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

440 ml can, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Copper to amber colour, small and shortlived white head. Aroma of bread, caramel and raisins. Flavour of malts and bread, hints of caramel, but not very sweet. Moderate herbal hops, a little more would not hurt. A traditional Märzen should pack an ABV between 5.1% and 6.0%, 4.7% is just too modest.

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

March 2020: 330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.8%. Orange to amber colour, slightly hazy. Small white head. Aroma of malts and caramel, hints of over-ripe berries. Malty flavour too, again with notes of caramel and hints of over-ripe berries. Medium sweet. A little more hop bitterness would not hurt. Dec. 2022: A bit richer mouthfeel comes with the increased ABV, slightly more bitter, otherwise much the same.

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

Jan. 2018: 330 ml swingtop bottle, from El Corte Ingles. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. ABV is 5.6%. Clear deep golden colour, moderate white head. Malty and grainy aroma with hints of caramel, also notes of herbal German hops. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is first citrussy and refreshing, then malty, grainy and dusty, ending dry with moderate hops.

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

330 ml bottle, sixpack from the brewery store in Klaksvik. ABV is 5.8%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate white head. Aroma of caramel and citrus. Smooth mouthfeel. The flavour has notes of malts and some caramel, but is not very sweet. Very moderately hopped. Clearly drinkable, but not particularly interesting.

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

500 ml bottle, as Vendia Vendelbo Bajer 7, at the café in Nordsøen Oceanarium, Hirtshals. ABV is 5.5%. Amber colour, slightly hazy. Large and coarse white head. Malty aroma and flavour, some fruity notes, hints of caramel, and (unfortunately) a slight infection. Still drinkable.

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

355 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika. ABV is 4.8%. Hazy orange-brown colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Aroma of wood, resin, smoke and ashes, hints of caramel. The flavour has first some malty sweetness with caramel, but ends dry and ashy. Quite moderate resinous hops. Hints of smoke. Drinkable, but not something I’ll buy again.

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

500 ml swingtop bottle, from Rewe Getränkemarkt, Erding. ABV is 5.8%. Deep golden to amber colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Moderate aroma of grassy and herbal hops, a hint of caramel. The flavour is fairly malty with hints of caramel, notes of grassy and herbal hops again. Spritzy mouthfeel. A decent Märzen this one.

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

330 ml can, bought in Spain. ABV is 7.2%. Golden colour, large white head. Decent floral aroma, hints of malts and some fruit. Low carbonation in the mouth. The flavour is sweet, malty and alcoholic, hints of honey, some bitterness in the finish. Too sweet for me, really, but not undrinkable. I drank it at cellar temperature, possibly slightly better if colder.

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

Shared bottle, RBNAG 2011. Reddish brown colour, moderate head. Aroma of toffee and a little caramel, a hint of ripe fruits. The flavour is fairly dry, but there is a hint of caramel. Very moderate hops. Not really impressive.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Norheimsund. ABV is 5.6%. Clear golden colour, moderate to small white head. Sweetish aroma of pilsener malts and floral hops, a faint hint of smoked sausage. The flavour has the same elements, low bitterness.

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

500 ml bottle, as Ayinger Kirtabier, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 5.8%. Deep golden to orange colour, slightly hazy. Large white head. Malty and grainy aroma with some slightly sourish notes. The flavour is also malty, with a slight acidity in the background. Moderate herbal hops in the finish.

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

650 ml bottle, kindly shared by our beerpal Ole Anders. ABV is 7.3%. Cognac-coloured beer, moderate white head. Moderate aroma, hints of caramel, butterscotch, malts and dust. Flavour of caramel malts and butterscotch. Too sweet. Minimal hops.

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

330 ml bottle, from Seven Cellars (discovered too late that it is now also available at Vinmonopolet). ABV is 5.6%. Crystal clear golden colour, like a pilsener. Moderate to small white head. Sweetish aroma of light malts, hints of hay, flowers, honey and newmown grass. The flavour is medium sweet, with floral and herbal hops, moderate bitterness.

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

500 ml brown bottle, pasteurised, ABV is 6.0%. Courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Ingredients include caramel malts and rice. Dark amber to copper colour, large head. Pleasant aroma with caramel and aromatic hops, hints of oak and alcohol. The flavour has dominant notes of caramel and alcohol, hints of rye bread and oak, moderately bitter finish.

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

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.2%. Amber colour, slightly hazy. Fizzy head, poor head retention. Nice hoppy aroma, notes of fruit and honey. Fizzy mouthfeel, which takes away some of the drinking pleasure for me. The flavour is reasonably well hopped, hints of caramel, butterscotch and yeast. Possibly a slightly infected bottle. Could have been better, could have been worse. Will try another bottle later.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. Colden colour, big to medium sized white head. Nice aroma of fruity German hops and sweetish malts. The flavour is fairly sweet and malty but still smooth and easy drinking, with decent hops in the finish.

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

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. ABV was 6.2%. Golden colour. Fruity / citric / sourish aroma. Surprisingly light bodied and refreshing, slightly fruity, wheaty and easy drinking. The ABV is well hidden.

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

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Deep/warm golden colour. No carbonation. Aroma of honey and raw alcohol. Very sweet flavour of honey and oak. You really have to love honey to go for this stuff.

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

Bottle, ABV 11%, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Golden colour, no carbonation. Very nice aroma of honey and some spices. Very sweet flavour of honey, some fruit wine notes.

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

Bottle, ABV 13%, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Golden colour, no carbonation. Nice aroma of honey with hints of spices, but there are also strong notes of alcohol. Very sweet flavour of honey and alcohol, also notes of oxidised fruit wine.

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

Bottle, ABV 16%, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Deep golden colour, high viscosity. Intense aroma of honey, oak and alcohol, notes of spices too. Intense flavour of honey and oak, notes of spices and rum too.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Beautiful deep amber to mahogany colour, no head nor carbonation. Intense oaky and honey aroma. Intense oaky and honey sweet flavour, very impressive but too sweet for me. (No wonder it is sweet, with the insane amount of honey it is made with.)

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

500 ml shared bottle, at "Onsdag i Annen", Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. So far not available in the pub’s ordinary selection. ABV is 10%. Fairly pale and slightly milky colour, moderate carbonation. Aroma and flavour have notes of honey, like any mead should, but this is still the driest mead I’ve had. Distinct herbal and spicy notes in both aroma and flavour. Mouthfeel reminiscent of rough cider. Alcohol is evident. The relatively dry character makes this mead more drinkable than the intensely sweet and uncarbonated ones, but I’d still prefer to share the bottle with one other person.

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

Shared bottle, RBNAG 2011. Still mead. Golden colour. Aroma of honey, spices and fusel alcohols. Sweet flavour of honey, hints of mild spices / herbs. Nice to drink.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. ABV 15%. A still mead, golden colour. Strong aroma of honey and alcohol. Nice sweet honey flavour, a hint of fruitiness. As I’ve actually been to the (restored) old castle of Trakai many years ago, this mead brought back memories ...