Bottle. Almost black. Oak, roast and licorice in the aroma. Full bodied. malty sweet flavor with roast, licorice, lots of new oak. Very tasty, this one.

Fles gekregen van H en B. Zwart bier met mooie beige schuimkraag. Aroma van likeur en whisky, koffie en hout. Smaak is vol, houtig en zoet met een lekkere pittige whiskysmaak. Nasmaak is eventjes pittig om daarna als een heerlijke zachte smaak te blijven hangen.

Sans Pardon aged on fresh oak barrels, with the trusted label embellished by an actual piece of oak wood in the shape of a hangtag around the bottle neck - a very attractive visual accent. Mousy, pale yellowish beige, medium thick, regularly shaped head leaving shreds of lacing over a very dark chocolate brown beer, approaching black but just not quite at least under bright light, with cloudy ruddy-bronze edges. Aroma of dried blue plums, old raisin bread, toffee, clear wood (old oak furniture) but relatively low in the typical vanilla scent wet oak wood exudes, stewed apples, coffee grounds, walnut, rosewood, rum, brown bread, old chocolate bars, damp earth, cappuccino, cloves. Sweetish onset, figs and raisins with some sourish red apple, soft carbonation yet full, quite thick mouthfeel, established by a 'moelleux', toffeeish, caramelly and hazelnutty malt body with only soft black chocolatey bitter edges; strong tannic woodiness in the end, however, provides dryness especially when a herbal, earthy hop bitterness sets in. A retronasal meaty accent (proteins) adds a nice twist but it is a slick, sweet caramelliness that remains the dominant flavour, heated by quite peppery, rum-like, long-lasting alcohol. 'Praline'-like and more quadrupel-ish than true Anglo-Saxon imperial stout, just like the regular version, but a beautiful sipping beer all the same, with the wood being quite pronounced and adding a lovely 'rustic' quality to it. Bit too harsh on the booze in the finish, perhaps, but complex and very enjoyable. Recommended!

500ml bottle pours out dark brown almost black topped with a tan head. Nose is chocolate sweetness licorice some molasses and oak. Taste is more of the nice chocolate roast malts oak barrel and spice.