Received in a trade about 18 months ago. Time to pop it.
Served at cellar temp and poured into my Duvel tulip glass
Appearance is good. Extremely black liquid. Robust, mocha colored head forms but thins out through the drinking session.
Smell is very good. Espresso, Turkish coffee, dark and semi-sweet chocolate. Alcohol fumes and vanilla bean are in the background as well.
Taste is very good. While the smell focuses more on the coffee, the flavor is dominated by the dark chocolate. Large roasted malt profile too. The flavor is a tad bit thin when compared to the higher-ranked RIS's but still very nice.
Mouthfeel is very good. Nice, Smooth, creamy, full-bodied. Carbonation is subdued but i believe that's from the aging process.
Drinkability is good. Another 12oz bottle wouldn't be a problem.
Overall:
A nice chocolatey treat. Nice combination of coffee and chocolate flavors. A fine RIS that would start a session off quite well. Recommended.