Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia (4D) - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Fugazme

Nebraska

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottled: 8-01-04

Pours a great, deep brown. Slight head... swirls and goes, but decent. A beer with legs and no lacing.

Aroma is great. Maple, alcohol, roasted malts, sugary, caramel, caramel and caramel. Dried fruit.

Taste is very, very good. Biscuity and caramel-like. Slight alcohol burn. Fruity.

Mouthfeel is somewhat oily and full. Sweet and delicous.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2005 01:06:30 | More by Fugazme

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

4.88/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottled 8-1-04, best before 2010. 11% ABV. Seems like the one most people have been reviewing recently.

This one poured into my chalice a clear, deep ruby red, with absolutely no head. An extremely thin line of foam was evident where the ale met the glass.

Aroma was incredibly complex. Sweet dark fruits, oaken notes, and a rich malt core. There was a little tang of alcohol. Excellent.

Taste... WOW! I am not a huge fan of old ales, but this one was incredible! I loved Adam, but this one blew it away. Dark fruits, rich lightly roasted malts, and definite sweetness. Alcohol was present but restrained, in perfect proportion.

Mouthfeel was thick, rich, and syrupy. It coated the tongue with flavor and held it there.

Drinkability was wonderful. I would gladly have two or three of these at a sitting, and pace myself accordingly. This one just got better as it warmed in the glass. I could see myself enjoying this one again and again, were it available in my area.

Hearty thanks to Erik in Michigan for the trade!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2005 03:06:06 | More by connecticutpoet

dirtylou

Washington

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

12oz single, got this bottle from CRJMellor in a trade, label says best before 2010 so I think I am good

Ah, my first kuhnhenn beer ever. How exciting!

appearance: quite murky, a distinct mahogany/amber color, light bubbling head and lacing.

smell: aromas of deep dark fruit with some alcohol soakage, caramel malty core, woody.

taste: quite a nice old ale...alcohol is definately present and the hop bitterness is dead on. lots of earthy/woody notes thoughout...dark fruit and berries are key components

mouthfeel: extraordinarily smooth up until the bite of hop bitterness in the aftertaste, outstanding

drinkability: very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2005 02:13:58 | More by dirtylou

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Superb creamy egg shell head. Dark copper pour. Very sweet nose contains heavy brown sugar notes. French toast maple and bready richness form a sweetened candi sugar base among which the vegetal, barky and leafy hints are envelopped. Strong earthy vinous character, cognac-like smooth alcohol burn. Heavy toasted malts bring forth smoky tones that are later replaced by almost roasted grains. Complex fruitiness, very sweet, perhaps too much so, but it’s just admirable how many elements come and go before it’s over. Full bodied, smooth soft carbonation. Could be a bit drier, couldn’t be a bit more decadent.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2005 01:11:07 | More by Rastacouere

rousee

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh boy, this is noticeably high on the abv. Many thanks to Erik in Michigan for the sample. My wife likes this one too. Very dark muddy fudgy top with only a slight slice at the bottom of the glass of amber ale.

What a malt bomb this is. It is so sweet and delicious that it would take all the hop heads and convert them instantly to malt. A little like Aventinus but not as banana-esque. It is very close to a barleywine and although I don't care too much for barleywines--this thing is fantastic. Tasting notes are caramel syrup, and a nice barley-grainish finish. There are some hops but they don't warrant mention here. You wanna know what the best maltbomb is--this might be it !!!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2005 02:11:40 | More by rousee

sopor

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark cloudy copper brown pours thick and oily, very relunctant to form a head. Tiny, almost indistinguishable bubbles form an almost unnoticed cascade through the entire glass eventually but still giving only a small tan film. Dark sweet molasses smell is strong.

Taste is right along the lines of the smell. Dark fruits like plumbs, raisins mixed with caramel and molasses to beyond cloying. Alcohol is evident but not obvious while hops are subdued resinous notes. Hints of tangy, bready and buttery notes tease the tongue but never develop past a mere whisper. Moderate and slick body with very little carbonation.

Tasty and complex, but a bit overpowering.

Thanks to Frozensoul327 for this gem!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2005 16:17:20 | More by sopor

fingolfin72

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Color- Deep, ruddy mahogany. No head to speak of.

Nose- Brown sugar, alcohol, sweet vermouth

Palate- Smooth, rich and malty. There are overtones of vermouth and toffee, and the mouthfeel is creamy. The finish is long and smooth, and I detect a mild, walnutty bitter tang in there. Quite easy to drink for a beer of this type.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2005 23:37:56 | More by fingolfin72

lou91

California

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

Bottled 8-1-04. The bottle also read 11% ABV. This beer poured thick like deep red maple syrup. It left the thinnest whisper of a head that never went away. It smelled rich, sweet and malty with a hint of smoke/peat. This is old ale at its best. A small taste just lingers with a trifecta of hops, alcohol and rich maltiness in perfect balance. It is so good that it took me almost an hour and half to sip. You must let this one warm up to almost room temperature to get the full range and depth of flavors. Thanks to BuckeyeNation for this excellent brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2005 06:00:39 | More by lou91

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

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

Very pretty ruby red/brown colour, slight haze, small tan head forms, recedes to a ring around the glass, lots of lace. Smell is insane malt, lots of caramel, molasses, some chocolate, and floral hops. Taste is very caramel and sweet malt, with some molasses. Some chocolate and floral hops come through, as well as a little alcohol. Very nice bitter finish. Full bodied, low carbonation, warming alcohol burn down the esophagus and really coats the mouth. Very very good, thanks for the pickup DrJay.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2005 03:06:55 | More by Viggo

mntlover

Tennessee

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Brewed 08-01-04 Best before 2010 so all is good. Bottle says 11%

Pours a deep burgandy color hints of brown with a one finger tan head that falls quickly.

Aroma is nice sweet caramel dipped grapes, raisins and apples very pleasant so smooth inviting hides the alcohol so well.

Taste is loads of caramel big full but not cloying at all, fruity grapes, raisins and plums what seems like pear but I think its the hops announcing themselves because it mellows out to a herbal earthy like bitterness. This one is nice so smooth caramel sweetness but no real sugary mess that sometimes happpens. As it warms to rooom temp some light alcohol bite and smokiness is noticed but mingles to perfection. So much going on in this one wish I had more to sample.

Mouthfeel is big feels full as it sits in the mouth, velvety soft very nice.

Drinkability well where can I get more, this could kill so nice easy to enjoy ah the caramel and lingering bitterness. Want to thank cretemixer for this treat.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2005 17:25:25 | More by mntlover

amicar

Missouri

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours into a nice tulip glass at the brewery, chestnut colored and thick- looking. The smell is complex with a musky caramel and roast malt smell. Taste is heavenly- evolves over a few minutes from a smooth, somewhat sweet caramel and roast malt to a musky and oh- so slightly vaguely herbal flavor with malt predominance. Really beautiful in the mouth with just the right amount of heat. It was easy to slow down and enjoy this beer over an extended period of time, given the number of flavors going on here, and even easier to order another. Not necessarily easy to get off the stool and walk home without stumbling, though at 9.5%. So worth it, though.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2005 19:34:52 | More by amicar

macpapi

Maryland

4.63/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow!! This is an unbelieveable beer. It begins by pouring a sludgy, brownish color. Has a small, and quickly dissipating tannish head. Overall the initial appearance is not as impressive as could be. However, other attributes more than make up for this shortcoming. Fourth Demetia has a deep and malty aroma. Hints of caramel and chocolate are followed by a slight hoppy undertone. It smells sweet and full. Very nice in the nose. The taste can be summed up by two words: sweetness galore. I can really distinguish the malt and caramel in this beer. A bit of an alcohol taste is present and hangs around afterward for a bit. But that doesn't bother me at all. Hops are also noticealbe. All and all this is a well balanced and nice taste. In the mouth this beer is full and biting. It is a very strong, heavy and formidable beer on the tongue. Overalll, K.F.D. is a sipper if there ever was one. It is boldly strong and extremely flavorful. This is a notable and deliciously substantial ale. A greet beer!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2005 04:43:59 | More by macpapi

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to crjmellor for the sample. Pours a slightly hazed chestnut brown color. No real carbonation though a pronounced fizz when opened. Somewhat subdued aroma-oakey and earthy. Raisens and figs-a mix of both fruit and floral. Trace of vanilla. Big malt flavor with a syrupy sweetness to it. Treacle and caramel-minor trace of alcohol in the finish. Slight nutty flavor behind it all. Overall quite complex. Gargantuan body though a tad overly sweet and cloying. A hell of a big beer and quite enjoyable. Like the label says it could use another 4 months of aging but its enjoyable now. That reminds me of the old sign "free beer tomorrow"-another 4 months from when? Get some for now and later.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2005 00:57:30 | More by lackenhauser

stancpa

Michigan

5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is what I call an after dinner beer. The taste is divine, taste like the beer version of a fine cognac, this is due to the high alcohol content of the beer. This is one of my favorite beers.

I am somewhat a world traveler and love to sample beer in various countries
so I have sampled a fairly large number of beers. I do admit the stout from Belgium was also divine.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2005 15:58:46 | More by stancpa

blackthistle

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. brown bottle; brewed on 08-01-04, best before 2010; $2.79 for single bottle

Pours an almost opaque deep ruby color with orange/amber tints around the edges and a thick creamy head that dissipates slowly and leaves beautiful yet sparse lace on the sides of the glass. The aroma is mostly caramel sweet with some sherry, raisin, and molasses notes detected along with just a hint of spiciness from the hops. The flavor here is all malt. It is a sweet caramel malt flavor with just enough noble hops bitterness to balance this big boy out. There are some hints of raisin, sherry, molasses and brown sugar along with some alcohol warming. This beer is big in the mouthfeel department, smooth, creamy and chewy all the way to the end. The flavors will linger on your tongue long after the beer is gone... and that is a good thing! Now this is my kind of beer!

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2005 20:55:31 | More by blackthistle

francisweizen

Australia

4.88/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I was really excited to try this brew at Kuhnhenns since I never got to try any of the bottled batches, and now I hear that there recent bottles of this are not doing to well as it is. Anyways, this one came in a lovely Balloon glass, the colour was dark bloody red/black, but not quite opaque. Head was light khaki and lasted for quite a while providing the glass with some lovely lacing patterns as well. Aromas are impressive, old ale notes of raisins, figs, other dark fruits and residual sugars, molasses, brown sugar, etc. hops are leafy and good in this mix, malts are dark roasty and hella complex. Middle is doughy and fruit with a rum raisin sort of kick to it that really does it for me. Finish is leafy hops and dark patent malts with some caramel hints, and a somewhat wet and drying contrasting finish that makes this exceptionally drinkable. Just a totally kick ass old ale from a brewery that is really drawing lines. Awesome stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2005 19:14:50 | More by francisweizen

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to Gaisgeil for this one of many fine brews.
Pours a dark brown w/ very little light passing thru...less than a 1/4 finger of tan head forms and very little thin lace.
Aroma is rum raisins...add in some vanilla and some malt sweetness. Nothing over the top, but very inviting.
Taste is a burst of raisins...reminding me of an English style barleywine at first, but a hint of smoked flavor makes its way through w/ warming. Alcohol is detected, but well masked for the most part.
Maybe a touch too sweet, but that only affects the drinkablilty, and not the overall enjoyment of the pint.
Mouthfeel is quite thick and is just a touch bitter in its finish.
I have had only a handful from this style and I can see why so many seek out this particular brew...I have one other (thanks to Eyedrinkale) and will age it for a couple years. At that time, this one will be up there w/ the likes of Thomas Hardy.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2005 23:54:52 | More by warriorsoul

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Solid cloud of dark rust brown tinted burnt orange. Thin tan foam smoothly caps the top. Clean and thin stringy lace sticks.

Pretty big aroma of dark fruit plumy/raisin brandyish heat and induced vanilla. Smooth and inviting dark molasses with a soaked alcoholic bread and light nutty cookie dough touches.

Taste is dark and well heated with fun displays of dark molasses sweetened smoothness, darker still, light sticky toffee. Quite a silky candy spiced taster the whole way through. Fine tuned notes of oaky orange vanilla, peat dirty dates, leathery prunes, and earthy nuts create supurb additions along the way. Trails off with a well displayed and handled alcoholic heat keeping with a dark brandy or sherry-like smooth burn as it grabs hold late. Soft and slick hard chocolate candy swipes in very late after the burn.

Beautiful silken body. Fairly full, bold, rich, candy brandy heat and light doughyness. Even a bit smokey in the alcoholic heat with a claro cigar-like spice. It drys off with extremely professional care.

One very nice Old Ale. Candyish, dark, silky, smooth, and the alcoholic heat is perfect akin to any nice brandy, port, or sherry out there; yet still keeps its beery quality and character.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2005 03:22:22 | More by tavernjef

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2004 bottle. Barleywine aroma. Yeast, lace. Good carbonation. Sweetness and accompanying spicey yeast, pineapple. The alcohol is ever present and a medium-full mouthfeel. Would love to try again in a year and again in five. Thanks Tim(IPFreely)for sharing. Second bottle 5 months later, harshness on mouth after the first few sips.
Six years later and somewhat sour. Great labels though.
Nine years later and very smooth spices, cola, caramel.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2005 02:37:54 | More by northyorksammy

RoyalT

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – There was a surprising head to this high-octane ale. The body was a dirty, filthy, pond scum brown with some light carbonation.

Smell – This was the ale’s strong point, IMHO. I just loved that raunchy, booze-soaked, woody malt smell that never did give up. The sweetness is very subdued, keeping the focus on the malts. Nicely done in a conservative sort of way.

Taste – This ale melts in your mouth. It reminds me a bit of Old Woody with all the wood character in the flavor profile. It’s not “oaky” but more like a malty wood, if that makes any sense. Either way, it’s killer. It reminds me a bit of their FUV BOP special : )

There are a few more sweets to be had at the taste, but not much more. The sugars that are there are more like raw cane than anything else. You might find some maple in here if you look hard enough. All in all this is an amazing flavor profile that begs for further examination as the ale warms.

Mouthfeel – This is on the big side of medium-bodied and almost flat with some old school bitterness on the back of the tongue and an unapologetic alcohol sting throughout.

Drinkability – The raunchy wood and stinging booze may be too much for some, but fans of the Old Ale style will unquestionably enjoy sampling this Kuhnhenn effort.

Comments – I will be forever indebted to garthwaite for sending this Old Ale out to Seattle. Cheers and beers!

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2005 03:01:13 | More by RoyalT

Frozensoul327

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Wow. Damned good beer. Brewed on 08/01/2004, drank on 06/10/2005. Poured out to a brown ale color with decent carbonation and a nice foamy cream-like head. Right off the bat, this one smells like raisins, with sweet floral notes mixed in. Woo-hoo, the booze is present in this one! Strong element of alcohol mixed with fermented fruit flavors and a toffee like aftertaste. Went down too smooth considering the power this brew packs. This will knock you firmly on your ass if you are not ready for it. Hell, it will knock you on your ass if you ARE ready for it! I would imagine as the brewer recommends, this beer would really mellow with age, and the flavors would mature. I plan on getting a sixer of this and letting it sit for a few years and see what happends. Nonetheless, a solid winner. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2005 22:58:22 | More by Frozensoul327

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Much thanks to walleye for this!
Appears a glowing dark brown with a 2 inch off white head that sticks around for a minute. Some spotty lacing is left behind.
Smell is of sweet malt, caramel, and a hint of pine mixed with fresh bready dough.
Taste is of smooth dough with caramel malts and raisins and a definite oakiness or pineness about it.
Mouthfeel is smooth with an alcohol bite that covers the entire palate of full flavors.
To me, the alcohol is evident but this is still not bad to take your time with after a hearty meal.

Finger licking good.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2005 13:02:22 | More by weeare138

kohoutek

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Kuhnhenn strikes again! It is nice to see the emergence of yet another fine Michigan brewery. Yet most importantly, this beer serves as an important challenger to a beer that has been held close to the hearts of Michiganders for many years.

The Fourth Dementia Olde Ale is truly the only worthy competition to Bell's Third Coast Old Ale I have tasted. Upon glancing at this ale, the drinker is met with its garnet hue. A deep whiff reveals its wonderful caramel nose. Not to be dissapointed, the flavors that emerge are right on par with what you would expect (hope for). Caramel, Graham cracker, fresh baked bread . . a bisquit/crystal nose that proves Kuhnhenn is a house run by those that love beer and respect the grains that contribute to these elixirs.

This beer is balanced delicately with a very clean neutral hop variety to lengthen its finish without overstating its malty qualities. Do not be confused . . . this beer is a malt afficionadoes beer. Pure, full and lingering. Yes hopheads (and I am one), malts have a wonderful vinous viscosity that we can re-experience in this beer.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2005 00:13:48 | More by kohoutek

clvand0

Kentucky

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

Pours a dark brown color with very little head and ok retention (lacking because it was from a growler most likely). Has a very strong aroma. Slight alcohol, strong raisin and spice, reminds me a bit of varnish ... but not in a bad way. The flavor is very nice. Lots of subtle spices and a great caramel backing tie in very well with the warming hints of alcohol. This is a great representation of the style. Body is somewhere around moderate and the drinkability is pretty good for the high level of alcohol.

Serving type: growler

06-06-2005 15:01:20 | More by clvand0

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.63/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to Eyedrinkale.

It pours a nice ruby-laced dark brown color with a small head that falls to nicely ring the top of the beer. Nice color. The nose is spicey alcohol-soaked raisins coated in brown sugar. The spicey alcohol really plays well in there. Smells really nice. The flavor is very nice and balanced. I get a deeper flavor than the nose suggested. Dark brown sugar and raisin, with just a puff of alcohol and spices. The alcohol is only slightly present to let you know that it is there. I'm a fan of how everything plays well with each other flavor. The feel is great, with a very thick, almost syrupy feel. It coats my mouth and throat as I swallow the beer. The carbonation is minimal. Drinkability is huge. I am very imressed with this brew. It is very smooth and easily drinking. A fine, fine beer. Seek it, drink it, love it.

Serving type: growler

06-05-2005 02:09:44 | More by kmpitz2