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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A sipper. Batch 4 at The Ginger Man. Fruity appearance with an eighth inch of white head and lacey. Above average in every way and less fruity and sweet than the non BA version. A tad acidic. Fruity and citrus. Alcohol warming. Full bodied, with oaky taste there and it is balanced. Wonder how complex this would be in five years.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 14:03:39 | More by northyorksammy

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Delirium in Brussels during last week's trip to Belgium. Reviewed from notes.

Served in a mini chalice.

Pours a moderately-dark brown with a bit of a mahogany hue to it. Large foamy head with good retention and nice lacing. The nose brings forward plenty of dark fruit and a bit of booze. Faint dark sugar and molasses plus a bit of oak. Good fruit and sweetness character in the flavor to balance the oak. Medium to full body with a nice barrel presence. Tasty brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 20:21:39 | More by Thorpe429

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep black color ale with a nice large brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of light dry fruits and residual sugar with some wood notes. Taste is also dominated by some wood notes with light residual sugar notes and dry raisins. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Interesting experiment but I believe the regular version is probably better then this barrel-aged version and the white wine notes where quite hard to distinguish.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 20:45:36 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

With greater delicacy and refinement than other Koningshoeven brands, this strong Belgian dark ale has genuine "Trappist" confectionate sweetness, but with the power and complexity that's expected of the entitlement.

The pour brings about a russet brown, hazy decantment that carries an eggshell-stained head laced with loosely knit bubbles for an airy/froathy appearance. As the foam reduces to a blanket of creme across the surface, the beer reveals intricate lacing patterns on the glass wall. A classy and masculine look.

A quick swirl brings to life aromas of ripe berries, cherries, apples, dates, and figs- all weaving into a yeasty/briney/winey scent. The bold esters and soft spices allow for a peak throuh of sweet maltiness that straddles cotton candy notes. The base alcohol scent adopts the oak character for a mild woody and pungent impression.

Flavors of sweet malty richness and powdered sugar lead the way with the fruity esters of brandy-soaked berries, dates, figs, raisons, and cherries. As the esters fade, the alcohol ushers in a spicier note that ranges from corriander and white pepper early, and sharper black pepper and cumin late. The alcohol flavor evolves into a mildly caramel/woody taste that gives greater complexity to the alcohol and yeasty fruitiness and spice.

Creamy and soft early on as the sweeter, fruitier notes prevail. But as the alcohols take command and the cherry/brandy taste grow, the beer becomes warm- to prickly- to numbing- and then somewhat hot or fusal. But the soft powdery tanins from the oak somehow keep the harsher alcohols in check for a pleasantly warm and solid dry finish.

For the first time (when discussing a Koningshoeven beer) can I begin to talk about some of the finer intangibles that separate Trappist Ales from most Abbey Ales. Notice that any mention of oak-aging is slight, as this character does a great job of smoothening the beer and adding subtle complexity without over-stating it. Although the alcohol could exercise some restraint in mouthfeel, the beer has the magical sweetness in taste that translate to succulent dryness late; and while offering many complexities that are difficult to describe... it is Trappist quality through and through. Definately the pick of the litter when considering the Koningshoeven portfolio. ...reminds me of a green Rochefort 6.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 05:35:16 | More by BEERchitect

metter98

New York

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
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

MasterSki

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch 1. Served in a Cigar City snifter.

A - Pours with a finger of tan foam that settles to a thin film and thick collar, leaving behind spotty lace. The body is a slightly hazed golden orange color that is very light for a quad, and seems to be lighter than the base beer?

S - Candi sugar, dark fruits, big banana that is oddly tripel-like. Some oaky vanilla and vinous grape character, mixed with some spicy alcohol.

T - Again, very vinous, with notes of candi sugar, dark fruits, apples and grapes. There's not a ton of overt oak, but more of a brandy character going on.

M - Smooth, medium-low carbonation, medium-full body. Creamy, with a light dry finish, and some warmth as well.

D - This is very good, although it smells and looks more like a tripel in some ways. I'm curious to try Batch 2 or 3, as I get a sense that they are all quite different. It's a bit too boozy for mass quantities, but I'd love to work through a bottle over a few hours.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 03:49:41 | More by MasterSki

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had some severe high hopes that this was going to be better than the regular version but I beleive that the orginal is still better. This beer pours out very similar to the regular Quad, it's basically the same brown color. This one might be a little easier to see through and the head is much thinner here. The aroma is a little bit let fruity and more wooden which makes sense but I was hoping that some of those fruit aromas would have been preserved in here. There a slightly sweet and sour aroma coming off it as well. I don't really get vanilla though. The taste has a little bit of vanilla but it's not nearly as lively as the original version. This beer has a similar mouthfeel but less bubbly. Overall both are wonderful brews but I feel that you can save a crap load of money and just stick to the original version.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 04:01:36 | More by Knapp85

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375 ml, batch 3.

Pours a cloudy, deep dark ruby red/chestnut brown color with mahogany edges when held to a light and a half finger light beige head that quickly settles into a thin lasting ring. Thin rings and sporadic spots of lacing left behind.

Sweet estery aroma with hints of dark fruit, spice, candy sugar and a nice oak barrel presence. Slightly toasty with a sweet vinous character that compliments the dark fruit notes very nicely. Hints of grape, raisin, fig, currants and plum along with some other dark berries and some nice earthy oak. There's also some zesty spice notes with hints of pepper, anise and candy sugar. The nose on this beer is very complex.

Medium bodied but on the fuller end with a good balance of vinous and earthy barrel character, spice, estery Belgian yeast and sweet dark fruit. The barrel character is most prominent up front but it isn't too aggressive, allowing the flavors of the base beer to shine through. Great balance of toasted oak and sweet vinous notes. The blend of virgin, La Trappe and Port aged French oak creates a nice balance of flavor. Subtle smokiness with hints of vinous grape notes that compliment the base beer very nicely. Not boozy or hot at all, however, resulting in a very flavor, well balanced beer that is extremely quaffable. The barrel flavors are quickly balanced by the sweeter, spicy notes of the base beer. Hints of grape, currant, fig, plum and raisin as well as some faint alcohol sweetness, candy sugar and peppery spice.

Overall, I enjoyed this beer very much. I had high expectations going in and they were exceeded. If you love this brewery like do or Belgian quads in general, I highly recommend seeking out this beer. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 03:05:06 | More by corby112

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Cork and caged 37.5cl bottle: Batch 3. Given to me, as a gift by Rudi from De Bierboom in Brugge, thanks Rudi.

Poured into a Westvleteren chalice (and a Hoegaarden Grand Cru stemmed tulip, which got the sediment and bottle remains).

Deep, dark brown/reddy coloured body, thin covering of off-white bubbles on top, clear without the sediment, the Hoegaarden glass held a different view.

What an incredible aroma, spiced bananas in a liquorice flavoured custard.

The taste is equally as incredible as the smell, port wine can be added to the thoughts from the aromas, this is a complex beer and I loved it. The beer excites the taste buds, loads to find and enjoy in the flavours: malty molasses, various fruits, more spices and herbs than you could shake a big stick at, Port wine and chocolate flavoured liquorice in abundance, a truly different beer. I don’t normally like beers that have been ‘messed around with’, but the Oak Aged bit seems to work with this beer.

Almost gave this beer straight 5’s, had to sit back and think about it, so easy to get carried away when a beer is this good!

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 19:51:25 | More by BlackHaddock

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375ml corked and caged bottle (batch 3) split with pmsawyer and poured into a pair of goblets. The brew appears a clear amber that is a burnt brown through the middle and orange around the edges. A big bubbly cap sits atop and recedes fairly quickly leaving some spotty lacing on the glass.

The smell is sweet like candy sugar mixed with a fruited element like dates, plum, prune, raisons and a bit of citrus. Some fruited quality blends into floral territory with brown sugar. There is a mild inclusion of oak and some herbs across the back as it warns up along with an increasing presence of the alcohol.

The taste is just as sweet as the aroma leads on. Candy sugar mixes with dark fruited quality and done herbal hops keep the sweetness in check in minor bitterness. The alcohol is warming with a mild solvent touch that never gets too exaggerated. Despite the initial sweetness, this really dries out towards the finish. A little bit of rindy orange zesty bitterness is the last thing remaining on the palate.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation, it is big and enjoyable with a pleasant balance of character. The oak was not overly done, in fact it was pleasantly subtle and really worked as a background nuance that made for a top shelf experience. This is a solid example that is worth checking out. This ranks right up there will all the other quads that get a lot more fame and attention in the category,

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 18:03:42 | More by stakem

largadeer

California

3.5/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Gourmet Haus Staudt. Batch 3.

Muddy amber, atypically pale for a quad. The head rises fairly high, but quickly settles to a film. There's some scattered lacing.

There's a ton of banana on the nose, totally uncharacteristic of the style but fairly enjoyable all the same. Some phenolic spice, alcohol and spicy oak round things out.

The palate likewise has a huge ripe banana flavor. Sweet, malty, lightly boozy and vinous. I don't get a ton of oak, not even much tannin in the finish. Spicy phenols appear in the finish, along with mild but noticeable alcohol. Ends on a semi-dry note.

Overall it's a pretty good beer, though the huge banana character was unexpected and not very quad-like.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 03:12:39 | More by largadeer

jrallen34

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12.7oz bottle poured into my Narke tulip... A dark copper pour with a hint of dark orange, can look brown at angles, very light for a quad. The head is a dark tope, decent retention but a little weak and watery compared to what I'm use to. Ok lacing. Below average looking quad...The aroma is light dark fruits, tons of banana that is very weird, candi sugar, alcohol, and a hint of wood. Reminds me of a quad, but the banana is just weird, can't really tell that it was barrel aged. Doesn't smell bad, just not what I was expecting... The taste has a ton of the same notes as the nose, off quad flavors, but I think this tastes really good, super easy to drink. A ton of banana again, but adds a crushablness to the beer. Banana backbone, with alcohol, spice, and dark fruits. The oak is essentially missing again.

This is pretty good but I can't recommend for the price, way to expensive, especially when you don't really taste a barrel aged quad.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 01:57:24 | More by jrallen34

nickfl

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch #3

A - Pours with two fingers of light tan foam on top of an amber colored body with some small chunks floating in it. The rocky head settles fairly quickly but leaves nice lace.

S - Notes of oak and dark fruit. The base beer provides plum, cinnamon, and clove in the background.

T - Caramel and oak up front with some dark fruity notes of plum, black cherry, and port. The toasted oak really pops out in the middle as it pushes back against the fruit notes and brings out the phenolic yeast character of clove and pepper. The beer finishes with more thick, caramel and toffee malt as well as another hit of woody port and moderate bitterness to balance things out.

M - Medium-thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a fairly dry finish.

D - This is a very unusual beer, especially coming from a Trappist brewery. I have been happy to see La Trappe branching out recently and doing some new and unusual beers, this one is probably the best of their experimental beers that I have tried so far. The barrel aging adds some really interesting flavors and the port character in particular works very nicely with the base beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 05:35:50 | More by nickfl

smakawhat

Maryland

4.63/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a challice/goblet. Batch #6, real long composite cork and no pop upon opening whatsoever.

A real dark garnet murky brown, body. Cloudy, there are some flakes in the body. Head forms nice and creamy looking with an off white, kind of yellow color. Manages to keep a nice puck throughout drinking.

What a nose on this beer. Aged in white wine barrels, real creamy smelling oaky vanilla dominates. White chocolate, cream, no heat whatsoever, like a bourbon aged barrel beer, I am shocked that this came from a wine barrel. Little bit of toffee

Taste follows with an unbelievable creamy texture. Whipped up merringue like cream, vanilla rich, small toffee, and a soft taffy candy like taste on the finish. Hints of sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate, but nothing too sugary granular or crystalized sugar. Marshmallow in feel and subdued taste also!

This is a VERY unique tasting quad, never had anything like it, this is from wine barrels? Wow shocking. Fabulous beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 00:42:59 | More by smakawhat

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12.7 ounce/375 ml caged and corked bottle, Batch #3. I've had this bottle for a while now, so I might as well drink it! Served in a Dogfish Head Signature glass, the beer pours a murky amber/brown color with about an inch light tan head that didn't stay around for too long. There's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is malty and sweet, it smells like brown sugar, oak, caramel malt, dark fruit, Belgian yeast, and port. The taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some banana and dark fruit flavors noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit slick with moderate carbonation. Overall I think it's a good but not great beer. At $14.99 a bottle I probably wouldn't buy it again, but even then I still think it's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 00:09:42 | More by bluejacket74

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

one hell of a beer! cork and cage rig, mine says batch 7. poured hazy copper woody color into a goblet with a small off white head. smells very oaky and smokey. notes of sweeter malts, english toffee, and thick unrefined honey all dance in the nose. flavor is wood aged right up front and bold. very laid back flavors of bourbon, honey, and straw. really nice complexity and mellow alchohol given the 10% abv. mouthfeel is nice too, carbonated just enough and a heavier medium body. this one feels rather delicate despite what it is. overall one of the best belgians in the world as far as i am concerned. i could drink this nectar every day and be a very happy man. 20 bucks a bottle is a little steep, but its a lovely drink!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 23:37:15 | More by StonedTrippin

champ103

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch #3

A: Pours a dark orange/reddish amber color. A one finger bubbly beige head forms and recedes to a small ring. No lace is left behind.
S: Sweet malt, brown sugar and some banana esters. Light vanilla and wood aromas. I like it, but I wish there was a bit more barrel aroma.
T: Very sweet with some brown sugar and vanilla. Fruity esters of banana. Other fruity flavors of grape and cherries. Some more wood flavors than detected in the nose. I like it.
M/D: A medium to full body that is low on carbonation. This is pretty smooth with some tannin like like qualities. Very easy and enjoyable to drink. I will finish the bottle without a thought.

An enjoyable Quad. A bit more barrel character and this would be excellent. This is very good anyway. Something I like and would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 04:32:03 | More by champ103

Gmann

New York

4.13/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a muddy chocolate brown color with some honey highlights. The head is small and settles into a wispy ring. Plenty of yeast floaters.

The aroma is quite fruity. Red grapes mix with some tart apple and lemon flavors from the oak. Some light bready malt pick up. The oak really stands out in the aroma.

The taste is of raisins and grapes upfront. The tart green apples skin punch from the oak comes next. Some light chocolate and carob flavors bring a needed depth to the flavor. There are traces of some fusel alcohol.

The feel is light and spritzy. Sweet on the palate, finishes with some stickiness and ABV burn.

The beer feels a little raw but the oak adds another layer of flavor and works well with the style. The oak is strong in this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 01:37:14 | More by Gmann

emmasdad

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch #3
Thanks to schmittymack for bringing this one over a week ago. Poured from the cool little 375 into an Odell glass. Pours a lightly hazy amber color with a good white head. Aromas of light oak, dark fruits (plums, figs, dates) and caramel. Medium bodied, with dried fruits, raisins and toffee.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 03:09:03 | More by emmasdad

maximum12

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Jazzed to have this turn up in a local bottle shop, always enjoyed this brewry, & the happy to have a chance to try the oak-aged version of their quad. Not so jazzed about the small bottle size & price, but what can you do?

Popped the cork on this 12.7 oz. bottle & poured into my Dreamweaver glass that's getting a workout tonight. Pours a very dark orange. Smell is pure, recently mined rock candy. Straight-up sugar, nothing else. No hint of oaking.

La Trapped Oak Aged Quad is rich, fruity, head-spinningly sweet all-round. Very loud apples & pears, dripping liquid corn sugar, drown out the best of the beer. The oak is a distant spectator at best, really just dries out the aftertaste. Other dark fruits, figgy stuff, things that should be grown in Greece, heavy overripe bananas, heart-burn inducing spices. Ends on a bit of a darker note. I am wishing I'd split this little bottle with my lovely wife, now, the sweetness is going to be tough to down.

Well, good, but a bit disappointing. The sweetness just dominates with a whip & a heel, & everything else slinks around trying to avoid notice. Good brew, but I was hoping for a bit more distinction in the oaking.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 03:21:14 | More by maximum12

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a goblet. K03E11 10:32, Batch 7 (I think, though I can't be sure since the "7" is printed on the black part of the label). I performed a feat of strength when I got this cork out.

3.25 A: Murky purplish brown color. Just a touch of beige head that didn't last too long.

3.75 S: Twould appear that this is one of the whiskey versions. Though I can identify the aroma as whiskey, it has a strange rubber/latex component to it. Despite how it sounds, it's not unpleasant. TONS of date aroma in this, probably more so than in any other beer I've sniffed. Caramel, fig, toastiness, and plum. Whiskey does a good job of not overpowering the base beer and for that I'm thrilled. Aside from the rubbery aroma, the whiskey offers a solid earthiness, plenty of peat, and oak. Strange, but quite nice.

3.25 T: The taste is fine, but it falls flat (more on that in the MF). The base beer can't compete with the whiskey despite the whiskey not being overly strong. Date, brown sugar, fig, toastiness, plum, and molasses are still there, but they all play second fiddle to the whiskey. It is for this reason that I believe most Belgian styles do not benefit from any flavored barrel treatment, though I still can't help myself from trying them. Anyway, peaty whiskey gives earth and oak again.

3.0 M: Lighter medium body. There isn't enough carbonation. I like my Belgians spritzy and bubbly and this doesn't have enough carbonation to fulfill that. Otherwise, it's not bad. Goes down super easy.

3.25 D: It's an easy drink, but it doesn't have enough quality in the taste or mouthfeel to justify paying $15 for it. Give it a try if you must.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 05:43:17 | More by DavoleBomb

superspak

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +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

ehammond1

California

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2010)

Belgian Beer Festival 2011
Pizza Port
Carlsbad, CA

Dark orange, auburn, and light brown. Very thin khaki head and this looks somewhat thin, especially for a quad. Dotted lacing down the glass. Unexpectedly unimpressive...

...though that's where the bad news ends...this is one fantastic beer!

A complex and divine aroma. The base beer stands out marvelously--dark fruits (figs, plums, dates, candied cherries), along with caramel, freshly baked bread, Belgian yeast tang--and then the earthy and woody aromas inch their way to the forefront. Tremendous.

A sweet and woody, though complex, quad. This beer is divine. The earth and vanilla from the oak is an excellent combination to the somewhat sweet, bready, tangy, and fruity quad. The dark fruits and bread are certainly this beer's magnificent base, but the Belgian yeast and oak add another fantastic layer.

Thin to medium bodied, though with high carbonation. A joy.

A tremendous oak-aged version of a fantastic quad. I would love to try this one again...and again...and again...

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 16:55:59 | More by ehammond1

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Very excited for this beer as the standard Koningshoeven Quad is one of my favorites and imo an “under the radar” beer.

Bottle marked Batch 3

Thick two fingers of off white head build in my tulip glass and as the head recedes a layer of lace is left behind. The beer is a deep amber color with lots of burgundy.

Aroma is thick with dark stone fruit including cherry.

Very interesting. At first you get some familiar flavors from the standard La Trappe Quad, then there is a vanilla flavor that comes in. Interesting meld of cherry/vanilla. Later there is some straight oak and a moment of plum. Back to vanilla. What’s interesting is that as it warms I get a slight sense of cocoa powder. Doesn’t make any sense, but I do.

So smooth and silky here. The carbonation is so fine you barely notice, but it does play it’s role.

Nice beer. Pretty complex and some interesting changes as it warms. I can’t believe the wonderful mouth feel here.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 21:25:16 | More by Reagan1984

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.88/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review from 3/2011 notes. Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a dark orange amber with tons of floating particles. Half finger head and lacing. Pungent fruit and phenolic aroma. Sweet fruit, sweet malt, raisins, grapes, banana, vanilla, phenolic flavors. Tastes great, but I don't really detect a strong oak flavor and it may be a bit on the cloying sweet side. An enjoyable quad, but at the price, I would buy one of the others out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 03:31:28 | More by LiquidAmber