Bottle shared courtesy of weeare138 (thanks!). Poured a dark black color with a very larged sized brown head. Aromas of raspberries, chocolate, light smoke and roast. Tastes of raspberries (although lighter than the aroma), chocolate and roast. Raspberries are my favorite fruit for beer and this one didn’t dissapoint me in the raspberry aspect.

Pours a nice opaque with a frothy, dense, thick-lacing tan head. Aroma is a nice dark chocolatey blend of caramel and raspberry. Starts with a filling carbonation, a cookie dough sweetness, and nice, semi-tart raspberry balance. This is better than the last version because it stays within its limits.

The Lure:<br />As with the 7.5%, this the fullest raspberry and cherry chocolate cookie condensed into a succulent, nouveau crème brûlée. A sweet tooth’s wet dream. <br /> <br /> The Festivities:<br />Roasted malt flavors and bitterness take over from the sweetness of the 7.5% as dark chocolate is introduced shyly by a few sweet raspberries. Carbonation appears a bit more excitable than the previous version, and this is less sweet and full-bodied/malty. Raspberries appear more gleeful when heated up, but who wouldn’t... <br /> <br /> Transcendence:<br />Decadence has gone through a weight loss program, but can’t shed it all, thankfully.

May 2005: 750 ml beautiful black champagne bottle with another of those impossible Magic Hat corks...thick molasses body with a big brown-sugar head of moderate duration...raspberry-chocolate candy bar nose, touch of licorice, more pungent and acidic than sweet...body loaded with carbonation, chocolate prominent with only a bit of acidity showing the fruit...rather flat finish...reminiscent in some ways body-wise of root beer, not enough oomph though quite drinkable. Not a $10 beer, in any case. 7/4/7/2/13 3.3<br /><br /> May 2008: 750 ml bottle, strangely not dated but probably 2007, served at cellar temp from a Maudite glass. The vouminous fine-bubbled dark caramel head dies with more swiftness than expected above the black opacity of the body, leaving touches of lace....caramel-vanilla-berry aroma is pleasant but lacks depth and complexity.....decent sweet-tart balance, fairly acidic, chocolaty characteristics grow more prominent as it warms....a little on the thin side, moderate carbonation. Better than the version of 3 years ago, but a far cry still from the wonders of 2002-3.

Thick, chewy, sweet, chocolate with some tart raspberries in the nose. Opaque black body is topped by a generous, fine bubbled and lasting, white head that coats the glass. Thick sweet chocolate flavour with plenty of tart raspberries and a light finishing acidity that takes the edge off. Medium full body with very full carbonation that engages the tastebuds. Bottle.