Draft in Trappist glass (or tulip), 3F’s. Hey, look... it’s black! And with a creamy white head on top. Lots of Belgian spice in the nose; I’ll call it coriander and grains of paradise. Spices roll throughout the tongue like Blackjack gum, maybe even like Kvas. Black version of Belgian malts there, and some raspberry and currant notes. Spiciness dwindles further down, leaving more of an "old ale" taste. Yummy, and different from the usual Floyd fare.

Draught samples at BCTC on 7/21/07
Deep amber-mahogany, medium clarity with a dark beige head that falls to cover fairly rapidly, leaving little/no lacing.
Gingerbread and caramel in the nose are quite relaxed, with plentiful malt sugars softening things considerably. Seems very rye/cardamon-driven, though I hardly thought it was overdone. Certainly the main part of the flavor/aroma, but that seems understandable for a spiced ale using these distinctive spices. Light hop earthiness and fruitiness, with some crusty/crackery malt notes that dry things out on the end, as a pinch of vanilla is noted as well. Medium strength of aroma. Simple, pleasant. I don’t believe they were calling this or attempting this to be a stout, so I’m not sure why people are complaining of that. I will admit it’s hardly very Belgian. Maybe Belgian-influenced? There are a bit of light Belgian esters, but it’s marginal and mostly overtaken by the malt. Very clean though.
Sweet, soft and with a strong, but tasteful undercurrent of spicing that helps keep balance and adds complexity. Buttercream and vanilla run through the middle, and no roast comes out of it, as others have noted. A bit on the sugary side, yes, but it’s not cloying or anything. Tons of floral notes on the end, be it hops, herbs or some other addition. Soft, simple body with moderate carbonation and a bit of looseness on the end that aids drinkability. No alcohol or flaws noted.

BCTC - I guess I will go against the grain here because I really enjoyed this beer. After consuming a bunch of Belgian beer and a lot of them sour, I stumbled over to the 3 Floyds table. Out of curiosity I asked what they are serving and the answer was unfamiliar, so I said pour baby. Pours very dark brown almost black with almost no head. Aroma is very bread-y (not rye) but some other bread with a strong seed flavor. Taste is light and full of flavor of other spices, very earthy. Very different for 3 Floyds (translation: not full of hops). A great change of pace at the fest and the most innovative beer at the fest. And exactly what part of Brussels does this come from, cause I would like to see more Belgian beers like this.

[BCTC ’07] - fairly black out of the tap, with a small ring of off-white lace - slightly tart, earthy aroma (suprisingly so fo FFF), with some grape-like fruitiness and medium spice profile - somewhat thin body - light and tart, with berry flavors, a touch of cocoa, and a strange mix of spices, almost like indian food - this one didn’t work too well for me.