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

Bottle, RBESG 2005 Grand Tasting. Cloudy brown colour. Strong brandy-like aroma, oaky and alcoholic like hell. Extremely oaky flavour, not too sweet. Apparently the sour version (infected with lactobacillus bacteria, available only in North America) tastes quite different, even though it is based on the same recipe.

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

330 ml bottle, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 8.3%. Moderately hazy straw colour, huge white head. Sweetish aroma of glucose syrup, Belgian ale yeast and mild spices / spicy hops. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements, more distinct hop bitterness than in most Belgian strong pale ales, but well balanced.

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

November 2017: 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Clear golden colour, huge white head. Strong sweetish aroma of white kandij sugar syrup, mild spices, dried yellow fruits and Belgian ale yeast. The flavour is medium sweet, again with notes of white kandij sugar and mild spices, hints of yellow plums, some alcohol, moderate hops.

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

December 2018: Shared 330 ml bottle. ABV 8.0%. Reddish amber colour, off-white head. Moderate aroma of brown kandij sugar syrup, caramel and mild spices. The flavour is not very sweet, but has some of the same elements as the aroma. Very moderate hops.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Sweetish aroma of dark kandij sugar syrup, caramel, chocolate and malts. The flavour has a moderate sweetness, not as extreme as the aroma made me fear. Notes of malts, caramel, brown sugar, dark dried fruits and mild spices.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.0%. Clear deep golden to brown colour, high level of carbonation, large white head. Aroma of malts, brown kandij sugar syrup, Belgian ale yeast, mild spices, herbal hops. The medium sweet flavour has the same elements, also hints of dark dried fruits.

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

November 2014: Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting, from Kihiosk, Copenhagen. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of prunes and other dark dried fruits, also oak, hints of fortified wine. The flavour is also oaky with dark dried fruits, not too sweet. Very good.

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

April 2014: Shared bottle at local tasting. Golden colour. Sweetish aroma, notes of white kandij sugar syrup and spicy Belgian ale yeast. The flavour is not as sweet as I feared, quite nice actually. Mild spicy notes.

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

January 2014: 500 ml bottle, Cardinal’s Christmas Beer Tasting 2013. ABV is 10.1%. Hazy brown colour, large beige head. Very strong sweetish aroma of caramel, brown sugar and coriander. Very sweet and malty flavour, loads of caramel, brown sugar, liquorice and spices. Overwhelming. Might be a good idea to cellar this one for a few years. Would buy again. Sampled again January 2024: Even better now!

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

Dec. 2013: 500 ml bottle, Cardinal’s Store Juleøltest. Batch #RØ390. ABV is 7.4%. Dark brown colour, moderate to low beige head. Pleasant malty aroma and flavour with notes of chocolate, brown kandij sugar and mild Christmas spices. A beer I would buy again.

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

November 2015: Shared 500 ml bottle, bought in Denmark but can’t remember where. Very dark brown colour, beige head. Moderate aroma of brown kandij sugar, figs and dust, some spicy hints. Flavour of dried figs, also kandij sugar and mild spices. Warming throatfeel.

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

750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.3%. Clear golden colour, large white head. Aroma of pilsener malts, Belgian ale yeast and white kandij sugar syrup, also spicy and herbal hops. Light bodied for its strength. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, distinct herbal and spicy notes, hints of alcohol.

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

December 2014: 750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. BB date 15/02/2013. ABV is 10.5%. Beautiful chestnut colour, huge beige head. Aroma of brown kandij sugar, caramel and spices, including anise. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma. Minimal hops. Skip the anise please, and I might buy the beer again.

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

December 2014: 750 ml corked & caged bottle, vintage 2012, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 10%. Golden colour, huge white head. Sweetish and sugary aroma, with notes of ripe yellow fruits (esp. plums), flowers, white kandij sugar syrup and malts. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as in the aroma, also mild spicy notes. Pleasant enough to drink.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Aug. 2010: 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: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

750 ml waxed and corked bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Very dark brown colour, small beige head. Distinct aroma of malts and roasted nuts, particularly hazelnuts. Also hints of dark dried fruits. Medium sweet flavour, malty (some caramel) with notes of said nuts, hints of dark dried fruits again, low bitterness.

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

November 2012: Shared 750 ml bottle from Vinmonopolet, at Cardinal Yule beer tasting. Ruby colour, off-white head. Aroma of malts, caramel and vanilla, hints of oak and dark dried fruits. The flavour is malty and medium sweet, but has also a nice fruitiness. Mild oaky hints, vanilla, caramel and dark dried fruits again. Pleasant to drink.

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

July 2019: Shared 750 ml corked and waxed bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV 9.0%. Deep brown colour, off-white head. The aroma has moderate but still distinct notes of liquorice, also malts with a hint of caramel. The flavour is malty but not too sweet, notes of mild spices and discrete liquorice, hints of brown sugar and dark dried fruits. Moderate hops. Well balanced and enjoyable.

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

750 ml corked & caged green bottle, as Cervesia Archéosite Aubechies-Blicquy. Brewed by Dupont, bottled 2022. Refermented in the bottle. ABV is 8%. Purchased at Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Golden to orange colour, large white head. Aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup, stewed yellow fruits and mild spices. The flavour has the same elements, but is not too sweet. Distinctly spicy finish, but the bitterness is moderate.

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

July 2012: Rerate, 500 ml bottle, batch #428, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.2%. Copper to deep brown colour, clear first, hazy when the the yeast is poured in the end. Large head, slightly off-white. Pleasant malty aroma with notes of caramel and brown sugar, hints of mild spices. Very sweet flavour, plenty of caramel, brown kandij sugar and molasses, hints of chocolate and mild spices. Spicy and moderately hoppy (Northern Brewer and Saaz) finish. Original rating: Sample at Copenhagen Beer Festival. Hazy brown colour. Sweetish malty and mildly spicy aroma. Sweet flavour, loads of kandij sugar, mild spicy notes. Too sweet perhaps?

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

August 2020: 330 ml bottle, from Être Gourmet, Belgium. ABV is 9.0%. Cloudy dark brown colour, moderate to small beige head. Aroma of malts and smoke, hints of dark chocolate and cherries. The flavour is distinctly fruity (hints of cherries again) and moderately smokey and roasty, not too sweet. Easy drinking for its strength, quite enjoyable.

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

August 2020: 330 ml bottle, from Être Gourmet, Belgium. ABV is 7.5%. Hazy dark brown colour, large to moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of malts, caramel, brown kandij sugar syrup, dark dried fruits, hints of mild spices. The flavour is malty and sweet, but not too much, with the same elements as in the aroma. Hints of chocolate.

Aroma: 2 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

July 2016: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.5%. Cloudy brown colour, moderate to low off-white head. Unpleasant aroma of stomach acid / vomit and spices. Fizzy mouthfeel, overcarbonated. The flavour is medium malty and slightly spicy, but the aroma ruins it all. Drainpour. Won’t buy again.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, as Cherry Chouffe, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.0%. Deep red colour, moderate off-white to pink head. Aroma of cherries, marzipan and oak. Medium sweet flavour, notes of sweet and sour cherries, malts and marzipan.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, as De Brabandere 1894 Oak & Hops, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.0%. Moderately hazy golden colour, enormous white head, lasts "forever". Pleasant aroma of mild spices, hoppy notes of citrus and tropical fruits, also notes of oak. Moderately sour flavour, notes of brettanomyces and oak, spicy notes, some fruitiness, medium bitter finish.