Lips Of Faith - Cascara Quad - New Belgium Brewing

Beaver13

Colorado

2.4/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22 oz bottle. Pours ruby amber with a big creamy off white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet toffee malts, with dark fruits and some roasted alcohol.

The flavor is sweet toffee malts and dark fruits with a lot of harsh alcohol. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, a sweet boozy mess. It tastes a bit like their dubbel with a ton of alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 05:29:56 | More by Beaver13

rangerred

Tennessee

2.99/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Had on tap.

Pours a hazy dark red with a thick white head. Great head retention as well as lacing that hangs around for a very long time.

The aroma is full of cherry and other dark fruit along with a bit of spice and herbs.

Tons of cherry up front in the aroma along with dates. It almost reminds me of cherry kool-aid at first that's how strong the cherry is. This transitions into a more herbal and tobacco taste as the flavor progresses. Banana and clove are faintly present in the background along with alcohol becoming more apparent in the finish.

Overall, there is just way too much going on here. It is a little bit messy with nothing seeming to meld just right. A nice attempt at a unique quad but I feel it is just too overdone.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2013 02:05:07 | More by rangerred

ianjsullivan

Maryland

3.71/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

ST: 22oz poured into a tulip glass.

A: Hazy amber, almost brown, with a good thick white head with nice lacing.

S: Odd light cherry (herbal anyway, possibly rose) dark fruit (plum) spice.

T: A bit of date, raisin, and almost coffee in the finish, but very, very green.

M: Heavy

O: Interesting flavor, not very sweet. The finish is very herbaceous. There is some spice as well, but the green flavor controls the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 19:55:30 | More by ianjsullivan

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.24/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

I picked up a bottle of New Belgium's Cascara Quad from the Lips Of Faith series last month for $8.59 at The Lager Mill. It's been a while since I've had a quad, so I thought I would give this one a shot since the Lips Of Faith series is pretty solid, so lets see how it goes. 2013 Vintage. Poured from a brown 22oz bottle into a chalice.

A- The bottle looks really nice, it's got a nice and intricate design to it that reminds of some native Peruvian artwork, I'm really digging it. It poured a very hazy mahogany color that took on a bright amber color when held to the light with three fingers worth of light tan head that died down to a thick ring that stayed till the end and left tons of lacing behind. This beer looked pretty good, the color was good with the head and lacing being very good.

S- The aroma starts off with a high amount of sweetness followed by a nice cherry like aroma. Up next comes some malts that impart a dark malt and a slight dark bread aroma with a good amount of dark fruits showing up, I get some of the date aromas, but there's also some figs and little bit of raisins in the background that take on a booze soaked raisin like aroma when mixed with a higher amount of a medium boozy aroma. The aroma is nice, i liked the cherrys and the dark fruit aspects, but it was a little on the sweet side and the alcohol could have been hidden a little better.

T- The taste seems to be similar to the aroma, but lighter and less complex. It starts off with a higher amount of sweetness that has a slight candied sugar like flavor to it with some sweet malts that impart a slight caramel and brown bread like flavors. Up next comes a pretty dominate boozy taste that is fairly warming and it's followed by some dark fruits with a slight bit of cherrys, but it's the date and figs that seems to stick out the most but they are still on the lighter side. On the finish there's pretty much no bitterness, just some boozy and warming alcohol. with a dark fruit, cherry, and boozy aftertaste. This was an average tasting quad, the flavors were pretty thin and it was the sweetness and alcohol that seemed to show up the most, I wasn't impressed.

M- Not that smooth, rich, warming, medium bodied, with a good amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel was just ok, it was too thin for the style and not that smooth at all.

Overall I thought this was a mediocre beer and an average at best example of the style, it wasn't that true to style and it seemed like the sweetness and the alcohol took the place of all those great malty quad flavors, it was really lacking balance. This beer didn't have good drinkability, it wasn't too smooth, it was boozy and the flavor couldn't hold my attention, I think it would be hard for me to drink the whole bottle, I'm glad i'm sharing it, half a bottle is more than enough for me. What I liked the most about this beer was the appearance, i thought this beer looked pretty good and it looked pretty true to style. What I liked the least about this beer was the balance, it was pretty off, the flavors that shouldn't stick out the most did and that made for a pretty harsh quad that wasn't very drinkable. I wouldn't buy this beer again, it might get better with age, but I'm not willing to risk it and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, I don't think it's a good example of the style. All in all i was let down with this beer, it wasn't what I was expecting, I had high hopes after trying their Tripel that was released with this beer, but this turned out to be a let down. Better luck next guys, this one needs some work. So far this is my least favorite beer that I've tried from the Lips Of Faith series.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 03:54:30 | More by StoutHunter

bigaltemple

Colorado

3.76/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22oz. Best by August 2014

Deep amber with ruby highlights. Big and fluffy cream colored head leaves behind some sticky sheets of lace.

Smell is surprising, as I was not expecting the cherry to be so dominant. This blends well into the malt backbone, with some figs and dates in there as well. Very mild coffee underneath.

Cherry is a bit subdued in the taste. Rich maltiness ends with a lingering tobacco finish. Crisp, medium body. Wouldn't mind this being a little thicker.

Price can't be beat at $6/bomber. However, I don't feel all the components meld seamlessly enough to drive me to get more.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 03:27:10 | More by bigaltemple

daledeee

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Found this one in the back of my frig. A 22 oz bottle.

Poured into a large wine type glass it is kind of a muddy brown with nice lacing and off white head.

Nose was promising with dates but also smelled very boozy.

The bottle says dates and cherries. Taste is full of dates and dark fruit. Medium sweetness and spiciness. Somehow the flavors just don't come all together. It seems like all the ingredients are there but overall not a very balanced brew. OK but not great. Mouth feel is the right carbonation but the booziness does something funny to the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 21:56:29 | More by daledeee

srandycarter

California

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Going different format for this one. Cloudy dark caramel, not much head but pure white. Lots of sudsy lace. Smell is disappointing, not much going on there. A little clove and banana. Taste is malty, and pretty middle of the road. Mouth is good carb, fair balance, medium to full weight. Overall, just not interesting to me. Most of the Lips of Faith have been disappointing to me, but I keep trying!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 05:20:18 | More by srandycarter

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

650ml bomber purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pours a boozy, rich cloudy burnished amber-brown, with a very solid head of yellow-tinged white that stays solid and static for a long time, eventually settling to a creamy film. Lacing is pretty decent: patchy tiny points all over the glass. Body is ridiculously heavy, and the carbonation sits around for a long time before sauntering to the surface when the beer is tilted. Looks pretty intense.

Cinnamon and sharp booze to begin with on the nose. Some earthy, slightly sharp coffee tones come through, mingled with the booze. Did I mention booze? As it warms, oddly, the cinnamon comes through more strongly. It's sweet and rich, but always cut with that heady alcohol character.

Taste is spicy and boozy, but built on a very solid basis of rich sweetness. More of that cinnamon character, more booze—a strangely thinning, plaintive character that sharpens but weakens the flavour. Finish is very biting, phenolic, boozy: with a rather sharp acetone character ending the piece. Even after it's gone there feels like there's a vapourised alcohol sitting in my mouth. Intense.

Feel is rich to start with, but the booze comes forward quite heavily. Leaving it hot and sharp.

Pretty difficult to drink except perhaps in particularly small quantities. I didn't get a lot of the purported dates, cherries or coffee, and what's left is something of a pretty messy quad. There are certainly things to like in it, and it's an impressive beer no matter what I think of it personally.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:54:57 | More by lacqueredmouse

srhoadsy

Florida

3.74/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served slightly chilled in a tulip.

Pours a deep rich mahogany red with an inch of tan head that slowly recedes leaving moderate surface layer and lacing.

Amazing aromas as soon as you pop the cap. Caramelized sugars, dried fruits and a boozy alcohol background.

Flavors of molasses, dried fruits, some sourness from the cherries, a touch ashy bitterness from the coffee with a touch of banana and cloves.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a sweet finish and aftertaste.

The nose on this beer is amazing, the flavor however is a little too busy for me. Complexity is good thing, but I can't help but think they went a little overboard with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:25:04 | More by srhoadsy

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.86/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bomber pours a hazed brown color with an ample light tan head. Average retention but does leave some really nice looking lace.

Nose is brown sugared figs and sweet cherry juice...pretty damn good quad aroma - yeasty, cloves and sweet - whats wrong with that?

Taste has maybe a bit much on the toast and is not as rich as many a quad, but not too shabby actually. I have been totally unimpressed by all LOF offerings that are not sour, this one is fairly impressive though. I like the cascara, and I agree with the cherry and tobacco notes...maybe even add in a touch of coffee as well. Its not as sweet as most quads and mouthfeel not as thick, but still...I could see myself picking up another one or three of these. Not that I think it will age all that well, but a $7 quad bomber is a rare find indeed.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:37:20 | More by twiggamortis420

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.1/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

650 mL bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance - Deep copper. Pretty clear. Nice off white head. Wispy surface.

Smell - Deep caramel. Earthy notes. Strong alcohol. Some dark fruits.

Taste - Harsh alcohol here too. Dark earthy, kinda coffee. Very bitter. Not really all that fruity, despite the description.

Mouthfeel - Boozy. Medium carbonation. Overly bitter.

Overall - Interesting coffee flavor, but the effect is intense for a quad, even if the coffee flavor itself isn't that strong.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:05:16 | More by Alieniloquium

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

New Belgium Lips of Faith Cascara Quad, Ale Brewed with date with coffee cherries added. 1 pint, 6 fluid ounces. Alc. 10% by Vol. "Best enjoyed by August 2014." Don't you worry about that.

Utterly hazed and opaque, plummy, magenta hue, 1/4 inch, dotted, lace-leaving, creamy toned. Nice looking beer here.

Aroma: sweet malt, rich fruit, plums, raisins, dates. plump berries, lovely stuff, utterly wonderful. Very nice.

Taste: BAM! Big Belgian malt flavor kicks it first, with alcohol kicking it next. Great balance, malt is king, with hops laying low, and booze not staying shy. Damn. This I love. I don't know what cascara is, but I love it when dates and coffee cherries meet a great big quad. Deee-licious. I'm liking this in all the right ways.

Let's take a moment and read the gobbledygook: " Local roasters Novo Coffee turned us onto Central America's cascara, the fruit or husk that surrounds coffee beans. When dried, it can be made into a tea with hints of cherry and tobacco. Blend that into a quad fermented with gorgeous malts and date sugar for a crazy complex beer to warm your winter nights."

It's April 11, and I still need my winter nights warmed. (Still snowing.) I find fault with the phrase "gorgeous malts", but can't quarrel with the truth. Minor quibble with "quad" as a style. People, you can say quadruple, it won't hurt you. And it is crazy complex, and like I said, terribly delish. Tobacco? Yeah. And brandy, and leather, and cherries, and yum.

One of the biggest, brashest, boldest, richest beers to come out of the Lips of Faith series in recent memory. Mmmm. Right up my alley, this one. Love it.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 08:39:38 | More by feloniousmonk

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

$17.99 for the 22oz bottle.

A- Pours a deep garnet colour, 2" head of foam, nice lacing.

S- Aromas of sour cherries, medicinal notes, almost cinnamon like. Weird but not off putting, except for what the style is supposed to be.

T- Sour cherries taste that reminds me of a cough syrup, some cinnamon zing in there, plenty of booze. Not close to the style by my book..

M- Nothing wrong with it; medium body, good carbonation.

O- One and...done. Forking over $18 for this is just crazy on my part but that is what I do. See new beers, buy them.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 23:20:09 | More by Bitterbill

longbongsilver

Missouri

4.78/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Always seen various of the Lips of Faith series around, just never grabbed until now for some reason. I've had (and enjoyed) brews incorporating coffee, but the Extra Mile here of using the fruit around the bean had me thinking "how does *that* work?", and I figured best way to find out is to drink it. Deuce-deuce bottle, you're comin with me...

Mug fills a dirty, not even translucent brown, about the shade of the flesh of an apple left out too long. Persistent head of a centimeter or two, white & clingy. Scents suggest roasted nuts & sour fruits.

Swig incorporates the fruits & nuts of the scent, plus brown sugar & a gradually snowballing charge of outright barley action. Also I now see what they're getting at with the tobacco mention on the blurb, as a taste akin to how high-end tobacco smells hovers around that I'm enjoying. I don't smoke, but I feel like a cigar would easily be appropriate accompaniment. Meanwhile, the lacing hangs around like it owns my mug, & after three swigs the remnant of head is still sticking around. This is a *rich* beer, with only enough fizz to explain the head -- it doesn't need any more.

Oh yeah, and besides the warming effect, the alcohol is incognito. Completely.

This is beer as contemplative beverage. You don't slug this at the sports bar among strangers during the latest MMA event, you drink this among a minimal amount of close colleagues and discuss philosophy between swigs. One to remember...and buy again if possible.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 06:01:27 | More by longbongsilver

chinchill

South Carolina

3.44/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

$6 draft at USNWC in Charlotte. Poured with a small tan head over a hazy, dark amber body.
Has more flavor than aroma, with the latter featuring dates, prunes, plum and fig as well as an (unfortunate) light tobacco flavor The high ABV is too obvious in both the taste and feel. Medium+ body is slightly astringent and harsh. Carbonation is about right for the style.

O: some, but not enough malt profile, complexity or dark fruitiness. Not bad... but not real good either. Almost certainly would benefit from some aging.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 01:54:32 | More by chinchill

impending

California

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

c+

22oz into a tulip. Pours a mid tone walnut, little head with an encouraging pour, minor lacing.

Aroma is dominated by a strong phenolic undertone. Yes, the promised cherries, dates and tobacco are delivered but they do not define as the phenolic note does.

Dates begin the flavor which is low in sweets. Dry sits in for bitter. Strongly pronounced dark cherries appear in the finish and is the highlight of the taste. A hint of solvent alcohol appears as the flavor evolves to an undefined sensation.
Slick bodied medium mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 04:38:55 | More by impending

UCLABrewN84

California

3.79/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Charlie Jewell's in Redlands, CA.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a foamy bone head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, fruit, and brown sugar aromas. Taste is much the same with fruity flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it's fairly boozy and strong.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 06:34:44 | More by UCLABrewN84

Rope

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Appearance-
Deep brown and red, cloudy, two fingers off white head.

Smell-
Slight alcohol, then a mingling of the cherries and coffee.

Taste-
Coffee surprisingly is the upfront flavor, but the alcohol flavor hits hard, a lingering of sweet cherries.

Mouthfeel-
Lighter then I was expecting, but a bit thicker than Belgian.

Overall-
The alcohol taste fades the more you drink, but there is still an presence no matter how much. Interesting, but definitely a one time.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 04:46:40 | More by Rope

HalfFull

California

2.75/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle, 22 oz. etched with some crazy stuff. Lips of Faith series. Poured into a large wine glass. Pour is a hazy brown and light mahogany in the light. A half inch of foam offers decent retention which settles to moderate lace.

Aroma of crystal malts to a degree, and a touch of cherry in the mix. Some yeast and hop notes are present yet are crushed by the added fruit. Taste follows the nose, with cherry licqueur being dominant. Lacks depth with regard to malt structure yet seems fairly well attenuated for q 10% brew.

Taste is sweet and a bit boozy. A Quad in strength but surely not in character. Even with warming and exposure this beer leaves a bit to be desired...

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 05:47:51 | More by HalfFull

Mitchster

Michigan

3.34/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

$6.99 for a 22oz bottle @ BevCo. Brewed with Pale, Munich, Caramel Munich, Biscuit, and Black malts, as well as Belgium Amber Candy Sugar, Date Sugar, and Cascara Tea (coffee cherries). Hopped with "Hallertauer Hersbrucker-Nobel", and "Styrian-Golding-Nobel" per the website. Nobel? Noble? No-one knows:)
22 IBU, 10% ABV.

Pours out to a cloudy medium amber, forming a tall mousse-like light yellow head with excellent retention and nice lacing owed in part to it's brisk carbonation, ~3.25 carbs or so. The nose opens with brown bananas, cloves, biscuit, slight pink bubblegum, distant burnt rubber, candy sugar, and peppery alcohol. The mouthfeel is firm, almost syrupy if it weren't for the carbonation, with a big body. The taste is a recap of the aroma, with the addition of booze and some hot estery fusels. The finish is leathery. Bitterness is mild. No hop flavor to speak of. A touch oxidized in the finish, like wet newspaper. Finishes too sweet for a quad, inadequate attenuation.

I love New Belgium's stuff, but this one is a stinker. It's not awful, but it's not up to their standards, which is a compliment. The fusels kill it. It's boozy and hot and oxidized. They either under-pitched the yeast, didn't oxygenate the wort, or fermented it too hot. Either way, it definitely doesn't stand up to other respected quads typical for the style. Wouldn't bu or recommend this one, even to my Belgian Quad friends.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 23:56:21 | More by Mitchster

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.14/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a New Belgium globe glass.

The beer is a hazy, murky toffee brown color. A cream colored head leaves a nice film with sheets of lacing. The aroma is very alcoholic, but dates, toffee, and a cherry-like note come in. The beer tastes boozy and syrupy at first. Malts laced with cherry tart come in, followed by a coffee grind dryness. A fruity date body hides underneath. The mouthfeel is full. This is a sipper.

Overall, I didn't know what to expect, but this is a nice interesting sipper for a Friday night. Or any night.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:13:16 | More by JuicesFlowing

midnitesun11

Illinois

3.46/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky burnt autumn orange with a one finger white head. Lots of carbonation bubbles, and the head is short lived but leaves a nice lace trail.

Smells of bread with a cherry compliment to it. A little chocolate smell and alcohol as well too.

Tastes of fermented alcohol infused cherries. I got a slight coffee, chocolate like taste also.

Pretty good mouthfeel, lots of carbonation present. The bitter finish doesn't last too long either.

Overall it's a good beer. Not one of my favorites though because I'm not too much of a cherry fan. All in all, I think New Belgium nailed it with what they were going for, although not for me you have to give it a try!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:13:05 | More by midnitesun11

bmwats

Louisiana

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Medium brown. Pours a slight, bubbly, brown-white head. Dissipates quickly leaving a tiny smattering of bubbles, and ring around the rim. Spotty lacing.

S: Fermented raspberry and cherry are prominent. A little fresh flora and sourdough.

T: Pungent bready flavor, with some hints of fermented fruit.

M: Syrupy body, pungent, with a dry bitter finish.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Nice hue, decent head, and fair lacing. Nose is a great combination of sour bread accentuated with fermented fruit. Pungent and bready, accentuated with bitter fermented fruit. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 04:19:49 | More by bmwats

mactrail

California

4.08/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A brown-tinted amber in the tall Saxo tall tulip. Appealing creamy carbonation in the mouth. Some sugars but the Belgian character is really compelling in this one. Fruity aroma with a liqueur-like booziness.

Malty with a toasted fruitcake flavor. The dates are distinct but not overdone. I don't know what the coffee berries are supposed to taste like, but it's exotic and really rich. Fortunately the yeasty flavors are quite robust. A nice dry finish without being harsh, while the sweetness and fruit are still on the lips. Just a hint of hoppy aromatics, but it's hard to tell if there is some hop bitterness along with the yeast bitterness.

These Lips of Faith beers are always a leap, but this one is both extremely drinkable as well as peculiar. A sensational take on the Belgian style and worth From the 22 oz bottle bought at Royal Liquor in Encinitas.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 05:29:40 | More by mactrail

swoopdog

Arkansas

4.21/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, CO) – Lips of Faith – Cascara Quad 10.00% ABV

Suggested Glassware: Snifter, Tulip

A – Murky brown pond water with a soft off white head that disappears pretty quickly from the high ABV. Lots of nice long lasting lacing (try saying that ten times fast) some barely visible alcohol legs and some good carbonation streaming off the sides.

S – A lot of that thick Belgium yeast coming through immediately. Some of those cherries this thing said it was brewed with. Some dank type arabica coffee (or is it “coffee arabica”) in there somewhere. Some banana type smells from the neck. Pretty decent smelling for a quad.

T – This thing is all over the place I am having a tough time nailing down any one flavor. There some sweets like caramels but there is also some funk in the middle of the mouth which might be coffee I am not sure. At the end if lots of tart cherries. I am not sure how I feel about this. The finish is really dry which is typical of the style. As I let this warm up I am getting more of those coffee notes which reminds me of the Bourbon County Coffee Stout. I will be back in a half hour to finish this after this thing has a chance to warm up.

X2 - Way more sweetness way more cherries way more alcohol burn. This is thing brings its “A” game after some time. Still a lot of that sticky dry finish but the flavor profile really picks up

M – Thin to Medium type body on this with a fair amount of carbonation some sticky finishes on this gives that a dry aftertaste. Not to bad for drinkability but certainly wouldn’t mind some more heaviness to this someday.

O – For a quad I wanted more but to be fair this take on the style was adventurous and I appreciate that. I have had quads with cherries before but definitively not cherries and coffee. Despite what I have wrote above I feel that this is a good solid beer. There is very little wrong with it and even less from New Belgium as a whole. This is decent and if I could offer any advice pour this and let it warm up the tastes really come alive.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 16:53:23 | More by swoopdog