La Trappe Quadrupel (Koningshoeven / Dominus) - Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.

Gehrig

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Fishing for a few new beers to try, I grabbed this at the sterling Sun Singer, pretty sure I have never tried this before. Not only did I grab a new one, I've just sampled one of the best Quads I've ever had. Two dense, durable fingers of off-white foam top a burnt orange body veering toward medium brown. Good, decorative lacing and nice coloring push for a 5.0, but that would be pushing it. Still, this makes a terrific first impression.

The nose is yeasty and boozy, not unlike wine. It is also tremendous, flush with berries, grapes, sour apple, and fig. The taste is equally so in quality and its features. The flavor is outstanding, carrying forward all the aforementioned components into a great melange. Especially prominent, thankfully, are the berries and especially raspberries that make Koningshoeven in no small part rather tart to offset the sweet, fruity flavor. Wow.

The mouthfeel was the most difficult feature for me to rate. I was hoping for the Quad to be a little more effervescent. Yet the lush malty flavor and texture are such a treat that this could easy have a five-star mouthfeel. It feels as though I'm being a bit persnickety--and I just may be--but regardless, this mouthfeel is first-rate, doing so much to make this a top-notch Quad.

For a 10.00% ABV, this is high drinkable--very delicious, smooth and, despite the boozy nose, not a boozy-tasting beer in the slightest. To me, this easily ranks in my top Quads with Three Philosophers and St. Bernardus Abt. 12 as the best I've ever had. Nothing short of outstanding, Koningshoeven has created a masterpiece, its best offering in my humble opinion. Do not pass this by.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 01:53:58 | More by Gehrig

doboy

North Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

An exceptional Quad. What I missed in the smell was made up for with the mouth feel! Very easy to drink, with a nice lacy head all the way to the finish. It was even better as it warmed more towards room temperature. This is a beer I am boing to search out and drink more of! Worthy of sharing with your best friend!

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 02:52:21 | More by doboy

cindiwindi1025

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is my first Quad...and man oh man, I am diggin it. A-LOT. In a way I am glad it's so expensive, this is an exciting indulgence to look forward to, for sure.

A: Into a tulip glass pours a light/medium coppery brown, not see-through; nice, light-colored head that gradually recedes to a decent lacing.

S: I have a handicap here, I don't have a good sense of smell caused by an accident...the only way I CAN and do pick up smells is if they are bad. This, I got nothin, which is a very, very good thing.

T: Figs, caramel, creamy cherries, mikly creamy mustiness, maplely, lightly, perfectly sweet....there's nothing resembling a mask for the alcohol, it's undetectable. Little figgy fruit crispness in the aftertaste, along with light bread...very, very smooth aftertaste. There is almost a blue cheeseness from the mustiness but it's so perfectly blended it leaves me wanting more!

M: Very light carbonation, creamy, you purely savor the delicious flavors on this one. Amazingly smooth.

D: I could easily turn this bomber up and drink the whole thing straight down, it is THAT GOOD, it's the perfect balance of everything...and it's refreshing, nothing heavy about this at all. Outside of the price, this is perfection....divine.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 00:46:37 | More by cindiwindi1025

eyefeelgood

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The subtle variations achieved by true Trappist breweries continues to astound. While La Trappe Quad is not as full bodied as Rochefort 10 or as smooth as Chimay Grand Reserve it is certainly the equal to either on any given day. An exceptional beer. One of the best and worst days a beer drinker can have would be sitting in front of all three and trying to decide which one to drink first.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 01:32:37 | More by eyefeelgood

russellaaron69

West Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the best Quad I've ever had...hands down. The apperance was good a dark ruby red (not like any other Quad I've ever had). Smell was very nice. Sweet malts w/ a hint of hops. The taste was very much on par w/ the smell. Sweet malts w/ just a hint of hops. I picked up a good bit of dark, sweet fruit w/ a nice hint of caramel and something else...nutmeg maybe. The hops were very mild at most. The mouthfeel was very nice as well...full and smooth. Drinkability was wonderful. I would never have been able to guess its clocking in at 10%. I hope everyone gets to try the beer at some point in their lives.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 03:10:57 | More by russellaaron69

twelvepack

California

4.88/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Pours a color that is the defenition of amber. Light head about an inch thick that leaves some minimal lacing and dissipates rather quickly.

S- Fruity nose, bananas, Belgian yeast.

T-Sweet malts that give way to caramel,fruit and yeast.

M- Dances around the palate. Nice amount of carbonation, medium body and a great smooth finish.

O- An excellent beer and an exceptional Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 19:18:42 | More by twelvepack

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

i cant believe i havent reviewed this beer earlier.. guess i just figured i had already. this has always been a fridge staple, and rounds off the great 4 from this brewery. prefer it in the 750's by far, and it seems to make a difference. this is koningshoeven, but i've had la trappe bottle and it tasted the exact same.

looks healthy.. a lighter amber color, brilliant sticky lacing and minimal head. aroma is all yeast and banana with slight sweet notes, like a richer version of their tripel.

tastes banana-ey too. my favorite belgian flavor. also has a bit of age in it, wood and must in the initial sip. a light beer and the 10% is seriously hidden.. the most drinkable beer for the abv that i have ever consumed. very dangerous beer.

aftertaste is soothing too.. very smooth with a slight bitter bite which fades into a tang and sweet fruit on the back of the tongue. for the money, ranks up there with st bernardus. if i could have this and abt 12 only for the rest of my life i would be content.

this brewery is the best non-us out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2005 14:39:52 | More by goodbyeohio

pmcadamis

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - A big fat four finger head looks creamy and khaki with slight reddish cast. The head recedes a bit, but stays pretty thick, and leaves big solid sheets of creamy lace on the glass. The cloudy brew is russet brown with some purple in there too. The head stays at a fat finger for quite a while....nice retention!

S - I could smell this from the second I popped the top....it's quite pungent. I smell creamy sugary candy, Laffy-Taffy, chewy caramel filling-yankers, and Bit-O-Honey. Lots of fruit too: banana (banana Laffy-Taffy), dates, plums, prunes, and apricot baby food. Also vanilla and tawny port are very discernible. This is one complex MoFo!

T - Sweet caramel gooey candy is my first impression. Loads of dark fruit follow the candy sweetness, and eventually the sugars fade into a firm alcohol port flavor. I taste plums and dried apricots mainly, with big purple grapes and some very subdued hay-like hop flavors. This sweet fruity brew is best saved for desert.

M - Full bodied, sugar-coated, with a low level of carbonation and a balancing hop bitterness that helps to kill the sugar. Oily and rich. Very warming with a big boozy finish.

D - This brew screams quite evening by the fire with some chocolate. This is pretty damn complex and very comforting but definitely not a session beer. Enjoy this over the course of an hour after dinner in place of port or scotch. I'm really impressed with this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2007 04:49:48 | More by pmcadamis

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours an amber/ chestnut brown with thick, foamy yellowish beige head. Aroma of plum, raisin, fig, chocolate, roasted malt and strong alohol. Sweet up front with taste of dark berries, chocolate and a strong maltiness foloowed by a dry sweet alcohol finish. Very Good!

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 08:10:32 | More by corby112

dsprainman

California

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hot damn this is good beer!
After hearing from a few Flemish guys that la Trappe was considered sub par to the other Trappists, I finally gave it a shot.
A- Looks like a lightly brewed coffee with a dark cherry hue. Beige head.
S- Smells like prunes mixed with a little spicy apple cider. A little alcohol smell too.
T- Taste is like a plummy port. Sweet and tart at the same time.
O- This has to be up there with some of the best quads. I really think I'll have to try some more offerings from Koningshoeven!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 18:00:24 | More by dsprainman

jjkatter

Australia

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

330ml bottle poured into a La Trappe goblet...

A- rich amber brown with tan lacing head. Appears to be plenty of carbonation. Head quickly disapates, but lacing remains.

S- bold, with lots of plum, raisin and vanilla custard. Yearns to be consumed.

T- WOW! Really nice... Extra full body with complexity abandon. Caramel and toasted barley with lots of dried fruit (figs, raisins). The 10% ABV is masked well (too well, perhaps). Exceptional balance and incredibly drinkable.

MF- velvety and lucious. Plenty of effervescence, but not overwhelmingly so. The carbonation seems to tame as you are drinking it. Nice simi-dry finish

O- I suggest you respect the ABV and sip through this one, although it was so delicious I wanted to keep the glass raised. You will want to savor it to the last drop. God bless the Trappist Monks

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 06:21:27 | More by jjkatter

sinistrsam

Maryland

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed this at the Brickskeller in DC. Poured a beautiful brown, with a huge foamy head. Lacing was excellent. The aroma was what youd expect from a quad but with suble undertones often missing from lesser examples of the style. Citrus and yeast, sour fruits, spices and bread. The taste is spice and sweet hops, cloves, sour fruits, alcohol and sugars. It was balanced as well as any quad I've ever had. The mouthfeel was somewhat astringent with its acidicty, but excellent for sipping, even with its carbonation. I loved this beer and it has now risen to my favorite example of the style. Absolutely excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2006 19:50:54 | More by sinistrsam

roblowther

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a murky, reddish brown over a dense, rocky head that hangs about for quite a while, leaving dense lacing. Smells of plums, raisins, spice (cinnamon & cloves?) with a citrus note at the end. The taste is fantastic! Deeper and sweeter than the aroma, the fruit bursts through and then notes of chocolate and a dusty, tart finish. The aftertaste brings the sweetness back, like bing cherries and the warmth of alcohol and a hint of brandy. The mouthfeel is full and oily, with a chewy finish. The tartness at the end of the flavor seems a bit at odd with the smoothness of the mouthfeel, but I'm nitpicking at this point. The drinkability is dangerously good. If the alcohol finish doesn't throw you off, you could easily sip these all evening. A wonderful, wonderful beer. Worthy of the "Trappist" designation it still seems to claim despite its commercial production.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2006 02:10:46 | More by roblowther

brdc

Wisconsin

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Corked, large bottle that pours a beautiful brown beer with some golden overtones and a luscious, foamy head.
The smell is absolutely delicious, with roasted malts, cloves, cinnamon, sugar, alcohol and perhaps some hops.
Taste is equally impressive: starts sweetish, mostly sugars, leading to roasted malts, bread, cinnamon, warming alcohol and a near-dry finish.
Velvety mouthfeel, chewy, and amazingly easy to drink.
A masterpiece!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2007 01:20:24 | More by brdc

DmanGTR

New York

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Ahhh yes, I finally get to try the "King's Heaven" Quad, which is currently my most expensive beer and which I have been waiting for many months to try from my beer cabinet.

A - poured a dark garnet red with a foamy white 1.5" head in my tulip chalice. Very nice Belgian lacing even though the head disappeared after 4 minutes.

S - complex: deep, rich currants, raisins, figs, grapefruit, orange peels, dark malts, apricots, and a light waft of alcohol, but very clean.

T - where to begin? Molasses, malts, very rich and complex with dark fruit overtones. Rich aftertaste of bitterness, sweet fruitiness, and a slight hint of coffee or dark chocolate. King's heavenly.

M - light bodied with light/medium carbonation

D - complexity and high alcohol makes this a sipper, but one can definitely enjoy a couple of these in an evening (if you can afford more than one per year) for its great taste, hence why I give it a 5 for drinkability.

Overall - This is definitely not a beer for the faint of heart. One must truly be able to appreciate a good belgian ale to find love in this beer. My gf tried it and was not a fan... more for me! Excellently balanced in taste and texture with a light alcoholic kick. This is a great beer for an after-dinner conversation. Well worth every penny and disappears way too quickly.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2008 05:58:54 | More by DmanGTR

sixthglass

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Darker amber color with a seriously wonderful head that stays around.. wonderful lacing as well.

S - Alcohol, dark fruits, malt, sweet

T - Easily one of my favorite Quads, Dark Fruits, Sugars, Alcohol, Banana's, slight honey, slight spice. just simple wonderful tasting.

M - I love that this sticks and coats the inside of your mouth, leaves a lingering booze burn as the tastes fade away. Perfect carbonation.

D - Again, this is easily one of my favorite Quads, Easily comparable to Westy12. I love drinking this one on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 20:40:58 | More by sixthglass

Moon2Goddess

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Color: Remarkably bright and colorful, like liquid orange marmalade and ginger cookies, or a transluscent copper, extremely transparent, despite it's high carbination.

Head: Forms quickly and with ease, 1-2 inches in height. Lustrous pale taupe, thick center, delicate, high grade lacing all along the height of the glass, the most intricate I've seen to date. Some traces of head float atop the body throughout the entire drink. If I had not tried a few others with impressive heads to know that it could be slightly better, it would have no deductions.

Aroma: From the minute I popped that "champagne cork" the smell was captivating! And quite frankly, popping the cork made the anticipation exciting! Numerous elements wafting; spice, rum, nuts, apples, oranges, apricots, ginger, cinnamon, malt, chai tea, honey, bread, peanut butter. The aroma is nastolgic, comforting, and inviting.

Texture:Nicely viscous, winningly creamy, yet quite carbinated giving the sensation of biting and soothing simultaneously, not unlike the texture of all natural honey. As it warms, it thickens into a sublime layer of velvet.

Flavor & Balance:A tantalizing array of flavors continually satisfy and tease your tastebuds. At times it is like eating a plate of ginger cookies, iced oatmeal cookies, and walnut biscotti with a tart citris beverage. Or snacking on trail mix with dried oranges, apricots, peaches, almonds, granola, and peanuts while dipping your cream cheese wonton in sweet and sour sauce. The kick keeps it from being too sweet, and the sweet keeps it from being too tart, so is it balanced? You bet your ass it is.

Sustained Taste: Flavor evolves, as a great beer should. Toward the end, a subdued milk chocolate even made an appearance, which was quite unexpected. Aftertaste is like a mouthful of rich buttermilk pancakes with maple syryp.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 03:40:18 | More by Moon2Goddess

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

NB Served in a tall glass rather than a tulip or snifter, but reviewed as served.

A - Hazy red, with a super-thick, unreal head that refuses to drop. Thick meringue-like bubbles that just sit in a solid mass won't move when I swirl the glass.

S - Spicy and fruity. Notes of citrus - orange and lemon peel, and cloves.

T - Very sweet - almost candy like. Strong taste of fresh, pressed apple cider/juice and caramel. Lingering hop bitterness and apple flavour in the aftertaste, with an ever-so-slight astringency.

M - Syrupy, medium bodied. Has a way of coating the mouth without being heavy.

D - Easy to drink for sure, esp. at 10%. Tasty and non-boozy. Very sweet, which may make drinking many of these difficult (if not the 10% abv that would knock you on your ass anyway). I find the apple flavour intriguing - rather than the sharp green apple aroma/flavour usually encountered, this one is much more mellow and mouth-filling. Overall, a fantastic brew. I'm sad it's not available locally.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2006 06:06:06 | More by allergictomacros

josefnewsong

New York

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

What an amazing Quad...deep ruby color, slightly tart and very refreshing. I swear I tasted pomegranate in the finish. I'm reviewing a while after the fact but had to put something up to show my support. I'm a big fan, and this will be finding its way to my cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2010 22:07:11 | More by josefnewsong

BeerT3ch

Georgia

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

OMG! This has got to make the top of the list! I've tried La Trappe's Tripel and Dubbel and Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue) has always been my favorite, until last night, when I tried this "Quadrupel" Smooth, Rich, Bold and perfectly balanced. Trappist Ale at it's best.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 03:49:33 | More by BeerT3ch

Douberd

Netherlands

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 300 ml bottle.
Colour is dark orange - light brown against the light with some rows of bubbles rising to the surface. One finger, brownish head that goes away fast but some of it remains on the surface of the beer to protect it.
Very nice, strong smell of sweet fruits.
Taste is also sweet and fruity, with the high alcohol barely noticeable.
Quite thick in body and quite carbonated too.
Overall a magnificent beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 20:18:57 | More by Douberd

funkengruven

Ontario (Canada)

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Tis the season for these wonderful trappist ales (that only seem to be stocked this time of year around here), this poured into a chalice a deep ruby with a puff of off white head that stays with the brew. Smell is of sweet dried fruit and alcohol. Flavor is very bold and seems to consist of sweet dried figs, some prunes, some spice, very nice. Mouthfeel is full and smooth. No alcohol burn at all, very pleasant.

This is a fantastic beer. If you can get it, get it.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 20:36:07 | More by funkengruven

rodney45

New York

4.78/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Found in bowery wholefoods NYC for $4.99. 330 ml bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Light and clear sinopia with a tan or ivory head that like most trappist's with high abv, start big and creamy, but dissipate until a small froth is left that laces the glass for the duration of the beer.

S: Plum, cherry, fig, cinnamon, old wood, fresh cut grass and peach. Chocolate and banana.

T: First notes of cherry, banana bread, cinnamon, cloves, honey, munich malt and walnut. Secondary profile of corriander, citrus, pear and merlot grape. Slight notes of raisins and caramel. Light noble hop blended with a fantastic belgian yeast profile. Non dry cocoa finish.

M: Creamy, heavy body with low carbonation. Amazing mouthfeel for such a high abv beer. Low alcohol warmth.

O: If I had to drink a single beer for the rest of my days, this would probably be it. It stands along side such greats as westy, rochefort 10, and st bernardus 12. Fastastic complexity, and amazing, amazing mouthfeel. This must have required a great deal of diving intervention. I would recommend above all others. Amazing.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 14:29:29 | More by rodney45

scooter231

New York

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

So I decided to try all four La Trappe beers in one sitting. Went from blonde, to dubbel, to tripel, to this guy. None were bad by any means, but I definitely think overall quality improved as I made my way through.

This pours a dark brown, slightly reddish color, very little head. Appealing looking. Smells light, fruity, very subtle.

Taste is way more complex than the scent- lots going on in here, but all very subtle. Fruits, some citrus- lemon and orange mostly, more sweet than dry, and slightly tangy. Bubbly, but not too much carbonation- adds to the mouthfeel nicely, light and a bit chewy, really enjoyable. The alcohol flavor isn't overpowering either- I wouldn't have known this was 10%.

Overall, I think this is the most full-bodied, well-balanced Trappe beer- definitely my favorite. Light, smooth, silky even, and very tasty- with each sip you continue to find new tastes and hints of things- keeps you on your toes.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2005 04:02:29 | More by scooter231

dmamiano

West Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours deep, amber, almost reddish with good carbonation and nice head.
Smells of malts, Belgian. Fruits, plums and figs maybe. The Belgian funk displayed in the yeast.
Tatse is awesome. Very big and full mouthfeel.
Fruity, with yeast esters .
Slight burn of alcohol notced in the finish.
At 10%, its no wonder.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 19:25:32 | More by dmamiano