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

330 ml bottle, batch #96, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.7%. Gusher bottle, insanely overcarbonated. 1/3 of the content left the bottle before I had a chance to pour. The glass fills completely by beige foam, and the black beer appears only very slowly. Moderate aroma of roast malts and wild yeast. Thin and slightly acidic mouthfeel. Flavour of roast malts and coffee, dry. Some bittering hops in the finish. This batch should have been withdrawn from the market.

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

500 ml bottle, from Gulating Ølutsalg, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Huge beige head. Aroma of roast malts, dark chocolate and coffee, a hint of liquorice and earthy hops. Fairly light bodied. Medium dry flavour with the same elements as the aroma.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Egersund. ABV is 6.5%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Moderate aroma of roast malts, cocoa / chocolate and oranges. The flavour is citric and moderately roasty, notes of cocoa, distinct notes of oranges and hops. Not too sweet. Refreshing.

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

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet Egersund. ABV is 8.7%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Moderate aroma of peated malts, a hint of prunes. Roasty flavour, notes of peated malts and prunes, a hint of chocolate, but not very fruity, nor very sweet. Okay.

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

May 2012: Sample at Copenhagen Beer Festival. Very dark brown colour. Moderate aroma of whisky cask and caramel. Rich and fairly sweet flavour, whisky cask and caramel again, but the hops are far too moderate for my taste ...

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Egersund. ABV is 8.2%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Sourish aroma of malts, leftover cold coffee, decaying dark berries. Light bodied for its strength. Flavour of roast malts and coffee, prunes and liquorice, some bittering hops. Weird and unbalanced, the aroma ruins much of the pleasure.

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

500 ml bottle, batch #263, from Vinmonopolet Egersund. ABV is 11%. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of roast malts, chocolate, raspberries and raspberry drops. The flavour has the same elements, but is not quite as sweet as I feared. Won't buy again though.

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

Beer No. 5 of my 7 beers flight at the brewery tap. Black colour, creamy beige head. Dark chocolate and coffee in both aroma and flavour. Hoppy finish. Fairly smooth and pleasant to drink.

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

750 ml bottle, batch #2110, from Vinmonopolet Egersund. ABV is 8.0%. Black colour, large to moderate beige head. Aroma of roast malts, hints of chocolate, liquorice, spices including anise. Flavour of the same elements, not too sweet.

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

200 ml bottle, from a minimarket in Funchal. ABV is 5.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, hints of coffee and dark chocolate. Smooth flavour, with the same elements. Nice enough to drink, but has no real «personality».

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

Nov. 2019: On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Black colour, large tan head. Aroma of sour cherries and chocolate. Slightly sour flavour of cherries and chocolate, not too sweet.

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

Dec. 2020: On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Black colour, small beige head. Aroma of cheesecake (yes, really), some vinous notes too. Flavour of roast malts, mild coffee, cheesecake, cherry jelly.

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

Feb. 2016: 500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Madla. ABV is 6.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate aroma of roast malts and coffee, hints of chocolate, a whiff of vomit. Medium dry flavour, roast malts and coffee again, also dark bitter chocolate, tar and unsweetened liquorice.

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

330 ml can, as BrewDog Night Hawk Coffee Stout, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Black colour, large brown head. Sweetish aroma of roast malts, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and coffee. Fairly sweet flavour with the same elements, moderate hops.

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

Oct. 2016: 330 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Large beige head. Aroma of moderately roasted malts, hints of caramel, chocolate and mild coffee. The flavour is slightly on the sweet side, smooth and well balanced. Notes of moderately roasted malts, caramel malts, coffee and dark chocolate, a hint of liquorice, moderate hops. A very promising beer from Svalbard.

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

500 ml bottle, at the Dalane Brygghus restaurant in Egersund. ABV is 6.3%. Includes some peat smoked malts. Some sediment in the bottle. Black colour, big tan head - good looking. Aroma of liquorice, chocolate and coffee. Roasty flavour with notes of peat smoke, English liquorice, tar and coffee. Good stuff!

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. All bottled beers from this brewery are filtered to remove all remaining yeast (but possibly not pasteurised?). Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Low beige head of poor retention. Nice aroma and flavour of roasted malts, notes of dark chocolate and mild coffee. Fairly dry, a slight acidity in the finish. A decent enough stout, but not so very special.

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

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Black colour, low head. Surprisingly moderate aroma, some malts, hints of coffee. The flavour is better: roasted malts, notes of coffee and chocolate.

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

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Dark brown to black colour. Moderate roasty aroma. Sourish / acidic flavour. From a stout you definitely expect something better than this.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

250 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.2%. Black colour, creamy brown head. Strong and sweet aroma of treacle / caramel, roasted malts, molasses, bakery and chocolate. Nice! Very sweet flavour, largely the same elements as in the aroma, but far too sugary and overwhelmingly sweet for me.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Pitch black colour, big brown head. Nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee and chocolate, hints of dark fruits and vanilla. The flavour has a distinct roasty character with strong notes of espresso coffee and dark bitter chocolate, some malty sweetness, bitter finish. Excellent rich mouthfeel.

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

350 ml bottle, at Café Luna, Aalborg. ABV was 5.8%. Served in a "Trappistes Rochefort" (!) glass. Black colour, low beige head. Nice moderately roasty aroma and flavour, notes of mild coffee and dark chocolate, well balanced hops in the finish. Smooth and pleasant to drink - would buy again.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, brew #2, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. Black colour, huge and creamy brown head which lasts too long, it takes ages before you actually reach the beer below. Very nice roasted aroma, notes of coffee, chocolate and pine forest. The flavour is rather acidic and citrussy for a stout, but not vinegary. There is also a distinct roastiness with notes of coffee. Not entirely successful, and there is nothing here to associate this beer with Christmas/Yuletide for me.

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

500 ml bottle, kindly brought home from Copenhagen by my wife. Brew #201, ABV is 7.0%. Black colour, huge chocolate brown creamy head. Very nice roasted aroma, dark malts, chocolate, coffee. Hints of dark dried fruits as the beer warms up. Creamy mouthfeel. The flavour has distinct notes of coffee and roasted malts, also notes of chocolate and English liquorice, with a firm roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish. Good stuff!

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

330 ml green bottle. Very dark reddish brown colour (not entirely black), fine tan head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of roasted malts, chocolate and wood. Soft and smooth mouthfeel. The roastiness in the flavour is very moderate for a stout, some coffee notes, there is also a noticeable fruitiness with a light acidity. Easy drinking. Not the greatest stout in the world, but a nice try from Aass.