The brewery has decreed this beer a Belgian stout (not a BJCP-recognized category), and while there's a touch of Belgian yeast character, it's true to the foreign extra stout style. A midnight-dark color gives the beer its name, while a massive frothy brown head tops off the glass. Peppery spice smells play with deep roasted barley scents and a touch of plum. The beer's flavors are very well-blended with deep roasted malts that contribute a fruity sweetness akin to a flavored coffee. The Belgian quality, specifically the yeast's peppery spice, is muted and, along with flowery hops, sets the flavor's backdrop; the big malt character takes center stage. Black finishes quite dry with a long-lasting, dark roasted, slightly acrid malt flavor.
