Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel - Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik / Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle pour for the 4th Annual LA Beer Week Beer Festival at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, caramel, and some slight spice aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 04:20:42 | More by UCLABrewN84

bskrtz

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

11.2 ounce bottle served cold in glass beer challis

A) Stout like in appearance with lofty off-white head that lasts for several minutes. Beer is opague with little light passing through. Dark and dense, even when held to the light, non passes through.

S) Sweet caramel, dark stewed fruit, raisons, ginger, root beer. Complex but not over powering, delicious. Cant wait to taste it.

T) Mild espresso with chocolate and sweet Belgian sugar. Full of cooked fruit -- apricot, figs, plums all nicely toasted.

M) One of this beer's best quality is its dense and effervescent quality. High alcohol is there but you hardly notice it. Sweet, sticky and full bodied

O) Straffe Hendrik 11 is a fine beer and excellent example of the authentic Belgian Quad

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 00:16:21 | More by bskrtz

pkalix

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

wow. the 11% alcohol is well hidden unless the beer warms. dark, rich dark-fruit flavors on the tongue and nose. opaque brown pour with half inch foam which diminished quickly. foams sticks to the side of the glass which isnt being sipped from. is this what they call caramel malts? i'll check their website but i'd be very interested in the other beers from this brewery. great statrter brew for the evening.... also, had this on tap at THEGLOBE in garden grove, ca. and wondering if i should be there drinking this instead of at home in front of my computer . . . .

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 23:41:02 | More by pkalix

beergoot

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A nice brown body covered with a thick, sticky, brown head; Good lacing down the sides of the glass. Smell emits dates, currants, figs, molasses, brown sugar. Malt sugars and dark fruit tastes strongly bind with a deep yet relatively mild alcohol warmth. Some chocolate notes buried deep along with a soft bitterness. Medium bodied, juicy and clean.

A nicely made rich and complex beer. Liquid dark bread...

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 01:31:28 | More by beergoot

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.43/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A dark brown, red beer with a thin head and low visible carbonation.

Smell is mostly grainy and a bit husky with distinct notes of caramel. Also some grapes and currants. There is a syrupy smell to it, which is hard to describe, but it smells thick and heavy.

Taste is heavy on the caramel malts, this makes the beer maltbitter and adds a currant and raisin taste, bordering my threshold for the maltbitterness. The alcohol is well hidden, 11% alcohol is warm, but it is not sharp. The beer is bitter, which is a combination of the malt and hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 19:57:20 | More by Absumaster

oberon

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my Ommegang chalice a deep roasted chesnut brown with a sticky one finger beige head atop that left a broken ring of lace as it settled slowly.A slight sherry vinegar note is something that caught my attention with dark brown sugar and dark fruit in there as well,the vinegar element is something I have never come across in a quad.Deep brown sugar and toffee flavors with sweet alcohol,it's cakey and rich with a slightly acidic finish.Full lush feel in the mouth,this is somewhat different than alot of quads and I really liked it,it's a bit raw in some aspects.Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 22:19:37 | More by oberon

kylehay2004

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half finger head on a hazy deep brown body. Excellent lacing. Simple aroma with mostly sweet caramel malts and some herbal notes. Flavor is very different with dark candied fruit, candy sugar, toffee, caramel and a mild tartness. Medium body and lighter side of moderate carbonation. Very smooth. Perfect amount of sweetness and a touch boozy but for 11 percent not bad at all.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2012 00:02:13 | More by kylehay2004

Louski

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had in Nancy. France at a local pub.

Poured from the bottle a deep, dark brown with a fingers worth of dense white head.
Smelled immediately of roasted malt, prune, caramel.
Sweet taste, almost wine-like followed by a smooth, chocolately, coating of the mouth finish. Almost like honey.
Mouthfeel was retained throughout drinking and is still with now after leaving the pub nearly half an hour ago.
Overall and excellent Quad. Took me to a sweet, caramel-like place that I very much enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 20:30:19 | More by Louski

beerpirates

Belgium

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl bottle at DELICE & CAPRICES , Brussels

A: Pours a dark, translucent copper brown with two fingers of billowy, pale tan head. Strong retention and lace.

S: Good yeasty malt aromas, a little chocolate and some dark fruits.

T: Pepper and cinnamon up front, transitioning to some dark fruits in the middle and ending with a little spice. Some chocolate notes and also some vinous flavors enter as the beer warms. The flavor is pretty dry overall, almost a stout quality. Towards the end of the glass, some subtle bubblegum joins in.

M: Medium-heavy mouthfeel with considerable creaminess that keeps it buoyant and a lot of smoothness as well.

O: A pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 18:19:40 | More by beerpirates

kojevergas

California

2.95/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle served into Antwerp Beer Passion Weekend 2011 stemware in Antwerp, Belgium. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a two finger head of lovely cream, slight tan colour, nice thickness, and of great retention for the high ABV. Colour is a dark black.

Sm: Chocolate, toffee, caramel, and amber hops.

T: Chocolate, toffee, caramel, and some cream. Very full and flavorful, with adequate complexity for the style. I may have been wrong about the amber hops. Maybe some vanilla. Balanced well and built decently. The style does demand far more subtlety, in fairness.

Mf: Nicely coarse and wet. Complements the general tone of the flavour.

Dr: A very average quadrupel, with little to offer. It does hide its ABV well and makes for easy drinking, but just isn't a quality brew.

C

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 00:36:51 | More by kojevergas

ikantspel

California

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml served into a duvel tulip

pours a dark hazelnut brown color with a shade of reddish amber. finishes with a sticky tan head that takes awhile to relent

classic textbook belgian quad smell that produces an aroma rich in spiced herbal notes, a butternut toffee, and is completed by a lingering black licorice/anise

the taste starts with the dark fruits, with just a tinge of the alcohol thats present, then in comes the spice vanilla flavor leads into a sweet brown sugar that dissipates and becomes slightly dry. maybe a little bitterness at the end

a pretty solid outing for a quad. pretty textbook but with a strong taste. id rank it in the top 10 of quads ive tried but not top 5

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 05:00:03 | More by ikantspel

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- black label quad. Amazingly retentive tan head on this. It won't move. this can't be real. beautiful murky brownish burgundy colored body. 10 minutes and the foam still has barely moved. I'm blown away. I'm sure it will once I put my greasy face on it though.

S- sweet tart and fruity with Pinot noir, lambrusco and Shiraz qualities. Blackberry, cherry, grape, date, fig, prune, raisin, Caramel, toffee, sandalwood, vanilla, pear and melon. A bit woodsy also with mineral water and spice.

T- heavy port flavor followed by a pleasant hoppy bitterness, more than most quads, With sweet and sour fruits, pomace, woodsy earthy soil tree bark damp log forest! Raisin, date, fig, and prune mainly, with just a little bit of citron edge. Burnt caramel sweetness in a fermented kinda way, bittersweet chocolate and a touch of coffee. Finishes nicely balanced with clean mineral water flavor and lingering bitterness. Well concealed alcohol.

MF- the foam is still goin strong and it literally feels like the foam on a cappuccino. This is insane. Full, juicy body with well mannered carbonation. Dry enough and a little sticky.

D- this is a damn fine quad, with more hops and roasted flavor than others of the same quality. I'll still sweat that rochefort and la trappe but this one is a banger.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 02:49:23 | More by hustlesworth

TechTriumph

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From notes on 03/24/12:
Best by: December 2013; Poured in a pint glass.

A - A normal pour produced so much head that I had to let some of it subside before emptying the rest of the bottle; There was several inches of carbonated, soda-like head with an off-white color; Head retention was excellent, but no lacing was left behind; Dark mahogany in color with a garnet hue

S - Smell is pretty weak overall, making it hard to pick out different aromas; Notes of dark fruits, cherries, acidic grapes, and just a subtle hint of alcohol

T - Decent taste of alcohol here, but it works pretty well with the other flavors present, including black pepper, buttered toast, vanilla, dark fruits, rum, tart/acidic grapes, and caramel; The finish, though long and dry, is not unpleasant with subtle tastes of alcohol, grapes, and dark fruit

M - Moderate carbonation that packs a bit of a sting; Just over medium bodied; Finish is warm, peppery, and dry

O - This quad was a very good interpretation of the style, and one that feels a bit light, but is certainly warming and satisfying. Although this beer doesn't quite reach the top tier of Trappist quads, it's still well above average for the style and one I hope to find and enjoy again soon.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 14:15:47 | More by TechTriumph

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Aroma: Dark fruit esters. Dates, raisins and apricots. Mild peppery phenols, not necessarily spicy. Definitely some alcohol, which is spicy. Some malt character, although I'm getting a faint aroma of brown malt.

Appearance: Pours a moderate light brown head. Some lacing, although the brew is still quite cold. Deep copper in color. Crystal clear.

Taste: Lots of those dark fruity esters, mostly dates and raisins. Followed by mildly bitter hops, and finally the spicy alcohol. Nice flavor, actually a bit lighter, not overly bold.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bod, even though there is a good amount of carbonation. Not drying at all, which is welcome here.

Overall: Wouldn't exactly call this a traditional European Quad. This is comparable to a Stone Strong Ale. Nice and sweet, a little bitter. Oily, not dry. Very good.

Notes: December 2013 freshness date. Lot C. Drank on 1/21/2012.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 01:30:48 | More by soulfly1492

Phelps

Arizona

2.73/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle into a tulip.

Deep purple. Murky, opaque and dark. The head is a dense inch tall, medium tan, and recedes to thin, silky top layer after a bit.

Not much to pick up in the nose. Raisins, caramel, and lots of booze.

For a brew with such high alcohol content, the flavor is surprisingly subdued. Again with the raisin, with additions of cinnamon and toast. Perhaps a little grape as well. Booze, however, is the major flavor contributor.

Thin, watery body with moderate massaging carbonation that breaks into just a hint of fizz. Alcohol is big — as expected — blazing through the nose and warming the throat.

If I’m going to drink an 11 percent ABV beer, I like to at least get some flavor enjoyment out of it. This quad drinks like a single. It’s just too subtle in both aroma and taste. Not undrinkable, but I’d definitely never shell out cash for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 04:19:45 | More by Phelps

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Straffe Hendrik "Brugs Quadrupel Ale"
11.2 oz. bottle, best by 3rd week of Dec. 2013

Carefully poured to leave the lees behind, it's a deep chestnut brown with a ruby cast beneath a foamy head of tan. Held to the light orange-ruby highlights glisten. The head retention and lacing could be a little bit better.

The aroma displays spice, fruit, and sugar/caramel. It's peppery with some dark fruit skins, but also some juicier fruit as well. The alcohol is unfortunately readily evident.

In the mouth it bristles the tongue with a fine-bubbled, zesty carbonation before warming to become sugary.

The flavor is as the nose suggests but a little broader. It adds hints of cherry upfront, and vanilla in back, and there's much more spice. The spice character is quite interesting. Nothing stands out as particularly distinct, but I'm thinking green cardamom; star anise based on the licorice note that it has; and peppercorns, although I'm not sure how much the alcohol is contributing to that. It finishes dry, despite the sugary malt, due at least in part to the alcohol.

Overall it's an enjoyable beer. It's balanced but it could be more polished. The alcohol detracts. Definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 23:35:43 | More by NeroFiddled

DoubleJ

California

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I don't travel to Brazil to taste beers that I can taste in California, but because I had never tasted Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel and it was offered by Sergio, I was cool to end the night with half of the bottle. On to the beer:

Dark brown color with a velvety head and a good level of lacing. The nose is strong yet not too powerful. Many different aromas are found, including dates, sugar, grass, prunes, and fruit snacks.

Brown sugar is the first flavor to be recognized. Immediately after that, a rush of various fruit skins, dried fruit, apricot, and a dash of pepper create a complex personality in this quad. The body is nearly full, with the alcohol inserted favorably well. A fruity aftertaste lingers after the pepper sensation dies off.

The tripel was a good one, and now the quadrupel is a good one. That's two very respectable showing from Straffe Hendrik.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 05:02:37 | More by DoubleJ

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Brownish-burgundy color with a dense cap of off-white head; moderate retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of dark dried fruits and bready yeast. Taste of caramel malts, bready yeast, dark fruits: cherries, figs, plums, raisins, light hints of brown sugar and earthy hops. Alcohol warmth mellowed out a bit as the beer got closer to room temperature. Medium body, tasty and complex as any good beer from the style. Very nice overall.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2012 08:34:05 | More by Rifugium

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a nice belgian quad, pretty standard in all respects, but the standard is mighty high, this is a quality beer. pours ar red color with a touch of orange in the light. small white fizzy head. smells like molasses, sour cherries, and belgian yeast. flavor is plenty of caramel malts and belgian candy sugar, even some raw cane sugar, but this is well proportioned, not rot your teeth style. mouthfeel is nice too, plenty of bright carbonation at first, mellowing as it warms and letting the strength of the beer come though. great finish. you could make a night of drinking these if they werent so expensive. glad to see it on tap at the Cheeky Monk downtown denver

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2012 18:27:48 | More by StonedTrippin

AZbelgian

Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this both on tap at the brewery in Brugge and by bottle here in the US.

A - Dark brown almost black at first glance (actually dark ruby red), large tan head with large bubbles and amazing retention.

S - Smell of dark fruit, yeast and a hint of alcohol.

T - Smooth flavors of caramel, rich malts lend to a nice flavor of brown bread. There are also notes of alcohol and a hint of dark fruit which lingers nicely on the palette.

M - Medium mouthfeel, surprisingly light for a quad

O - Great drinkability. An excellent quadrupel. Flavors work well in concert with each other to form a beer that's not overly heavy and quite delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 20:53:40 | More by AZbelgian

6string

Germany

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours well, gives plenty to soak in from the sharp aroma of chocolate and toffee. It's a strong attack of caramel taste, which is good. I've fallen in love with Belgian brews, and this one caught my eye with 11% by volume. It warms the chest with it's potency, but it's not a killer by any means. Toffee, chocolate, and most of all, caramel. It's deep in taste, but doesn't give much to rave about.

Like most Quads for me, it's a warming beer that seems to fit as a dessert after a meaty meal...something to sip slowly and really enjoy. Glad I picked this one up, hoping it'll make an appearance at the next Belgian Beer Fest I hit up in late February.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 20:39:40 | More by 6string

deebo

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle with a best before end date notched Dec 13.

A-Pours a ton of loose tan foamy head that lingers. Lots of small CO2 bubbles present. Murky brown with dark red tints.

S-Remniscient of other quads except this one has a perfumy floral aroma-almost rose like. Otherwise sweet alcohol aroma. Brown sugar.

T-Rum raisin, sweet bread, overripe fruity yeast. End note of alcohol.

M-Vapory alcohol is noticeable, but the burn down the throat is subdued. Moderate/heavy carbonation zing. Dry finish.

D-Better than it should be with an 11% brew.

O-I love quads-this one is a large step below St. Bernardus and Westy versions, but still very enjoyable-makes a great nightcap. Will have to see how this one tastes after a few more years in the cellar. Have yet to taste 1 made in the US that stacks up well next to the Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 03:03:23 | More by deebo

IKR

California

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear dark brown color with a generous foamy beige head that fades fairly quickly.

Smell: Bready, fruity notes.

Taste: The fruity and bread-y notes in the nose are present in the taste with the fruity notes most prominent. It finishes with a combination of fruity sweetness, slight phenols, and some hop bitterness.

Mouth-feel: Body is on the lighter Medium side with a fair level of carbonation.

Overall: Good beer but a step below the top echelon. Priced fairly well.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 22:50:30 | More by IKR

Mar02x

Netherlands

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A dark brown beer with an enormous light beige head, unfortunately the head shrinks in till a small layer remains.

S - A sweet malty scent mixed up with some yeast.

T - A creamy delight with an overpowering sweetness from candy sugar, some yeast flavor and not really anything else. What makes it a bit plain.

M - A full body and a creamy feeling, light sticky and little to none alcohol warmth!! For an 11% it is nicely done. Furthermore there is no real bitterness.

O - A tasteful delight always nice to have some on you're shelf.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 17:59:05 | More by Mar02x

Vylo

New Jersey

4.9/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a deep brown almost black with white head.

Smell - Ok, I'm not great with smells overall, but this one was strong and malty, what I would expect.

Taste - So very good. Robust, complex full of malty goodness.

Mouthfeel - lower on carbonation then I am used to, but did not detract from the experience at all.

Overall - exceptional beer. MUST try. I will be buying this again, particularly if I can find cases.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 02:32:09 | More by Vylo