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

August 2014: Shared 500 ml bottle, probably from CITTI-Markt Flensburg. Deep ruby colour, moderate off-white head. Strong aroma of strawberry syrup and strawberry candy, with an initial hint of vomit. Sweet flavour, strawberry syrup and strawberry chewing gum galore, mild roasty notes in the background. Not something I’ll buy again. Ever.

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

April 2022: On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Very dark brown to black colour, tan head. A classic porter this one. Moderate roasty notes in aroma and flavour, some "burnt" notes, fairly dry. Enough prune fruitiness to make it very drinkable. Jolly good.

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

November 2020: Shared can, from Vinmonopolet Hillevåg. The best beer of the annual Yule beer tasting 2020 at Lilland Bryggerihotell. "Riskrem Festive Porter" - now, that's something for you! Black (or very dark brown) colour, small head. And the brewers are not lying: Both aroma and flavour have notes of cherries, vanilla, almond, cream and cinnamon. Sweet, but not too much. The roastiness is very subdued. A delightful beer. *2023 vintage, on tap: Mainly the same, but the vanilla seems a bit overdone this year.

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

Small sample from tap at Mandag i Annen, Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, tan head. Aroma and flavour of roast malts, black rye bread, coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Enjoyable.

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

October 2020: 500 ml bottle, from Gulating ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Nearly black colour, large beige head. Moderate roasty aroma, hints of chocolate, prunes and mild coffee. The flavour is medium dry and smooth, still with decent malts, and the same hints as in the aroma. Moderate hops. Easy drinking.

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

February 2020: 500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.6%. Very dark brown to black colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of dark malts, prunes, dark chocolate, caramel, some vinous hints. Flavour with the same elements (but no vinous hints here), also mild coffee, moderate hops in the finish. Okay.

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

Small sample, on tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, moderate tan head. Distinct aroma and flavour of chocolate and coffee, hints of vanilla. Not too sweet.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

330 ml can, as Dugges Superior Porter, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.6%. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Aroma of grain and dust, hints of mild coffee and chocolate. The medium dry flavour has notes of chocolate and mild coffee, moderate bittering hops.

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

330 ml can, as Põhjala Must Kuld Paper Mill Coffee Porter, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.8%. Black colour. large to moderate creamy tan head. Aroma of coffee and roast malts, hints of dark chocolate and liquorice. Sweet and malty flavour, notes of sweetened coffee, roast malts and dark chocolate. Moderate bittering hops.

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

440 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.0%. Nearly black (= very dark reddish brown) colour, moderate off-white to beige head. Nice aroma of roast malts, dark chocolate and mild coffee, hints of liquorice and smoke. Smooth flavour, slightly sweet, with the same elements as the aroma, moderate piney hops.

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

February 2013: 660 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 4.7%. Dark brown to ruby colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Dryish roasty aroma, notes of coffee and dust, hints of woodwork. The dry flavour has also notes of coffee, hints of dark chocolate, unsweetened liquorice and wood, hints of ashes. Medium bitter finish.

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

February 2013: 660 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 4.7%. Dark brown to ruby colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Dryish roasty aroma, notes of coffee and dust, hints of woodwork. The dry flavour has also notes of coffee, hints of dark chocolate, unsweetened liquorice and wood, hints of ashes. Medium bitter finish.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. 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: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Large tan head. Very nice aroma of chocolate (reminds me of the Norwegian "Kong Haakon Konfekt"), roasted malts and coffee. The flavour is roasty and fruity with a moderate acidity. Notes of coffee, chocolate, prunes and liquorice. Relatively light bodied, but nice.

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. Dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Large and creamy tan head. Pleasant vinous aroma, notes of prunes and tobacco, hints of liquorice, chocolate and red wine vinegar. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy. Flavour of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate, a hint of liquorice. Moderate hops in the finish. Good beer!

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

500 ml bottle, bought in Scarborough. ABV is 6.5%. Black coloured beer, ruby in the highlights. Large to moderate tan head. Pleasant roasty and vinous aroma with notes of chocolate, coffee and claret. Full and rich moutheel. The flavour abounds with chocolate, also coffee and roasted barley. Excellent beer.

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

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, as Meantime Chocolate Porter, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. The beer tasted even better now than the first time, and the chocolate is not too much. Lovely! I’m upping it a couple points. Original rating: 330 ml bottle, bought at Peckham’s, Glasgow (£1.99). ABV is 6.5%. Nearly black opaque colour, dark brown / ruby in the highlights. Large tan head, does not last forever. Distinct aroma of chocolate / cocoa, also notes of roasted malts and vanilla. The flavour is quite smooth and sweet with a very moderate roasty bitterness, again with distinct notes of chocolate / cocoa and vanilla - a bit too much for me. Still a nice "change of pace" beer.

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

500 ml blue "liqueur design" bottle, bought in Edinburgh. "Lote 00148". ABV is 4.7%. Black coloured beer, reddish brown in the highlights. Large to moderate tan head. Unusual aroma with notes of balsamic vinegar, dark fermenting fruits, ensilage, burned rubber and glue, hints of chocolate and liquorice - good and not-so-good at the same time. The flavour is moderately roasty, fruity and acidic with distinct notes of smoke, hints of liquorice. The mouthfeel is a bit thin. Very far from being the best porter in the world, but worth a try.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting, as Craigmill Strathaven Trumpeter Dark Ale. Dark ruby colour, creamy tan head. Very nice aroma of wood, tar, roasted malts and liquorice. Roasty flavour, quite dry, hints of wood.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Nice roasty and oaky aroma and flavour, hints of plums and chocolate. Quite good this one!

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

330 ml bottle, from Systembolaget. ABV is 5.5%. Black colour, big brown head. Lovely aroma of roasted malts, dark bitter chocolate and coffee, hints of English liquorice. The flavour is roasty with notes of coffee, hints of liquorice, dark chocolate and burnt toast. Some fruity notes in the background. Distinct bitter finish, both from the hops and the roasted malts.

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

On tap at the brewpub. Despite the name, this is not a stout, nor was it intended to be. The brewer says it’s "more like a porter", and I won’t protest to that - but I wouldn’t protest if someone called it a "dark mild" or even a "fairly dark brown ale" either. Dark reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Nice aroma and flavour with mild roasty notes, hints of mild coffee and chocolate. Flavour of caramel malts too.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Also kindly supplied to me by Ole_R, from Fenaknoken, Oslo. Bottle conditioned, ABV is 4.7%. Black colour, with a big to moderate tan head, no lacing. Nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee and dark chocolate, just a hint of liquorice. The flavour and mouthfeel are somehat acidic, watery / thin and bland for a porter, there is a moderate roastiness but not much else to interest me. Metallic finish. Disappointing.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008. Black colour, low head. Nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee, liquorice and dark chocolate. Roasty flavour with just a subtle fruity acidity.

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

330 ml bottle, thanks to oh6gdx and chris_o. ABV is 5.5%. Cloudy dark brown colour, nearly black, reddish in the highlights. Creamy and lasting tan head. The aroma is malty and somehow "unfresh" (I wouldn’t have thought of "beef stock" myself, but yes, you’ve got a point there, yngwie!), the honey is there, but without the light and floral notes that usually accompany it. No fruitiness at all in the aroma. The flavour is somewhat better: plenty of malts with a moderate roastiness, fairly sweet, notes of mild coffee, caramel, some chocolate and of course honey. Hardly any fruitiness, and not much bitterness. Not particularly well balanced, and is far from being my favourite porter.