Family Christmas beer share. Has a very sweet fruit aroma. Almost red wine-like. This is a really good blended beer. It's 80% Belgian quad and 20% old ale. It has the qualities I'd expect in a good Belgian quad, but the usual sweetness is cut by the old ale addition. Solid beer and the final beer in the 12 days/years series. 4/5

The beer colors muddy, deep dark brown. The timid, rushed carbonation lays a pale fawn, small-bubbled head that fails to reach half a finger's height. The foamy lid contracts gradually to a neat lace ring circling the surface. A number of tiny spots remain on the glass. The fragrance is lovely: rich and complex. I find a bit of dark chocolate that is embedded in the mixture of raisin, date and licorice. I pick also faint caramel and a suggestion of surprisingly fruity sherry. Mmmm! The tongue loves the powerful medley of raisin, dark chocolate, a pinch of cacao nibs, appealing licorice and a sigh of date. Additionally, I can retreave refreshing fruity sherry and a whisper lemon peel. The layers alternate and reveal their nuances at different times. It brings in attractive richness and complexity. The body is medium to medium-full. The beer finishes with bitter brown malt, raw chocolate, fermented raisin and a reserved touch of date. The alcoholic twist remains camouflaged until the finish. The aftertaste gives the tastebuds a long-lasting puzzle to solve. The mouthfeel is strong, deep, rich, elegant and adequately complex. It's also nicely lip-glueing and slightly alcoholic. Extraordinarily attractive although not a full fiver.