Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle: Poured a dark murky brown color ale with a medium size dark brown foamy head with limited retention and some minimal lacing. Aroma of caramelized malt with some residual sugar notes with some juniper notes and some other spices also noticeable. Taste is a complex mix of plums and other residual sugar notes with some juniper notes some chocolate malt and caramelized notes with some residual sugar notes. Body is full with good carbonation with some warming alcohol notes also discernible. Solid and complex beer with minimal reference point to compare to.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Phil Boutin's private import bottle. Aromas of chocolate liqueur on a woody background with prune esters, notes of fudge with an added juniper background. Complex and powerful aromatic. The foam descends quite quickly on the black and opaque liquid. Explosion of chocolate with all its variations: black, milk, creamy, fudge, brownies etc., all coated with a strong and powerful alcohol that embellishes the finish. Esters of prunes and dates complement the whole thing. Alcohol is very noticeable but does not behave aggressively, which is surprising for its rather excessive rate. Lots of body, creamy, silky texture and a smooth effervescence makes it look like a chocolate liqueur. A real pleasure to drink Bouteille en importation privée de Phil Boutin. Aromes de liqueur de chocolat sur fond boisé avec esters de pruneaux, des notes de fudge avec en prime un fond de genévrier. Aromatique complexe et puissant. La mousse descend assez rapidement sur le liquide noir et opaque. Explosion de chocolat en bouche avec toutes ses déclinaisons : noir, au lait, crémeux, fudge, brownies etc., le tout, enrobé d’un alcool fort et puissant qui agrémente la finale. Des esters de pruneaux, de dattes complémentent le tout. L’alcool est très perceptible mais ne comporte aucune agressivité; ce qui est surprenant pour son taux plutôt excessif. Beaucoup de corpulence, une texture crémeuse, soyeuse et une effervescence tout en douceur la fait ressembler à une liqueur de chocolat. Un réel plaisir à savourer. O:8.375 V:3.75 G:8.688 C:4.5 G:17.0 T:42.313

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Superstrong dark ale, a dark barleywine if you will, from the great Norwegian pioneer in bringing American style craft brewing to Europe; brewed with only Norwegian ingredients, including a kveik yeast strain fermenting at no less than 42° C… Released in October 2020, bottle comes from a fancy tin tube. Creamy but thinnish and (under influence of the alcohol) open, mocha-beige head over a very dark chocolate brown beer, almost black but with light shining through in the form of a ruby red glow. Intense bouquet of molasses, toffee, old oxidized ruby port, madera even, cognac, almond, fresh thyme, pipe tobacco, brown bread, wood glue, clove, liquorice. Very sweet, ‘candied’ onset, blonde candi sugar-like with dried-fruitiness of candied dates and figs, medium carbonation; very full, bit vinous mouthfeel. ‘Deep’ layers of toffeeish, dark-chocolatey and toasty-bitterish maltiness fill the mouth, carrying spicy and herbal aspects of thyme, liquorice and sweet cicely but also tea and tobacco, before evidently shifting into a strong, brandy- and rum-like booziness. The bittersweet, thick maltiness, however, manages to soften the alcohol effect, making for a rich, complex ending – and an impressive sipping beer. One to handle with care – I should have known better than to have this one as the closure of a night of busy tasting – but certainly a formidable ‘bière de dégustation’ worth its price tag.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9

Solid powerful evening sipper this one Norwegian Strong Ale should be a style here at RB Quite complex this one. Different layers popped up when the temperature changed Could easily have mistaken this for a barrel aged one This was certainly not that version Also a lot that reminded me of a port vine Quite vinous beer. But I quess it is the kveik that fixed that feeling Also pleasant dark malt, dried fruits and toffee Also quite well masked alcohol level and a fine mellow carbonation level. Very easy drinkable [Bottle from Vinmonopolet in Halden, Norway]

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

On tap at Bakgården Både&. Tasted side by side with the Sherry edition. It’s close to black in the glass, with a dense and quite big but collapsing beige head. Cute lacing. The aroma has honey, some blackberry, alcohol, coffee, brown sugar, caramel, and roasted malts. Somehow there’s a reminiscence of classic strong Polish mead in the back. It’s full-bodied, warming and sweet, with a bitterness showing up quite late. It’s vinous and strong, but far from problematically strong, with lots of nice flavors. The flavor is more on the roasted side than the aroma is, and toward the finish there’s a good dash of high grade chocolate too. Brown sugar, coffee, some honey and even a touch of dark dried fruits too. Lasting finish with quite a lot of sweetness. A really pleasant one indeed, although a bit sweeter than I’d prefer. Not sure which of the two editions I like the most. The sherry barrel aged is delicious too, but it feels nice to return to the regular one. Ended up with the same score though. 201015

0,33 litre Bottle , from Vinmonopolet Lillehammer. Dark brown with little brown head. Roasted malts, Chocolate, coffee, liqorice, kinda boozy, but hides The alcohol well. Fruity. Lots goin On here!

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9

Shared bottle at Bernt’s place 23.12.20. Dark brown. Small beige head. Excellent aroma and sweet taste of brittle, dates, sweet blueberries and hints of star anise, pine and sap! Very good!

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8

8-4-8-5-16 Bottle, #2232, Bottle 6397/8600, three months after bottling. Pours black, with a rocky mocha head. Aroma is sweet roasted malts with honey, muscovado and liquorice, as well as dark fruits, berries, sweet coffee and earthy minerals. Creamy body, with soft carbonation. Flavour is roasted malts, with bread, raisins, dark fruits and muscovado, as well as kandi sugar, heather, sweet coffee and earthy minerals.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Bakgården Både & 151020. Black color with a beige head. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, alcohol. Flavor is roasted malt, chocolate, alcohol, coffee, sugar, honey, berries. Complex very nice beer.