Special edition of Ardenne Stout by Minne (formerly called Bastogne) with blackcurrant, 75 cl bottles made exclusively for the BXL Beerfest. Thanks to Goodfella for sharing. Pale greyish white, irregular, large-bubbled and opening head over a very dark burgundy brown beer, more or less blackish but not quite, with hazy purple hue. Aroma of Sachertorte, blackcurrant jam and cassis, salted caramel, elderberry juice, old liquorice candy, toffee, raisins sprinkled with salt - unusual, in all, but very interesting and nowhere off-putting. Sour onset, lots of fresh blackcurrant tartness, elderberry and pear impressions, quite acidic on its edges at first, medium carbonation, smooth and full caramelly and toffeeish malt body with a toasty bitterish edge growing stronger in the finish while the blackcurrant sourness continues to softly dry the palate and a light salty accent appears, as in salted caramel or salmiak; ends berry-juicy, earthy, malty and a bit phenolic, with some warming alcohol. Original sour stout of sorts, unusual especially in a Belgian context, the BXL Beerfest really seems to have been brought out the best in the breweries participating in that highly sought after box of six bottles - though I wonder how many geeks concentrate only on the Cantillon included in it. This one may not receive the attention it deserves just because of that Cantillon, and that would be a shame.