Rating: 4.55/5

Lupulus Classique Noir D’Ardennes by Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets is an 8.5% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Label:
Top-fermented beer, crafted with inspiration.

==Introduction==

“Humulus Lupulus” or as translated better, the “Humble Wolf” is the main mascot for the hidden Farm of a brewery in Ardennes Belgium. This is the first time I try a beer from Les 3 Fourquets or The 3 Boiling Kettles and I really wanted to find it when my friend Richard showed this one to me. Now that I finally got it, I will give it a shot and let you know what I find. Cheers!

Aromas:
Oak, herbal and floral hop hints, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, plums, tart cherries, raspberries, vanilla, oak, chardonay, funky wine grapes, peppercorn, brown sugar, rye, citrus, dark candi sugar, orange preserves, butterscotch, lavender, licorice and waffle cone.

Flavors:
Dulce de leche Caramel, Dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, funky wine grapes, caramel, oak, mild tart lemon, peppercorn, molasses, Belgian candi sugar, white grape, lavender, herbal notes, vanilla, butterscotch, old orange preserves, rye bread, anise, licorice, tart raspberry, blackberries, waffle cone, floral notes, grapefruit hints, pecan pie and trail mix.

Aftertaste:
Funky grape, dark fruits, oak, vanilla, caramel, anise, licorice, wine grapes and earthy notes but mainly finishes dry. No alcohol in the taste, medium to full body, sipping drinkability and creamy mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good Dark and mildly Tart Belgian. This beer was surprising. I was expecting a Sweet Abbey style Dark Belgian but what I got fits exactly with the whole wolf in the woods in the land where the Brewery is in Ardennes Belgium. You see, this beer is almost like a Dark Strong ale and Belgian Pale Ale Cuvee. The flavors of what makes each of those individual characteristics great using the hops and the dark candi sugars is what compliments this fine beer. I was dumb founded at first but the more I tried it the more I liked it. I would recommend a try if you really wanna get this as it is quite unique.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku as Little Red Riding Hood was fitted perfectly in this little pairing for many reasons. Being the first beer from Les 3 Fourquets, the whole aspect of the forest, the wolf from the brewery trying to find little red riding hood and the color of her hair fits with the whole lupulus. If you look closely, you can see the wolf in the background but then again, Miku looks pretty evil herself. What if she is the true wolf in the woods disguising herself like the sweet innocent wolf looks like in the label. That is the mystery and hence why this beer is a mystery in flavors of nature as well.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1641460