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

Aug. 2014: 500 ml bottle, from Guernsey. ABV is 3.4%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Malty aroma, notes of caramel, hints of liquorice and black bread. Smooth mouthfeel. Malty flavour, but not too sweet. Notes of dark bread and Norwegian "Tomtebrygg". Pleasant to drink.

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

Feb. 2018: 330 ml can, from Ales By Mail. ABV is 4.5%. Golden colour, moderate to small white head. Moderate aroma of piney and fruity American hops Light bodied. The flavour is moderately fruity first, with some resin, then a sharp and very distinct and medicinal bitterness takes over, and lasts through the long aftertaste. The beer has not enough body to support the bitterness.

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

March 2014: Shared bottle, as Ilkley Dinner Ale, at hotel room tasting. ABV is 3.3%. Deep golden colour. Aroma of malts, toffee and dust. Surprisingly hoppy flavour for a beer of this low ABV, quite nice, also noticeable malts. Might sample again.

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

March 2014: Sample from bottle at hotel room tasting. ABV is 3.7%. Dark brown colour, moderate off-white head. Mild roasty notes in the aroma. Smooth and pleasant flavour, mild roasty notes, hints of mild coffee and chocolate, but not sweet. I could easily drink a few pints of this one. Will buy again.

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

March 2020: Cask pint at Wetherspoon's, Victoria Station. Golden colour, white head. Moderate aroma, some citrus. Distinctly citrussy and bitter flavour, decent malt body for a 3.5% beer.

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

Oct. 2013: 500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.6%. Hops are Cascade and Summit. Golden colour, large to moderate white head. Strong aroma of grassy hops, a hint of apricots. Moderate carbonation in the glass, smooth mouthfeel. The flavour is not too sweet, and distinctly hoppy throughout. Some toffee first, followed by a distinct grapefruity and resinous bitterness. The finish and aftertaste are very bitter. A decent IPA.

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

Feb. 2018: 330 ml can, from Ales By Mail. ABV is 4.9%. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy. Large white head. Moderate aroma of fruity and piney American hops, some dust and grain. Refreshing flavour, fruity and piney hops, softened by oats. Nice bitterness.

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

Jan. 2018: 500 ml bottle, from Ales By Mail. ABV is 4.7%. Malts are Golden Promise, Malted Wheat, Roast Barley. Hops are Admiral, Northdown, Phoenix (all UK). Ingredients include orange peel, molasses and spices. Dark amber to copper colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Aroma of spices, cloves, allspice and nutmeg come through. There might also be some cinnamon and ginger in there. Also hints of orange peel and caramel. The flavour is malty with a hint of caramel, but is not very sweet. It is also distinctly spicy (said spices, also hints of white pepper), with fruity notes of orange peel and dark dried fruits. Earthy English hops. Good beer.

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

750 ml bottle, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 6.5%. Brown colour, large off-white head. Aroma of malts, caramel and brown bread with syrup, hints of chocolate and dark dried fruits. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements, also hints of roasted nuts. Low bitterness.

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

April 2015: Cask half pint at The City Arms, Cardiff. Dark ruby colour, small beige head. Malty aroma, some mild roasty notes. Pleasant flavour of moderately roasted malts, some fruity notes too. A very drinkable dark mild! Would buy again.

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

May 2019: Cask 1/3 pint at the 46th Cambridge Beer Festival, 2019 (not in the festival programme). Black colour, tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, mild coffee notes.

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

Oct. 2016: Cask 1/3 pint, gravity dispense, at the 16th Twickenham Beer & Cider Festival, Dark ruby / cola black colour, small beige head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of mild coffee and dark chocolate. Pleasant and lively mouthfeel. Roasty flavour, coffee and dark chocolate again. Roasty aftertaste, some hops.

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

May 2016: 500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Verksgt., Stavanger. ABV is 5.0%. Hops are Challenger, Bobek and Aurora. Deep golden colour, moderate to low white head. Pleasant aroma of herbal and fruity hops, also hints of toffee. The flavour has herbal and earthy hops, also some fruity, nutty and toffee notes. Enjoyable.

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

750 ml bottle, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 5.2%. Slightly hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of over-ripe yellow plums and tropical fruits. The flavour has notes of citrus, with a faint hint of smoke in the background. Moderate bitterness. Refreshing.

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

750 ml bottle, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 5.5%. Organic. Moderately hazy golden colour, large to moderate white head. Distinct aroma of over-ripe bananas, wheatbun dough and cloves, some citrus too. The flavour is wheaty and medium sweet, notes of banana and distinct cloves again, very moderate hops.

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

April 2015: Cask half pint at Wetherspoons, Victoria Station, London. Reddish brown colour, small off-white head. Moderate fruity aroma. Very nice fruity and wheaty flavour, notes of blackcurrants, lime, lemons and grapefruit, some medium dark malts in the background. Moderate hops in the finish.

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

June 2019: Cask halfpint, as Salem Ernest, at The Minster Tavern, Ely. ABV 3.8%. Golden colour, white head. Very moderate malty aroma. Fairly bland flavour, grainy and moderately malty, a hint of malt vinegar in the finish, modest and "dusty" hops.

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

May 2016: 500 ml clear bottle, bought in London. ABV is 4.7%. Clear deep golden colour, large white head. Aroma of toffee and malts, hints of nuts. Smooth mouthfeel. The flavour has a moderate fruitiness which makes the beer very drinkable, again notes of toffee, malts and nuts. Some very moderate hops in the finish - would like some more hops, please.

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

Aug. 2013: 500 ml bottle, shared by a neighbour. ABV is 6.0%. Copper colour, moderate white head. Pleasant malty aroma and flavour with fruitcake, stewed fruits and some caramel. The hops are moderate, but nicely balanced. A typical English ESB / strong pale ale, much to my liking.

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

Nov. 2015: 330 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.5%. Golden colour, nearly clear. Huge white head. Aroma of stale jam, Belgian ale yeast and mild spices. Fairly sweet and mildly spicy flavour. Nice enough to drink, but cannot compete with the best tripels like Westmalle and Karmeliet.

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

Aug. 2013: 375 ml corked & caged green bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 6.5%. Beautiful deep red colour, large pink head. Interesting aroma of sour cherries, farmhouse, dust and almond essence. Sour flavour, sour cherries galore, tart and slightly astringent. Moreish.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, vintage 2020, limited edition, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. Shared with my son. ABV is 7.0%. Clear and deep red colour, like a fine claret, shortlived pink head. Lovely aroma of farmhouse and cherries. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, sour cherries and lemons.

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

750 ml bottle, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 5.6%. Deep reddish brown colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of malts, burnt caramel, burnt breadcrumbs. Soft mouthfeel. Malty flavour, some caramel, but the burnt notes are less distinct. Nice enough to drink.

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

750 ml bottle, from BilkaToGo, Skalborg. ABV is 6.0%. Golden colour, moderate white head. Moderate aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup, honey and stewed fruits. The flavour is moderately citric and floral, distinctly yeasty, with hints of honey.

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

750 ml corked & caged bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 9.5%. Slightly hazy golden colour, huge white head. Aroma of spicy Belgian ale yeast, white kandij sugar syrup and spicy hops. The same spicy notes in the flavour, also sufficient malts, hints of yellow plums, not too sweet, bitter finish. Refreshing for its strength.