33cl bottle at home (7 IV 2020), as Anosteké Imperial Smout. The North-French Anosteké brewers share an identity crisis, longing to catch up with a certain - perhaps non-existing - Flemish brewing tradition and trying to imitate different dull brew styles. But I do like this try of imperial stout. And the "smout" name; I see what you did there! As for the mouthfeel, it reminds me of a boosted Belgian dark with lots of coffee and mocca features. Lets start: the appearance is straightforward. A thick beige to cassonade coloured collar, quite long lasting, tops a black brew. Perhaps there is some reddish gloom in there as well. The nose has keen hints of liquorice, ox blood, liegeois syrup, dextrose. Lots of roast, some smoke and features of malts and straw. In the background one can find a few, different fruits flavours. Think of blueberries or dark forest fruits. The mouthfeel is sweet and bitter, with loads of dry hops and coffee notes. The combination rsults in a full sugarish powerbomb with heaps of different features. I would categorize this attempt as a Belgian strong ale, dark brown, with perfect herbs, dry ending. The ABV volume is not that heavy and does not disturb the fragrances and palate. All in all, this is a nice brew with powerful features of sweets, coffee and hops.

Bottle split at Cotts Convention V, T Hanks, 08/06/19. Murky orange with a decent off white head. Nose is tangy fruit esters, toasted grains, damp straw, bitter orange. Taste comprises dusty berry fruits, grass, pink berry sherbets, earthy, hay bale. Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Ok easy drinker but ultimately lacks depth given the hefty ABV.

31/XII/19 - 33cl bottle from Bierhalle Deconinck (Vichte), shared @ Ardennes holiday, BB: 29/X/20 - (2019-2231)

Clear orange beer, small creamy yellowish head, pretty stable, bit adhesive. Aroma: nice and fruity notes, bit malty, some grassy hops, floral, yeast notes. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: malty, nice bitterness, tropical fruits, hoppy, some caramel malts, peaches, apricots. Aftertaste: soft bitterness, some grapefruit, peaches, some mango, bit grassy, nice one, like it!

Bottle shared at Cotteridge Convention 2017. Cheers! Pours unclear amber-gold with a foamy, white head. The nose holds meaty malts, light smoke and ripe citrus fruits. Medium to big sweet flavour with some light tangy citrus, berries. Full bodied, chewy, with fine carbonation. Sweet and warming in the finish, with light jammy citrus, further smokey notes. Nice one.

Bottle shared at Cotteridge Convention 2017. Cheers! Pours unclear brown-gold with a creamy, khaki head. The nose holds funk, tangy berries. Light to medium sweet flavour with notes of tangy berries, soft funk, nips of wood. Full bodied with fine carbonation. Tangy finish, lightly warming, dry wood, aged berries. Not bad.

24/XII/19 - 33cl bottle from Geers (Oostakker), shared @ home, BB: 27/III/20, L19086B - (2019-2202)

Little cloudy orange beer, big fizzy aery off-white head, pretty stable, bit adhesive. Aroma: lots of orange peel, pretty oxidized, malty touch, spicy notes, hint of coriander. MF: lively carbon, medium body. Taste: pretty oxidized, orange peel, some coriander, bitter, dry, bit grassy, metallic touch. Aftertaste: more spices, fruity touch, sour apples, bit malty, grains, hay, citrus notes, cardamom.

Bouteille 75cl, # 591/900. Vintage 2016? ceramic like bottle. Cuivrée col épais blanc-cassé. Arôme au nez fruité confit noirs et secs, note de Cognac et boisé en retrait, longes notes de malts. Palais est malté, retrouve un peu l'effet de l'age sur la bière, pomme caramélisée, fruits confits, fruits noirs, toffee, barrique et boisé de Cognc avec une petite rondeur de vanille sur la fin.

Pours hazy dark brown with a lasting, thin, foamy, tan head. Aroma of liquorice, old bread, stale chocolate, prune, black tea, red apple. Taste is medium malty sweet, notes of chocolate, prune & raisin over bitter herbs, black pepper, toasty edge, some sweet-spicy liquorice. Dryish, peppery hoppy finish, more chocolate & liquorice with faintly warming brown rum-like alcohol. Medium body, oily texture, fizzy carbonation. Belgian Strong Dark with a 'Stoutish' twist, but nothing more.