330 ml clear bottle. Berentsens surprise us again - they have made a slightly mellower version of a porter as their "klasse F" (Vinmonopolet) Yule/Christmas beer. Dark brown colour, nice and creamy tan head. Very nice roasty aroma with notes of oak, leather, dark bread and coffee. Flavour is moderately roasty and well rounded, elements of coffee, dark chocolate and oak. Tolerable hops. Could use a little more "bite", but this is definitely not a bad beer!

Bottled. Ruby coloured, big white head. Fruitish hoppy aroma with hayish hints. Fruitish flavour with caramellish hints. Dryish hoppy fruit in the longlasting finish and aftertaste.

Bottled
Dark ruby - copper brown, good creamy tanned head. Hoppy, yeasty nose, like in some Nøgne Ø beers, maybe using same yeast? Well-balanced, medium-bodied, good malt profile with late bitterness - all nicely packed. Hats off to Berentsens. Great beer.

Bottle. Clear, dark copper-colored. Small beige head that diminishes a bit too fast. Roasted malt and fruity hops in the aroma, along with some beef-stock. Flavour is roasted malt, some alcohol and beef-stock and surprisingly much hops, we’re talking Berentsens here. Medium body, maybe a bit thin. Long, hoppy aftertaste with roastiness and fruityness. (rerated 070709)(051007)

500 ml bottle, now available at Vinmonopolet, Norway. ABV is 5.5%. What a surprise! - Berentsens Brygghus have decided to prove they can brew something better than the standard Norwegian pilsener. Copper coloured, moderate off-white creamy head. Very nice aroma of caramel and Cascade hops. Flavour is from start to finish dominated by a distinct hoppy bitterness from loads of Cascade on a background of caramel malts, but the beer is not really sweet. Finish is very bitter. The beer is not bottle conditioned and probably pasteurised, there is not much complexity, but any hophead will probably be satisfied by the Cascade dominance. My guess is that the Norwegian beer-drinking "general public" will find it too bitter, but they sure need a challenge! Not nearly the same quality as the best b/c Nøgne Ø beers, of course - but props to Berentsens for their initiative. May they continue (and improve) their efforts in the same direction!

330 ml bottle. Deep golden colour, moderate head. Moderate aroma of hops and caramel. Flavour has some toffee and and a hoppy bitter finish, drinkable but not that interesting. Hope they brew something better for their next "jubilee"! (Berentsens are new as a brewery, they have produced industrial "ciders" and alcopops for 10 years or so, and soft drinks for 110 years.)