Dégustée en fût au Saint-Bock. De couleur brune foncée et quasi-opaque. Nez malté de caramel moyennement fumé (fumée de bois) et aux notes terreuses et rôties, léger de fruits (raisins vineux, notes de cerises) avec des notes de houblon herbeux et des traces de chocolat. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen-bas et une texture moyennement crémeuse et huileuse. Moyen goût fruité (raisins vineux, léger de cerises, traces de prunes lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût de caramel, de malt légèrement terreux et aux notes rôties ainsi que des traces de mélasse et de sirop d’érable puis à mesure que la gorgée avance, un léger goût de malt fumé (fumée de bois) ressort jusqu’en finale avec une moyenne amertume de houblon herbeux asséchant et des petites notes d’alcool. Post-goût long-moyen et un peu sec, moyen-léger amer de houblon herbeux, léger de rôti avec des notes rôties et de fumée ainsi qu’un goût fruité (moût de raisins et de cerises). (automne 2006)

Pint at le St. Bock on 1/27/07
Very dark chocolate brown beer is highlighted by ruby and maroon tints. Clarity is medium-high with plentiful carbonation. Medium-dark beige head is small, shows moderate retention and provides little/no lacing.
A big shot of vinous, dark fruits surge forth upon first sniff, followed by chocolate-covered coffee bean-like roastiness and trailing smoked malts. Fortunately, the smoke is easily found. Light minerals and fresh yeast abound on the finish, with smoky phenolics and piquant fruitiness all wrapped about. What it does seem to be lacking, however, is a solid, supportive maltiness that you would expect from a scotch ale. Not much in the way of sweet caramel or toffe, and rather much more chocolatey and roasty. Still, I’ve had scotch ales very similar to this (think Silver City Fat Bastard) and it’s competent and interesting. No hops noted, no alcohol noted.
Strong vinousness again perks up in the flavor, but seems to get swallowed, briefly by some sweet chocolate. The pale or medium malt sweetness (and resulting palate softness) is short-lived, however, as roasty, somewhat grainy malts arrive to heavily dry the flavor and strip the palate. Ending thoroughly smoked and very fruity (dark berries, prunes, concord grapes) with the smokiness really wrapped in to the fruitiness and roast. Interesting, but some caramelization, more medium malts, less roast and a bit more clarity from the smoke would prove beneficial. Body is much too dry and thin by the finish and with warming some alcohol warmth is evident.

Eye: black with burgundy reflections, not much of that beige head; nose: smoke, roasted malt, caramel, "fresh"; mouth: smoke, caramel, roasted malt, finale in caramel with a hint of smoked salmon, relatively thin, mildly sweet, medium body, oily texture, good carbonation, lightly bitter FRANÇAIS Oeil : noire avec des reflets bourgogne, peu de mousse beige; nez : fumée, torréfaction, caramel, « fraîche »; bouche : fumée, caramel, torréfaction, finale en caramel avec une pointe de saumon fumé, relativement mince, moyennement sucrée, corps moyen, texture huileuse, bonne carbonatation, légèrement amère

Dark clear brown ale with a thick moka head. Sweet raisin aroma with light molasses. In mouth, a roasted malt with notws of vinous raisins, not very sweet and very light peated notes. Rich and smooth. Went nicely with the Bosniac meat.