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

Rerate, 750 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6%, vintage 2016. Cloudy golden colour, large white head. Fresh aroma of lemons and brettanomyces. Lemony sour flavour, also "spicy" brettanomyces notes. I'm upping it a point or two. Original rating: Sample from bottle at Edle Dråper-messen, Stavanger. Pale straw colour, hazy. Lemony aroma and flavour, more sour than any other saison I’ve had. Refreshing? Oh yes. A masterpiece? Hardly ... Worth spending a fair amount of money to buy a 750 ml bottle? It’s up to you, but I doubt I will.

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

375 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6%. Slightly hazy pale golden colour, large white head. Fresh, fruity and spicy aroma of saison yeast, some herbal hops. High level of carbonation. The flavour has spicy saison yeast and herbal hops.

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

375 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5%. Very pale straw colour, slightly hazy. Huge white head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of spicy saison yeast and some fruit. The flavour is spicy / yeasty and citrussy, mid between dry and sweet. Moderate hops. Fairly refreshing.

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

341 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 9.5%. Black colour, large tan head. Very nice roasty and spicy aroma. High level of carbonation. Roasty and spicy flavour too, notes of coffee, dark chocolate and black pepper, distinct bittering hops. Excellent beer.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7%. Pale golden colour, huge white head. Spicy, yeasty and somewhat soapy aroma. Dry and yeasty flavour, with mild spicy notes. Moderate hops. Not bad, but a bit too yeasty for my taste.

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

375 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5%. Golden colour, huge white head. Aroma of spicy saison yeast, lactic acid, farmhouse, honey and herbal hops, a hint of lemon. Spicy and slightly sour flavour with a hint of lemon, a hint of honey but not really sweet, moderate herbal hops.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

355 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.3%. Slightly hazy pale golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of spicy saison yeast, some dust. The flavour has plenty of spicy saison yeast, slightly dry, some fruit. Moderate bittering hops.

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

750 ml bottle at Øl & Mat-festivalen, Oslo. ABV is 8.5%. The beer starts pouring out of the bottle by itself. Cloudy amber colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of Belgian ale yeast, fruity and spicy notes. Fruity, spicy and yeasty flavour, quite nice. Very moderate hops.

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

750 ml bottle, blend 3, courtesy of Cardinal Pub 6 Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Pink colour, large pinkish off-white head. Strong aroma of oxidised cider apples, red wine vinegar, farmhouse kitchen, oak and flowers. Moderately sour flavour with fruity notes (rose hips). Peppery and hoppy dry finish. Quite interesting, but not my favourite beer.

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

355 ml bottle, from Ølkonsortiet, Aalborg. ABV is 6%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Huge and lasting beige head. Pleasant "Belgian" ale aroma with spicy / peppery and fruity notes. Hints of coriander, banana, citrus and cloves. The flavour is citrussy, possibly a bit more sour than intended? (slight infection??), moderately spicy / peppery, just a hint of dark malts and coffee. Okay, but not as great as I hoped. Won’t buy again.

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

Shared 330 ml bottle, from the brewery. ABV is 7%. Cloudy (end of bottle) golden colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian saison yeast, distinct spicy and fruity notes. High level of carbonation in the mouth. Very nice and spicy "Belgian" flavour, also some fruity notes.

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

Shared 750 ml bottle, at Håndverkerstuene, Oslo. ABV 6.8%. Hazy deep golden colour, moderate white head. Strong spicy aroma, also farmhouse notes, hints of oaked cider. Spicy and fruity flavour, some acidity but not unpleasant. Decent hops. A good and interesting beer.

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

Shared magnum bottle at RBNAG 2011, as Saison Dupont Cuvée Dry Hopping, vintage 2011. ABV 6.5%. Hazy straw colour, moderate white head. Grassy hops in the aroma. Decent hoppy bitterness in the flavour. Can’t really say that it’s so much better than the ordinary Saison Dupont - but might be able to tell the difference if I sampled them side by side?

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011. Murky brown colour, large off-white head. Special aroma, notes of farmhouse, wood and ripe berries. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011. Cloudy golden colour, large white head. Lovely aroma of lemons, lime and pomerans. The flavour has a citrussy sourness but is not extreme. Fairly dry and light bodied.

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

750 ml corked cottled, as North Coast Le Merle Saison (Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale), courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.9%. Slightly hazy golden colour, huge white head. Sweetish aroma of syrup, farmhouse yeast and rotting fruits / stale berries. High level of carbonation in the mouth. The flavour is better than the aroma, medium sweet and moderately spicy, decent hops in the finish. Quite nice to drink, should also go well with many foods.

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

330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. A Belgian Strong Ale, closer to an Abbey Dubbel than a Saison. ABV is 8.2%. Very dark brown colour, moderate cream-coloured head, nice lacing. Strong sweetish and "perfumed" aroma, notes of flowers (lilies?) and dark dried fruits, also notes of caramel and brown kandi sugar. The flavour is sweet and malty, notes of caramel and brown kandi sugar again, also spicy notes, hints of anise, tolerable hops in the finish. Quite enjoyable.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Cloudy brownish golden colour, moderate white head. Very nice aroma of spicy and fruity Belgian saison yeast, sweetish malts and fruity hops. The flavour is moderately sweet with fruity and spicy notes, and with a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. A bitter "bite" remains throughout the long aftertaste.

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

750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Moderately hazy golden colour, large white head. Pleasant aroma of mild spices, stewed yellow fruits and spicy saison yeast. The flavour is not too sweet, fairly refreshing, again with mild spicy notes. Moderate to low bitterness.

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

October 2018: On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy pale golden colour, white head. Aroma and flavour of "spicy" saison yeast and herbal hops, can't detect the blackberries. A hint of oak, moderate bitterness. A good beer anyhow.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.7%. Brewed on organic Norwegian grains and kveik. Hazy orange to brown colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of grain, caramel and ripe fruits. Flavour of malts and ripe fruits, hints of toffee, low bitternes. Nice and drinkable, but does not really call for another one.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

375 ml bottle, 2024 vintage, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 7.1%. Murky yellow to orange colour, moderate white head. Nice aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, sour fruits, oak and scrumpy. Sour flavour, more of a gueuze than a saison IMO, notes of sour fruits (including lemon), lactic acid, oak and apple cider vinegar.

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

December 2015: 330 ml bottle, batch #47, from the brewery. ABV is 5.6%, 50 IBU. Golden colour, clear first, hazy when the yeast is poured. Large white head. Spicy and fruity aroma, also notes of salt water and herbs. Spicy and herbal flavour, probably both from the yeast and the hops (Galaxy and Pacific Gem), neither too sweet nor too dry, citrussy and slightly salty finish. Good beer. January 2024: Sampled on tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Still a very nice saison.

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

Rerate, 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. Gusher bottle. Same impression as first sample. Too yeasty. Original rating: Small sample from 330 ml bottle at Vectura-messe, sampled too warm. Blonde colour. Yeasty, spicy and fruity aroma. The flavour appears a bit too yeasty for me, but that may be due to the temperature. Light bodied for its strength. Will sample again, and re-rate then.

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

March 2017: 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%. Hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Strong fruity and spicy aroma of Belgian ale yeast. Spicy and yeasty flavour, medium sweet, with notes of white kandij sugar and stewed fruits. Moderate hops.