. Hardly any carbonation. Terribly sweet and sour flavour, the balsamic vinegar overshadows all other qualities this lifeless beer otherwise might have. I feel like an idiot, having paid good money for this crap. Most of it went down the drain.

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

440 ml can, as Moersleutel Smeerolie Mexicake Imperial Stout, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 11%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. The aroma has notes of roast malts, coffee, dark chocolate / cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon, hints of smoked chilies. Smooth, warming and rich mouthfeel. The medium sweet flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but there is now a more distinct chili burn, and moderate bittering hops. Outstanding beer!

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

375 ml waxed bottle, Cardinal Pub, Stavanger. ABV is 12.5%. Black colour, small tan head. Boozy aroma of fusel alcohols, molasses, bourbon, oak and vanilla, also notes of roast malts and chocolate. Rich and warming mouthfeel. Very sweet flavour, notes of roast malts, treacle, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon and oak. I recommend sharing the bottle.

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

Can, as Newbarns Plain Dark Beer Strong Export Stout, kindly shared by Holmen2. ABV is 11.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Nice and straightforward roasty aroma and flavour, not too sweet, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and liquorice, a fruity hint of prunes, decent bittering hops.

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: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 12.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Distinct and intense aroma of dark malts, lactose, vanilla, cocoa / chocolate - and not least the spices used (cinnamon, black peppercorns, cloves, ginger and nutmeg). Very sweet and spicy flavour, far too much lactose, and otherwise the same elements as the aroma. Loads of said spices in the aftertaste. Overkill, but props to the brewery for trying. The can is for sharing - good in small portions!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.9%. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Nice aroma of aquavit spices and Fernet spices, also roast malts, liquorice and oak. The flavour is fairly sweet, with distinct notes of liquorice and said spices. Moderate hops.

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

Shared 500 ml bottle. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Sweetish aroma with moderately roasted malts, hints of liquorice. Medium sweet flavour too, again with some liquorice, nice enough to drink, but lacks the heavy roastiness and bittering hops you expect from something called an "imperial stout".

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10%. Black colour, large tan head. Aroma of roast malts, brown sugar, almond oil, lactose, vanilla, a hint of oranges. Very sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, also a hint of pine needles. Warming alcohol throatfeel.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 11.4%. Black colour, minimal tan head. Aroma of roast malts, raspberries and vanilla. Sweet flavour, notes of chocolate, raspberries and vanilla. What the heck are raspberries doing in a stout?

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10%. Deep ruby to black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of chocolate, vanilla and strawberries. The flavour is way too sweet and sticky for me, notes of sweetened coffee, chocolate, lactose, vanilla and strawberries. Unbalanced, won't buy again.