Babalu
Saint Mars of the Desert

L- Black. Poured swiftly into a chalice glass it's formed a vst 6=8Cm deep tan pillowy head that looks like it's going nowhere fast. [ps 10mins later, holds well, forms lacing on the way down].
S- Deep rich malt, ABV%, niceness.
T- Woof. Deep molasses, mild coffee hints, complexity, richness, but beautifully balanced in the taste. Slow-sipping, winter-warmer etc
F- Deep, rich, pungent. Never veering to 'sweet' (beyond rich), no stray facets. Not even showing it's bold 10%ABV at all obviously. This is a classy brew.
O- Head of foam still holding well. Lovely balance. Nothing 'wrong' to note. Seems like one of those beers where it all just aligns and it's quite a gem. I don't recall the price (yet to recheck, it's a blind tasting) but given how it presents it's a damned fine beer and I'd happily drink it again. One of the best beers I'd had from the past 50+, each of which were picked hoping they'd each variosuly offer promise, so, this is something really pretty special...
440ml can BBE: Apr 2021 ABV 10.0% £5.75 from TremblingMadness/York for home delivery. £Ouch, but on this occasion I concur, it really is something special. I could be persuaded to buy this again for special occasions, and also well just because.