0.33 L gift can from daughter in Norway. Probably should not be styled as a plain belgian dark, this is a flavored spiced beer. Pour is not completely black but almost. It looks like root beer. Quite nice mello dark beer nose, roasted malts with a little bit of slices on the olfactory. Stronger dark beer impact on tongue then the holiday spices start to stick their head up. I know this is a Christmas spiced beer but its my opinion, it would be better without those spices. The spice even makes it get near cloying in the middle. Not as heavily spiced as the domestic spiced bombs of holiday yore, but its still very prominent. Good thing there is some co2 in there to keep my brain off the spice impact. A little difficult near the end.

A can from the son in law from Norway. My can looks just like this one but says 'fjoonnissen' with an 'n' on the end. I hope this is the correct spot for the rating. Pour is a beauty, looked like a good nitro stout with all the foamy action and formation settling to the creamy head. After a few minutes, the head disappears. Nose is mild sweet malt, maybe with just a touch of dark chocolate aroma. Oh my, first taste is flat boozy dark chocolate. Intense bittersweet and profound. What a slam to the palate. Earthy sophisticated cocoa. You better sip this baby, no gulping going on here. Quite difficult to drink in the middle, getting viscous at times. This must be some kind of imperial porter fer sher. Much stronger in flavor compared to Wheeling's Nail City and Lattitude 42's South Pacific Imperial Breakfast. Even a bigger ass kick compared to Bullseye's Kovachee and Flying Fish Exit 18. Yeow, a little bit of cloying attitude is beginning to reveal itself. A light burning sensation on the tongue, quite unique. Near the end I'm starting to reminisce about grampa's homemade canned whisky soaked dark cherries. Big thanks to Ben and Val for kicking my ass with this one. Golly gosh, phew whoo who, wow dear me, good gracious goodness, gee whiz, sakes alive, oh dear. Now My tomte says I'm nearly intoxicated inebriated befuddled and slightly tipsy. There, you have it.

Expensive pounder can from the source, 25$ for a 4 pack, whew. Clear golden pale, nice fine bubbly white creamy head. Some metallics on the nose. First taste is a little more sharp bitterness than I was expecting, but hey, it is a kolsch. Good level of co2, some sizzle there. Has a little less sweetness and more dryness. Not getting many fruity esters. In the middle, that medium sharp bitterness is still building. Going down pretty easy as I near the end of the session. Not bad, thanks Troy!