La Trappe Quadrupel (Oak Aged) - Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.

basica

Singapore

4.58/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pours a translucent orange-brown color into my La Trappe chalice yielding just a thin layer of beige foam clinging neatly to the sides of the glass (4)

S - Vinous nose with pleasant notes of yeast, oak, leather and dark fruity notes of grapes and plums (4.5)

T - Light caramel sweetness upfront quickly decked with intense vinous flavors of oak and leather in the middle gradually lifting to reveal some yeasts and dark fruity suggestions of plums, raisins lasting well into a tannic and slightly tangy finish with an after taste of malts and grapes (4.5)

M - Medium bodied thickness with the right amount of carbonation and a creamy smooth texture finsishing dry and with a pleasant warming (4.5)

D - Most interesting vinous nose and flavors with an almost flawless feel except perhaps for being a tad dry; sweetness and phenols highly evident in the regular La Trappe Quadrupel have clearly mellowed down pleasantly, giving way to an elegant wine-like beer, masterfully crafted to be so easy and pleasant drinking (5)

This is a Batch 1 bottle corked 07/10, serial KO3F10, procured from Tanakaya Beer Store in Meijiro, Tokyo at 2070 yen; a treasure unearthed and a clear purchase decision. This is taken shortly after my 2009 La Trappe Quadrupel and quick comparisons reveal a mellowed sweetness and phenolic nature as mentioned and the introduction of vinous, oak flavors. The fruity nature was also less succulent and felt more "matured" generally. Very interesting and will definitely revisit this batch and the other 3 batches in the 2010 vintage.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 17:09:25 | More by basica

Hallertau

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

06-16-2013 03:10:24 | More by Hallertau

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%

06-13-2013 04:46:02 | More by tom10101

TheRougeBastard

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

06-11-2013 01:13:51 | More by TheRougeBastard

ygtbsm94

Virginia

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-10-2013 03:56:13 | More by ygtbsm94

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Batch #8

A: Pours a hazy dark reddish brown (almost mahogany) in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation and some red + dark amber highlights. The beer has a two finger tall pillowy beige head that reduces to a medium to large patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of smoked peat, whiskey, and charred oak barrels

T: Upfront there are some light flavors of dark fruits but those are quickly overtaken by the rather complex flavors introduced by the oak aging - I get moderate flavors of charred oak, fresh oak, vanilla, whiskey, and smoked peat.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Relatively smooth with some oaky dryness and a light amount of alcohol warming.

O: Other than the light amount of warming in the finish, the alcohol is relatively well hidden in this big beer. The mouthfeel lacks the stickiness and the flavors are not nearly as sweet as some of the others in the Quad style, making this one a little easier to drink. Much different (and better) with the whiskey barrel oak-aging.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 01:50:17 | More by dbrauneis

dmcjr23505

Virginia

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-09-2013 21:40:02 | More by dmcjr23505

cambabeer

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

06-06-2013 15:52:21 | More by cambabeer

Tattooedirish1

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-04-2013 23:31:31 | More by Tattooedirish1

notreallyme

New York

2.9/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Batch 11 from 375 cl bottle. I paid $14. Generally I like or love Belgian Ales. This one was a big disappointment for me. The "cork" was made of some plastic that was very difficult to remove- I had to use a 16" set of Knipex pliers. Once I got past this issue I was excited about the pour. But disappointed that there was not even a millimeter of foam. This was seriously deficient in carbonation for me. I almost wanted to throw it out and drink something else. I did get through it and the taste was not so bad as it had complexity and flavor going for it. It didn't look pretty to me in a tulip glass-- Too thick, no bubbles, looked like flat cola to me. I haven't seen any Batch 11 reviews here so I thought this might add to the many reviews. Could be Batch 11 is particularly bad.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 10:08:59 | More by notreallyme

Blindpigbiz

California

4.58/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Smell: slight balsamic vinegar hits the nose with a black licorice foreground; subtle oak is prevalent

Taste: it tastes like a Texan cook-out. With tri-tip, charred wood, and BBQ sauce paired with bourbon, vanilla beans and licorice

This beer is phenomenal! It may be a bit pricey for its size (I paid $17 for330ml), but what it lacks in frugality it makes up for in taste. If you want to go the safe route, this PAIRS very well with smoked meats, BBQ-anything, along with grilled vegetables and smoked fish; this is an incredible beer

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 21:42:34 | More by Blindpigbiz

JackOfAll

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.25/5  rDev -24.2%

05-29-2013 20:21:12 | More by JackOfAll

eawolff99

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-25-2013 03:38:05 | More by eawolff99

biniek13

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-24-2013 04:06:55 | More by biniek13

KevinA107

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-22-2013 03:52:20 | More by KevinA107

Scott_McCool

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-17-2013 22:16:49 | More by Scott_McCool

superspak

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

375 ml bottle into chalice; Batch 6, April 2011 bottling. Pours hazy and cloudy dark reddish brown color with a small dense cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big raisin, prune, caramel, toffee, toast, oak, clove, molasses, light red wine, candi sugar, brown bread, vanilla, light chocolate, light peat, and yeast earthiness. Incredible aromas with big complexity and balance of malt and fruity esters with moderate oak barrel presence. Taste of big raisin, prune, toffee, toast, caramel, molasses, clove, brown bread, oak, light wine, candi sugar, light peat, light chocolate, light vanilla, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark fruits, toffee, toast, caramel, molasses, brown bread, oak, clove, light chocolate, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity and balance of big malt flavors with moderate fruity/spicy esters; with moderate oak presence and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy, slick, and lightly syrupy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an incredible oak aged Quad! Tons of complexity and well balanced flavors; and quite smooth to sip on. Insanely enjoyable stuff; definitely worth enjoying again in the future, even for the high price of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:25:18 | More by superspak

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a deep and surprisingly clear amber/mahogony. 2 fingers of tightly packed bubbly foam. Decent retention. Leaves lots of splattered lines of lacing.

S - medium intense aroma. Lots of ripe fruit. Mostly red. Soft notes of over ripe strawberries, slightly tart raspberries, red apple skins, and juicy plums. Hints of cinnamon, cloves, and wood round out the nose.

T - deep toasty malt profile. The subtle oak character adds to the soft toasty and toffee like malts. Sweet and tart fruits enter mid palate. Hints of pepper and anisette on the backend of the palate. Long warming finish.

M - medium bodied. Slick Buttery texture. High carbonation.

O - nice beer. I was expecting a touch more oak influence but there is enough to satisfy.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:27:50 | More by Teleweizen2

Liquid_Bread

Pennsylvania

4.66/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Batch #6 poured into a chalice at Monk's Cafe.

A: cloudy mud brown with a finger of foam. Looked like there were a ton of floaties. This guy was happy to emerge from the bottle after a few years.

S: Fruit, grass, orange, almond, hops, coffee, chocolate, oak, moss, peat. Most complex beer I've ever smelled.

T: I must reiterate what I said about the smell in regards to taste: it was mind blowing how complex and smooth this beer manages to be. Quite a paradox. I felt like I was eating an enchanted forest. This beer really is a meal to itself. It's almost too sweet for its own good. Maybe I should have been forced to enjoy it slower?

M: Like I said, very smooth. It was hard not to gulp it. If you want a strong alcohol taste to your beer, you wouldn't find that here, it hides well. It had a good lively feel to it but didn't force the carbonation feeling on you.

O: Fully developed palettes accustomed to fine wines and good food pairings will find even more to like here than I did. It's very flavorful and avoids the syrupiness of which some quads are accused (only Westy beats it in this regard). If you prefer bitterness or even just slight bitterness, I'd avoid it.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 19:03:43 | More by Liquid_Bread

kustard

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -24.2%

05-11-2013 13:57:14 | More by kustard

Stugotzo

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-10-2013 12:59:34 | More by Stugotzo

Giggy

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-09-2013 20:18:47 | More by Giggy

TallSaint

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-07-2013 23:40:55 | More by TallSaint

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4.35/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Batch 11 poured from bottle into what should be the right glassare , pours dark oak wood color with half finger off white head that dissapears pretty quick

The smell is hitting you from all different places , wood , earthy , sweet rasins , plums , nice yeast profile and deep malt all combine in the smell of this beer , it is really nice

The mouth on this beer is a little thin , slightly over carbonated for my taste compared to others in this style , but still a good drink on it

The flavors this beer put out the yeast and malt really join well to form a nice tasting beer , and the oak and wine overtones to this beer make it just sweet enough to be really enjoyable and the alcohol bites at the very end

Overall this beer is a great beer , not one of my favorites , I would rather have St Bernardus and would purchase it over this beer 9 times out of 10 , not saying this one is bad , just doesn't ad up to the ABT

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 00:05:50 | More by ubenumber2

metter98

New York

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is very hazy brown in color with some hints of amber hues. It poured with a quarter finger high dense beige head that died down, consistently leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderately strong aromas of charred oak and peat are present in the nose along with notes of whiskey.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but the charred oak, peat and whiskey aren't nearly as prominent and are nicely balanced with notes of fresh cut oak, vanilla and yeast as well as hints of dark fruits (although the charred oak and whiskey flavors particularly stand out in the finish). Unlike the regular version, no sweetness is perceptible.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The whiskey barrel aging contributes a slight amount of alcohol warming.
O: Considering its strength, this beer is very easy to drink because it isn't heavy-bodied or sticky and the only alcohol that is noticeable is a slight amount from the whiskey barrel aging. It is a pleasant beer to sip that has interesting complexities in the taste.

Note: Batch #8. I saved this beer to celebrate today's crowning of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 03:38:41 | More by metter98