Strong dark ale by a young West-Flemish beer firm commissioning their production from BeerSelect; bottle from Drankencentrale Vanquathem in Zedelgem. Moussey, membrane-lacing, thick and stable, pale beige head on a very dark chocolate brown beer with copper red glow. Aroma of coffee grounds to roasted chicory, unsugared cocoa, burnt walnuts, dry caramel, toasted rye bread, dried red berries, nutmeg, vague hints of black tea, dry tree leaves, black pepper, leather. Moderately fruity onset, some dried prune and medlar, but generally very clean and non-estery, as well as subdued in sweetness; medium carb, touch of ‘blood’-like iron somewhere but unoffensively so and ‘natural’, rounded and resinous mouthfeel where some restrained red fruit notes linger over a very malty core, dry-caramelly, roasted rye-bready, a bit nutty and, more than anything, roasted bitter coffee-like, filling the mouth cavity. A confident peppery and leafy hoppiness accentuates this roasted bitter profile, to the point where terms like ‘robust porter’ or even ‘dry stout’ come peeping round the corner, especially in combination with the very clean, ‘Anglo-Saxon’ yeast profile. Feels quite ‘British’ in spite of being intended as a Belgian strong dark – the usually sweet and yeasty Belgian dubbels and quads are remarkably far away here. Somewhat Scotch- and even stout-like, quite unique and really tasty – I love a good old-fashioned malty beer and this surely is one. Nice surprise, I was expecting the umpteenth overcoriandered sweet dubbel, to be honest…

10 June 2023. At 15de Brugs Bierfestival. Cheers to Anke, mom, dad, et al.

A: hazy dark brown, stable, foamy, beige head.
A: raisin, prune, cappuccino, milk chocolate, tobacco.
T: sweet prune, pear, milk chocolate, mocha, burnt biscuit.
F: herbal hops, bit bitter mocha, dried fruits.
P: medium body, oily texture, soft carbonation.
Decent brew by this relatively new brewery. Belgian esters are there, balanced by the roasty character. Belgian Stout-ish, but not quite, which makes it all the more interesting.