22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, 2011 vintage. Pours hazy nearly opaque dark ruby red color with a 2 finger moderately dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of raisin, prune, fig, toast, chocolate, cocoa, light roast, molasses, light vanilla, clove, oak, dark bread, herbal, light bourbon, light banana, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of malt, fruit, and yeast ester notes with a fair amount of barrel presence; and good strength. Taste of raisin, fig, prune, toast, chocolate, cocoa, light roast, molasses, light vanilla, clove, oak, dark bread, light bourbon, light banana, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Light fruity and earthy tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark fruits, toast, molasses, cocoa, light roast, clove, oak, light bourbon, dark bread, light banana, herbal, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of malt, fruit, and yeast ester flavors; with moderate barrel presence and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and moderately slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice blended Belgian dark ale. All around nice balance and compelxity of malt, fruit, yeast ester, and moderate barrel flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.

Bottle. Pours a dark amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity sweetish malty vanilla woody aroma. Sweetish malty bourbon vanilla woody flavor with weak yeasty hints. Has a sweetish malty bourbon vanilla finish.

22oz bottle pours a transparent, copper amber with a creamy, lacing white head. Big, vanilla bean aroma, raisin, apples, brandy, dates, caramel, fresh cocoa pods. Flavor is sweet, watery bourbon, worcestershire sauce, caramel, vanilla, dried apple slices, raisins, dates. Full bodied, caramel, vanilla finish. Very one note.

750mL bottle, pours a dark amber / brown with a small beige head. Aroma of red berries, floral notes and a slight sourness. Flavour of red berries, slightly sour fruits, and overall much more muted and less complex than the brandy barrel version. Decent, though inferior to the brandy.

On tap at Birch & Barley, October 2011. Dark reddish/brown with a small slightly tan head. Aroma of oak, dark fruit, bourbon and toffee. The same in the nice taste. I liked the clean and rather full mouth feel of this beer.

On tap at GABF. Pours with a clear bronze body with a massive and lasting tan head that leaves excellent lace. Strong barrel aromas with vanilla, cinnamon-apple crisp, bready and caramelized. Mild raisin like esters. Flavors are of bourbon and oak. Some tannin, dry apple notes, bready. Medium bubbles and body.

On tap at the Bistro BA festival. As 9% in a Heaven Hill barrel. Pours hazy dark copper with a beige head. Somewhat musty aroma. Flavor is almost fresh darkish fruit with some mild vanilla and oak. Cola wafts in and out. Light, but dang tasty.

Draft. Mahogony beer with a cream colored head. Nice bourbon aroma. Bourbon and dark fruit flavor with light malt and figs. Medium bodied. Bourbon and vanilla lingers with dark fruit, light malt, and figs. Nice.