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

330 ml bottle, as De Dolle Special Extra Export Stout, kindly shared by my beerpal Jan Magnus. ABV is 9%. Pitch black colour, big tan head. First a fairly moderate but very nice roasty aroma (gets even better as the beer warms up a little) with some vinous notes, hints of dark dried fruits and leather. The flavour is also vinous, oaky and roasty, hints of raisins, coffee and liquorice. Overall brilliant.

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

Shared bottle at RBNAG 2011 in Oslo. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Excellent aroma and flavour, roasty but refined, dry. Hints of coffee and spices, but the spices do not dominate. "Beer of the tasting" for me.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.4%. Mahogany coloured beer, huge and lasting beige head. Lovely aroma of medium dark malts, bakery (esp. fresh brown bread) and caramel, hints of oak and dark dried fruits. Rich mouthfeel. Distinctly malty and rich flavour, sweet but not too much. Caramel and brown bread baked with syrup, dark dried fruits, moderate hops. Well balanced and truly enjoyable.

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

500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.3%. Hazy deep golden colour, large white head. Wonderful aroma of tropical fruits, crushed white grapes, citrus and crushed gooseberries. The flavour is a burst of fruity New Zealand hops, also with resinous notes, on a medium sweet malty base. Bitter finish, long and very bitter aftertaste, but not too extreme. Excellent beer!

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

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Amber colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Lovely aroma of fruity and resinous American hops, malts in the background. Excellent and well balanced flavour, distinct American hops throughout, but not too extreme. There is a sufficient malty backbone to support the hops. Not too sweet. Jolly good!

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

Shared 750 ml bottle at local tasting, many thanks to gunnar. ABV is 5.6%. Red colour, slightly peachy head. Lovely vinous aroma and flavour, notes of red wine vinegar and berries, marzipan and cherries. Very complex and enjoyable.

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

Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting, as Thornbridge Eldon Bourbon Oak Imperial Stout, from Ales by Mail. ABV 8.0%. Black colour, beige head. Moderate aroma of bourbon, hints of vanilla and chocolate. Smooth and well rounded flavour, with bourbon, vanilla, chocolate and mild coffee. Excellent beer.

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

650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is10.0%. Black colour, large tan head. Pleasant aroma of roast malts, oats, chocolate and mild coffee, hints of fruity hops. Roasty flavour, notes of roasted barley, strong coffee, dark bitter chocolate, liquorice, hints of fruity hops, moderate bittering hops.

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

500 ml bottle, batch #913. ABV is 10,0%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Aroma of roast malts, strong coffee and leather, hints of dark chocolate, liquorice and caramel. Rich flavour, not too sweet, not too dry - distinct notes of roasted barley / strong coffee, liquorice, dark bitter chocolate and some caramel, also bittering hops. Powerful stuff.

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

341 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee and caramel, also some vinous notes. The flavour has a well balanced sweetness, notes of roast malts, coffee and dark bitter chocolate, a hint of caramel, also distinct bittering hops. Smooth and pleasant to drink. Excellent beer.

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

25 cl bottle, under its alias "Scaldis" Caractère, bought at Selfridge’s, London. Amber colour, large and fluffy lingering head. Vinous dry sherry-like aroma, elements of oak and leather too. Flavour is again sherry-like, medium dry (or medium sweet, if you like), loads and loads of oak, hints of German "Weinbrand", warming mouthfeel as expected from a 12% ABV beer, but the beer doesn’t feel inappropriately alcoholic. A substantial hoppy bitterness in the finish balances the sweetness nicely. Plays in the Premier League of beers, this one.

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

330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 10%. Dark brown colour, large beige head. Aroma of malts, brown kandij sugar, dark dried fruits incl. raisins, oak, hints of mild spices. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, very distinct kandij sugar. Very moderate hops.

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

Can from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Cloudy / opaque brownish-yellow to orange colour, moderate white head. Distinct aroma of mango, passionfruit, lychee and other tropical fruits. Good mouthfeel. The flavour is fruity but not too sweet, with the same elements as the aroma. Some citrus too, hints of sprucetips, but the bitterness is low.

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

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Very dark brown to black colour, small tan head. Aroma of roast malts and coffee, hints of chocolate, oak and leather. Warming mouthfeel. Sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also notes of caramel and brown sugar. Very enjoyable.

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

Shared bottle at Bryne tasting. Dark reddish brown colour. Pleasant aroma of bourbon, oak, vanilla and raisins / sultanas. Excellent flavour with the same elements, also notes of various dark dried fruits and brown sugar.

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

A pint and a half, from keg at The Dog & Bell, Deptford. ABV is 8.8%. Imperial stout with coffee and coconut. Black colour, moderate tan head. Very nice roasty aroma and flavour, the coffee and coconut are there, but not overdone. Also notes of liquorice and dark chocolate, moderate bittering hops. A fruity hint of prunes. Not too sweet, very well balanced. A very good beer, I hope to see this gem in Norway soon.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

June 2019: 650 ml bottle, as Rip Current Dangerous Undertow Belgian-style Abbey Ale, Bourbon barrel series, generously shared by bergstaden, many thanks! ABV is 13%. Dark brown colour, no head. Intense aroma of bourbon and oak, also notes of molasses. Lovely flavour of bourbon and oak again, medium sweet, not even a hint of fusel, very good. Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

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

330 ml bottle, as Nøgne Ø A Christmas Carol Barrel Aged Ekstra God Jul Sherry Cask edt. ABV is 16.5%, IBU 30. At Cardinal, Stavanger. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of malts, molasses, brown sugar, oak and old sherry. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also hints of mild spices. Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer!

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

April 2017: 330 ml bottle, from Ales By Mail. Vintage 2014. ABV is 10.5%. Pitch black colour, minimal tan head. Aroma of roast malts, leather, horse stable, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of molasses and oak. Very moderate but sufficient carbonation. The rich and medium sweet flavour has roast malts, vinous notes, dark dried fruits, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of oak. Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

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

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 16%, 50 IBU. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of sherry, oak, chocolate, honey and juniper. Vinous flavour with the same elements, some fruity acidity. Easy drinking for its strength. Excellent beer, but hardly worth the outrageous price.

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

330 ml bottle in metal cylinder, at an outrageous price. Purchased at Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 16%, IBU 50. Black colour, small beige head. Aroma of roast malts, mild coffee, dark chocolate, oak and "spicy" white wine. Excellent vinous and oaky flavour, chocolate and honey notes, raisins, a hint of juniper, sharpish bittering hops in the finish. Warming mouth- and throatfeel.

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

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 14.2%. Pitch black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of roast malts and brown sugar, also notes of chocolate, hints of oak. Smooth and warming mouthfeel, but not as alcoholic as expected. Rich flavour, with the same elements as the aroma, moderate hops, very pleasant to drink.

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

Bottled 2004, 500 ml swingtop bottle (Thanks, JensenTaster!). ABV was 8.3%. Murky dark brown colour, very good & lingering tan head. Lovely aroma of dark malts, dark chocolate, Christmas spices, caramel and candy sugar, hints of cherries. Flavour is very rich & malty with some alcoholic warmth, spices and dark chocolate are present. Plenty of hops (maybe a tad too much?? - or maybe not) in the finish balances the sweetness nicely. This is good. This is very good. Maybe not quite as exquisite flavour as Nøgne Ø God Jul (at least it’s a bit different) - but very, very good.

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

Sampled bottle, at Plan B, Copenhagen. Beautiful red colour, pink head. Delightful cherry aroma. Sour cherry flavour on a funky background. A very good kriek.

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

Bottle conditioned, 500 ml. Very dark colour, nearly black. Large brown head. Delightful aroma of roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, prunes, caramel and oak. Flavour is not quite as complex but still good, bitter roasty and coffee notes combined with bittering hops dominate, on a background of dark bitter sweet chocolate, hints of English liquorice. Roasty bitter aftertaste. I’d say Imperial Stout is the closest style here - but maybe it’s not extreme enough. Anyway, this is a very fine effort from Haandbryggeriet. Not a beer for the traditional Scandinavian Christmas dinner, but try it if you have chocolate pudding for dessert - or simply enjoy it on its own!