Wow, I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting from this beer, but it definitely didn't taste like anything I was expecting.  I guess when I saw, "sugars" and "raisins" on the label I was expecting something overly sweet, but this Belgian Strong Dark Ale is definitely not overly sweet, in fact it just has a very slight sweetness.   The primary flavor that I get is actually malt, but it is an unusual malt.  First of all it seems to have a lot of depth, and really I'm not sure I've tasted anything like it.  It's almost like taking all the sweetness out of grapes then soaking that juice in an oak barrel.  So, the flavor is wood-sy and earthy with just an essence of sweetness and sourness.  Despite it's complexity, it is very smooth.  Part of the reason it is so smooth is no doubt the low carbonation, but still the flavors really blend together well to make a smooth brew.  An odd thing I've noticed is that usually when I drink a beer, I like the first sips the best, and as I get to the end, I like it less.  However, with Raison D'Etre, I seem to like it more and more as I near the bottom of the glass, I don't know why.  The mouth-feel is a little slick and somewhat clingy, but that is a small knock on what is otherwise an unusual and tasty brew.  

Bottle Cap

Brewery Website

BeerTripper Rating

http://www.dogfish.com/

Alcohol Concentration

8.00

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Ale