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

Cask at the Number Twenty-2, Darlington. Black colour, ruby in the highlights, creamy beige head. Nice aroma of mildly roasted malts, mild coffee and chocolate. Smooth mouthfeel. Roasty flavour, medium sweet (or medium dry, if you like), notes of coffee.

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

330 ml bottle, from Selfridge’s food store, London, as Whitstable Oyster Stout. ABV is 4.5%. Pitch black colour, moderate to low tan head. The aroma is roasty with notes of smoke, tar and salt water, hints of coffee and dark chocolate. Smooth mouthfeel, light bodied. Dry flavour, roasty notes with coffee and smoke, moderate bitterness, slightly salty finish with a hint of liquorice. Pleasant to drink.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.2%. Black colour, moderate beige head. The flavour has the expected notes of roast malts, mild coffee and chocolate, but also a distinct fruitiness. The flavour is smooth, roasty and fruity, with chocolate and mild coffee again, and hints of oysters and the tellina molluscs that have been added to the boil. A very enjoyable beer, might buy again.

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.2%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of hops and moderately roasted malts, hints of seaside (the oysters? - or is it just my imagination?). Silky smooth and very pleasant flavour, mild roasty notes, well balanced hops. Truly enjoyable, impossible to dislike.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Moderate to low tan head, no lacing. Very moderate roasty aroma with hints of bakery and seaweed. Flavour has a very moderate roastiness with some sourish and salty notes. Thin mouthfeel for a stout. Short aftertaste. Drinkable of course, but I expected so much more. By the way, oysters WITH stout I understand, but how the hell did someone think of putting oysters IN stout??? Yes, I know it’s a pre-war recipe, but that does not necessarily make a bad idea better.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Pleasant fruity and roasty aroma with a breath of sea air. The flavour has a moderate and smooth roastiness with a distinct fruity acidity at the side. The oysters don’t come through much though.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

500 ml can, bought at ICA Maxi. ABV is 4.5%. The brewery of this contract brew is not mentioned on the can, but apparently it is the Hansa Borg group. Golden colour, big to moderate fluffy head. Typical "industrial" sweetish pale lager aroma, quite strong and unpleasant. Moderate carbonation in the glass, soft mouthfeel. The flavour is moderately sweet and rather boring, but not offensive. Low bitterness.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

330 ml clear bottle, thanks to Ole_R. Pale yellow colour, big head. Heineken-like aroma (an American would say "skunked") - Heineken is slightly better though, hints of citrus and maize baby porridge. The flavour is slightly lemony and wheaty, and could probably be called "refreshing" if drunk colder than I did. Minimal hops. Soft and thin mouthfeel. After a long day of skiing (or other open air activities) I would want a better beer than this one, that’s for sure.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.3%. Golden colour, big white head. Moderate fruity aroma. The flavour has a tolerable presence of malts, a moderate sweetness and moderate hops. Average Swedish dortmunder.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

330 ml bottle, bought at Coop Obs, Stavanger, as Pokal Lys Pilsner, contract brewed in Norway for Coop Trading A/S, Denmark. Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot. ABV is 4.5%. Pale golden colour, big head. Sweetish typical industrial pale lager aroma, some fruitiness. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is fairly boring as expected, but not offensive, and there are at least some notes of pilsener malts. Very moderate hops. Easy drinking, and as the price in Norway so far is very moderate too (as moderate as our alcohol taxes allow), I expect Pokal to sell well to beer drinkers more concerned with quantity and low prices rather than quality.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 2 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

330 ml can, as Anker Bir Pilsener ("Limited Edition" concerning the brewery’s 75th anniversary - I suppose the "limited edition" only affects the design of the can, not the beer inside.) A gift from my Indonesian-born sister-in-law. ABV is 4.9%. Very pale and crystal clear yellow colour, big head. Sweetish and slightly sickly "industrial" aroma, notes of grass and maize. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is bland with some sweetness and minimal bitterness, utterly boring.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 3

330 ml can, as Bali Hai Bir Lager / International Premium Lager Beer, a gift from my Indonesian-born sister-in-law. ABV is 5.0%. Pale yellow colour, big to moderate head. Strong "industrial" sweetish pale lager aroma, maize or other adjuncts galore. The flavour is also sweet with plenty of adjunct cereals, minimal hops, just a weak metallic bitterness in the finish. Not good.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

330 ml can, a gift from my Indonesian-born sister-in-law. ABV is 5%. Pale yellow colour, decent head. Typical "Industrial" and sweetish pale lager aroma, notes of maize and/or other adjuncts.The flavour is far too sweet for a "pilsener", but there is at least a certain maltiness and not too many off-flavours. Very moderate hops in the finish, slightly metallic.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger, as Menabrea Birra 1846. ABV in Norway is 4.7%. Crystal clear golden colour, big and lasting white head. Strong and sweetish fruity aroma. The flavour is fairly clean and zesty, no unpleasant off-flavours, moderate hops in the finish. Definitely not the worst pale lager I’ve had.

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

12 fl. oz. bottle, in the Houston tent at the ONS 2008, Stavanger. Golden colour, low head. Moderate sweetish fruity aroma. The flavour is very bland, slightly sweetish with minimal hops. Poor.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

330 ml green bottle, now available in Norway. The label only says "Meteor Bière d’Alsace". ABV is 4.6%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, big white head. Initially a citrussy and sweetish Heineken-like aroma (an American would probably say "skunky", but I don’t mind), the aroma sort of "dies" in the glass. Fairly "clean" pale lager flavour, moderately sweet and slightly citrussy, very moderate hops, not offensive but far from exciting.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

375 ml clear bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.6%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, fizzy, with a big to moderate lasting white head. Moderate fruity aroma, notes of candy and citrus. Zesty mouthfeel. The flavour is moderately sweet with some fruity notes, minimal hops, bland finish. Not much to write home about here. Far from undrinkable though.

Aroma: 3 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 2 | Overall: 2

1 litre green bottle, ABV (or was that ABW?) was 4.1%. Shared with my beerpal Olav who bought it in Turkey, thx! Pale golden colour, moderate white head. First a pleasant Heineken-like 'skunky' whiff when opening the the bottle, then a very unpleasant and bland aroma with notes of boiled vegetables and wet cardboard. Bland flavour with notes of rubber, glue and wet cardboard. Really, really dreadful.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ’Palestinian’ beer brewed and bottled in Belgium, licence held in Germany (Haus der 131 Biere). ABV is 5.2%. Crystal clear very pale yellow colour, big white head. Sweetish industrial pale lager aroma, grassy and fruity notes. The flavour is moderately fruity and slightly sweet with minimal hops, boring but not undrinkable.

Aroma: 3 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

Sample from 500 ml can, Aass Brewery stand at Smak 09. ABV is 4.7%. Golden colour, low head. Minimal aroma, just a slight fruitiness. Bland flavour, a little pilsener malts and butterscotch, minimal bitterness. Are "the youth segment" of the Norwegian pale lager market happy now?

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

On tap at the Brewery International stand, Smak 09. ABV is 5.2%. Golden colour, low head. Butterscotch in both aroma and flavour. Drinkable, but boring contract brewed pale lager.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Sample from 500 ml can, at the Mack stand, Smak 09. ABV is 4.7%. Another low carb beer, what have we done to deserve this? Pale golden colour, low head. The aroma (as far as there is any) has a moderate fruitiness, not unpleasant though. Sharpish mouthfeel. Minimal flavour, but there are some very moderate hops in the finish. Boring.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

500 ml yellow can, from REMA 1000, ABV is 4.7%. Crystal clear very pale yellow colour, big to moderate white head. Moderate carbonation in the glass. Sweetish aroma with notes of boiled vegetables and maize grit, hints of artificial candy and citrus. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour is fairly fresh with moderate notes of pilsener malts, weak hints of citrus. Very moderate hops in the finish. Not undrinkable.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

330 ml clear bottle. ABV is 4.7%. Pale golden colour, big white head. Weak aroma, notes of wheat and citrus. The flavour is moderately sweetish and slightly wheaty with just a hint of citrus, nearly void of any bitterness. Boring and overpriced. Might possibly be the same beer as Aass After Ski, with a different label? The brewery denies this, though.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

330 ml clear bottle, from REMA 1000. ABV is 4.7%. Golden colour, big white head. Aroma of over-boiled vegetables and maize baby porridge, also notes of grassy hops. The flavour is moderately citrussy (which is quite nice) and slightly grassy, some sweetness but not too bad, minimal bitterness. Empty finish.