750 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but bottled in 2009. Pours fairly pitch black color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy tan head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of tart cherry, dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toast, dark bread, molasses, licorice, raisin, prune, fig, light banana, clove, pepper, light smoke/char, and roast/yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt, fruity/spicy yeast, and cherry juice notes; with good strength. Taste of lightly tart cherry, dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toast, dark bread, molasses, licorice, raisin, prune, fig, light banana, clove, pepper, light smoke/char, and roast/yeast earthiness on the finish. Fair amount of yeast spiciness and roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toast, dark bread, molasses, dark fruit, clove, pepper, light smoke/char, and roast/yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity and robustness of dark/roasted malt, fruity/spicy yeast, and light-moderate cherry juice flavors; with a great malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, moderately creamy, and lightly chalky/bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming presence after the finish. Overall this is an awesome Belgian strong dark ale/porter style! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt, fruity/spicy yeast, and light-moderate cherry juice flavors; and very smooth to drink for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.

Thx. to tderoeck (Tim) for sharing this one // 75 cl. bottle sampled @ Tim’s De Molen & assorted beers tasting // a collaboration between Bell’s & de Proef which includes Michigan, dark cherries, brett & Nelson Savignon hops amongst its ingredients // colour me interested // pours black, creamy mocha head, some lacing // smell is coco powder, mocha, berries, dark cherries, sweet other cherries, nice fruits sweetness, chocolate, dark malts, touch sweet red wine // taste is sweet berries & dark cherry juice, chocolate, wild berries, light bitter herbs, lots of coco, lots of sweet chocolate, dark grapes, pure chocolate, sweet coffee // touch grounded, coco body // mmm, this was so damn good // personal fav. of the tasting