Vigorously acrid 9.2% alcohol assertion nearly overwhelms persistent molasses-sweetened raisin-prune-fig swagger of sponge-y beige-headed bronze body. Creamier, dewier and more peppery-hopped than lighter ‘6’ version, spreading expectant rum-caked banana-bruised coriander-nutmeg-cinnamon illusions across brown-sugared chocolate hazelnut sustenance.

Lemony hard cider souring fronts murky amber-hazed Belgian-styled strong pale ale celebrating brewers’ 16th anniversary. Cotton-candied honey biscuit spine reinforces tertiary white-peppered beet-sugared Granny Smith apple, orange marmalade, fried plantain, gin-soaked raisin, apricot, and tangerine illusions, but livelier fruited malt thrust needed.

Brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium since 1862 and recommended to any seasoned drinker, iconoclastic  ruddy-hued butterscotch-candied strong ale (with boozy bourbon-sherry-port twinkle) enlivens plummy prune musk with radiant white wine resilience and tangy black cherry compote waver and caramelized chocolate malt response, sweetening the perfectly mellow mood with finely detailed flavor profile. Buttery yeast and caramelized chocolate malts contrast peppery hops in unique manner while sedate clove-spiced grape-date-fig splat lingers.

Silky smooth copper-hazed Trappist-inspired Belgian strong ale (first released winter ’05) features chewy honeyed butterscotch thickness and syrupy overripe peach-cherry juiciness. Soured raisin-date, tangy pineapple, and clove-induced banana illusions add depth to dried fruitcake finish.

Beguilingly well balanced soft-watered English strong ale (with frail head evaporating above ruddy amber haze) layers biscuit-y butterscotch-licked malts atop protracted wood-charred Fuggle hop bittering. Bruised orange and lemony berries outdo delicate tobacco-dried sherry nuance.

Astounding 11.3% alcohol volume introduces deep brown sticky-sweet barleywine-styled 11.2-ounce bottled dark ale. Full-bodied syrupy chocolate malt swagger usurps firm earthen grain foundation offsetting flowery hop snip, leaving tongue-tingling carbolic spritz. Cleanly soothing burgundy finish concentrates bittersweet tangibles beautifully, but prolonged alcohol mustiness may upset lighter tastes.

Yet another fine artesian Belgian. Robust fizzy-headed blonde explodes in your mouth like wheat beers often do but lacks aboveground sweet-tart inertia of local competition. Distant pineapple, green apple, peach and banana illusions receive clove-spiced tingle. Hopped-up muted fruit finish gains creamy caramel luster.

Deeply penetrating prune theme (flavor-hue-aroma) gains congruent fig-raisin insistence to celebrate island-bound brewers’ ten-year anniversary (blending Baggywringle Barleywine with Whale’s Tale Pale Ale inside strawberry-strewn bourbon barrel). Vinous strawberry tartness lingers through oaken cherry pucker and mild bourbon warmth. Tertiary grape esters and bruised orange souring add further complexity, though mossy earthiness and dank basement finish seem peculiar.

Sweet tobacco-leafed maple sapping introduces intoxicating russet ale. Mid-palate, floral herbs bedeck charming caramel chocolate thicket, sinewy yeast richness, and buttery barleywine reminder. Sour raisin-cherry conflux increases overall depth.

Well-rounded strong ale in stumpy brown bottle retains thick tan head, ruddily murky body, stewed prune waft, and raw honeyed dried fruiting. Initial mouth-puckering tannic grape tartness recedes as pronounced sour raisin theme flourishes above dehydrated fig, hard cider, and bruised cherry nuances. Candi-sugared yeast develops mildewed basement funk as floral-spiced herbs neutralize any backend acidity. At finish, port and bourbon illusions appear alongside unripe green raisin motif, adding to its great profile depth.

Quite possibly Canada’s greatest, most distinguished brewer, Unibroue’s complex bottle fermented ales showcase high alcohol content and lusty malt presence. For foremost Don De Dieu, well-balanced adjuncts create buttery burgundy tone, soft fruity current, and floral-spiced white ale souring. Veteran drinkers could be fooled into believing this was an adventurous Belgian ale. That’s how great it is.

Despite soft yellow body, delicate silken flow, and ransacked 11% alcohol deluge, lusty orange-bruised cherry-pineapple-peach tang and hop-fueled black-peppered basil-thyme sharpness juxtapose prim clove-coriander spicing. Minor acidity dispels candied malt sweetness, dry quince stint, and white rum hint.