Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Bottle, RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Dark brown colour, tan head. Malty and oaky aroma. The flavour is very malty, too sweet and alcoholic for me.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Reddish brown colour. Hoppy aroma with oaky and vinous notes. Very malty, sweet and alcoholic flavour.

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

500 ml bottle, kindly brought home from Copenhagen by my wife. Brew #213, ABV is now 7.5%. Hazy golden colour, big white head. Strong sweetish and "perfumed" aroma, "wheaty" notes (despite wheat not being one of the ingredients), notes of bananas and citrussy hops (Cascade), hints of spices. The flavour is sweet and fruity, again with hints of spices, alcohol is noticeable. A moderate but distinct hoppy / grapefruity bitterness in the finish. Okay.

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.2%. Dark brown to ruby colour, big to moderate light tan head. Nice but surprisingly moderate aroma of floral and fruity hops. "Arrogance" shows its face in the flavour, with a distinct and aggressive hoppy bitterness from start to finish. There is a certain malty sweetness in the background, but I cannot say the Arrogant Bastard belongs in the "well balanced" category. It is probably not meant to belong there. Perhaps I am "not worthy" after all? My wife said she liked it, though. Spooky ...

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

On tap at The Rover, Göteborg, as Schneider & Brooklyn Hopfen Weisse. ABV was 8.2%. Deep golden to amber colour, hazy. Moderate creamy head. Hoppy sweetish aroma with notes of ripe berries. The flavour is sweet, hoppy and alcoholic - too sweet and alcoholic for me. Less bitter than expected.

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

Nov. 2019: Shared bottle at local tasting. ABV is 13.75%. Reddish brown colour, small off-white head. Distinct aroma and flavour of bourbon and oak, hints of coconut.

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

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 16%, 50 IBU. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of sherry, oak, chocolate, honey and juniper. Vinous flavour with the same elements, some fruity acidity. Easy drinking for its strength. Excellent beer, but hardly worth the outrageous price.

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

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, at an outrageous price. Purchased at Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 16%, IBU 50. Black colour, small beige head. Aroma of roast malts, mild coffee, dark chocolate, oak and "spicy" white wine. Excellent vinous and oaky flavour, chocolate and honey notes, raisins, a hint of juniper, sharpish bittering hops in the finish. Warming mouth- and throatfeel.

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

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, batch #2500, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 15.5%, IBU 50. Very dark brown colour, small tan head. Aroma of dark malts and chocolate, distinct notes of juniper and honey. Sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, hints of dark dried fruits. Warming mouthfeel.

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

Sep. 2016: 650 ml bottle, as Rubicon Rosebud Special Ale, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Beautiful reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of malts, caramel, brown bread, mild spices and herbal hops. Malty flavour (10 different types of malted barley are used in the grist), mid between sweet and dry, with caramel and some mild roasty notes, including hints of roasted nuts, Spicy and herbal German and Czech hops in the finish.

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

Dec. 2013: Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting. Cloudy brown colour, huge off-white head. Sweetish aroma of old jam, malts, herbal hops and oak. The flavour is medium sweet and vinous, notes of raisins and oak.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle in cardboard box, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 10%. Brown colour, moderate to small off-white head. Aroma of rum, oak, brown sugar and mild spices. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements, moderate hops.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

(700 ml bottle, bought in Denmark). Murky brown colour, large tan head. Surprisingly weak initial aroma - Hallertauer with faint notes of malts, spices and brown sugar. Improves a bit as the beer warms up. Flavour is much stronger, fuller and richer - but unfortunately also too sweet. Spices (coriander, aniseed, cardamom and more?), molasses and plenty of malts. The brewers have obviously used far too much brown sugar. They have also missed the target completely with their choice of hops - Hallertauer Mittelfrüh in a strong Belgian ale, WTF? I’m not a hops expert, but this beer obviously needs hops with more character, and in larger quantities. And PLEASE, less sugar to get rid of that syrupy mouthfeel!! Acceptable as a dessert beer, but not with the main Christmas meal. Incredibly, Carlsberg claim (on the rear label) that this beer has a "DRY(!!) and light ACIDIC structure". Who wrote that? Winnie the Pooh? Better luck next year, Carlsberg!

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

Rerate 2004, 500 ml bottle conditioned: Recipe has been changed this year. The beer is now much darker, nearly black. Good tan head. Complex aroma and flavour, a distinct roastiness but also spices and leather. Full rich flavour, bitter aftertaste - this is a damn good beer!! Rating 2003: (500 ml bottle). Christmas/Yule ale from Norway’s sole uncompromising micro brewery. Only 5000 bottles made. Bottle conditioned. Deep copper colour, hazy only when yeast is poured. Moderate head. Aroma of oak, leather, caramel and spices. Flavour is malty and spicy, alcohol is evident. Drier than I expected. Good bitterness. A good beer, but after all the good things I’ve heard about it, I expected even more.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, as Bøgedal No. 173, from Vinmonopolet Valkendorfsgate, Bergen (spesialutvalget). ABV is 6.5%. The cork popped to the ceiling, but the beer did not gush out. Very moderate carbonation in the glass. Very dark brown colour, cloudy, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Very nice aroma of caramel, bakery and spices, hints of liquorice. The flavour is "christmasy" with notes of caramel malts and season’s spices, also notes of chocolate, mild coffee and liquorice. Moderate but noticeable hops. Quite good.

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

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, as Port Brewing Old Viscosity, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.0%. Black colour (dark ruby when held to the light), huge tan head. Lovely aroma of moderately roasted malts, mild coffee, chocolate, oak and leather. Full and rich flavour, malty predominance with much the same elements as the aroma, moderate but sufficient hops in the finish. Well balanced, immensely pleasant to drink. Warming mouthfeel, but the alcohol is otherwise well hidden in the flavour.

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

12.7 fl.oz. corked bottle, as Port Brewing Older Viscosity, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 12.0%. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Intense aroma of sweet malts, bourbon whiskey, vanilla and oak, also moderate roasty notes, hints of chocolate and liquorice. Very sweet (too sweet?) and intense flavour, sweet malts galore, notes of bourbon, oak and vanilla again, also notes of mild coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice. Moderate hops.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar, as Deschutes Jubel 2010 Once a Decade Ale. ABV is 10%. Very dark brown colour. Extremely malty intense aroma and flavour, caramel, oak and dark fruits. The flavour is to some extent balanced by moderate hops. Nice aftertaste.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV is 7.6%. A blend of 67% IPA and 33% stout. Black colour, moderate beige head. Nice aroma of fruity American hops, just a hint of roastiness. Pleasant roasty and very hoppy flavour.

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

750 ml bottle, kindly shared by abemorsten. ABV is 9%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Nutty, malty and moderately roasty aroma and flavour, fairly sweet, rich mouthfeel.

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

355 ml bottle, as Lagunitas The Censored Rich Copper Ale, from Ølkonsortiet, Aalborg. ABV not mentioned on the label. Amber to copper colour, moderate off-white head. Fairly nice aroma of caramel and fruity hops, hints of old orange marmalade. The medium sweet flavour has also notes of caramel and a little fruit, but lacks hops and "freshness". Drinkable, but I expected more from Lagunitas.

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

330 ml bottle, as BrewDog Hops Kill ? Imperial Red Ale, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 7.8%. Mahogany coloured beer, moderate but creamy off-white head. Lovely aroma of fruity hops, notes of crushed gooseberries, citrus and tropical fruits, hints of herbs. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, with fruity and piney notes, bitter but not too much. There is also a sufficient malty sweetness to balance the hops. This is one of BrewDog’s better beers.

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

On tap at HaandBryggeriet Beer Festival, Drammen. Deep orange to red colour, low head. Strong aroma of peat smoke and juniper smoke. The flavour is dominated by peat smoke and juniper smoke throughout. One-dimensional, not my cup of tea.

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

Shared 355 ml bottle at local tasting. ABV is 9.2%. Dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of molasses and oak. The flavour is better than batch 6000, less sweet (but still sweet enough) with a more distinct hop profile, notes of oak and tobacco.

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

355 ml bottle, from Ølkonsortiet, Aalborg. Batch # 71. ABV is 10%. Very dark reddish brown colour, moderate beige head. Vinous aroma, notes of dark dried fruits and oak, also some initial notes of dust. Sweet and vinous flavour, notes of old port, dark dried fruits and oak, hints of chocolate and smoke, decent hops in the finish. Very good.