La Mandragore
BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)

 

Bottled and possibly bottle conditioned but definitely has a flip top
Pours a very dark brown body with decent enough tan head
Big dark berry aroma
Tobacco and Pimms flavour

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tastes more like a stout with a hint of Belgian, than a Belgian strong dark ale... Simply not enough Belgian yeast character, or dark fruit flavors. This tastes roasty - with notes of chocolate and coffee

Pitch black, and very smooth.

Overall, nice but not what I was expecting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty thin for a strong dark ale, it was dark but not exciting enough to have again

I always hear people praising these guys so hard, but I have never had one I much cared for until now. This is so so good, on tap at backcountry in boulder. A Belgian dark strong, but a lot more than that, it's mild nature makes it dangerously easy drinking, and the yeast, oh the yeast! Muted lusted almost black brew with a faint amber glow in bright light. Permanent inch if cream head in it, not receding at all. Nose is malt driven, not quite roasty it bitter, definitely modified not just fired, with some dried berry notes and the yeast, which us ancient and dry and rustic and sort of saison style without the funk or the spice. Rich in feel, big and creamy, bright carbonation, lingering finish. The taste ranges from cocoa to blueberry to Belgian yeast to coriander, must, white pepper, minerals like iron, straw, and dark bread cooked on open fire. As complex and nuanced as you can find, frothy but light in some way. Hard to explain without tasting it, there us nothing else like this at all in my experience, and it's culinary applications are infinite. I now need more beer from these guys, this special beer has me convinced. Wow! This is elite level stuff, just insane.