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

330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 8.5%. Dark amber to copper colour, cloudy in the end, big off-white head. Malty aroma with notes of brown bread and caramel, hints of brown kandi sugar and oak. The flavour is malty and medium sweet with notes of caramel, brown sugar and brown bread, some spicy notes too, moderate hops in the finish. Warming mouthfeel. Quite nice.

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

Bottle, as The Lost Abbey Cuvée de Tomme, kindly shared by gunnar. Dark ruby colour, large beige head. Unusual and very complex aroma, oaky and vinous notes, sour cherries and farmhouse. Sour flavour but not extreme, the cherries are there but not totally dominant, also oaky notes.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Clear pale yellow colour, huge and lasting white head. The aroma has distinct notes of anise and other spices. Light bodied and refreshing for its strength. The flavour is not too sweet, and has also strong notes of anise, quite unusual in such a pale beer. Unfortunately I am not a big fan of anise in beer ...

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

330 ml mock stoneware bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9%. The glass fills completely by a white foamy head, and the golden beer below appears only slowly. Strong and "typically Belgian" sweetish aroma with yeasty, spicy and fruity notes. The flavour is also spicy, medium sweet and "typically Belgian", with distinct hops in the finish. Warming mouthfeel. A few of La Guillotine, and you might lose your head completely ...

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

330 ml bottle, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Very dark brown colour, huge beige head. Strong spicy aroma, particularly strong notes of anise, also notes of caramel malts and brown kandij sugar. The flavour has notes of brown kandij sugar, brown malts and spices, dominant anise again. Not too sweet. Minimal hops.

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

750 ml stylish "champagne" bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Amber to brown colour, large cream-coloured head. Nice vinous aroma, notes of oak and "fruits of the forest", hints of farmhouse. Vinous, oaky and well balanced flavour with moderate but sufficient hops. Extremely drinkable for its strength.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 8.5%. Brown colour, huge beige head. High (too high) level of carbonation, even in the mouth. Fairly strong aroma, very much a "typical Belgian dubbel": notes of brown malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar and mild spices. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but is not too sweet. The hops are very moderate, I’d like some more. Still a decent and drinkable beer as it is.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 7.5%. Pale golden colour, slightly hazy in the end, huge white head. Aroma of grassy hops and mild spices. The flavour is quite refreshing for its strength, not too sweet, some fruity notes and mild spices again, moderate hops in the finish. Fairly decent beer, might buy again - but a slight metallicness in the aftertaste makes me uncertain about that.

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

750 ml "champagne"-corked bottle, shared at local tasting, thanks to Sigrid S. ABV is 9%. Pale golden colour, large white head. Sweetish and spicy aroma, some stale notes. The flavour is better, spicy notes, not too sweet, very drinkable.

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

750 ml "champagne"-corked bottle, shared at local tasting, thanks to Sigrid S. ABV is 9%. Brown colour, large off-white head. Sweetish aroma, some stale notes, not impressive. Medium sweet flavour, fruity, some stale notes again, a bit disappointing.

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Cuvée Royale Brut Reserve, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo (bought in October 2011). ABV is 9%. Hazy pale yellow colour, huge white head. Refined aroma of farmhouse (does that make sense?), farmhouse kitchen / brettanomyces, hints of oxidised fruits and mild spices. Crisp, medium dry and spicy flavour. Moderate hops. Well balanced, "refined" seems to be the right word for the flavour too. The alcohol is well hidden. Quite enjoyable.

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

750 ml dark green "champagne" bottle, as Malheur Dark Brut, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 12%. Hazy dark brown colour, huge beige head. Fairly interesting aroma, malts, chocolate, Belgian ale yeast, stewed dark fruits, hints of farmhouse and spices. The flavour is medium sweet and malty with moderately roasty and chocolatey notes, also spices, notes of prunes and other dark fruits. Moderate hops. Some warmth, but the alcohol is otherwise well hidden. An unusual Belgian, complex and well balanced, a beer to savour - but the big bottle is for sharing!

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

750 ml dark green capped bottle, as La Rulles Bière de Gamme La Grande 10 Millesime 2011, from Vinmonopolet Vika, Oslo. ABV is 10%. Deep golden colour, large white (or slightly off-white) head. Strong and pleasant "typically Belgian" aroma, with spicy and fruity notes. The flavour is medium sweet and spicy, notes of malts, alcohol and some fruit. Noticeable hops in the finish. Pretty good stuff, only drawback is that the alcohol is not very well hidden.

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

375 ml dark green bottle, at local tasting, as Hof ten Doormal Wit Goud Witloofbier. ABV is 8%. Cloudy orange colour, moderate head. Wheaty aroma with notes of spices, nice. Medium sweet wheaty and spicy flavour, the alcohol is noticeable.

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

330 ml shared swingtop bottle, at local tasting. ABV 7.5%. Murky brown colour (end of bottle), low off-white head. Unusual and strong aroma, notes of yeast, spices, over-ripe fruits and caramel. Very fruity flavour, moderate acidity, okay but not particularly exciting.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 8%. Cloudy dark brown colour, huge and lasting beige head. Aroma of wood, dark fruits and spices, hints of leather. Outstanding flavour with oaky and vinous notes, also notes of dark candi sugar and dark dried fruits. Fairly sweet, moderate hops in the finish. Expensive, but worth it.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 9%. Golden colour, huge and lasting white head. Very nice initial fruity and spicy aroma, loses some its impact after a couple minutes in the glass. The flavour is sweet and spicy with noticeable hops, but the alcohol is not too well hidden. Could have been better, could have been worse.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 8%, brewed by Het Anker. Very pale yellow colour, hazy in the end, huge white head. The aroma has notes of "Green Apples Shampoo", Belgian ale yeast and spices. The flavour is fairly refreshing for its strength and moderately spicy, notes of green apples again, also notes of white candi sugar and artificial candy, unpleasant soapy aftertaste. Overall disappointing.

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

Bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Christian. Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Spicy aroma of brettanomyces and Nelson Sauvin hops. Effervescent spicy flavour, notes of gooseberries, white grapes and brettanomyces.

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

1 pt. 6 fl.oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.2%. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy, with a big white (or slightly off-white) head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white candi sugar and various spices (incl cloves), hints of leather. The flavour is spicy and zesty with a solid hoppy punch throughout, but I’d never have guessed that the IBU was as high as 101. Mixing Belgian and American ale styles is not always successful, but I think Le Freak is a very good try.

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

500 ml bottle, Christmas 2010, brew #379, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 8.0%. Ingredients include barley malts, wheat malts (6 different malts, the base malt grown in the brewery’s own field), cane sugar, Belgian ale yeast, aniseed, coriander and 2 American hops. Dark brown colour, slightly hazy, big and lasting beige head. Moderate aroma, notes of malts, caramel, anise and coriander. Full and rich mouthfeel. Malty flavour, medium+ sweetness, caramel, distinct notes of anise, subdued hops. I am not a fan of anise, but this beer is not too bad.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 8.5%. Cloudy brown colour, big off-white head. Moderate aroma of brown malts and brown candi sugar, hints of Christmas spices. Flavour of brown sugar and malts, medium sweet, moderately spicy finish. Minimal hops. Nice enough, pleasant to drink, but maybe not exceptional.

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

330 ml bottle, from Ølbutikken, Copenhagen. ABV is 8%. Copper colour, clear first, hazy when the yeast is poured in. Large off-white head. Moderate but nice aroma, hints of spices and brown kandij sugar. Nice enough to drink, malts, caramel, a little spice. Okay.

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Deep golden to amber colour, hazy. Moderate white head. Beguiling aroma of Belgian ale yeast, malts and kandij sugar, with distinct spicy and fruity notes. The fairly complex flavour is sweet and fruity, but not cloying, and the sweetness is balanced by a distinct spicy character and tolerable hops. Not a quick thirstquencher, but a truly enjoyable beer!

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

660 ml paper wrapped bottle, kindly shared by my beerpal Olav, as De Dochter van de Korenaar Embrasse Belgian Ale Special Edition Matured on Whisky Barrels. ABV is 9%. OG 1085, FG 1015. Bottle No. 15323. Ruby colour, large beige head. Spicy and vinous aroma. Distinct spicy and vinous flavour, notes of oak, hints of chocolate and liquorice. Good stuff.