MrBunn (892), Western, Pennsylvania, USA Aug 23, 2007 Bottle - 2006 vintage. Huge tan head rises up from a dark brown body that has just the slightest hints of translucence around the edges. (I’m loosing patience waiting for the head to die down so I can put the rest of the contents of the bottle into the glass.) Aromas are heavy of dark fruit, molasses, alcohol and cognac. Flavor is wonderfully full and complex, starting a little bit nondescriptly and then crescendo-ing into a dark fruit, dried dates and candi sugar sweetened middle phase before leaving a warm alcohol rich aftertaste. Spices whirl around in the mix... nutmeg, cloves and something like ginger all surface at various times. This should really be less expensive.
BMan1113VR (919), Los Angeles (and Dallas, TX), California, USA Oct 12, 2008 2006 bottle shared with m4rest88. Sadly, a gusher... Pours with a rocky, light brown head with a very dark brown body. Aroma of currants, alcohol, figs, dry red wine, slightly herbal with caramel, chocolate, brandy, cinnamon and raisins (pretty complex). Taste is sweet with strong alcohol, dark fruits, blood, brandy and coffee. Syrupy mouthfeel with strongish, carbonation for the weight and style. m4rest88 (79), Beverly Hills, California, USA Oct 12, 2008 wow! a great beer!
2006 bottle thanks to bman1113vr.
Pours with a dark brown hue, with virtually no head after the gushing stopped. Aroma is of dark fruits, herbs, and red wine. It has a strong alcohol smell as well a moderate amount of sweet malt.
The flavor is alcoholic all the way through and is very warming. Dark fruits and metal also come out in the flavor.
Syrupy mouthfeel, with light carbonation. MuttyD (89), Cambridge, USA Oct 7, 2008 Dark brown pour with a huge bubbling cream colored head. Aroma is fruity, yeasty, and has hints of brown sugar and caramel. Flavor is yeasty, sugary, and slightly alcoholic. More like a quad/abt than a Belgian Strong Ale. Spicy throughout. Sweet finish. NosirIwont (879), Aalborg Vestby, Denmark Oct 7, 2008 Bottle. Pours dark, dark brown with a big, creamy beige head. Aroma is quite sweet and complex; fruity with citrus/orange, wood, plums, liquorice and brandy. Sweet flavour. Fruit, plums, a touch of vermouth. Finish is cloyingly sweet, like brandy or sherry. Has a strange chocolate/liquorice mix-note. Notes of vermouth at it varms. Lingering apple notes, which aren’t doing any good here. Alcohol is well-hidden. Nice, smooth palate. Overall a fine brew, but way too cloying. Also could do without the apple notes in the finish. 07-10-08. Todeon (214), Höllviken, Sweden Oct 6, 2008 Bottle @ home. Aroma is wonderful with lots of dark fruit and spicey notes. Almost black in color. Taste is spicey with lots of caramel and dark fruit. A bit alcohol in the finish.
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