You will recall I visited Portland, Maine a few weeks ago and when there stopped by Allagash Brewing to pick up a small haul to bring back. The beer called only Black is describes as a Belgian style stout, the only other example of which I have seen is Podge Belgian Imperial Stout sampled in the spring. I liked that one giving great hope even though this beer is a few notches lighter. But with Black was only around ten bucks for a 750 ml, it's good value for the fine quality you find in all their beers.

This beer is actually deep mahogany and not black but you have to hold it up to the like to differentiate the sort of inkiness you are looking at. A lovely lacing mocha foam and rim floats upon the deep. In the mouth, there is rich cream, roast, a little tickle of nutmeg and cinnamon spice and a lot of rich maltinesses. The spice blend wonderfully well with the fairly powerful minty hops. A beer to make into ice cream which, at 7.5%, wouldn't end up as stagger on a stick. Also, a beer that should be lost in an empty rum cask for six months - but no brewers have picked up my hint on that point yet. Very high BAer regards.

By the way, do you like my camera technique? I refer to it as the "my kids messed with the settings" style.