Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia (4D) - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.53/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

4th D Olde Ale, bottle bought at Whole Foods Tribeca for $6.99.

Appearance: Poured into my Lost Abbey chalice, 4D pours flat like a motherfucker. No head, no carbonation, no lacing, no retention. You know the drill. This is 4D for you.

Smell: As in the bourbon-barrel version, the nose is the winner here. Intense aromas all around! Chocolate, booze, port wine. Raisins, some nuts, cola-flavored chewing gum.

Taste: Follows nose, but the flatness kind of ruins the experience. A ton of chocolate, stickiness, heavy sweetness. Pedro Ximenez. Some musty hops around. Dark fruit, caramel. Vinous qualities. Overwhelming after a while.

Mouthfeel: Pretty bad, as in the BB version. Flat, hot, sticky, unbalanced. Zero carbonation. Burning booze.

Overall: I like the BB 4D, but regular 4D really doesn't have it. It is a sweet-and-booze bomb that is begging for some balance and complexity. I love old ales (Old Stock!!) but really can't deal with this on a regular basis and probably won't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:41:44 | More by DoubleSimcoe

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle in a trade from Viggo - thanks a bunch man! 2008 vintage.

Pours a dark amber with a pillowy caramel head, actually quite a solid foam buildup for a barleywine/old ale. Doesn't leave any lacing though.

Nose is heavy, sweet caramel, bready malts, just a hint of fruit.

This is one sweet brew. As others have mentioned, this beer tastes a little more in line with an English barleywine than an old ale. Thick, syrupy caramel, brown sugar, bread, toast, flowery, a hint of alcohol in the finish (but for 12% it is remarkably well hidden), just the faintest hop bittering in the finish.

This one is too sweet for me; you can almost feel the sugar moving between your teeth. That said, it hides the alcohol really well and if you dig the really sweet brews this one would be sneaky dangerous. I found it all a little messy, not enough room for the individual flavors to shine through - just too sweet. Thanks again for the chance to try this one, Eric!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 17:17:34 | More by ritzkiss

dragonWhale

New York

3.55/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An angry pop..like Huck Finn's father, and the glass fills.
Dark brown, a low film of carb that fades but clings to hope and moves out to the edge of the snifter.
Style says low aromatics, but this beer is anything but. A very sexy barleywinish caramel and oxidized malt characteristic. Complimentary booze aroma is exhausting in my brain. Figs dance like drunk assholes in my mouth. Why does this smell so amazing? Heard some peoples talkin some shit bout this beer, but it smells amazing.
Hard phenolics, strong booze. Sharpness, needs some more time but has the potential to amaze and bewilder even the most complicated of women (or men). Time will certainly tell the tale on this bottled contraption. The sharpness of the characteristics that may make this a fantastic beverage are the only things holding it back. Give this vintage 3 years, it should be amazing. My needs involve picking up another bottle or 3.
2010 vintage..

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 05:24:30 | More by dragonWhale

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle traded by FourKicks, had right after a '99 Thomas Hardy's, old school and new school old ales back to back...

Pours dark red, mostly translucent. Beige head sticks around for a bit but succumbs to a ring, not much in the way of lace left behind.

Smell/taste - Nice but compared to the Thomas Hardy's this felt really tame. Mostly dark fruits noticeable (cherry and figs come to mind), caramel and toffee malt, slight vanilla. Mouthfeel was probably the highlight, the 13.5% is extremely well-hidden.

Good overall but nothing blew me away about it. I have another bottle to age, we'll see where that one goes.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 15:01:36 | More by Chico1985

cooncat

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Serving was on tap at the Brew Kettle's 2008 Ogre Fest (Strongsville, OH.)

Appearance is a deep garnet color of good clarity. Minimal head and lacing, which is to be expected for a beer of this strength.

Unfortunately, this was not served in the proper glassware to extract a good sense of the true nose. What I got was light, but decidedly fruity with faint notes of alcohol. The taste is of dark fruits; raisins and plums come to mind. Supposedly, this has a 30 IBU rating, but those hops are completely hidden by the full bodied fruitiness of the sweet malts. The sweetness is almost to the point of being cloying, but doesn't cross the line ... but only by the closest margin. The sweet fruity flavor last to the end, at which time the alcohol makes a showing in some warmth. This is hard to make out as an Old ale, when it is so close to a Strong Ale and/or a barleywine. The sweetness would make for a fine after dinner drink, but I don't think you could do more than one.

An interesting offering, and Kuhnhenn certainly has produced yet another 'extreme' beer in the 4th Dimentia. Worth seeking out and trying.

Cheers

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2008 15:47:45 | More by cooncat

bret27

California

3.63/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

2007, 2+ yr old bottle.

A: Brown/amber, minimal light brown head.

S: Heavy malt sweetness

T: Bready, malty, sweet, vanilla, citrus notes, alcohol.

M: Fairly thick + full bodied.

D: Pretty thick w/alcohol presence pretty strong. So not so great.

O: Pretty good solid beer, but not mind-blowing, or something to drink all the time. Not sure if the age helps or hurts this beer. There just wasn't a whole lot of flavor coming out of it for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 05:03:38 | More by bret27

darklordlager

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia (Olde Ale 2008 Brewery Aged)
Received in a trade with Randalld quite a while ago--thanks Randall!

A: Pours with a very small amount of carbonation, a light brown with garnet hints. I think a bit of yeast may have slipped by, as I was not aware it was bottle conditioned.
3.5

S: Rich figs, dark fruit, caramel, bread pudding, alcohol. Licorice notes, and a small amount of oxidation. Maple, as it warms.
3.5

T: Layered caramel, cake-y, bready, soy sauce, salty, licorice. Butterscotch/maple syrup emerges as it warms.
3.5

M: Very thin, with very low carbonation. I would have like to see a bit more of each.
2.5

D: Hides the alcohol like a dream, but the lack of body and carbonation make it less than it could be in my opinion.
3.5

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 02:10:20 | More by darklordlager

oregone

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark amber. Good, prodigious (surprisingly so) light cream head with solid retention.
S: Traecle, molasses and alcohol. Good, but little beyond the sweet caramelized flavors, and the booze was aparent.
T:Smell specific. Boozy in a not subtle way, though somewhat expected. Lots of dark caramel and molasses. Some caramelized orange peel and more brandy dessert flavors.
M: Best part of the brew. Carbonaion kept the huge viscocity fresh. Thick and rich but not tiresome. Sticky on the lips, but fresh on the palate.
O: Good. Would drink again, albeit not search it out. A dessert beer for sure and perhaps the size wasn't matched with enough complexity or balance for me. I love big brew, but this wasn't exciting.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 10:17:03 | More by oregone

Gmann

New York

3.65/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dirty cola brown color with little to no head, meh.

The aroma has an intense raisin aroma with notes of caramel and toffee. Quite sweet. Some honey and booze soaked cherries; rum cake.

The taste starts off sweet like the aroma but does have somewhat of an earthy balance. Sweet caramel, honey, and prune juice kick things off and are expected in an old ale. Then comes a wave of burnt caramel that adds some needed bitterness and a strong tea like flavor that you find in amber ales. And just as the label suggests, I get the toasted marshmellow flavor. They really nailed that one, never tasted roasted marshmellow in a beer before. Some boozy cherry sweetness as well.

The feel is a bit of a mess. It is sticky, syrupy and yet some how dry?!? Significant amount of earthy bitterness balances out the crazy sweetness but it some how really drys the beer out. Bizarre. The lingering effects not entirely pleasant. I'm really not digg'n the feel.

I dunno, the beer has some big bold flavors but they seem to contrast each other. The beer needs a bitter offset but I find that they went too dry with an acrid bitterness. Doesn't blend as an old ale should. Perhaps it needs some major aging.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:47:45 | More by Gmann

kkipple

South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My buddy snagged a bottle of this at DLD 2008 and was kind enough to break it out near the end of a recent tasting. From notes:

A. Dingy, not quite clear brown. Soupy. Lingering 2cm tan head. Not much active carbonation.

S. Hmm, classic Kuhnhenn over-the-top nose. Lucious and sweet with loads of sugar from all different colors. Pine-like and bitter from a large amounts of hops that haven't died out yet. Some chocolate and plums are lurking in there too... oh yeah, and a distinct boozy, barleywine like aroma. Complex, but a little hot and doesn't come together *quite* as well as it could.

T. How unusual... this is very aggressive and flavorful. Bitter hops, sweet syrupy caramel and some nearly sour, tart fruit (or fermentation character) all are on stage here. Surprisingly hoppy and bold for an old ale, perhaps this is a young bottle? A little oxidized and sherry like too. Cherries are hidden under the pile of other flavors, oddly. Overall it's brash and eye opening. Sweetness is a bit over the top (like a lot of Kuhnhenn's brews), but ok for the style. This is good, but young and rough.

M. Warm, boozy, sticky and generally dense. Finishes bittersweet and sugary / hoppy.

D. Not so great. Too much going on that doesn't mesh well. Fourth Dementia is likely a decent sipper for a cold night, but I also bet it improves greatly with a couple years.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2008 20:50:19 | More by kkipple

CaseyK

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to mbrasi for the extra. 2009 version.
A: A reddish brown color, pours a slightly brown creamy head. A nice looking beer, looks dark and delicious.

S: Dark fruits and a sweet taste, caramel. Smells like this is going to taste boozy.

T: Taste starts out sweet, malt and caramel dominate. Then the flavor moves on to a strong dark fruit flavor, I'd say raisins. Dark fruit taste lingers on the tongue long after your sip. This beer is too sweet in my opinion but the flavors are interesting.

M: Full bodied and a bit sticky from the sweetness.

D: I'm really enjoying this beer, but the ABV is very obvious and I couldn't see myself drinking more than one at a time.

O: Overall I'm glad I got to try this beer, I'd been interested in it for a while now.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 05:08:23 | More by CaseyK

Phelps

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sent by nlmartin as part of the Blind Beers BIF, this one was the 2010 edition, poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a snifter and reviewed blind.

A beautiful, mostly clear maroon topped with a half-finger, cream-colored head that fizzles away without much notice. A thin ring is all that remains, and there’s no lace — though I wouldn’t really expect much from such a boozy brew.

The aroma is fairly light, but I get some dark, sugary fruits and malts. Prunes, dark toasted bread, raisins, brown and candy sugar. Deep and sweet.

When cold, I get hints of soy and teriyaki in the flavor, along with acrid, roasted bread. As it warms, sweeter flavors emerge: raisins, caramel, toffee, bread pudding. The finish is mostly dry, with lingering notes of burnt bread.

The buttery medium body feels quite nice, and the alcohol is definitely there, though it’s not as powerful as I’d expect from a beer that’s 28-proof. Carbonation massages the tongue lightly and fizzes up the soft body just a bit as it moves.

Not bad at all, but I expect more complexity from ales as strong as this. It’s just too one-dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 00:17:35 | More by Phelps

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes on 4/4/12

Pours a garnet/ruddy reddish brown with a 1 finger head via a vigorous pour. Rich plum scent w/ other dark fruits. Brown sugar. Also some caramel and vanilla. Pretty underwhelming, really. Taste is sweet and boozy, slightly astringent. More dark fruits and brown sugars. Tasty indeed. The mouth is smooth with an odd sweet/tart thing going on. Some mild heat and a touch of bitterness. Solid beer that goes down way too easily for being 13.5%

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:14:09 | More by Retail1LO

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

355ml bottle poured into tulip 6/6/12 thanks liamt07 for the bottle

A dark reddish brown with only a very short lived thin film for head and it leaves zero lace

S lots of burnt brown sugar and rum soaked raisins, molasses and some teriyaki beef jerky smells better then it sounds, heavy on the soft caramels and a little booze but nothing compared to the 13.5% listed on the bottle

T sweeter then the smell somehow with just a little soy, tastes slightly oxidized and not as nice as the nose, some cherry liquor I didn't smell and a slightly nutty aspect

M not quite flat but very little carbonation, quite sticky on the lips but not much heat considering the strength, a little syrupy

O booze is well concealed and it smells great but not blowing me away in other areas, decent beer but I'm going too be well below the average with this one

I'm not sure what to make of this one, well concealed booze and it smells great but not quite what I was hoping for elsewhere. Even if this is a off bottle its still easy enough too drink

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 06:34:24 | More by wordemupg

Pencible

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

2008 vintage. This poured a hazy reddish mahogany with lots of light tan head. It smelled like earthy cocoa and musty roasted barley, with some coffee and cream and molasses. It tasted like super sweet prunes and molasses and raisins, with some honey wheat and rich brown sugar. This is the definition of cloying sweetness. It was somewhat thick with a bit of carbonation, and had a lasting bittersweet aftertaste. Overall this had a strange scent for an old ale, with a powerful taste that wasn't very complex but instead just a barrage of sweet dark fruits. It had good body, and hid the alcohol fairly well. But this really needs to be sipped due to all the sugar. A decent beer, but not really one of my favorite old ales.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 18:38:20 | More by Pencible

billshmeinke

California

3.7/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into pint glass. Extra from a trade with triptens, thanks.

Hard pour yields a one finger yellowish/cream head. Quickly resides to a layer of foam on top. Dark brown/amber in color. Not much lacing.

Smells of candied plumbs, figs, red licorice, brown sugar and toffee. Quite pungent.

Tastes of candied plumbs, figs, red licorice, brown sugar, toffee, caramel, a vague nutty characteristic and some earthy/leafy hops. A lingering sweetness and slight bitterness. Quite sweet, not enough bitterness to balance it out. Sweetness is slightly cloying after a little while.

Pretty full bodied, medium carbonation. A bit creamy. A little hot.

Pretty decent drinkability. The abv is veeeery well hidden (almost dangerously so). It is almost too sweet and candy-like. Reminiscent of sugar coated dark fruits.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 08:46:53 | More by billshmeinke

EnemyWithin

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 4D Olde Ale into Duvel tulip.

Appearance - 3

Red amber with very small creamy golden head, just forming a thin rim around the circumference.

Smell – 3.5

Very malty. Molasses, brown sugar, sticky sweet malt with notes candy sugar. Spicy aroma with booze notes.

Taste - 4

Starts with a caramel, toffee body with a presence of alcohol. Near the end, a spike of brown sugar and spice, with just a mild bitterness at the end. Get a fair amount of warmth from the alcohol, but not overly powerful. Flavours improves as beer warms and opns – flavours soften up and become much improved.

Mouthfeel – 3.5

Moderate thickness, a littly sticky, not really creamy. Wondering if the little carbonation is typical. A bit of astringency from the hops.

Overall - 4

A sipper, for sure! A nice beer that shows significant improvement as it warms up. Not a style that I've had before, but in many ways it reminds me of a barley wine. At first, put off but as I tasted it more, began to enjoy it. Would have again, especially during winter. Recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 00:10:02 | More by EnemyWithin

joefuzz

New York

3.7/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 vintage poured into snifter

pours dark brown with a slight ruby tint some tiny little bubbles circle the edge of the glass

smells more kind of like a burnt marsh mellow with a huge alcohol presence

tastes brings raisins plums and other dark fruits to mind with a nice sugary sweetness slight alcohol burn

carbonation is almost non existent and a very thick coating mouthfeel

overall very good sipper i'm going to sit on a few for a little while and see how they do.... i should crack my 09 soon to try the lower alcohol version

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:20:23 | More by joefuzz

n2185

North Carolina

3.71/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

A: pours a dark brown with half a finger of beige head that recedes into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: loads of caramel malts, vanilla, toffee, and sweet breads.

T: similar to the aroma, caramel and toffee dominate with sweet breads, vanilla, and a light alcohol burn. Somewhat Port-like.

M: thick body with low carbonation, this beer is sticky sweet.

O: a pretty decent old ale overall. It's a little on the sweet side with the high alcohol, but avoids being cloying.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:57:51 | More by n2185

bradford

California

3.73/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, 2007 version received in a trade from gkatsoris several months ago.
Pours a deep brown with reddish hues, almost opaque but a hint of light squeaks through the tulip glass just under the foam head. Off white foam with slowly dissipating lacing leaves the glass sticky after each sip.
Smells bready and nutty with hints of chocolate and carmel. No discernable hops or presence of alcohol in the nose.
Thick and creamy with a definite alcohol taste with a sweet and sticky finish.
Mouthfeel is very rich and creamy that finishes smooth and warms the mouth and throat.
Very easy drinking and an enjoyable experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2009 00:26:42 | More by bradford

Tone

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, amber color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Decent retention and decent lacing. Smells of alcohol, sweet malt, and slight dark citrus. Fits the style of an Old Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong alcohol, sweet malt, dark citrus, slight hop, slight vanilla, and slight tart malt. Overall, a good body, but the blend is off (too strong of alcohol).

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2010 23:50:09 | More by Tone

BMoney575

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on 2-21-09
2007 Vintage
Reviewed from notes.

A: Off white head, deep brown, almost purple color.

S: Fruity and boozy, lots of age and oak. Very strong.

T: Quite earthy at first, strong and malty, with dark fruit and raisin flavors. Booze adds a pleasant finish.

M: Nice, about right for the style, a little thin for my tastes.

D: Good, considering the abv. Definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 20:24:46 | More by BMoney575

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle courtesy of jdiddy. 2008 vintage. Pours a hazy auburn with a frothy, cream-colored two inch head. Nose suggests figs, prunes, a metallic element, as well as a savory herbal character. There's also perhaps a hint of candy and pepper. Taste is sweet, savory and a touch smokey. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a lively carbonation. An interesting beer, perhaps still a little young. Just not what I expected.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 21:28:14 | More by Jwale73

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

aquired as an extra in trade with kdub87. Thanks!

Poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: ruby red body almost brownish in color. Head is light tan in color. Sone decent lacing here.

Taste: Nice malty beer with the flavor of ale yeast that makes its slf know as well. Malts taste of sweet caramel and toffee. Some dark fruits linger around in the back ground of the beer. Alcohol is present in a very minor way and has no boozy burn. Its really nice and malty!

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth. Full bodied and moderate carbonation.

Overall: Solid beer by Kuhnhenn. This is my first beer by this brewery. I think I prefer Founders Curmugedeon, but this beer is still on the same scale! Thanks Kirk! Up next is the Barrell aged version!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 19:14:03 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

warnerry

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown w ruby red highlight. No head or lacing to speak of. Smells of raisins and other dark dried fruits, lots of caramel and unfortunately very apparent alcohol. The initial taste is hot alcohol, followed by raisins and figs and a bit of earthiness. Also quite a bit of sweet caramel malts and a hint of smoke. Finishes a bit bitter. Pretty full mouthfeel, but not overwhelmingly heavy. Leaves some lingering bitterness. Overall, this is a bit too fresh perhaps, as the alcohol is quite apparent. However, the alcohol presence doesn't ruin this by any means. I have a few bottles that I look forward to trying after a year or two. This is definitely a sipper, but a nice old ale. Doesn't hold up to the barrel-aged version though.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2011 16:23:05 | More by warnerry