Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia (4D) - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.53/5  rDev -17.7%
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

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage poured in to Founders tulip.

A - Murky dark brown with a very small amount of light brown head.

S - A huge caramel malt sweetness up front accompanied by toffee, molasses and brown sugar. The ABV is very well hidden. Reminiscent of a barley wine.

T - A big sweetness up front with dark caramel, toffee, brown sugar and molasses flavours. The middle offers a bouquet of dark fruit, raising, dates and sticky candy-like flavours. The finish brings back the sweet toffee and caramel with just the right amount of warming alcohol present.

M - Full bodies, silky and smooth. Light carbonation. An exceptional mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 01:43:04 | More by TheSevenDuffs

zac16125

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter
2011 Vintage

A big thanks to muskiesman for sending this one over in a trade

A: Pours a somewhat viscous opaque very dark brown, almost black, with no head to speak of, only a slight outer ring so small I can't even determine the color.  Leaves effectively no lacing.  

S: Big aroma.  Dark fruits with fig, raisin and date notes, woody oak aroma even though this is not the barrel aged one, hints of bourbon, black licorice, a small amount of booze, and a hint of vanilla extract.  Awesome.  

T: Dark fruit sweetness up front in the form of overripe plum and fig, with lots of different flavors coming through on the back end including coffee, dark chocolate, and roasted malt. As it warms I get a big toffee character, which is great. I also pick up burnt toast, some vanilla, a nutty character, and a subtle hint of booze that only comes out towards the end of the glass. This is well balanced and so complex, taking your palate through multiple flavor levels with each sip.  Really fantastic, bordering on perfect.  

M/D: Smooth, about as full bodied as you can get, with appropriately low carbonation, and a sticky, somewhat chewy mouthfeel.  Coats the palate nicely, and has a whole body warming characteristic.  Amazingly, I get almost none of the massive 13.5% ABV, either on the nose or the tongue, impressive!  Even with the ABV masking, it's still a sipper due to the thick consistency and massive flavor profile, but that's how big old ales and barleywines should be, and all things considered the drinkability is actually quite good.  

O: Wow, what a beer.  Not for everyone, as this is a big, bold brew. But if you are a fan of the style it's an absolute must try.  Does this beer get better with barrel aging?  I'm not sure it can, as there isn't much room for improvement, but I can't wait to try the BB4D and find out.  Highly recommend.  

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 03:33:34 | More by zac16125

Blanco

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

this is a huge beer at 13.5% and the alcohol is there, but is not an issue. It's mostly just warming in the chest. Flavor is intensely complex with all the variations of maltiness: caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and molasses. Hints of chocolate and tootsie roll as well. Lots of residual sweetness.

I'm not sure what I think of this. I'm generally very iffy when it comes to malty brews in the old ale/barleywine category. I dislike most, but absolutely love some. And so i keep buying them. Not sure where I fall here. It's one where I don't think I can personally appreciate everything it brings. This is a true malt lovers dream though, and as I mentioned the complexity is impressive.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 02:48:06 | More by Blanco

billab914

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2009 vintage poured into my CBS snifter. It poured a murky dark brown color with just some faint traces of a head clinging to the edges of the glass.

The aroma has a lot of dark fruits to it with some prominent notes of raisin and fig coming through as well as a touch of cherry. A little sweeter, caramel malt flavor is there along with some alcohol.

The taste shows more of a sweeter component to the dark fruits with the cherry and caramel assuming the lead role. A little of the raisin and fig like flavor that was prominent in the aroma comes through in the finish. I get a bit of chocolate to it as well. The alcohol is a little better hidden in the taste as well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style with carbonation being moderate. Overall, it's a very good beer with some really nice, bold flavors to it. It's little boozy and sweet at times, which prevents it from being truly great though in my opinion. Overall A very solid beer to sip on this evening though.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 01:12:47 | More by billab914

DARIVA

Netherlands

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Nice dark brown slightly cloudy beer with minimal head.

S: The aromas of toffee, caramel, almond and mocha.

T: The taste of mocha and brown sugar, very sweet.

M: Good carbonation and quite syrupy.

O: Long finish.

This beer was brewed in 2011.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 09:35:27 | More by DARIVA

augustgarage

California

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Received quite some time ago in trade, I forget who (thanks in any case!). 2010 vintage. Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Spirit Sippers snifter.

Coppery liquid glows a dark chestnut color when held to the light. Clear but very dark. A vigorous pour yields a pale apricot collar and surface slick. Good retention considering the age and ABV. Very fine pasty lacing and a fine sheen of lacquer is left around the rim.

Sweet, deeply malty, gently vinuous aromatics suggest burnt sugar, caramel malt, figs, dates, and berries and leather.

Potent grainy palate entry suggests an array of specialty malt, richly roasted and toasted to various degrees from light to black; a fruitiness emerges as well as does a mild sherry/port-like quality (more from fruit/alcohol than any oxidation). Hops are subdued throughout. Alcohol is strong and cuts through the flavor profile a bit much. Finishes warm and woody with an increasing dryness in the aftertaste despite the initial presence of sugars.

Medium-bodied, oily, with adequate carbonation.

A well crafted yet not entirely integrated example of the style - other than mellowing the alcohol further I'm not sure this would benefit from extended cellaring...better served to contrast a strong cheese.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 22:39:30 | More by augustgarage

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

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

Most recent batch into Kuhnhenn snifter/tulip (They call it their "Belgian" glass)

A- Super murky, almost black pour with just a thin light tan ring around the glass. Lacing is spotty but the alcohol just grips the glass.

S- Wow, okay... where to begin. Huge brown sugar, vanilla, plum, raisin with a nice coffee, chocolate and molasses sweetness in the back. Slight leather and tobacco. The alcohol is super hidden. I don't know if this makes sense but is smells syrupy and sticky.

T- My goodness... Massive raisins and dates and figs, followed by huge char taste of toast and tobacco. Coffee and chocolate followed by vanilla, brown sugar and molasses. The finish is bitter and something I would describe of grape skins.

M- Like I guessed in the aroma it's syrupy and sticky. Heavier than medium bodied, super low carbonation with a touch of alcohol warmth.

O- This is something I've been wanting to try since I found out about Kuhnhenn. It really doesn't disappoint. After driving all through Michigan and stopping there before leaving the country I was happy to get 4 of these AND 4 of the bourbon version. I love this and can't wait to try the other.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:26:22 | More by korguy123

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -14.2%
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

joefuzz

New York

3.7/5  rDev -13.8%
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

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Kuhnhenn 4th D. 2010 vintage. Served just below room temperature. Poured into a snifter glass.

Pours a dark cherry brown color with a small head that didn't hold up long. Had a viscous body coming out of the bottle. 4.0

Huge port aroma coming off of this beer. That, and a rich layer of decadent caramel and melted chocolate toffee bar. So much butter in the nose that the alcohol is pretty dormant, so far. A little ripe grape thrown in the array. There's a massive sweet, honey biscuit-like malt underneath the imparted smells. Mammoth in nose. 4.5

Prune, raisin, toffee, and buttercrunch follow the booze among dominant flavors. More big vinous characters like fortified wine and brandy. The malts are giant, but soft. No heavy roastiness, spring-y toast, or standout astringent grain notes. Still chunky and sweet. There is a choppy bitterness that reminds me of the wood from a barrel, but this is not that version. The finish has more of the port wine and alcohol presence with a mild, almost chile pepper, spiciness. Ridiculously warming. Absolutely stunning. 4.5

Rich, burly mouthfeel with a light existent carbonation. Toothsome and wooly. Major league booze. Not for the light beer drinker. A big-time warmer that makes you clear your throat and grunt after each sip. 4.5

One of the better old ales that I have tasted. Will seek out the bourbon barrel aged version. Recommended. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 03:42:23 | More by thecheapies

brystmar

New York

3.35/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

2011 vintage, shared 3 ways.

Deep brown pour, super viscous, zero head. Looks like motor oil. Gives off the unmistakeably dark scent of black licorice. Also tobacco, burnt malts, booze.

Dark, burnt taste. Tons of licorice. Mild notes of ashtrays. Hints of sweet malts in there, but get quickly shushed by everything else around them. Thick, viscous body. Flavor balance here isn't particularly appealing to me, though, and I'm unconvinced that age would help in this regard.

A deeper, darker take on the Old Ale style. Glad I tried it but won't seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 04:37:04 | More by brystmar

tobelerone

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a rich chestnut brown; nearly clear, with very little head or lacing. Complex aroma is vinous, sweet, toasted marshmallows as mentioned on the label; toffee and caramel, raisins, booze, woody notes. Flavor equally complex but less sweet; there’s the trace of marshmallow and toffee from the nose but less prominent in the taste; oaky, slightly corky, vinous. Port and brandy flavors, some heat and warming as expected from the high ABV but not too much burn. Pleasant fusel alcohol presence. Low carbonation but not still; a little sticky, somewhat creamy. Medium body, could be a bit fuller. Finishes surprisingly dry. Tasty old ale; would love to see what the barrel aging brings to this very intriguing beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 13:48:03 | More by tobelerone

russwbeck

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

2010 Vintage

A: Pours out of the bottle a hazy brown, and sits in my glass deep brown, almost glowing, with a finger or so of light brown head. A decent amount of head remains after a while, and lacing sticks to the glass in spots. A nice amount of bubbles are noted through the muck, gathering happily beneath the head.

S: The aroma of 4D is really nice. Deep caramel and roasted malts, dark fruits, and molasses contribute to a sweet yet mellowed aroma. Some booze is noted, but not enough for me to garner it's 13.5% ABV.

T: The taste isn't quite as nice. The caramel malts and dark fruits are present as is the booze, but amazingly the taste just drops off into nowhere. The booze is offensive, but the sweetness curbs it quickly and leaves not much on the palate after the beer is gone. It's very one dimensional and just not all that impressive.

MF: I can't believe I'm going to say this, but 4D seemed to be too thin. Also, the booze is too offensive and the carbonation too low. Not much of a finish.

O: I was ready for this to be a huge beer, and it just wasn't. The ABV, I believe, was too high and took away from the Old Ale characteristics. Loved the aroma, wish the taste and feel was better.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 01:32:46 | More by russwbeck

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle courtesy of Stephen and poured into my Central Waters snifter. Thank you for the opportunity!

Mild aggression leads to a quick rise and fall off white bubbles that pool to fat orbs along the edges. Rusty tromboney color with reddish and muddy brown highlights. When backlit against the dark couch she looks just fine, when held to light a bit of turd soup.

Sweet dark fruits, figs, marshmallow, drizzled hot butterscotch and sugary german chocolate cake. In my wheelhouse here, as I dig a good Old Ale. Decadent.

Tastes even sweeter than the nose lets on and that's a near Herculean feat. Figs, plums, rum soaked raisin, and vanilla. Lingering fusel heat that hangs along the palate and leaving a slow simmering burn along the finish. A beast to be sure.

Low carbonation, oily, and buttery. Slip slides like Astroglide on a summer evening.

A big beer to be savored and pondered. Not Adam, but what is?

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 01:48:55 | More by BarrytheBear

BigPlay1824

New York

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

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a deep and murky reddish brown with a very thin layer of creamy brown lacing that just barely lingers on the surface and forms some large bubbles around the glass, leaves a minimal amount of lacing
S: very nice woody notes are up front backed by deep dark fruit notes and a distinct fig note
T: kind of the reverse of the scent, the dark fruit notes are up front with a damp woody note towards the end which then combines with the dark fruits and lingers on the palate long afterwards
M: gentle carbonation, distinctly thick, sticks to the palate and kind of wakes up the sides of the tongue, very slight alcohol bite
O: nice sipper, good for just kind of mindlessly sipping and subconsciously going mmm, enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 23:38:38 | More by BigPlay1824

fvernon

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage, poured into my deschutes snifter.

Pours a ruby/copper burnt brick red with no head (although maybe that's just me not cleaning my glass right after its last use). Aroma of raisins, turkish figs, molasses, and biscuit.

The first sip was quite surprising - the fruit is pretty hidden in favor of a biscuit/pine/agave/alcohol taste, in that order. Most of the taste resides on the back of the tongue and throat; a bit, but very little up front where it seems like some of the malt and molasses could be lingering. As it warmed up some of the complexity in the aroma came forward.

Mouthfeel is nice and syrupy at the start and drys out a bit toward the end; just about right for a sipper.

Overall it's an enjoyable old ale and a complex sipper, although I wonder if 2 years was a bit more age than necessary.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 00:54:01 | More by fvernon

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle courtesy of WeisGuy. This 2010 vintage was allowed to warm some before being poured into my petit Duvel tulip.

Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia pours a deep mahogany, with a couple spots of ruby appearing once the beer’s backlit. There are maybe two fingers worth of khaki colored head crowning the beer, and head retention and lacing are just alright. The nose has a bevy of malty notes bouncing around. Light chocolate, caramel, burnt sugar, and a little bit of marshmallow all show up and blend together for a killer aroma. The flavor profile can’t quite keep up the same balanced complexity though. Caramel and burnt sugar move up from ensemble players in the aroma to the main attraction here. Milk chocolate falls way into the background, while the suggestion of marshmallow disappears. The mouthfeel is full bodied, but as rich as t could have been for 13.5% ABV. The carbonation is pleasantly understated, and there’s a pleasant warming sensation from the alcohol. Overall Fourth Dementia is a wonderful beer. I can see why I enjoyed the barrel aged version so much.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 05:31:49 | More by axeman9182

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this from Biergartenok, cheers Freddie!

2010 version pours a brownish-mahogany with a pinky of brown.cocoa head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Sherry, dark fruit & a touch of Bourbon

T: Figs, black currant, dryness, a touch of charred grain up front. Boozey figs as this warms, a touch of cherry & raisin as well, plus plenty of oaky dryness & kist a touch of woody & herbal hops & some toffee notes. Finishes dry, woody, herbal witm much figgyness, a touch of prunes that doesn't help the flavor, some cherry=flovred pipe tobacco & marmalaide

MF: Chewy with minimal carbonation, skews fruitty/malty, warming

This baby screams English flavor, hops are very subtle. This is a nice fire-side ssipper, would love to try a fresh bottle for comparrison, but this is tasty enough as it is

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 03:45:01 | More by russpowell

jimmy82063

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 version at a whopping 13.5% poured into a brandy snifter. The appearance is murky brown, no head at all. The smell is of rasins butter rum and toffee. The taste combines the same with just a hint of oak. The mouthfeel is slick. Great beer...cellar worthy for sure!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 02:45:59 | More by jimmy82063

AnPiobaire

New York

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a goblet. 4D poured a thick muddy brown with barely a cream colored halo for a head. The nose is malty and rich with strong notes of fig. Very pleasant. The taste is a rich malty sweetness with toffee and fig. The mouth is thick and viscous with minimal carbonation. Overall, this is a very decadent old ale that is far from sessionable but is very tasty and one I am glad to have tried. Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 19:51:59 | More by AnPiobaire

crossovert

Wisconsin

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

2010 Vintage.

It pours a dark brown, more or less black with a fizzy and small light tan head. It quickly fizzes away with just a few specks of lacing. Kind of expected at this abv, but yet some brewers manage to produce beers with decent heads at this abv.

The smell is good. There is a noticeable old ale base. The bourbon and oak aren't overpowering but still highly noticeable. There is a huge amount of dark fruits and a hint of soy.

The taste is rich with bourbon and dark fruits. Really deep dark fruit notes. The bourbon adds a bit of alcohol, vanilla, and caramel. It isn't too alcoholic in the taste though, not too hot. It warms the tummy for sure though. It feels like you are drinking a liqueur rather than a beer taste-wise.

This is a beer that combines the best aspects of an old ale with some really good barrel notes. I would recommend tracking down a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 00:11:21 | More by crossovert

BrainDad

Michigan

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

On tap at Hopcat. Six bucks for a glass of heaven!

Looks a beautiful deep amber. Like Churchill's snifter waiting for a cigar to get going. Not much head but with lacy lacing down the side.

Not a lot of aroma to be found but the flavor is smooth and brandy-like, slight sweet (others liken it to marshmallow). Rolls perfectly off the palate and down the throat.

A great sensual experience to savor. Thank God I live in Michigan!

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 01:44:00 | More by BrainDad

schlimenhaumer

New York

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

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a Southampton snifter at low altitude.

A: Pours a semi-transparent dark copper/ruby color with almost no head, which is unsurprising given the ABV. Leaves a little bit of lacing on the glass because it's so viscous.

S: A strong sweet malty smell. Marshmallows, caramel malts, raisins, prunes. The alcohol doesn't come through very much in terms of smell.

T: This one is sweet and malty all the way through, while still managing to remain well-balanced. Sugar, toffee, marshmallows, caramel malts are all at play here. No alcohol burn on the finish.

M: Full-bodied, sticky and wet without much carbonation. Fits the flavors quite nicely.

D: This would be ideal as a dessert beer. It's sweet, but not overpoweringly so. The alcohol is concealed very well, so this one could be dangerous. Definitely worth trying if you have the chance.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 01:25:07 | More by schlimenhaumer

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle served in a snifter.

pours a murky, deep amber / mahogany tone while yielding a short-lived 1/4" beige head - to be expected given the big ABV here.

nose is fairly complex and enticing, offering a lot of dark fruit, caramel / toffee, molasses, and some vanilla. alcohol presence also evident.

all of the aforementioned pull through in the flavor. big dark fruit and caramel / toffee presence mingles with secondary notes of molasses, vanilla, and a touch of anise. chewy, full bodied mouthfeel with slightly below average carbonation.

overall there's a lot to like here; very tasty brew. the barrel aged version, however, is in another league.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 05:25:15 | More by perrymarcus