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

Aug. 2015: Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting. Golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma, notes of white kandij sugar. Medium sweet flavour, white kandij sugar and mild spices.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.1%. Slightly hazy deep golden to orange colour, small white head. Strong sweetish aroma of kandij sugar syrup, Belgian ale yeast, caramel and dark dried fruits, hints of spices. The flavour is distinctly spicy, and not as sweet as I feared. Notes of cinnamon, chamomile, nutmeg, cardamom and coriander seeds. Herbal hops in the finish. Unusual, and quite good.

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

April 2014: 355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.4%. Dark mahogany colour, moderate off-white head. Very malty aroma and flavour, medium sweet, some acidity, notes of caramel, minimal hops.

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

750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Golden to orange colour, large white head. Aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, silage, spices, herbal hops and oaked cider. Dry flavour, the mouthfeel is fairly thin for its strength. Brettanomyces, malts, a hint of malt vinegar (but not really sour), herbal hops again. Nice enough to drink, but not quite in the league of trappists.

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

330 ml bottle, as Syndikatet Nonnen Abbey Ale, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 6%, IBU 22. Moderately hazy brownish-orange colour, moderate white head. Aroma of malts, hints of brown kandij sugar syrup and dark dried fruits. Smooth and spicy flavour, hints of brown sugar but not very sweet. Easy drinking.

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

Bottles, shared at Holmen Nanobryggeri’s annual Christmas/Yule beer tasting. ABV 7.0%. Cloudy deep golden to orange colour, moderate white head. Spicy attractive aroma. Spicy flavour with decent hops throughout. An enjoyable brew!

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

330 ml bottle, from MENY Hillevåg. ABV is 4.7%. Crystal clear very pale yellow colour, big white head. Strong sweetish aroma of pilsener malts and new-mown grass. Refreshing flavour, strong notes of grassy hops, but the bitterness is moderate.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by abemorsten. ABV is 6.2%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast and mild spices, a hint of peaches. The flavour is spicy and well balanced with a nice bitterness.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, as Bocq Gauloise Ambrée, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.5%. Deep golden to amber colour, huge lasting head, slightly off-white. Pleasant and well balanced aroma of malts, brown kandi sugar and fruity hops, also distinct spicy notes. The mouthfeel is maybe a bit thin, and the beer is not very sweet. The flavour has some notes of brown malts and toffee, and the hops in the finish are very moderate. Easy drinking and undemanding.

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

(33 cl bottle). Orange colour, slightly hazy, moderate head. Moderate aroma of malts, nuts, honey and flowery hops. Honey is surprisingly subdued in aroma and flavour - this is definitely a beer, not a mead. However, honey adds a moderate sweetness to the flavour of a beer otherwise dominated by plentiful hops. Lagerish mouthfeel, a bit too carbonated for my taste. Bitter-sweet finish, bitter aftertaste. Not 100% well balanced in my book, but still a decent beer.

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

330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård. ABV is 6.6%. Brewed for Brasserie Vanuxeem by Brasserie du Bocq. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy, huge white head. Aroma of herbal and grassy continental hops, also some spicy notes. The flavour is sweet (maybe too sweet) with notes of white kandi sugar, some fruity and spicy hints. Drinkable, but not the greatest Belgian ale I’ve had.

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Copper to brown colour, large off-white head. Spicy aroma, notes of star anise, ginger and brown kandij sugar. A hint of vomit. Fairly light bodied for its strength. The flavour is rather sweet with notes of caramel, brown kandij sugar, anise and ginger. Too moderate hops. As I hate star anise in beer (if not used with the utmost moderation), this beer starts with a real handicap in my book. And if you use ginger, a slight ginger burn in the finish would be nice. But hey, Lervigs Jul is drinkable - just not Mike Murphy’s best.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. 2011 version with Belgian yeast. Batch #704B. ABV is 4.5%. Cloudy brown colour, large beige head. Sourish aroma, infected? Also strong woody and ashy / smoked notes. The flavour is somewhat better than the aroma, quite dry, again strong woody notes, hints of ashes. Some roasted malts and hops in the finish. Seems overall unbalanced. Thin mouthfeel. Drinkable, but this is Nøgne Ø, and you expect something better than this. Won’t buy again (not untill a better version - hopefully - is released next year).

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

330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV 6.5%. Pale yellow colour, high level of carbonation, large white head. Lovely and "typically Belgian" aroma with complex spicy notes, hints of fruit. The refreshing flavour has mild spicy notes, and is not too sweet. Moderate hops in the finish. I'm quite ready for another one.

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

330 ml bottle, ABV is 6.7%. Will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Brown colour, huge off-white to beige head. Pleasant spicy aroma, notes of brown kandij sugar, dried figs and oak. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, and is not too sweet. A very drinkable dubbel!

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

330 ml bottle, from Fenaknoken, Oslo. ABV is 4.5%. Golden colour, huge and lasting white head. Fairly strong fruity and spicy aroma, "typically Belgian". High level of carbonation, even in the mouth. Light bodied. Moderately spicy flavour, fairly dry for a Belgian ale, moderate hops (some more would be desirable). Nice and refreshing, but obviously not one of the "grand crus" of Belgium.

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

330 ml bottle, as Green’s Bottle Refermented Blonde Ale, new at Vinmonopolet. Gluten free beer (no special grains, only de-glutenised barley). ABV is 5.8%. Very pale yellow colour, slightly hazy. Huge white head. Strong "wheaty" aroma (though the beer contains no wheat) of cloves, coriander and ripe bananas. High level of carbonation, even in the mouth. The flavour is rather sweet, fruity and spicy, again with notes of cloves and coriander. Not bad for a gluten free.

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

750 ml dark green capped bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 5.2%. Golden colour, large white head.Lovely aroma of fruity American hops, also some piney notes. Fairly light bodied. The flavour is also dominated by American hops from start to finish, piney and fruity notes, bitter finish, but not overdone. Regarding style: Yes, the beer is brewed in Belgium, but the style is closer to an American Pale Ale than a Belgian Ale.

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

Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting. Golden colour, moderate white head. Typical aroma and flavour of Belgian blonde ale, white kandij sugar and mild spices. Okay.

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

330 ml bottle, from Super Cor, La Manga. ABV is 6.5%. Deep golden to copper colour, pearly carbonation, low head, slightly off-white. Malty aroma, some caramel, some fruit. Fizzy mouthfeel. Moderately malty flavour, some caramel but not very sweet. Very moderate hops.

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

1 pt. 9.4 fl.oz. bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Hazy deep golden colour, huge white head. Intense aroma of guava and other tropical fruits, Belgian ale yeast and mild spices. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is "Belgian", but with the unusual addition of guava. Drier than expected. Spicy / peppery finish.

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

330 ml bottle, from distributor Strag. ABV is 6.3%. Introduced at Ølfestivalen Nærbø. Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle, some chunks / floaties in the glass. Cloudy brown colour, moderate off-white head. Sourish aroma of Belgian ale yeast, wood and a possible infection? Moderate carbonation in the glass, soft mouthfeel. The flavour is much better than the aroma - malty and bready with hints of brown kandij sugar and some wood, but is not very sweet. Does not taste infected. Decent hops in the finish.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, as Bocq Gauloise Blonde, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.3%, Ext.Sec .Prim. 14,0%. Hazy pale yellow colour, huge white head. Nice fruity and mildly spicy aroma of Belgian ale yeast, some grassy and herbal hops too. Mild and slightly spicy flavour, some light fruit too, high level of carbonation, refreshing.

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

500 ml swingtop bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Ivar. ABV is 6,5%. Hazy amber colour, minimal head. Aroma of sweet wort and caramel, hints of oak and honey. Low carbonation. The flavour is not as sweet as the aroma makes you expect, but is still malty with hints of caramel, and has tolerable hops in the finish.

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

500 ml bottle, bought by my wife on the DFDS ferry Oslo - Copenhagen. ABV is 6.5%. Beautiful copper colour, big off-white to beige head. Fairly strong and nice aroma of malts, caramel, mild spices and Belgian ale yeast. Malty flavour, medium sweet, some caramel and dark dried fruits. Bland finish, minimal bitterness.