For something that is categorized as a BDSA, this beer is a very strange color. There is a light brown, chestnut appearance, not a typical, blackish, darker body. It looks like a, “slightly-better-than-usual” Dubbel. Head is initially good, but lace doesn’t form and the retention isn’t great, however the thin film across the surface of the beer that lingers, is pleasing.

Light fruits greet the nose and tastes. There’s a touch of bitterness up front, but I get very little spice that others have mentioned.

Creamy in the mouth, the beer feels like it has an array of tiny bubbles breaking over the tongue. Bitterness builds lightly as it warms, fruits build more significantly.

Certainly doesn’t feel like 8%, and this bottle is a little older than it should be, but not by much. Easy drinking, sweet finish, but fairly pedestrian in the end, and this is in no way a BDSA. It doesn’t have the big, plummy raisins and alcohol notes, and it’s pretty reserved all around, lacks alcohol presence and is the wrong color. In a blind test I call this a Dubbel, I think.

This is a one and done, far too many better options.