This beer did something for me that happens pretty infrequently these days – it really WOWED me! One of the best beers I have tasted in quite some time, and a beer that for me, really took me back to some other classics. Spectacular pour that looks brooding with its big, dark chestnut body and creamy, mocha colored head. It’s big and dangerous and looks like it!

Lots of medicinal notes amongst the more typical Belgian Dark notes – in that respect, a little surprising. There’s a touch of aniseed in the back end, a little herbal quality and some organic bitterness.

Creamy mouthfeel with a touch of fine, prickly carbonation to let you know the beer is around. Alcohol is definitely there, but not in a threatening manner. Some typical notes that give nice raisin and rum-like notes. A little unusual, and given my love of traditional Belgian Strong Dark Ales, plus my general traditional stance on all things beer, I’m surprised at how much I like this – but I REALLY do! Very, very, very subtle tobacco, leather and coffee overtones in the back end but still with plenty of sweetness. Delicious. There’s a LOT going on here, with each sip offering up slightly different, subtle elements of the wide spectrum of alcohol, dark fruits, candi-sugar and menacing extreme tastes than one gets from beers of this style. Despite this, each one is tempered by the other, and a real amalgamation takes place – it’s like an orchestra.

I think a really amazing compliment would be to call this beer similar to a Het Anker Cuvvee Van De Keizer – high praise indeed. It’s not the same taste profile as that classic beer, but it does remind me of it in terms of sheer complexity and depth.

For me, an instant classic and a beer that I will likely go back to again and again.

Other: Stubby, Green’s on Ponce, Atlanta, GA, $4.99. ABV 9.5%. Ding Points: 98.50, Pour: 100.00, Nose: 90.00, Palate: 100.00, Mouth: 100.00, Global: 100.00