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

330 ml bottle, bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. ABV is 4.9%. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Moderate beige head. Very nice roasty aroma with notes of chocolate and coffee, hints of liquorice. Fresh mouthfeel with hints of fruity acidity. The flavour is roasty with notes of coffee, fairly dry. A pronounced roasty and hoppy bitterness in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & bar, Stavanger. Also available at Vinmonopolet. Organic, ABV is 5.0%. Dark reddish brown colour, big and lasting beige head. Distinct rustic aroma of roasted malts, bakery and coffee, hints of liquorice. Very "lagerish" mouthfeel (well, this IS a lager beer), a bit watery. The flavour is fairly bland for a schwarzbier, some roasted notes, very little residual sweetness, too modest hops. Improves a little as the beer warms up, the malts come through. Drinkable? Yes. Will I buy again? Perhaps, but not very likely - there are better beers available both at Cardinal and Vinmonopolet now.

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

Bottle, 6% ABV, as Dingslebener Lava Schwarzbier, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg, thanks to gunnar. Dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Malty aroma with distinct notes of caramel and bakery, a hint of cola. Relatively sweet and malty flavour with loads of caramel, just a mild roastiness. Some fruit too.

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

330 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 5.1%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate aroma of roast malts, hints of coffee and dark chocolate. "Clean" flavour of roast malts, quite dry, hints of coffee, moderate hops, easy drinking, refreshing.

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

500 ml on tap at The Pub, Funchal. Black colour, moderate beige head. Moderately roasty aroma and flavour, not very sweet, hints of coffee and dark chocolate, fairly smooth and nice to drink.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, tan head. Moderately roasty aroma and flavour, notes of dark bread, hints of liquorice and smoke. Fairly nice beer, stylewise somewhere between a Schwarzbier and a Baltic porter.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Roasty aroma and flavour, coffee notes, dry and "clean" dark lager flavour.

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

330 ml can, as Rygr Hòkunått Norsk Julebock, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 4.7%. At this ABV, it is not a bock (despite the name) nor a Dunkel, but a Schwarzbier. It is not sweet (despite what the brewery says). Black colour, large to moderate beige head. Roasty aroma and flavour, coffee notes, burnt toast, quite dry. One-dimensional, but nice enough to drink. Not my preferred choice with the traditional Norwegian Yule fare, but nice to drink after dinner, or with a shot of aquavit at the side.

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

March 2015: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. BB date was 09.2013, appears to have cellared well. ABV is 5.5%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Decent aroma of chocolate / cocoa and coffee. The flavour is neither too sweet nor too dry. Notes of chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee and moderate but noticeable hops. Well balanced and enjoyable.

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

330 ml bottle, batch #68, from Vinmonopolet Oslo S. ABV is 5.3%. Hops are Herkules and Northern Brewer. Black colour, large beige head. Aroma of roast malts and dark chocolate. Flavour of roast malts, dark chocolate and coffee, medium bittering hops. Decent beer.

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

500 ml bottle, from a potential importer. ABV is 6.7%. Chestnut to mahogany colour, large beige head. Fairly ordinary aroma of lightly toasted malts, brown bread and caramel. The flavour is medium sweet and malty, notes of caramel and brown bread, hints of burnt sugar. Not bad.

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

330 ml shared bottle, kindly provided by our beerpal Jan Magnus. ABV 5%. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Mildly roasty aroma, notes of chocolate and mild coffee. Fairly dry flavour, medium roasty, notes of mild coffee, hints of dark bitter chocolate. Tolerable hops in the finish.

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

355 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 5.8%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Huge and lasting beige head. Moderate aroma of dark / roasted malts and ice coffee, a hint of dark chocolate. Soft, dry and quite drinkable flavour, notes of black malts and mild coffee, hints of dark chocolate and ashes. Nothing exceptional here, but okay. Won’t buy again though.

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

500 ml green swingtop bottle, as Chodovar Zámecké Černé, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV is 4.2%. Dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Malty aroma, notes of brown bread. Malty flavour, medium sweet, some caramel. Okay, but not the very best Czech dunkel.

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

Corked "champagne" bottle, as Flying Dog Schwarz Smoked Double Lager, ABV 7.8%. IBU 25. Kindly shared by gunnar. Black colour, low tan head. Moderate aroma of dark malts and smoke. Very smoky flavour, the smoke dominates a bit too much for my taste.

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

355 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.9%. Not entirely black colour, rather very dark brown. Thick beige head. Moderate but nice aroma of dark bread, roasted malts and herbal German hops. The flavour is moderately roasty with just a modest sweetness, could be called medium dry. A slight acidity in the finish, more bittering hops would be desirable. Decent enough to drink, but not very exciting.

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

500 ml bottle, kindly shared by gunnar, as Žatec Premium Tmavé. ABV is 4.3%. Ruby colour, low off-white head. Nice aroma of caramel and butterscotch. Easy drinking. The flavour has notes of brown bread, some caramel but not too sweet. Okay, but not very exciting.

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

500 ml bottle, from SuperBest Hjørring. ABV is 5.2%. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Large creamy head. Moderate aroma of "dusty" malts, some weak roasty notes. The flavour is moderately roasty, some coffee notes, only a little residual sweetness, a hint of liquorice. The hops are very moderate. Nice enough to drink, but no masterpiece.

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

750 ml bottle, kindly shared by abemorsten. ABV is 10%. Very dark ruby colour, nearly black. Low beige head. Aroma of malts, dark dried fruits / prunes and caramel, maybe a hint of smoke. Very rich and malty flavour, again with caramel and prunes, and maybe a hint of smoke. Powerful stuff.

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

355 ml bottle, from Ølbutikken (or was it Høkeren?), Copenhagen. Mahogany coloured beer, moderate cream-coloured head. Malty aroma, some woody and caramel notes, also roasty notes with hints of cold coffee, also hints of smoke and chocolate. Rich malty flavour, fairly sweet with notes of caramel and chocolate, also mild roasty notes in the finish, just a touch of smoke, very moderate hops. Pleasant to drink.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.3%. Reddish brown colour, moderate white (or slightly off-white) head. Malty aroma (munich and dark crystal are noticeable), also fruity notes (red fruits jam). The flavour has noticeable munich malts, but is not very sweet. Notes of brown bread toast. Also fruity notes and decent hops throughout. I like it - might well buy again.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.2%. Beautiful clear copper colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Pleasant malty aroma, notes of caramel, fresh bread and pastry, hints of dark berries. Malty flavour too, some caramel but not too sweet, very moderate earthy hops. A true Scottish Ale. Will buy again.

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

500 ml clear bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 6.5%. Drunk a bit too cold. Ruby colour, moderate off-white head. Nice malty aroma, notes of caramel and treacle, a hint of oak and mild spices. Malty and sweet flavour, low bitterness. Strong notes of caramel and treacle. Quite nice beer, if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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

Cask (hand pump) at the Darlington Spring Thing Beer Festival 2011. Brown colour, low head. Nice malty aroma, hints of toffee and Scotch whisky. Dry flavour, malts and decent hops, a hint of Scotch whisky again. One of the better beers of the festival.

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

Bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%, 50 IBUs. Dark reddish brown colour, big to moderate beige head. Aroma of sweet malts, caramel, peat smoke and over-ripe red berries, also vinous notes with hints of oak. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness and caramel, peat and oak, with a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish and aftertaste.