Taster pour at the brewery. Appearance is opaque black with a thin ring of light brown head and no sparkle or lacing. Aroma is rich cabernet sauvignon notes, spice, lightly sour and oaky. Taste is tart (almost sour) and oaky (chardonnay-like). Palate is light-to-medium bodied with thin texture, average carbonation and finish as taste. Alcohol hidden well. Overall, maybe a Belgian stout really isn't supposed to taste like a stout but the base stout is pretty much entirely covered up--this is all tart and oak. Aroma was intriguing and if all that had complemented a discernbile base stout, then this would be fantastic.

4 oz. sample. (Could drink a lot more of this) Nice pitch black liquid, thin off, lasting white head. Aroma is a nice level of chocolate, weak ash, mild roast.

Good roast for the backbone. The chocolate hits my palate second with a light yeast toward the finish. Creamy mouthfeel with a very nice velvet smoothness. Very well done.