UPDATED: OCT 16, 2020 V dark brown. Malty, molasses, yeasty, dark fruits. Quite sweet, subdued bitterness. So-so.

UPDATED: MAR 7, 2019 More goodness from Bells. I thought this was a stout when first sampled. Kind of thick for a dark Belgian...like a more robust version of the Kalamazoo Stout. About equal in density, maybe even thicker not sure. At first the flavor is subtle, but creeps up..chocolate, coffee/toffee, licorice, mildly hopped, etc. Originally was not sure if worth the price tag, but after my 3rd or 4th sample it is solid. 7.5% range, so put two of these together and it is better than most bombers out there. I was going to sample a single first, but the dude at Knightly Spirits said this was the last 6-pack until next season, which I would have been upset if I got shut out. Going to save my last 2 for camping trip at the end of the month.

very interesting beer. a dark Belgian basically. I do like it when people blend styles like this to make something different

Beautiful sight- near black, creamy head. Coffee with a hint of chocolate on the nose. Very nice mouth feel, as befits a beer which looks as rich as this. So we have a nice roasty stout but with something quite different going on, some underlying fruitiness.

Cloudy, dark, ruddy-brown pour with a 2-3 finger, mocha head. Aroma is chocolate, dark fruit, apple pie filing, roasted nuts, toasted wheat bread, dark caramel and hints of earthy, herbal hops. Flavor is roast, cocoa powder, clove-heavy pie spice, mincemeat pie-like dark fruit and spicy notes, burnt sugar, light roasted nuts and bread crust. Medium body, slightly syrupy, but slick feel, with a well placed boozy warmth. Pretty good stuff overall.

UPDATED: MAR 13, 2018 Pours a deep dark reddish black. Smooth mouthfeel. Sweet but not overpowering. Strong but not boozy.

Bottle in Seattle. My 7k tasting. Tall, odd foam dissipating to a regular brown head. Very dark leather brown. Unfortunately this old bottle is infected, ruddy cherry and funk on nose. Sip is fizzy and full, leather flavors are great, nice chalkiness with some ester. Bad shape but flavors are nice. Cocoa and tobacco.

12-ounce bottle pours black with brown highlights, no head or lacing. Aroma: chocolate, coffee, dark dried fruits -- all faint. Flavor: figs, dates, coffee, chocolate-covered cherries, molasses, brown bread. Mouthfeel: medium-bodied, slick.

BOD 9/15/17. Pours as dark as a porter, nearly black. Normal head volume, lacing and quite outstanding retention. Quite outstanding nose similar to that of an Olde Ale coupled with those of a mild stout. Rich dark fruit (prune, raisin) over a base that is slightly sweet. Underneath is a light char and even lighter note of chocolate. Heavy medium body with a texture that is extremely smooth and hints at being creamy. The carbonation / body balance is adequate and soft, thus adding to the mouthfeel. Effervescence is present and tickles the tongue from time to time but comes across as a bit under carbonated. The flavor profile is outstanding and rather unique. A base sweetness remains throughout. Prune arrives mid-palate and is the first flavor to separate, then quickly morphs to raisin. Chocolate makes a brief subtle appearance, then the sweetness fades allowing the char and roast to emerge. Clove makes an appearance near the end and lingers after the finish along with a note of bitter bakers chocolate.

Bottle. Almost black color, tanned head. Aroma has raisins, oaky notes, some bready notes. Round sweet taste, some raisins, some oak, rye bread notes, sweet caramel malty notes.