Complex imperial stout by Belgo-Italian White Pony, executed at Eutropius; aged in rye whisky barrels and flavoured with maple syrup and black walnuts (a species of walnut native to the western half of the United States - an odd choice considering the old Eurasian walnut is much easier to obtain here in Europe). Thick and densely creamy, foamy, pale mocha-brown, moussy, membrane-lacing head towering over a pitch black beer. Strong bouquet of hot chocolate sauce with cognac, vanilla-scenting oak wood, rye whisky indeed, toffee, maple syrup very pronounced, almond paste, cocoa, teriyaki, molasses, marmite, blueberry jam, fig compote, French walnut liqueur, latté macchiato, wet leather, bayleaf, hints of liquorice, sweet sherry, pipe tobacco, honey-glazed spareribs, crumbled cookies, hazelnut and cinnamon. Sweet, dense onset, fig compote and blackberry coulis with a dash of pear 'Belle Hélène' and chestnut as well as a top layer of porcini- and teriyaki-like umami and a vague sourish undercurrent, but these flavours are a bit disturbed by overly sharp and minerally carbonation (certainly for this kind of beer); inherently very full and oily body, with a syrupy effect enhanced by the maple syrup, but the 'volume' is thinned by both this (over)carbonation and alcohol, which is apparent early on. Multi-layered, thick middle core, toffee, molasses, marmite and toasted brown bread, bittersweet with growing roasty bitterness in the end - contrasted with the sweetness of the maple syrup. Drying woody tannins creep in and eventually become quite prominent, aided by astringency from the black walnut - a tannic feast shifting the entire beer to a more dry and bitter side, further propelled by an undercurrent of spicy hops. Coffeeish roastiness is there but remains altogether fairly mild, nuttiness on the other hand is very pronounced and the maple syrup sweetness is all but gone by the time the wood and booze set in - the latter heating the throat in an obviously whisky-like colour, but something sherry-like appears as well all the way at the back, next to an earthy element which should not have been there. A hefty, powerful and layered construction, desperately trying to impress with all its assets and boldness, but somehow a tad unbalanced too, with the overcarbonation bothering me a bit; accentuating the wood with tannic nuttiness from those black walnuts is, however, a clever idea which works very well here. A flavour 'parcours' with more ups than downs - but the sheer complexity ensures that it never gets boring. Muscle flexing by White Pony, once again, but pleasantly so - contrary to some other very strong beers I had from them in the past; that said, this earthy element, overcarbonation and the whole balancing act of flavours almost going to the wrong side are (detail) criticisms I may not have had if they stayed with Het Nest for the execution of their beers instead of moving to Eutropius. I have noticed in earlier White Pony beers that their recipes and ideas can deliver great beers, as long as they are in good hands - and I am very unconvinced that Eutropius is up to that task. Still: an interesting concoction which does impress, that is for sure.