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

500 ml bottle, as Nibe Styrbord Dark Ale, from SuperBest Hjørring. ABV is 5.5%. Black colour, large to moderate tan head. Moderately roasty aroma, notes of chocolate / cocoa and mild coffee, hints of smoke and a touch of fruity hops. The flavour is also moderately roasty, notes of dark chocolate but not too sweet, also notes of mild coffee, hints of liquorice and smoke, some fruity and resinous hops throughout, roasty and hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste. Quite enjoyable.

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

Cask, gravity dispense, at the Bree Louise, London. Black colour, reddish brown in the highlights, low beige head. Minimal aroma detected, some weak roasty notes. Roasty flavour, notes of coffee, quite dry.

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

Cask at The Harp, London. Very dark colour, nearly black, reddish in the highlights. Low tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, hints of coffee and dark chocolate. Soft and smooth mouthfeel. The flavour is roasty with coffee notes, medium dry. Decent enough.

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

Cask (handpump) at the Darlington Spring Thing Beer Festival 2011. ABV is 4.4%. Very dark brown colour, cloudy, nearly black. Aroma of moderately roasted malts, thin coffee, fruit, chocolate and vanilla. The flavour is very fruity for a stout, moderate roasty notes of coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Quite drinkable.

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

Cask conditioned at The Quakerhouse, Darlington. ABV is 5.0%. Very dark ruby colour, nearly black. Moderate tan head. Roasty aroma, notes of dark chocolate. I expected an "Irish" dry stout, but the flavour is surprisingly sweet and sugary. The mouthfeel is not very rich though. Roasty notes, black sweetened coffee, some chocolate.

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

500 ml bottle, bought by my wife on the DFDS ferry Oslo - Copenhagen. ABV is 6.0%. Opaque black colour, big tan head. Nice aroma of liquorice (no surprise), moderately roasted malts and coffee, also distinct notes of smoke. The flavour has distinct notes of liquorice, but the beer is not too sweet. Also notes of moderately roasted malts and mild coffee, just a hint of smoke. A hint of chili in the finish. A quite nice and drinkable stout, but if you hate liquorice, this is obviously not the beer for you.

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

500 ml clear bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 7%. Black colour, large tan head. Roasty aroma with notes of coffee, hints of dark chocolate and woodwork, also an initial hint of fruity acidity. Fairly smooth mouthfeel. The flavour is medium sweet with notes of dark malts, coffee, chocolate and molasses. Some fruitiness too, but the bitterness is quite moderate. Pretty good stuff.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, from Dagli’brugsen Skødstrup. ABV is 5.3%. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Large tan head. Pleasant roasty aroma, notes of coffee. The flavour is roasty and quite dry, notes of coffee, hints of liquorice. Fairly light bodied, but nice enough.

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

500 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 6.5%. Black colour, large brown head. Roasty aroma, strong notes of coffee, hints of dark chocolate. The flavour is roasty and medium sweet, strong notes of coffee again. A nice stout, but it would be probably be tasty even without the coffee, which I assume the nursing mother and her baby wouldn’t miss before they go to sleep.

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

At Copenhagen Beer Festival. ABV was listed as 7.5%. Dark brown colour. Aroma and flavour of coffee, vanilla and cinnamon, well balanced. Very enjoyable - a beer I’d be happy to drink at the Yuletide. Well, at any time of the year, actually.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, a gift. ABV is 4.9%. Black colour, large to moderate brown head, nice lacing. The aroma has moderate roasty notes (mild coffee, chocolate and liquorice), also strong fruity and acidic notes (hops, lemons and orange peel), hints of coriander. The aroma seems a bit misplaced, but that might just be due to old habit. Smooth flavour, very pleasant to drink, mild roasty notes. Not much acidity in the flavour, just a hint of orange peel in the background. Moderate hops. Not sure if I could identify the coriander, if I did not know that it should be there. Don’t know if March of the Penguins will be imported to Norway (most other WB beers are, so it is likely that it will) - I would buy again.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 7.5%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of mild coffee and oak, hints of bourbon. Moderately roasty flavour, mild coffee, moderate notes of bourbon and vanilla.

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

500 ml bottle, a Christmas present from my nephew Einar, thanks! ABV is 4.6%. Black colour, big to moderate tan head, nice lacing. Moderate aroma of roasted malts, some fruity hints. The flavour is crisp, fairly dry and moderately roasty throughout, hints of lemons (is Cascade in a stout really a good idea?). Very drinkable, but not the most impressive stout I’ve had.

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

750 ml corked bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 3.9%. OG 1035, FG 1009. Brewed 18. March 2010, bottled 15. April 2010. Bittering hop is Premiant, late hop Saaz. 38.4 EBU. Very carbonated, the glass fills completely by a tan foamy head, and the very dark brown (nearly black) beer appears slowly. Nice aroma of roasted malts and chocolate, some woody notes too. Light bodied, quite dry flavour with moderate roasty notes, hints of coffee, charcoal, tobacco and wood. Drinkable, but not impressive.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Brewed with fresh sage and ginger. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Big tan head. Nice roasty aroma, notes of coffee, hints of dark chocolate and herbs. Good creamy mouthfeel. The flavour is distinctly roasty and spicy, but the ginger is not burning. Notes of coffee and dark chocolate again, good bitterness in the finish. Some ashes and wood in the aftertaste. This must be one of Holbæk Bryg’s better beers.

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

Cask conditioned at the Lord Moon of the Mall, London. ABV is 4.5%. Black colour, moderate creamy tan head. Moderate aroma, notes of dark chocolate and mild coffee. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. The flavour is moderately roasty with notes of coffee and dark chocolate, medium dry. Nice one.

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

500 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 6.5% - unless there is a typo on the rear bottle label (brewery website says 8.5%). Pitch black colour, big brown head. Fine aroma of tar and strong coffee, also hints of smoke, salt water and liquorice. The flavour is smoky and salty with notes of tar and strong bitter coffee. Also bitter hops in the finish. Quite dry. Good stuff, but I’d like a little more sweetness.

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

660 ml bottle, bought in Denmark. ABV is 6.5%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Big beige head. "Dusty" aroma with notes of coffee, hints of chocolate. Moderately roasty flavour with notes of coffee and dark chocolate (which indeed are among the ingredients), not very sweet. The hops are fairly subdued. Light mouthfeel, the alcohol is well hidden. Decent enough to drink, but not the greatest stout I’ve had.

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

500 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, as Mylius-Erichsen Stout Mørketid. ABV is 5%. Black colour, big tan head. Nice roasted aroma with notes of coffee, hints of dark chocolate and leather. Soft mouthfeel, fairly light bodied for a stout, but nice. The flavour has moderate roasty notes, mild coffee, hints of chocolate, not very sweet, a slight fruity acidity in the finish. Very modest hops.

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

330 ml bottle, a gift. ABV is 5.8%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Moderate aroma of dark malts, hints of chocolate and mild coffee. Light bodied, thin mouthfeel for its strength. Lacks the full and creamy mouthfeel of a good stout. The flavour is quite dry, notes of roasted malts and thin coffee. The dusty bitterness in the finish is too moderate. Drinkable of course, but very far from the most impressive stouts I’ve had.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.6%. Black colour, huge tan head. Moderate but nice aroma of mild coffee with just a hint of aniseed. Nice and full mouthfeel, medium sweet, roasty notes of coffee and dark chocolate, also moderate notes of aniseed and fennel seeds. Okay.

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

330 ml bottle, as Drum Brew The Gathering Stout, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.5%. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of roast malts, caramel, mild coffee, chocolate, liquorice and fennel. Medium sweet flavour, with the same elements. Moderate hops.

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

Feb. 2016: 500 ml bottle, from Matkroken Stokka. BB date 28. April 2014. ABV is 4.4%. Black colour, moderate but lasting tan head. Sweetish malty and lightly roasty aroma, more malts and caramel than coffee, also notes of chocolate and vanilla. Smooth flavour, delightful lightly roasted quality malts, some sweetness but not too much, notes of chocolate, toast and mild coffee, moderate hops. Definitely a beer I’d buy again.

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.