6.5

@ 2018

8.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

One of many variations on Jackie O's exciting Oil of Aphrodite theme, this one aged in bourbon barrels and made with walnut and Belgian candi sugar; in existence since 2012 apparently and 'only' 10% ABV back then, but meanwhile increased to 12.1% ABV. Bottle from Gedeelde Vreugde in Sint-Niklaas (in between Ghent and Antwerp), shared with Goedele. Thick, yellow-beige, dense, tightly mousy head, slowly opening and dissolving; jet black robe with thin, hazy mahogany brown edges. Distinct, but alluring aroma of walnut cheese (very strongly so), marmite, ground pecan nuts, burnt wood, bitter chocolate, dry beef stock cubes, cigar ashes, wooden furniture, salmiak, bay leaf, gin, roasted chicory, Rocquefort, shoe polish, dry bladderwort, pine resin, whisky or indeed bourbon, caramel (sweeter when warming up and no doubt in itself linked to the bourbon). Dense, sweetish onset, dried figs, dried apple peel perhaps, sourish undertone underlined by quite active carbonation (for the style, that is - a bit prickly even); light umami element, with this walnut cheese effect starting early on and continuing well over the middle; very dense, syrupy body, a bit sticky. This big walnuttiness mingles with toasted bread- and toffee-like flavours until a coffee-like roasted bitterness takes over, with a slight ashy edge even; ends with strong, 'furniture'-like woodiness, tannic and dry, paired with spicy hops and bay leaf- and leather-like aspects as well as, of course, a lot of heating alcohol, bourbon-flavoured and with a somewhat thinning effect. This remarkable walnut- and walnut cheese-like 'core' still recurs in the end, along with lingering roasty bitterness. An interesting variant, with the walnuts being more active than the bourbon (I was expecting the opposite), even if the booziness is of course undeniable. Powerful, bold and distinct - this is how I like my stouts!

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Dégustée le 2020-02-27. Courtoisie de MAM .

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Taster showing pitch black with a very sparse ring of latte colored foam. The nose shows moderately intense notes of bourbon mixed with dark roasted malts. The palate is full bodied and lightly carbonated. Bourbon forward with overly roasted burnt malts and a burnt bitterness. Mild alcoholic bite throughout.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

30 November 2018. Billie's Craft Beer Fest. Cheers to Anke, tderoeck & 77ships! 12.2% according to the booklet. Hazy black with a lasting, unstable, frothy, beige head; little lacing. Aroma of red apple, cinnamon, mocha, wood, coffee roast, fondant, bourbon, plum. Taste is medium malty sweet, fruity, hints of mocha & apple; light to medium roasted bitter with coffee, fondant & some 'powdery' cinnamon, woody touch too. Dryish, toasty finish, faint peppery hops, lingering coffee, wood & warming bourbon alcohol. Full body, creamy texture, soft carbonation. Less apparent walnut character here, still good, Coffee Conditioned version was a tad better.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Sampled at Billie's 2018. Dark brown with thin head. Aroma and flavour have burnt malts, bourbon and honey. Bittersweet.

8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Draft at Billie’s Beer Festival ‘18.  Black with a tan head.  Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, nutty notes.  Flavour is heavy sweet.  Full bodied with soft carbonation.

8.3

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Thanks! Sampled draft @ Billie’s Beer Festival 2018. Day 1. Black. Nose is massive milkchocolate, bourbon, sugar. Taste is sugar, bit basic but nice candy, vanilla, bourbon, sugar, walnut, bit too simple but overall good. Syrup.