I think this is the final beer from Ardennes that is available at Belgian Style Ales.

Appearance is a straight 5. Jet black body with a beautiful, thick, mocha head with exceptional retention and lace for such a beefy beer. Nice pitting on the head.

Nose releases a lovely, bready, lightly soaked alcohol note. It’s not especially roasty on the nose.

The tastes are subtly bitter, and again alcohol soaked. The beer offers a roasty, slightly burned chocolate but it’s never too much. The bitterness is undoubtedly present but it never overwhelms, never bites too hard. There’s a little brisk acidity but again it never gets too aggressive, this is a beer that melds a lot of different ideas and elements.

The Belgian yeast element is there too (I don’t know if that’s a real thing in terms of the yeast’s origins but it works that way), and the beer has a significant presence. Plenty of dark fruits here too which of course cuts into Belgian Strong Dark territory. Very mild licorice too – a good sign.

A lovely beer, with plenty of presence and depth. Good job.