Is this the worst label ever? It looks like it came off a black and white photocopier. Plus, how am I expected to fit the full name and brewery info in up there? That would be "Podge Belgian Imperial Stout, Picobrouwerij Alvinne, Ingelmunster." But these things are really unimportant and more than forgiven as the label clearly says pico-. Look at the size of their equipment - I've seen bigger home brewing set ups.

I'm a little concerned that the label says "Ingelmunster" while the website says "Heule" (12 km to the south) but at 10.5% this one should last the test of time. On the pour there is a bit of a rising tide of foam needing a quick hand. It gives off stout meets dubbel, plenty of malty burlap spice in with the roasty notes. Deep ark mahogany ale under a fine mocha foam. Very nice. Licorice and coffee, dubbel malt and burlappy sourish creamy yeast. Plenty of boozy heat and some sharpish hops. Carbonated or at least effervescent in the mouth. Drying bitter baking chocolate as it opens up as well as some plum and date. I am all texty IM with Stonch right now, as the Mets play on the TV here and it's the middle of the night there. Stonch points out he was on to this beer over a year ago. [Note: I am having this on a school night.] In that sort of unreliable way that my memory works it is reminding me of the Brother David's Double from the Anderson Valley Brewing Company that I had way back in January 2006. Take that recollection for what it is worth. I like it.

Some BAers assume (like Stonch) that the "2003" in the design means the vintage. I assume the founding of the brewer but I could be quite wrong. They give a very broad range of views. Stonch is off to bed despite it only being in the middle of the fifth inning.