12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 12/20/2011. Pours hazy and cloudy very dark reddish brown color with a nice 23 finger foamy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big raisin, prune, fig, apple, clove, pepper, molasses, dark candi sugar, toast, light roast, light smoke, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy esters with big malt presence; and good strength. Taste of raisin, fig, apple, pepper, clove, toast, molasses, roasted malt, dark candi sugar, light smoke, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark fruit, pepper, clove, molasses, toast, roasted malt, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters with a great dark malt balance; and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Mediumhigh carbonation and medium bodied; with a fairly slick, crisp, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent black saison style. All around nice complexity and balance of fruity/spicy ester notes with dark malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

(beeradvocate.com)