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

330 ml swingtop bottle, thanks to Beer2000. ABV is 8.5%. The beer starts gushing out of the bottle when opened. Murky brown colour, big to moderate off-white head. Strong aroma of marmalade, caramel, alcohol and over-ripe fruits and berries. The flavour is rich and malty, also notes of caramel and ripe dark fruits, hints of oak, spices and alcohol. A moderate hoppy and spicy bitterness in the finish. Nice.

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Systembolaget. ABV is 7.5%. Some sediment in the bottle. Pours with an enormous white head, which slowly gives way to a cloudy pale yellow beer. Nice fruity and spicy aroma, notes of citrus and coriander, hints of farmhouse kitchen, fermenting apples and white wine vinegar. The flavour is sweet, zesty and very fruity, spicy notes too (coriander). Noticeable hops in the aftertaste. An interesting beer, pleasant to drink.

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

330 ml stubby bottle, brew #1, ABV is 9%. Cloudy golden brown colour, big white head. Nice aroma of belgian yeast, spices and citrus. The flavour is very lemony, also with notes of white wine vinegar, probably infected, like so many other batches from Små Vesen. There are also some spicy notes, and a noticeable bitterness in the finish.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Deep golden colour, huge and lasting off-white head. Very nice aroma of fermenting fruits, herbs, spices and farmhouse. The flavour is dominated by pleasant fruity hops (Hallertauer and Styrian Goldings) on a background of malts and brettanomyces elements, with spicy notes. Not too sweet, not too bitter, not sour. Alcohol is well hidden. In short, not as "wild" as I expected, should be palatable even for "tame" beer drinkers.

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

330 ml bottle (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget), ABV is 8.0%. Ingredients include maize and sugar. Pale golden colour, slightly hazy, huge white head. Lovely complex fruity, sweetish and spicy aroma - fruitiness both from the yeast and the hops. The flavour is sweet and spicy with yeasty and fruity notes, and a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. High level of carbonation. Alcohol is noticeable.

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

750 ml "champagne" bottle, from Vinmonopolet (bestillingsutvalget). ABV is 11%. Pale yellow colour, slightly hazy, big white head. The aroma is yeasty and spicy, hints of fermenting fruits and horse blanket - good, but not as great as I expected. The flavour is moderately sweet, certainly not "brut", notes of white candi sugar and spices, with noticeable alcohol. Moderate hops. Again: good, but I hoped for more complexity. Probably worth the price in Belgium, but not in Norway (NOK 219).

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

355 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.4%. Pours very fizzy. Deep copper to mahogany coloured beer, moderate off-white head. Aroma of Belgian ale yeast and brown sugar, some vinous notes. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is malty sweet with strong notes of brown sugar, also some spicy notes, moderate but distinct hops in the finish. The high ABV is noticeable.

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

330 ml bottle, vintage 2007, kindly shared by Ole_R. ABV is 13%. Deep red colour, low tan head. Vinous aroma, notes of claret, red wine vinegar and barnyard. The flavour is (more or less) "typical Flemish Red", notes of red wine vinegar, some lemony notes, astringent finish. Moderate hops. The high ABV is extremely well hidden, I might have guessed that the beer was half as strong as it actually is.

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

750 ml corked bottle, bought at Systembolaget, Sweden. ABV is 7.5%. Clear very pale golden colour (like a continental pilsener), big and lasting white head. Very moderate aroma, some spicy, fruity (banana) and yeasty notes. Fizzy and peppery mouthfeel. The flavour is distinctly spicy / peppery, on a background of fruity sweetness. The ABV is not particularly well hidden. Okay beer, but I hoped for something even better.

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

330 ml bottle (BB 13/09/09). Now also available in Norway (Vinmonopolet). Copper coloured, huge light tan creamy and lingering head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of dark fruits, spices and oak, hints of claret. Flavour has plenty of malts, caramel, Christmas spices, Christmas fruitcake and oak, hints of sherry. Not too sweet. Nice mouthfeel, pleasant to drink. Definitely a treat for "Julemanden" (Father Christmas / Santa Claus).

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

330 ml brown bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget). ABV is 7%. Hazy brown colour, huge head. Okay fruity aroma (orange peel and dark fruits) with notes of spices and oak. Flavour is moderately spicy and fruity with a fairly soft mouthfeel. Not the most complex Belgian I’ve had, but decent enough. Over-priced in Norway, though.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 8.5%. Pale clear golden colour, large and lasting head. Lovely spicy and fruity aroma. Soft mouthfeel. Some sweetness and fruit in the flavour, the high ABV is treacherously well hidden. Well, you get some idea that the beer is stronger than average, but not 8.5% ... Hints of spices. Surprisingly moderate hops. Aftertaste is not impressive. Best served cold.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 8%. Golden colour, fizzy and foamy large head. Pleasant fruity aroma and flavour with notes of spices. Relatively light bodied for its strength, the alcohol is well hidden. Nice.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Hazy golden colour. Moderate farmhouse aroma. Sweet fruity flavour, notes of cheap white wine. Not that special.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Pannepot Reserva 2006. Dark brown colour, nearly black, large tan head. Malts and farmhouse aroma. Malty sweet flavour (drank it too warm though), cloying.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Golden colour, large head. Malty, oaky and vinous aroma. Malty sweet flavour, sugary, alcoholic. Too much on the sweet side.

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

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Dark brown beer with a huge beige head. Very fine and complex aroma with vinous notes, also notes of oak, spices, cocoa, red berries and dark fruits, hints of barnyard and tobacco. The flavour is sweet, vinous and fruity, quite smooth for 9% ABV beer. Moderate hops. Many of the elements of the aroma stay with you through the flavour and aftertaste. An excellent beer!

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

Nov. 2012: Shared 330 ml bottle from Vinmonopolet, at Cardinal Yule beer tasting. Reddish colour, moderate beige head. Strong aroma of Christmas spices, too much anise / aniseed (as in a couple other beers from this brewery). Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is spicy and medium sweet, again with too much anise / aniseed.

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

Aug. 2005: 750 ml bottle, corked champagne-style. Bought in Denmark. Very large and lasting cream-coloured head, beer is hazy brown with a reddish hue. Very strong and "raw" aroma of barnyard, ensilage, ammonia, leather and fermenting fruits, mellows gradually in the glass. Flavour is a bit smoother and mellower than the aroma - chocolate sweetness, some oak and spices, moderate but decent hops. Mouthfeel becomes strangely metallic and watery (for a 7.5% beer, that is) in the finish. Some liquorice in the aftertaste. An interesting beer after all.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.5%. Slightly hazy pale golden colour, large white head. Aroma of spicy Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup and herbal hops. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour has more distinct herbal hops than many other Belgian ales, and is not too sweet. Decent beer.

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

Dec. 2017: 750 ml bottle, as Duvel Barrel Aged Batch No. 2 Bourbon, at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11.5%. Deep golden colour, small white head. Aroma of bourbon and American oak, but still fairly light and fruity. The flavour has distinct notes of bourbon and oak, hints of caramel and vanilla, some hops.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.5%. Clear reddish brown colour, huge off-white head. Lovely aroma of malts, brown sugar, caramel, dark dried fruits, oak and whisky. Pleasant and medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, moderate hops.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 9%. Chestnut to mahogany colour, large beige head. Aroma of malts, brown kandij sugar, caramel, dark dried fruits and spicy Belgian ale yeast. Pleasant flavour with the same elements as the aroma, moderate to modest bittering hops.

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

330 ml bottle, as Gouden Carolus Whisky Infused, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 11.7%. Deep reddish brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of malts, caramel, brown sugar, mild spices, dark dried fruits and Scotch whisky. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma.

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

330 ml bottle, as Gulden Draak Brewmaster, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10.5%. Amber colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of malts, caramel, kandij sugar syrup, mild spices, a hint of oak. Soft and rich mouthfeel. The medium sweet flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but the oaky notes are more pronounced now. Pleasant to drink.