Inky black color in the glass. Large and in charge faomy bubbled capping of light tanned foam. Sits a good while before settling to an always present frim collar ring and skimming. Great lacing is caked on in a thin frosting of interwoven particles. Aroma is quite nice with a smokey/charred dry sense over a bit of dry cocoa, pepper, anise, and dark malt husks. Slight sweetness undrneath, but sticks to the dryness with a well balanced tone. Taste is just as good as the smell delivers with a well formed display of dark huskyness, charred leafyness/earthyness, deep dark cocoa bean, thin bitterness within the cocoa and char adding tin and ash notes as it developes into a nice placid realm of dryness into the finish with touches of charred pepper spice and espresso chocolate. Well balanced, even though its overall dry from front to back. It has an ease about it that is encouragably tolerable throughout each sip. Medium bodied to closing in on fullish. Loads up the dryness on the palate, but some how fills up the throat and belly with a roasty warmth and tender little sweetness underneath. Very nice. The dryness takes a bit of getting use to, but once its flow has started to take place its easy to follow. A nice surprising find and will go back for more.

Pours pitch black. No head on my glass, but they usually pour it very well at SD. Thick malty nose. Flavor is a mass of character. Smoky, anise, molasses, thick malts, burnt coffee beans. Throws a load to chew and dwell on in your mouth. Feel has a good carbonation to it and the liquid has a good body as well. Overall very drinkable. Thick and robust with a tolerable bitter tone and aftertaste, it’s very well done. Especially considering this is a Belgian produced stout, which we never see that much (and even less, done well).

A careful pour yields a wispy, light brown head covering a dark brown to light black hued beer. The aroma is faint through the lifetime of the beer, but enjoyable. It starts, when cold, a little heavy on the minerals (copper, perhaps?) and moves on to a roasted, ashen aroma. Some semi-dry pipe tobacco creeps in along with light cocoa powder and French roast coffee. Still, all very faint at times. The flavour however! The flavour explodes on the tongue and won’t let go! Fully roasted and lightly sweet up front, flavours of dry cocoa give way to a plum-like acidity at mid-palate. The finish is very dry, roasted and bitter with a lengthy, drying coffee finish. Delicate body, medium-light if that, manages to be somewhat sticky and does well with the lively carbonation. I remembered maybe hearing good things about this brewery before, but this was still a lovely surprise! From a 33cL bottle at Gastropub Tuulensuu.

Bottle, 33 cl; bought @ Willems. Black color, beige head. Aroma strong roasted malts, dark choclat, dark fruits. Medium body. Taste chocolat, very strong roasted malts, dried fruit, black coffee, some liquorice. Dry finish.

330ml bottle at Microbar, 8th Jan 08. Black with a small light brown head. Great aroma and flavour of smoky, roasted malt and caramel. Very smooth palate rounds off the experience. Great stuff!