Apocalypse - Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev +50.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had on-tap at the downtown location.
Served in a small, irregularly shaped glass.
Review from notes.

Upstream brewed a quadrupel, the recipe apparently made use of too much Belgian candi sugar, as the beer was overly sweet and not as complex as others that are available. I would not seek this out or have another.

Aroma is of brown sugar sweetness and a bit of ethanol; some lemongrass or other herbal tea component slightly detectable as well. Generally lighter sweetness in aroma than Rochefort, Bernardus, etc.

Taste is cloyingly sweet: the brewers seemed to go overboard with the dark Belgian candi sugar. Most of the delicious dried fruit esters found in Rochefort, Bernardus, etc. are either lost or drowned in this beer. The description claimed it would have flavors of "dark cherries, black currants, and molasses, complimented by an underlying spiciness of coriander, lemon grass, and star anise," but the only aspects I could agree with them on are the sugary characteristics of dried currants and watered-down molasses with mild coriander and lemongrass. Further, the coriander and lemongrass don't complement the intense sweetness of this quadrupel.

Mouthfeel was medium to medium-heavy, actually felt a bit light based upon the ethanol content, somewhat surprised. Carbonation is fairly low, so this felt fairly smooth, though a bit stagnant, on the palate. Little alcohol burn, which is pleasant.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2012 00:26:56 | More by falloutsnow

TMoore

1/5  rDev -50.2%

08-12-2012 04:55:56 | More by TMoore