Export stout of sorts by an oddly French-named new brewing company south of Ghent, which I suspect commissions all of its beers from Boelens rather than actually producing everything themselves - something which warrants further investigation. Slow gusher so be ware. Huge and foamy, cobweb-lacing, pale greyish beige, uneven-bubbled head, collapsing quickly but still remaining thick after a while in a somewhat disorderly manner (a typical 'gusher head', I would say); misty dark chocolate brown robe, as good as black, but still with mahogany edges when fully poured. Aroma of very strong 'drop' (sweet liquorice) and even salmiak candy, sweet cicely, molasses, melting caramel, 'Koetjesreep', clove, moist white pepper, pear, some Ersatz coffee but very little roastiness, chewing gum, vague whiff of espresso still appearing when warming up but remaining all too subtle. Sweet onset with very strong 'drop' (liquorice) from the start, lighter notes of pear, fig and banana peel, soft carbonation, weirdly thin mouthfeel especially for a stout; bubblegummy edge round a caramelly malt core with some toasted bitterishness but in a very mild way, nevertheless ending on the dry side, with phenolic clove- and nutmeg-like elements joining in on the liquorice, before a deeper, somewhat earthy spiciness of hops comes to the foreground - but it too remains soft and superficial. Some light roastiness in the finish (burnt brown bread) but remaining engulfed in this sweeter, spicy and somewhat salty liquorice and salmiak flavour, though this effect admittedly is toned down in the finish. Odd, thin, unbalanced stout, with an almost 'medicinal' degree of liquorice replacing all the black chocolate and roasted coffee beans that should actually have been there; clearly what these guys set out to do, misses the point entirely. Not undrinkable once you get used to it, but if you do not like liquorice flavours in your stouts, stay clear from this one. Bizarre - I do not think I will go out to seek their blonde and tripel if this is their average quality level...