An ‘Antwerpian oud bruin’ by the Cabardouche guys, aged in whisky barrels and very strong for its genre; at Meug Tastingfestival. Medium thick, pale greyish beige, moussy, slowly breaking and diminishing head, very dark chestnut brown robe with wine red glow. Intense and alluring bouquet of passionfruit coulis, vanilla-scenting oak wood, blackberry juice, medium dry sherry, caramel sauce, tawny port, whisky, candied dates, wet leather, fruit yoghurt, fermenting plums, hints of brandy, cream, dusty old attic. Estery onset, sweet and thick ‘dark fruitiness’, cooked plum, blackberry juice and passionfruit, medlar; lovely tart edge, remaining relatively soft but nevertheless adding a drying, deeply lactic and yoghurty effect to a full, caramelly, pecan-nutty and slightly toffeeish malt sweetness. Further complexity comes from the wood, with that lovely vanilla effect and drying tannins; a deep red wine-like fruitiness and vinosity ensues, stretching a long way into the throat, with warming port wine-like effect, still adorned with lovely ‘autumny’ dark and cooked fruit notes. Generous, complex, ‘baroque’ interpretation of an ancient style – and seen its strength, the Anglo-Saxons would probably refer to it as an ‘imperial’ oud bruin. Great beer in my humble opinion, perhaps even the greatest created by Cabardouche so far…