Gift from the daughter in Norway. Big pounder can. Pour is big black, large and in charge. Nice creamy tan head that fades rapidly to a scummy ring. Very smooth dark beer nose, very mild aroma of coffee and dark chocolate. First taste is boozy, coffee and old partially burned damp campfire wood. Warming sensations all round. You better sip this baby, no gulping here; a fine beer to appreciate, whew. A little viscous on the palate, yet it still has some decent carbonation. Boozy, yes; but nothing here is overwhelming. Its well made and balanced for such a higher alky brew. Reminds me of some of the finer domestic impy stouts I've done. Well done Haand. As a Christmas brew, this is so much better than the stupid ass spice bombs everybody in the states offer. Now, near the end of the session, I think I may be getting a little giddy, lightheaded, teetering, tottering and woozy. Fer sher, such a complex brew. Mouth-coating from start to finish. Certainly a real man's dark beer. As a straight up traditional ale, its right up there with Full Pint's Serendipitous Design and Brauhaus Leikeim Steinbeir. As an imperial stout I'd say its on par with Dogfishhead World Wide Stout 2002 (23% ABV) and Brewkeeper's Mad Brewer Black Storm. There, you have it. Quite an experience! Thanks Valerie!

Svart, uten skum. Aroma av lakris, brødskorpe, kaffi og sjokolade. Smak av karamell, lakris, tobakk.

(Bottle, vintage 2013) Dark brown colour, almost black, with creamy beige head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of black rye bread, coffee, liquorice, juniper berries, tamarind, treacle and hints of smoke. Malty, roasted, slightly vinous taste with coffee, sweet liquorice, juniper berries, caramel, tamarind, a touch of smoke, tar and a balanced coffee bitterness in the finish. Full body, with a certain sweetness. Really tasty and quite powerful, still in excellent balance. Very nice.

Keg at Craft. Dark brown, almost black. Aroma is chocolate, bit of smoke, dark fruit (blackberry maybe), touch of spice, bit milky coffee. Taste is very fruity, with a whiff of smoke. Bit sweet too.

Bottle picked up from Oslo Airport, drunk at Christmas Eve. Dark hazy brown, some foam but not much. Nose is a bit herbal, malty and some spices there. Taste reveals some spices first, sweetish-malty-herbal overall feel, some smoked character there as well. Christmas and bacon-filled sturdy ale, spicy and herbal. Can't say that I like it too much but overall good at what it is.

Pours dark brown, almost black, with close to no foam. Aroma is winey, soy sauce, barrel aged. Body is fairly dense with delicate carbonation. Taste is moderately sweet, with some bitterness and good sourness. Some umami, according to my Japanese friends, who say it reminds the soy sauce they use for breakfast. Finish is long and bitter/sour.

From backlog. 0,5 litre Bottle, gift from a friend. Almost Black with light brown head. Roasted malts, hops, spices, yeast and smoke.