A 750 ml bottle obtained from Rare Beer and cellared for a few years. Lost Abbey and a barley wine, my expectations are high. I like to use my Chimay glass for dark beers I expect to be top level, so I am this evening. I haven't removed a cage and cork in some time, this bottle takes me back. The body is dark caramel in color and only a small ring of very fine, taupe bubbles follows the pour. The scent is attractive with toffee, ripe fruit, grain and meadow. As good as the smell is, the drink is even better. I taste dark plums, baked bread, chocolate, figs perhaps, malt, red licorice and a nice woody background. Dense and chewy. Many attributes of a good Belgian dark ale in this one, high praise intended. Damn, this is a fine beer.

Bottle. Pours clear hazel, small tan head, good lacing. Aroma is caramel, molasses, deep roasty malts, earth, hint of leather, oak tannin. Flavor is medium sweet, medium bitter. Touch of smoke his first; missed that in the nose. Then a mix of earthy dark sugars and oak, along with some shoe leather. Full body. This is truly oak aged imo, no spirit. Interesting.