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

RBESG 2016 in Barcelona. Shared bottle at BrewDog bar. Russian imperial stout, 12.5%. Pitch black colour, tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla and oak. Well hopped, some smoke. Slightly warming mouthfeel, but dangerously easy drinking for its strength. Excellent beer.

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

750 ml bottle, vintage 2018, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Roasty, oaky and slightly vinous aroma, hints of rose petals. Smooth but rich flavour, notes of roast malts, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, oak. Noticeable bittering hops in the finish. An exquisite beer!

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.5%. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of tobacco. The flavour is moderately sweet, with well balanced notes of chocolate, roast malts and mild coffee, hints of liquorice and earthy hops.

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

330 ml can in cardboard cylinder (Berserk series), at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 16%. Pitch black colour, minimal tan head. Distinct aroma of whiskey, oak and molasses, a hint of fusel. Warming mouthfeel. Flavour of roast malts, whiskey and oak, hints of dark dried fruits.

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

375 ml gold waxed bottle, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 13.3%. Pitch black colour, small brown head disappears instantly. Aroma of salted peanuts, hints of roast malts, caramel, molasses, vanilla and bourbon. Minimal carbonation, sticky mouthfeel. Very sweet flavour (way too sweet), with the same elements as the aroma. Would not buy again.

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

330 ml can, 2022, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 9.3%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of roast malts, oak, whiskey and rum. Smooth mouthfeel. Roasty flavour, oak, whiskey and rum again, also hints of mild coffee and dark chocolate.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Small sample from can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, beige head. First reaction: "Å du syge banan!!!". Sugary aroma and flavour, apparently intended to exterminate drinkers by giving them severe diabetes. This is just ridiculous. Also insane amounts of cocoa, marshmallows, nutmeg and cinnamon. At least it is not thin and insipid..

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

A small sample from 750 ml bottle, at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour. Distinct notes of oak and whiskey in aroma and flavour. Warming mouthfeel. Very sweet, but there is still a kind of balance here. A real treat - but the big bottle is for sharing!

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

Small sample from 440 ml can at Cardinal, Stavanger (I hope this is the right edition). Black colour, small tan head. A violent and overly sweet attack on the nose and tastebuds from sugar, tonka beans, cocoa and spices. But the guys at "Mandag i Annen" liked it, so who I am I to disagree (even if I claim to hate tonka beans in general)? Well, it is not bad in small portions.

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Black colour, moderate and creamy tan head with a reddish hue. Aroma of roast malts, burnt breadcrumbs, liquorice and blackcurrants. The flavour is roasty with a distinct fruity acidity, blackcurrants and liquorice come up front. Not extremely sweet. Unusual and interesting.

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

330 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 11.5%. Black colour, small brown head. Distinct aroma of chocolate / cocoa, also roast malts and mild coffee. Warming mouthfeel. The fairly sweet flavour has distinct notes of roast malts, chocolate / cocoa and coffee, moderate hops.

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 12%. Pitch black colour, large and creamy brown head. Aroma of roast malts, dark chocolate and orange peel. The flavour has the same elements, also notes of coffee, some sweetness but not too much, distinctly bitter finish, both from the roastiness and the hops.

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 9%. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Aroma of roast malts, fresh buns and cinnamon, cardamom, fennel seeds, chocolate, tonka beans, vanilla and orange peel. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma.

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

Sep. 2016: 650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.5%. Black colour, large tan head. Lovely aroma of roast malts, oak, oaked red wine, liquorice, chocolate, prunes, mild coffee. Slightly sweet flavour with the same elements as in the aroma, the roast malts, coffee and chocolate notes come forward stronger now, also hints of vanilla. Moderate hops (28.5 IBU). Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 4

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10%. Pitch black colour, large to moderate creamy tan head. Aroma of vanilla, chocolate, brown sugar, caramel and roast malts. Sickly sweet flavour of salted caramel (which I hate), and otherwise the same elements as the aroma. A slight hop bitterness in the finish. Won't buy a gain.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Suldal, Sand, at an outrageous price. Barrel aged 36 months, ABV is 14.2%. Pitch black colour, moderate to small brown head. Intense aroma of booze (dark rum?) and oak, also notes of molasses and fusel. Cloyingly sweet flavour, notes of molasses, raisin, figs and dates, also oak, chocolate and booze. Would not buy again even at half the price.

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

Oct. 2015: 600 ml botlle, capped with red waxed top, as Colorado Ithaca, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 10.5%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Nice roasty aroma with notes of chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee and exotic wood. Excellent roasty flavour, coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, moderately sweet. Moderate hops. Very good beer.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 2

330 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 11%. Pitch black colour, large to moderate tan head. Sweetish aroma of malts, dark syrup, chocolate, vanilla and almonds. Sickly sweet and sugary flavour, the same elements as the aroma, but the beer is so revoltingly sweet that it is undrinkable for me. Totally unbalanced.

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

330 ml bottle with red wax top, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 10.8%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Aroma of roast malts, oak, red wine and whiskey. The flavour has the same elements, and is fortunately not too sweet. Noticeable bittering hops in the dry and slightly salty finish.

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

375 ml bottle, vintage 2022, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon and chili. Medium sweet flavour, with loads of chocolate and a nice chili burn. Moderate hops. Enjoyable.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, creamy tan head. Aroma and flavour of roast malts, chocolate and mild coffee. Smooth mouthfeel. A very good beer.

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

May 2015: On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, low tan head. Aroma first of fusel alcohols, then molasses, rum oak cask, vanilla, coconut, chocolate and roast malts. Rich and warming mouthfeel. Outstanding flavour, medium sweet and roasty, no sign of fusel, otherwise all the delicious notes from the aroma are repeated and strengthened here. Nice chili heat in the finish. Perfect!

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

Nov. 2018: 355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.5%. Pitch black colour, moderate to small tan head. Strong aroma of vanilla, roast malts and molasses, a hint of whiskey. Sweet and rich flavour, roast malts, molasses and vanilla galore, also notes of oak and whiskey.

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

July 2020: 355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 13.7%. Pitch black colour, small brown head. Aroma of bourbon and molasses, hints of fusel alcohols, also notes of oak, chocolate, coconut and vanilla. Warming mouthfeel, very moderate carbonation. Sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, the bourbon notes are very distinct. Low bitterness.

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

April 2017: 355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 13%. Black colour, minimal tan head. Strong aroma of molasses, fusel, vanilla, whiskey and oak. Minimal carbonation. Rich and sweet flavour, notes of roast malts, sweetened coffee, molasses, chocolate, vanilla, whiskey and oak, hints of spices.