Bourbon barrel aged version of a young addition to the Deca range, the Vleteren Imperial Stout; limited production, 50 cc bottle bought at the brewery shop. Brownish mocha-beige, creamy, slowly opening head on a black robe with very thin mahogany edges. Intense but alluring nose of dried figs, raisins soaked in brandy, lots of vanilla-scenting oak wood, clear bourbon piercing through, salmiak, dry old ‘fondant’ chocolate bars, brown bread crust, cigar ashes, burnt toast, coffee, bayleaf, hint of liquorish, dried thyme, cognac. Sweet onset, brown-sugary with fruity notes of candied fig, raisin and even some ripe pear; fizzy carb, full and oily mouthfeel, thick enough for this style. The sweetness evolves into malty ‘caramelliness’ and nuttiness with a bitter-chocolatey edge and growing coffee-like roasted bitterness, filling the mouth cavity with a lovely bittersweetness; ashy and espresso-like notes accompany a very oaky (vanilla!) woodiness which gently dries the whole and adds a dash of bittersweet bourbon which, contrary to what is all too often the case in B.B.A. ‘impies’, merges with the malt profile rather than harshly burning through it. In fact the alcohol here is more reminiscent of warming brandy than bourbon; accents of bayleaf and liquorish appear as well. I was already pleasantly surprised by the regular version, which turned out much better than I had anticipated, but this one does it: this is barrel aged imperial stout the American way, but with a heavy cloak of ‘Belgianness’ over it, being more yeasty, brown-sugary and spicy, but also more subtle than many of these stouts trying to blow the drinker away with high levels of booze, pastry sweetness and viscosity. This is very different – this is art, the result of more than a century and a half of brewing experience, and highly recommended for those seeking finesse in a genre perhaps not typically known for finesse.

Helt ukjent for meg, men ambisiøs vinkling og branding, så det måtte prøves. Det er kanskje litt igjen til en Westvletern eller en St Barnardus, men det var godt dette også. Godt øl

18/VIII/22 - 50cl bottle from Deca Services bottle shop @ Alengrin’s place, BB: 28/I/27 (2022-1011) Thanks to Alengrin for sharing the bottle!

Clear dark brown to black beer, small creamy beige head, stable, a bit adhesive. Aroma: sweet malts, dried fruits, prunes, figs, caramel, spicy touch, dry, some liquorice, alcohol notes. MF: soft carbon, medium to full body. Taste: nice, sweet and sugary start, gentle roast, malty, a little dry, raisins, sugary, some alcohol, burned raisin bread, hint of charcoal. Aftertaste: sugary, bitter touch, more alcohol, sweet notes, chocolate, caramel, sugary, lovely stuff, some whisky, a little bitter, malty, very nice, more alcohol, a bit hoppy, dried fruits, gentle oxidative notes, good stuff!

Lci taster. Tasty... Alcohol more hidden. Balanced BA. Great!