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

Sample from bottle, Copenhagen Beer Festival. Not in the festival programme, and not mentioned on the brewery website yet. This was a very limited release of a few bottles, in the series of ales brewed with various rare old grain varieties from Nordisk Genbank. I am not entirely sure about the ABV, that may have to be corrected. Cloudy golden colour. Served too warm, but still a very tasty beer. Both aroma and flavour have a very nice and attractive balance between the malts and hops. What a pity that this beer most likely will never be brewed again.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 8.0%, IBU 20. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Small tan head. Aroma of malts, juniper twigs, bog myrtle / sweet gale and honey. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements.

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

500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.3%. Pale golden colour, large white head. Wheaty aroma, hints of fart and smoke. Fizzy mouthfeel. Medium sour flavour, notes of lactic acid and lightly smoked wheat malts, also some fruity notes reminiscent of yellow plums. Low bitterness. Not bad, not great, historically interesting - but there is probably a reason that the Lichtenhainer beer style died out.

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

RBESG 2006 Grand Tasting. Lithuanian farmhouse ale, makeshift bottled (plastic) at the brewery 2 weeks ago. Hazy dark golden to amber colour. Yeasty aroma with very interesting notes of spices (ginger, cloves, cardamom, juniper berries). Sweetish and mildly spicy flavour, notes of bread yeast. Unusual.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2005, Grand Tasting. ABV was 8.1%. Hazy brown colour, no carbonation. Interesting aroma of bread yeast, brown sugar, rye bread, fermenting fruits and pigshed(!). Flavour is sweet and fruity and rather alcoholic. Hints of juniper berries.

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

Bottle, RBESG 2005 Grand Tasting. XO cognac coloured. Aroma of oak and dried fruits, some peppery notes too. Flavour is a bit oaky with low bitterness, a bit thin mouthfeel. Relatively dry.

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

500 ml bottle, unflitered and unpasteurised, bottle conditioned traditional Norse ale. Available at Ole Simon, Sandnes. Very dark brown colour, floaties from the sediment, creamy tan head with greyish tones. Distinct and unusual aroma of juniper, resin, fresh tar, woodwork and caramel, some less pleasant notes of ammonium too. Moderate natural carbonation. Very pleasant to drink, malty with lovely juniper notes, a subdued roastiness, hints of smoke, not too sweet. Pleasant aftertaste with roasty and resiny notes. Very interesting beer!

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

330 ml bottle, bought at Mahlers Vinhandel, Frederikshavn, Denmark. My first heather ale. Cloudy honey coloured, moderate head. Nice aroma of heather flowers and heather honey, notes of earth, peat and fresh sea air too. Flavour is earthy and moderately herbal, but not quite as exciting as I hoped - still good, though. Mouthfeel is maybe a bit thin, the beer is fairly dry but some heather honey notes shine through. A moderate herbal bitterness in the aftertaste. Also sampled cask conditioned at The Three Judges, Glasgow. Golden / deep golden colour. Nice aroma of heather flowers and fruits, hints of oak. Fruity and flowery flavour.

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

500 ml bottle, as "Duckstein Rotblondes Oberbräu", bought at KaDeWe, Berlin. Seems to be brewed at Holsten Brauerei, Hamburg (my bottle), as well as Feldschlösschen Braunschweig (both Carlsberg owned). Amber colour, large and lasting off-white head, some lacing. Caramel aroma with some flowery aromatic hops, notes of brown bread too. Moderate carbonation, soft malty flavour wth some brown bread notes, decent hops in the finish. Pleasant and easy drinking "altbier" (well, it’s top fermented, and it’s German).

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

(Draught). Mmmm... this is good stuff. A well rounded altbier IMO. Nutty and malty flavour with a hint of herbs and caramel.

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

700 ml bottle, unfiltered. ABV was 5.8%. Copper coloured, slightly hazy, good head. Moderate malty aroma with caramel and spices, hints of fruits. Flavour is malty, caramel, nuts and spices with a substantial hoppy bitterness. Moderate bitterness in the aftertaste. In a blind test I’d probably guess this was an English strong bitter / strong ale. Not bad.

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

330 ml bottle, bought in Germany. ABV is 4.9%. Beautiful reddish brown colour, large and lingering greyish light tan head. Moderate malty aroma with some caramel and spices, some flowery aromatic hops too. Flavour is moderately malty and herbal with moderate hops, a little burnt caramel too. Easy drinking, but not one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

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

(500 ml bottle, in Sweden). Allegedly a combination of lager and altbier (50/50?). The lager is the winner. Light golden brown colour. Malty aroma with hints of new-mown hay. Malty flavour with a not-too-pleasant bitterness. Drinkable, not outstanding. I'd prefer a pure altbier!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

500 ml bottle, bought in Germany. Brewed in the Oettinger Group's brewery in Mönchengladbach (one of their 5 German breweries). Clear brown colour, large creamy offwhite head. Moderate malty aroma with notes of caramel, hints of berries. One-dimensional malty flavour with moderate hops, mouthfeel is a bit dusty and metallic. Not a great altbier, but drinkable.

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

On tap at Nabokjelleren, Bergen. ABV was 5.5%. Beautiful reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Lovely strong aroma of butterscotch, toffee and caramel. The flavour is fairly malty but not too sweet, some caramel, decent German(?) hops throughout.

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

500 ml bottle, as Original Pinkus Obergärig (Münstersch Alt is mentioned on the rear label), from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.1%. Like all Pinkus beers, it is organic. Crystal clear and extremely pale yellow colour, more like a Kölsch than any Altbier I know. Moderate but lasting white head. Weak aroma, some grassy and dusty hops. The flavour is clean and refreshing enough, a typical Kölsch, I’d say (disregarding that the beer is not brewed in Köln). There are no offensive side flavours, but the moderately hopped flavour does not blow my socks off either. Clearly drinkable, but so are many other (and better) beers. Won’t buy again.

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

500 ml bottle, from Bris Ølutsalg, Jørpeland. ABV is 4.7%. Dark brown colour, large beige head. Distinct malty aroma, notes of caramel and toasted brown bread with syrup, also hints of dark berries. Malty flavour with toasted brown bread again, but not very sweet. A moderate but nice fruitiness makes the beer very drinkable. Decent bittering hops in the finish.

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

Cask half pint at JDW, Victoria Station, London. ABV was 5.0%. Brewed at Shepherd Neame. Dark amber to brown colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma and flavour of toffee and caramel, but the beer is not very sweet. Very moderate bitterness, a bit disappointing for an "American" guest brew.

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

500 ml bottle, 2009 vintage, kindly procured from Systembolaget by OleR, thanks! ABV is 7.5%. Copper to mahogany coloured beer, huge beige head. Nice aroma of burnt caramel, earth and bakery. The flavour is distinctly malty with loads of caramel, baked goods and chocolate, but is not too sweet. Distinct hoppy bitterness and burnt toast in the finish. Bitter aftertaste. Unusual and earthy character, not necessarily "easy drinking", but certainly one to savour.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub / farm / guesthouse. Cloudy brown colour, creamy head. Distinctly malty (carahell) aroma, also notes of yeast, caramel and some pinewood, just a little hops (Saaz). The flavour is very fruity and acidic, unfortunately well on its way to vinegar, some residual sweetness. Minimal hops.

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

Draught at Gladmatfestivalen 2007, Stavanger. ABV is 4.5%. Dark copper coloured beer, creamy head. Malty aroma with some caramel. Malty and well rounded flavour with a moderate but sufficient bitterness, which becomes very distinct in the finish.

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

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Beautiful chestnut colour, large off-white head. Very malty aroma with strong notes of bakery. Malty flavour, loads of caramel, moderate hops.

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

Bottle, 4.8% ABV, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Cognac to deep amber colour, moderate off-white head. Distinct aroma of wort, malts and rye bread. The flavour is dominant malty with notes of brown bread, low bitterness. Nice.

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

On tap at the GBBF 2008. Dark brown colour, low head. Nice aroma of caramel and butterscotch. "Dusty" flavour, malty with a noticeable hoppy finish.

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

Cask at the GBBF 2008, gravity dispense. ABV was 5.5%. Golden brown colour, no head. Fruity mild aroma and flavour, notes of blackcurrant and raspberry leaves. Low bitterness.