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I'm really looking forward to this. I don't remember how much it cost, but I vaguely recall it not being particularly bad. This is a Belgian Quadruple Strong Dark ale. This should by all rights hit me right in the bread basket of stuff I want in a beer. Look at it with that 12% ABV, all relaxed and telling me that everything will be fine. I know it will, beer, and I have you to thank for it.
The dark ale is supposed to be dark. I don't have a non-branded chalice, so this kind of chalice-like small tulip glass will have to do. The head isn't nuts on this thing, and when I combine that with the 12%, I wonder if this is barrel-aged, and they just didn't tell me about it. The ingredient list is very specific, presumably by law, so there shouldn't be any brown liquor in here. The aroma give a bit of a boozy quality to the ABV while still hitting on the molasses in the malt. It smells great.
First sip is better than I even expected. This shouldn't be confused with a Belgian ale, but I am reminded of the strange forwardness of those beers that somehow manages to meld into drinkability. This is raisins and plums with sweet bread and molasses all snuggling together for a cold night, and I want to be in this snuggle party every day.
Tip-in is that boozy heft that is normally only the purview of barrel-aged beers on top of sweet bread, molasses, and raisins. The middle hits the back of the throat a bit too hard - it seems that this is not a beverage for gulping. The sweetness starts to overwhelm while the booze and dark fruits drown in molasses. The finish dries a bit, as dark fruits bid goodbye to leave a heavy stream of molasses and brown sugar for the trail off.
Bottom Line: I'm glad it was a four pack.
Bottom Line: I'm glad it was a four pack.
4.5/5
