Rating given is an average of all the imtes I've had it. [2/4/2008, on tap at the Oakford Social Club, Reading] Hilary said this smelled of honey roast ham, and the powers of autosuggestion soon picked up on it and made me think it taste of that too. After trying to clear my mind and mouth of that, I picked up lemon, orange, grassy notes and a hint of coriander leaf. Definitely more than a hint of the great Leffe Tripel in here, but rather in the manner of a poor imitation - many of the flavours were there, but very poorly balanced. And I think Hilary was right - by the end I was still picking up honey and the odd wisp of woodsmoke. Odd, but smoother and easier to swig (dangerously so) than many abbey beers (possibly the relatively light carbonaion helped!). [Re-rate no 1, 25/6/2010, 330ml bottle, gift from Jim - cheers!] Orangey-gold with a large off-whtie head. Still hammy, with undertones of vanilla and cream and a lightly metallic bitterness. Prickly carbonation. OK. [Re-rate no 2, 25/12/2019, 750ml bottle, gift from Jim - cheers!] Smoke and ham and honey and orange and lemon and malty brown bread , worked rather well with some smoked salmon & I enjoyed it much more than all the previous times I've had it. Wonder if the larger bottle size helped the flavour?

Copper red colour, tan head. Aroma has some sweet, red fruits. Flavour has some caramel malts. Alcohol well noticable. Average.

Dark golden with a fluffy white head. Simple fruity yeast aroma with a hint of metal. Sweet, yeasty and full of alcohol. Everybody can brew a strong beer. But that alone doesn’t make it great.

(33 cl bottle from a store at the north station in Brussels) BB 08/02/09. On March 21, 2008. Clear copper color, tan head. Grainy, a bit sweet lactic scent. Some cream, also sweet. Spicy, sweet and herbal yeasty taste. Medium to smooth spritzy mouthfeel. Some apple pop-sickle "Piggelin" aftertaste. Low bitterness. The high alcohol doesn’t show, perhaps it will after I finish the bottle....

Bottle. Poured deep red brown with a slight off-white head. The aroma developed as the beer warmed up. Initially just malty, a toffee aroma developed and then some notes that were less pleasant (cheesy, barnyard?). Full bodied with ample, but refined, carbonation giving excellent mouthfeel. The flavour is very complex, but predominantly rich and malty. When cold the initial taste has fruity (maybe apples) hints, passing through toffee / trecale and dark malt to some bitterness in the finish. As the beer warms up more flavour is released with chocolate, cherries, plums and spicyness (cloves?). Excellent beer.

(33 cl bottle, labeled 8.2% ABV) On March 14, 2008. Clear copper color, tan head. Spicy, phenolic scent. Sweet, malty, fruity taste. Smooth mouthfeel, low bitterness.

Smooth malty taste with hints of nut & brown sugar.Nutty aspect is more pronounced as malty & creamy in the palate.