Collaboration stout aged in madera barrels, created by Dutch Van Moll and Luxembourgian Totenhopfen, named after a song by a band called Breakwater apparently – thanks to Meeki for sharing at his home tasting in Wondelgem. Medium thick, quickly opening, pale greyish ring of foam on a misty very dark caramel-brown, near blackish robe with mahogany glow. Aroma of hard caramel, toffee, brown bread crust, dried lavender, ‘raw’ cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dried orange peel, fresh bayleaf, ruby port. Restrainedly sweet onset, some apple peel and dried fig notes, medium carbonated with smooth mouthfeel; caramelly, brown-bread-doughy maltiness, slightly sweet, warmed by obviously madera-like alcohol and enriched with light tannic oakiness, spicy hops sitting underneath and fleshy and spicy effects that can only come from the madera (though less prominent retronasally than orthonasally). Hints of bayleaf, nutmeg and mulled wine persist along with a protein-like aspect. You do not see madera barrel aged beers very often – not often enough perhaps – and this one does it in an idiosyncratic, somewhat weird, but also surprising and interesting way. Quite a distinct beer.

One of a series of Zoltan variants by this revered Eindhoven craft brewery, this time aged in Tobermory barrels (single malt whisky from the Isle of Mull). Thanks Meeki for sharing. Pale grey-beige, creamy but thin, opening head on a jet black beer. Aroma of indeed prominent Scottish (non-peated) whisky, dark chocolate, dry caramel, candied dates, madera, toffee, bayleaf, ruby port, hint of liquorice. Sweet, dense onset, candied cherries and figs, not too cloying though; soft carb, full and thick, oily body. Lovely toffeeish, black-chocolatey and pecan-nutty malt middle, bittersweet with a light cappuccino-like roastiness, all warmed by the Tobermory whisky, which is very present and adds heat and spiciness, yet somehow remains well-absorbed by the malts and balanced by the tannins from the wood and leafy hop bitter accents. Powerful but very well-constructed postmodern strong stout, motivating to find more of these Zoltans (though I do recall having one before and liking it a lot back then as well).

From tap at a Dutch Taproom in Bermondsey with Terje. Cloudy straw colour. Some white head. Aroma and taste of lemon peel, sorrel

Can at home 19/01/2024 Citrus fruity with notes of tangerine, citrus peel, grapefruit, sweet malts, light body, bitter hoppy finish. --- Beer merged from original tick of Wanderlust on 26 Mar 2025 at 12:20 - Score: 6. Original review text: Citrus fruity with notes of tangerine, citrus peel, grapefruit, sweet malts, bitter hoppy finish.

Magus, kuiv, röst, linnaseline, kumm, linnaseline. Ok.

Can from Crisp.
A: hazy dark brown, small, beige head.
A: fudge, mocha, milk chocolate, toast, prune.
T: sweet prune, fig, milk chocolate, mocha, bit nutty.
F: herbal hops, dry & a bit toasty, chocolate.
P: medium body, slick texture, soft carbonation.
Inoffensive; chocolate wasn't essential here.