Alvinne Mano Negra

The Mano Negra is a very dark ale as a russian imperial stout. The flavor is of bitter chocolate and slightly smokey malt with an end in a hint of hops. A light brown head with very small, tight bubbles. A great beer for pairing with a cigar as it does not overpower the smoke. I had to take a couple sips without the cigar to make sure I was fully understanding the subtle that are in this stout. The second the cap came off the bottle, foam came shooting out. I filled two cups with foam when I realized it would not stop, so I started pouring beer on top of the foam. Below are some photos of it and my first cigar & beer on the terrace this year.

Type: Dark Stout Strong Dark Imperial Stout

Alcohol content: 10%

Brewery: Picobrouwerij Alvinne

Point of Purchase: Picobrouwerij Alvinne

Available at: Alvinne, Struise Brouwers, Bottle Shops

Price: € 2.5

Rating:  3.5/5

St Feuillien and Green Flash Black Saison Friendship Brew

This the second friendship creation of St Feuillien of Belgium and Green Flash Brewing Co of California. The Black Saison is a belgian farmhouse ale – Oatmeal Stout hybrid that was brewed with European and American hops and Belgian yeast. A strange experience. On one hand you have the almost smokey malt and thickness created by the oatmeal stout. Then there is the hops that bitters it out at the end from the Saison. Not my favorite beer, but I was intrigued the whole glass though. I would try this beer again to see if it grows on me.

Type: Dark Saison Stout

Alcohol content: 6.5%

Brewery: St Feuillien and Green Flash Brewing Company

Point of Purchase: Biertemple

Available at:

Price: € 2.50

Rating:  3.5/5

De Struise Brouwers Black Damnation XI Special Kay

Type: Specialty

Alcohol content: 22%

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers

Point of Purchase: De Struise Brouwers

Available at: Only seen it in De Struise Brouwers School House tasting room, so far. Will keep you posted if I see it in Brussels…

Price: ?

A hefty beer weighing in at 22%, the De Struise Brouwers Black Damnation XI Special Kay is one crazy ale. Too much in the direction of coffee than I prefer but being a Struise I had to give it a try. The head is so tight that it lingers for ages on top of the dark, dark ale. Make sure you have a “BOB” (DD) to drive you home if you visit the brewery as if you get the chance to try one of their +16% I would recommend trying them. I prefer more the five squared as a high alcohol beer from De Struise.

De Struise Brouwers Black Damnation V Double black

“A massive stout from flanders” this is a very thick (think motor oil), dark ale. I served it at my wedding rehearsal dinner. Half the people who tried it wanted not another sip. Some found it ok and about a quarter of the people went around asking if people where going to finish their glass so they might have some more. For me it was too strong on the malt but I did drink two glasses of this beautiful beer.

Type: Dark Stout Strong Dark

Alcohol content: 26%

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers

Point of Purchase: De Struise Brouwers Brewery

Available at: Brussels Bottle Shops

Price: € 45

Rating: 4/5