6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Just a bit to tart and acidic
Pleasant apricot flavor in the back
Also yeast and citric
[On tap at Crowbar in Oslo, Norway]
Pleasant apricot flavor in the back
Also yeast and citric
[On tap at Crowbar in Oslo, Norway]
Tried
from Draft
at
Crowbar & Bryggeri
on 21 Feb 2026
at 12:14
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 6
Overall 7
0,44 enkeltmannspakke fra Frisklivssentralen i Verksgata, hjemme: nesten helt klar lys gylden med utmerket skumkrone som varer. Skarpt og godt anslag av citrus, urter, furunål og steinfrukter i en fin maltkropp. Sympatisk og lett å helle over drøvelen.
Tried
from Can
from
Vinmonopolet Stavanger, Verksgata
on 20 Feb 2026
at 19:32
7.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Tried
from Draft
at
Brygg
on 20 Feb 2026
at 13:33
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
Keg at Akkurat, Stockholm. Clear mahogany colour, small head. Tarry, meaty, junipery smoke aroma. Mid sweet with near full body and rounded mouthfeel. Dark, sweet bread, juniper, wood and then aquavit heat in a mid bitter finish. Arch-Scandinavian style winter warmer. Klæbo class!
Tried
from Draft
at
Akkurat
on 17 Feb 2026
at 17:05
5.8/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 6
Flavor 4.5
Texture 4
Overall 6
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!
Tried
from Can
at
HaandBryggeriet
on 16 Feb 2026
at 18:11
6.6/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 7
Big pounder can, gift from my daughter's family in Norway. Pour is beatiful black, looks great! Somewhat sweet dark nose. Nice smooth dark beer experience on the uptake. Seems a little more boozy than 7%, has a warming sensation going down. A little viscous on the palate with some medium fine carbonation. Yes, heavy on the palate, yet smooth and enjoyable. Don't gulp this one, slowly enjoy the experience. Not as good as strange roots thief share, nor thomas hardy 2003, but its better than breckenridge autumn and cigar city dark woods. Seriously, only half way thru the can I'm getting a little dizzy giddy lightheaded and weak at the knees. Pretty cool session. Near the finish, it never gets cloying yet it remains a touch sweet. Pretty good stuff. Impressed.
Tried
from Can
from
Vinmonopolet Oslo, Aker Brygge
on 15 Feb 2026
at 19:09
8.5/10
On tap at Skur 4. Looking nice, black with a small dark beige head. Quite distinct aquavit aroma and flavor, some booze, and a good dash of licorice, roasted malts and burnt hints. Warming and kind of edgy, but still smooth. Delicious. 858516
Tried
from Draft
at
Skur 4 (Haandbryggeriet)
on 13 Feb 2026
at 15:50
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to tall tulip.
To be honest there isn't much difference between this and my take on "Norwegian Wood" other than the aroma is beefed up with more scents of juniper and smoked malts; flavor might be a touch more smokier then the texture is just a wee touch smoother but not too much.
Of course I would return to this beer.
Can to tall tulip.
To be honest there isn't much difference between this and my take on "Norwegian Wood" other than the aroma is beefed up with more scents of juniper and smoked malts; flavor might be a touch more smokier then the texture is just a wee touch smoother but not too much.
Of course I would return to this beer.
Tried
from Can
on 08 Feb 2026
at 16:07
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 9
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to becher glass.
Appearance: amber/light maroon color in the glass with a two and a half fingers of eggshell white foamy head which fell to leave some light messy lace
Aroma: sweet smoky but not the meaty vibe, this seems more of a fruity sweet smoke, mostly from the juniper tones
Flavor: pretty mirrors the aroma and adds in a light woody taste which is very well welcomed then a light finish of the juniper/fruity smokiness
Texture: medium bodied, leaning towards being a sipper, very smooth along my tongue, no harshness of anything anywhere
Overall: one of the smoothest beers I've ever had without any cream added to enhance that.
Can to becher glass.
Appearance: amber/light maroon color in the glass with a two and a half fingers of eggshell white foamy head which fell to leave some light messy lace
Aroma: sweet smoky but not the meaty vibe, this seems more of a fruity sweet smoke, mostly from the juniper tones
Flavor: pretty mirrors the aroma and adds in a light woody taste which is very well welcomed then a light finish of the juniper/fruity smokiness
Texture: medium bodied, leaning towards being a sipper, very smooth along my tongue, no harshness of anything anywhere
Overall: one of the smoothest beers I've ever had without any cream added to enhance that.
Tried
from Can
on 08 Feb 2026
at 16:02
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to English pint glass.
Appearance: dark brown in the pour and more of a pure black color in the glass with a two and a half fingers of tan foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: cocoa nibs, black licorice, dark fruits, sweet coffee, roasted coffee tones, dark chocolate
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a semi-sweet to roasty, subtle spice and light toasty quality, mild finish of dark fruits, cocoa nibs and black licorice
Texture: medium bodied, leaning towards being a sipper, fair smoothness on the tongue with a low roasty harshness
Overall: a very nicely done English porter I would have again.
Can to English pint glass.
Appearance: dark brown in the pour and more of a pure black color in the glass with a two and a half fingers of tan foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: cocoa nibs, black licorice, dark fruits, sweet coffee, roasted coffee tones, dark chocolate
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a semi-sweet to roasty, subtle spice and light toasty quality, mild finish of dark fruits, cocoa nibs and black licorice
Texture: medium bodied, leaning towards being a sipper, fair smoothness on the tongue with a low roasty harshness
Overall: a very nicely done English porter I would have again.
Tried
from Can
on 08 Feb 2026
at 15:46