Bottled November 2014, opened March 2017. 12 oz bottle pored to tulip snifter. Big raisin nose initially but nose got more complex as it warmed. Palate also got more complex as it warmed. Fig, port, toffee, red wine, berries, and more. High ABV sneaks up with a pleasant warming that just makes me wish I had more of this. I bought a single bottle of this expensive beer, but next time I see it I’ll buy as many as I can afford.

12 ounce bottle into signature tulip glass, bottled on 11/21/2014. Pours very hazy dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of huge raisin, prune, plum, fig, date, cherry, apricot, pear, apple, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, molasses, toasted brown bread, leather, tobacco, wood, and herbal; with lighter notes of licorice, peppercorn, and yeast earthiness. Incredible aromas with fantastic complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, raisins, and dark/bready malt sweetness; with great strength. Taste of huge raisin, prune, plum, fig, date, cherry, apricot, pear, apple, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, molasses, toasted brown bread, leather, tobacco, wood, and herbal; with lighter notes of licorice, peppercorn, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal bitterness and yeast spiciness after the finish; with lingering notes of dark fruit, cherry, apricot, apple, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, molasses, toasted brown bread, leather, tobacco, wood, herbal, light licorice/pepper, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, raisins, and dark/bready malt sweetness; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light dryness from bitter/spiciness, lightly increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy, slick, and lightly syrupy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is extremely well hidden; a light warmth with zero booziness lingering after the finish. Overall this is an insane fruited Belgian strong dark ale! All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, raisins, and dark/bready malt sweetness; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV. Very rich, complex, and well balanced; never overly sweet or heavy for the ABV with nice dryness. A really amazing offering all around, and just as impressive as a 6 year old bottle I had 4.5 years ago.

Bottle from a trade. Many thanks yourilevesque! Copper colour, almost no foam. Bit syrupy. Sweet nose of raisins, sweet malts, caramel. Some fruitiness. Berries and other dark fruits. Very well balanced. Great beer!

12 ounce bottle. Pours a tawny deep reddish brown color with a brief beige head. Boozy toasted malt nose has notes of cognac and burnt sugar. First sip yields rich burnt toffee notes and warming alcohol. Bittersweet and intense with a slight earthy component. Noticeable dark dried currant notes as well. Finishes dry and complex with a long bitter aftertaste. Remarkably smooth for such a high gravity brew. Drinks like a dry sherry or fortified wine. Definitely a sipping ale. Another classic from Dogfish Head.