For all intents and purposes this drinks like a stout.
Black pour with a creamy head, dark chocolate raisin notes in the nose and in the taste and the mouthfeel is VERY dense and creamy. Dense, creamy, conservative lace.
Plenty of smooth, creamy hop bitterness and a smooth finish. Mild bitterness lingers with some hint of dark fruity “Belgianess”, but still this seems to be a stout.
I need a different edge in my Belgian Strong Dark’s and this fails to deliver that. Distinct lack of Belgian yeast characteristics and the stout character overwhelms this beer and takes it WAY out of style.
ABV well hidden.
In simple drinking terms THIS IS A CLOSE TO A STOUT. Fine, but fails to really do the job for me. I get annoyed when styles are pushed to the point where the beer becomes something else.