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

May 2016: Shared 500 ml bottle at local tasting. ABV is 4.6%. Beautiful ruby colour (fairly pale for a porter), moderate beige head. Moderate malts in the aroma, not very roasty. A hint of caramel, vanilla and very thin coffee. Medium dry flavour, mild coffee, a hint of chocolate. Very moderate hops. Easy drinking.

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

Rerate, 500 ml bottle, as Nua Svart Jul Porter, vintage 2019, batch #137, from Vinmonopolet Lyngdal. ABV is 6.5%. Black colour, large beige head. Aroma of dark malts, chocolate and coffee, hints of aquavit spices. Slightly sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma. Very moderate hops. I'm upping the score quite a bit. Original rating: Shared 500 ml gusher bottle, from 2017. Brown colour, off-white head. Malty aroma and flavour, some caramel, fairly distinct hops for a bock, but probably not as fresh as it should be.

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

Shared 650 ml bottle, 2014 vintage, at local tasting Nov. 2015. Black colour, huge tan head. Aroma of coffee, roast malts and pecan pie (of course), only a faint hint of bourbon. The medium dry taste has a stronger presence of bourbon, also pecan nuts and coffee. Very moderate hops.

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

Nov. 2015: Shared 650 ml bottle, 2014 vintage, at local tasting. Black colour, huge tan head. Aroma of coffee, roast malts and pecan pie (of course), only a faint hint of bourbon. The medium dry taste has a stronger presence of bourbon, also pecan nuts and coffee. Very moderate hops.

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

330 ml bottle conditioned, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.8%. Nearly black colour, moderate tan head. Strong aroma of roast malts, coffee and dark chocolate. The flavour is slightly dry, with notes of roast malts and coffee, hints of dark bitter chocolate. Also fairly distinct bittering hops (Target).

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

Keg halfpint, as Vibrant Forest Black Forest Porter, at 3at3, Ely. ABV 4.9%. Black colour, tan head. Nice roasty aroma and flavour, notes of mild coffee and dark chocolate, medium dry.

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

330 ml can, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Deep reddish brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma and flavour of moderately roasted malts, chocolate and blueberries. Smooth mouthfeel, nice to drink.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 7.0%. Pitch black colour, large to moderate tan head. Aroma of molasses / dark syrup, ginger, custard, chocolate, vanilla, pastry / bakery. The flavour is medium sweet, not quite as extreme as I feared, with the same elements as the aroma, also fruity notes of prunes. Low bitterness.

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

Feb. 2015: Shared bottle at local tasting. Black colour, moderate to low tan head. Strange and unpleasant aroma of solvent and dandelion roots, also dust and wet basement. The flavour is not particularly good either, dry and dusty with notes of stale cold coffee. Remarkably poor.

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

April 2013: 500 ml bottle conditioned, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.8%. The main label calls the beer a "rich ruby porter", while a side label calls it a "strong mild". Whatever - it is a decent beer anyway. Mahogany coloured beer, clear first, hazy when the yeast is poured in the end. Low beige head. Moderate natural carbonation. Malty aroma and flavour with mild roasty notes, hints of ripe berries, chocolate and mild coffee. Not very sweet, a moderate bitterness in the finish. Not bad, and "very English".

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

April 2014: Shared 750 ml corked & caged bottle, at local tasting. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Oaky and vinous aroma. Moderately oaky flavour, decent malts but only mild roasty notes, pleasant to drink. Very moderate hops.

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

Nov. 2012: 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Aroma of cold coffee and woodwork, hints of dark chocolate. The flavour is medium dry, with distinct notes of coffee and wood. Some hops in the finish.

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

Nov. 2014: Shared bottle at local tasting, thanks to our beerpal Olav. Black colour, moderate tan head. The aroma has dusty notes, nearly overshadowing the expected roasty notes. Moderate roasty notes in the flavour, also less pleasant dusty and grainy notes. Not the most successful porter in the world.

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

April 2009: Rerate, 500 ml bottle, as Okells Aile Smoked Celtic Porter, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is now 4.7%. My comments are basically the same as for "Branded Drinks Coal Fire Porter", so the two beers must indeed be identical. A lovely drop! Original rating: 500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger, under its alias "Branded Drinks Coal Fire Porter". (Are you sure they are exactly the same beer?) ABV is 4.6%. BB date Oct 08. Pitch black colour, large tan head. Lovely aroma of chocolate, roasted malts and plums, with a hint of liquorice. Distinctly roasty flavour with notes of coffee, hints of peat, smoke and tar, bitter finish. The mouthfeel could have been fuller, but this is still a good beer!

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

May 2013: On tap at Haand Festival 2013, Drammen. Black colour, creamy tan head. Mild but pleasant roasty aroma, notes of dark chocolate and mild coffee. Very well balanced flavour, distinctly roasty without ever being rough and coarse, smooth coffee and dark chocolate again, decent hops throughout.

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

Sept. 2006: RBESG 2006 Grand Tasting. ABV is 6.3%, OG is 1.070. Lovely chocolate aroma, roasty with notes of toffee too, hints of tar and liquorice. Flavour is malty and moderately roasty, pastry notes. Another fine beer from one of my favourite breweries.

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

Cask at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, beige head. Nice roasty aroma and flavour, dry, with notes of mild coffee and chocolate, hints of roasted nuts and prunes.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.8%, IBU 30. Very dark brown to black colour, large to moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts and chocolate, hints of mild coffee. Smooth flavour, roast malts, chocolate and mild coffee again, also a hint of caramel, but not too sweet. Moderate bittering hops in the finish. Well balanced and easy drinking.

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

June 2016: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 7.0%. BB date 08.11.2013. Lumpy sediment in the bottle. Cloudy and very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of chocolate, cocoa and mild coffee, hints of vanilla. The flavour is fresh and slightly fruity, fairly dry, again with notes of chocolate / cocoa, hints of vanilla and a whiff of smoke, moderate hops in the finish.

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

Feb. 2014: 750 ml bottle, a gift from Mr. Papsø himself, many thanks! ABV is 6%. The glass fills completely with beige foam, and it takes a long time for the dark ruby beer to appear. Pleasant aroma of passion fruit and dark malts, hints of chocolate. Attractive and smooth fruity flavour, where the passion fruit blends in surprisingly well with the dark malts, probably because the roasted notes are not dominant. Moderate hops.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, large and creamy beige head. Moderate malty aroma. Smooth and pleasant flavour, hints of chocolate but not too sweet, also hints of mild coffee. Only faint hints of smoked malts and vanilla.

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

440 ml can, Boxcar Winter Solstice Robust Porter, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.0%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Small beige head. Aroma of roast malts, dark chocolate, mild coffee and roasted nuts. Soft mouthfeel. Pleasant flavour with the same elements as the aroma, not too sweet. Low bitterness.

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

March 2013: On tap (keg) at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Opaque very dark brown to black colour, large beige head. Fruity and roasty aroma, notes of roasted malts, coffee and dark chocolate. Smooth and pleasant flavour, moderately roasty with notes of dark chocolate, also some dark fruits in the background, not too sweet. A nice and very drinkable porter.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of lightly roasted and smoked malts, hints of chocolate. Smoked malts dominate the flavour, not too sweet.

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

March 2013: 500 ml bottle, probably from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 4.4%. Dark brown colour, moderate off-white to beige head. Sweetish aroma of malt sugar and unfermented wort, also notes of bread and dust. Very sweet, sugary and malty flavour, reminiscent of a Danish dark "hvidtøl", but despite the sweetness, the mouthfeel is fairly thin. No hops detected. Not awful, though - just not something I’ll buy again.