Vier Monniken's imperial stout (flavoured with coffee, cinnamon and juniper berries) aged on bourbon barrels; bottle 179 of apparently only 350 made. Very densely mousy, audibly crackling, initially very thick, plaster-like lacing, brownish beige head, slowly opening and dissolving, eventually reduced to a thin ring; jet black robe with only the thinnest imaginable edge of burgundy. Intense aroma of coffee grounds, 'fondant' chocolate, 'jenever' or indeed juniper berries, wet cinnamon powder, mocha dessert, candied figs, vanilla-scenting oak wood, sweet bourbon, reduced madera sauce, incense, cigar ashes, toffee, porcini fried with brown sugar, damp earth, plum, pipe tobacco, spiced cookies, cloves, dust, bay leaf, clay. Sweetish onset, dried plum, candied fig, black cherry and blackberry notes, very light sourish edge, initially lively carbonation (bit much for the style) but this fades quickly to a much softer level; very full, oily, even syrupy mouthfeel. Thick toffeeish, black bread-like and chocolatey maltiness, sweetish but not overly so, spiced with obvious juniper berries and less obvious but still noticeable cinnamon - before, in the very end, an aromatic coffee effect pops up as well. This coffee element pairs with a light roasty bitterishness in the tail, turning a little bit ashy for a brief moment, while medium strong woody tannins add dryness; a herbal hop bitter touch appears in teh finish, along with warming, yet nowhere astringent, bittersweet bourbon. Lingering spicy and toffeeish notes. Old school RIS profile here, with an almost Struise-like robustness, ashiness and syrupiness (think Cuvée Delphine or some of the Black Damnations); the alcohol, though considerable, does not 'burn' annoyingly and leaves enough room for the sheer thickness of the malts to be played out. Impressive Belgian imperial stout rather than a 'Russian' one, but I really love its boldness, thickness and intensity.

Bottle 185 of 350 (50cl bottles), bought at De Bierboom from my mate Rudy (one of the so called 'Vier Monniken', or four Monks). This is a lovely beer if like me you have a sweet tooth and an alcoholic leaning. It's just a great Russian style Imp Stout with everything you'd expect with a bucket load of extras! Dark, interesting and very, very drinkable.