UPDATED: DEC 19, 2021 One of the dwindling number of bombers I have put away. The prodigal son is in town visiting, time to break out the XXVI out and have a sampling. The label informs that the best by date is 6/13/15, I think we are in line with that. The wax is pared back, I get the lid off. Pouring into my ABGB tulip glass , the arrival is jet black, duh, with a momentary wisp of light brown foam. Nice nose certainly, bakers chocolate, grain, licorice and vanilla. I lift for the drink, nice also. I get the pomegranate sweetness and sourness immediately, chocolate, dark bread, malt and caramel. Another in a substantial line of Black Buttes. Different from the others but that is good.

UPDATED: SEP 4, 2021 22oz bottle pours out black topped with a tan head. Nose is roast malts berries orange spice and some barrel. Taste is more of the nice roast malts some sweetness berries spice notes. Has held up very well.

UPDATED: JUN 8, 2020 From a bottle at home. Pours black with a light, tan coloured head. Heavy aroma of fruit, chocolate and molasses. Thick mouthfeel. Sweet, yet tart from the cranberry. Chocolate and molasses, with a gentle hint of bourbon. Very nice beer. (K)

UPDATED: NOV 4, 2019 Deep dark brown hue with a thin foamy light beige head. Lovely aroma that’s gently cranberry fruity and gently cocoa’d, gently woody too. Dark cocoa flavor that’s a little boozy and dark red berries like pomegranate and cranberry with a little chocolate and dark cocoa malt and a little woody kisses.

UPDATED: OCT 4, 2019 10/VIII/19 - 75cl bottle @ Belgian Beer Geek Gathering Summer Ed. I, Best After: VI/13/15 - (2019-1183) Thanks to ElManana+1 for sharing the bottle! Clear dark brown beer, small creamy beige head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: sweet, caramel, bit sugary, lots of chocolate, vanilla, alcohol. MF: ok carbon, medium to full body. Taste: pretty fruity, spicy, cinnamon touch, lots of chocolate, soft acidity. Aftertaste: alcohol, fruity, dried fruits, more chocolate, soft acidity, nice roast, lots of berries, dried raspberries.

UPDATED: SEP 8, 2019 10 August 2019. At Belgian Beer Geek Tasting. Cheers to the crew, thanks for hosting, Tim! Hazy dark brown, lasting, thin, frothy, tan head; some deposit. Aroma of toast, milk chocolate, molasses, faint green apple, fig, vanilla, fruit cake, cranberry, biscuit. Taste is medium malty sweet, quite some dark fruits, fig & raisin wrapped in chocolate, molasses, touch of vanilla, tart cranberry & a grape-like aspect connecting it with bitter mocha & nuts. Dryish, slightly tart, herbal hoppy finish, toasty, lingering brown sugar & molasses & dark fruits, cake-like all in all, with a decent amount of warming liqueur-like alcohol. Medium body, oily texture, fizzy carbonation. Rich Porter with enjoyable subtle tartness.

UPDATED: APR 15, 2019 Pours a deep brownish black from the bottle with bubbly tan brown head that dissipates to leave light lace. Aroma of tart berry notes, the cranberry and pomegranate together come off as cherry, a touch of dark chocolate, and light oxidation. Taste follows, like a chocolate covered cherry dipped in soy sauce. Held up better than expected, but still showing signs of age.

From the cellar. Fine aromas of bourbon soaked cranberries, dark chocolate, vanilla, oak. Tart bourbon soaked cranberries and bittersweet chocolate flavours, with balanced roasted malts and oaky vanilla. Medium bodied, with fine carbonation. Delicious!

UPDATED: MAY 29, 2018 From bottle in 2018, 3 years old. Pours dark brown, with just a hint of light penetrating the edges. Aroma and taste of chocolate malts, hints of cocoa, lightly sweet. As it warms, I get the cranberry, too, together with the cocoa nibs, and it's nicely done. The bourbon barrels used for aging are only barely present, and I consider that a good thing. This beer is nicely flavored and very drinkable.

Masterful IS. Cranberry and chocolate well integrated. Very thick and rich. Only mildly sweet. Something special and addictively drinkable.