Sample, during the Mondial de la bière, savoured June 2 2010; eye: black, opaque, tiny ring of beige head; nose: roasted malt, molasses, light resinous hops, soy sauce; mouth: roasted malt, molasses, light resinous hops, soy sauce, alcohol warmth, acridness, finale in roasted malt with lots of molasses and way more hops than expected, full body, not much carbonation, more bitter than expected, liqueur-like texture; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Échantillon, lors du Mondial de la bière, savourée le 2 juin 2010; œil : noire, opaque, petit anneau de mousse beige; nez : malt rôti, mélasse, léger houblon résineux, sauce soya; bouche : malt rôti, mélasse, léger houblon résineux, sauce soya, chaleur d’alcool, âcreté, finale en malt torréfié avec beaucoup de mélasse et beaucoup plus de houblon que prévu, corsée, peu carbonatée, plus amère que prévu, texture liquoreuse; en résumé : bien

On tap at MBGSF 2010. Pretty black with a little bit of lace. Aroma of chocolate, sour fruit, stone fruit, roasted malts, coffee. Flavor of enormous alcohol, sweet, stone fruits, a little chocolate. Doesn’t taste all that stout-like. Coffee, roasted malt finish. All right, very innocuous for such a strong beer. Not all that complex but dangerously drinkable. Could probably use some age.

Bottle. Pours a black color with a small fast disappearing off-white head. Has a roasted malty malty chocolate and licorice aroma. Roasted malty chocolate and licorice flavor with some alcoholic hints. Has a roasted malty chocolate finish with hints of licorice in the aftertaste.

12 oz bottle at DC local tasting, courtesy of CaptainCougar - many thanks! Dark brown, medium tan head. Aroma of chocolate and cigars. Taste has bitter cocoa and plenty of alcohol. Nice.

12oz bottle pours a viscous, opaque black with very little tan head. Big, boozy aroma, brown sugar, vanilla, rum, a little bread. Flavor is bready, malty, sweet, port, sherry, woody, boozy. Finish is full bodied and hot.

Bottle: Poured a deep pitch-black color stout with a small foamy head with minimal retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of light residual sugar with some subtle black chocolate and surprisingly no alcohol. Taste is not as flavorful as expected with some notes black chocolate and some light dry coffee that seems to cover most of the alcohol. Body is fuller then average with an oily texture with average carbonation and surprisingly no alcohol is discernible.

On tap at the brewpub during ’09 Winter Solstice. ’08 version. Poured black with a small brown head. Aroma had notes of roasted coffee, chocolate and a touch of licorice with an undertone of alcohol. Flavor began with a roasted malts and finished with a bit of bitter-sweet chocolate. The flavor covered up the alcohol amazingly well!

courtesy of BA trader. Summer ’09 release. Pours black, thin mahogany head, oily golden lacing. Aroma of dark malts, dark fruits, lots of booze, and roast. Flavor, dark roasted malts, some soy, dark fruits; currants with thin chocolate palate. lots of booze, finish has a thin chocolate bitterness. Slow sipper, thought it would be a little more complex.

Bottled at RBESG 2008. A murky brown beer with a brown head. The aroma has notes of malt, over ripe fruits, and alcohol. The flavor is sweet with notes of alcohol, roasted malt, and soy sauce, but also with a light acidity from the hard roasted malt. The alcohol leaves a burn in the throat.