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

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Straffe Hendrik quad has a deep mahogany colored body, brown with lots of ruby highlights. The tan head forms a solid cap and leaves minimal lacing, but it has great retention, sticking around for the entire drink.

The aroma has an array of dark fruits, some spice and a lot of malt.

Malt, spice, and dark fruit are balanced very well in this one. Cherries, dates, raisins and other generic dark fruits come from the yeast, and slowly give way to the malt. The malts are sweet but not cloying, and they make up the strongest flavor by a hair. The beer is balanced and dried out in A finish by a phenolic, peppery taste. No alcohol at all, but there is just a touch of warmth. This one is balanced so well that the transition between the flavors is seamless, and nothing sticks out as being overbearing.

The body is a little bit light and carbonation a little bit high, but the lack of alcohol presence makes this acceptable for me.

This is a big-ass Belgian that hides its ABV very well. Balance and integrated flavors are its strengths. Probably worth a try even for those who don't love Belgian styles.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 14:17:24 | More by Hojaminbag

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my new Hair of the Dog snifter... Thanks a ton Sammy... this is a super cool glass.

Deeeep red.... dark cherry juice with a shot lasting dark tan head ... but a nice cap remains for the entire glass.

Nose is rich and malty with significant dried cherry, plum and nice caramel and toast.

Flavor mirrors the nose with some subtle spiciness.

Medium bodied with a smooth everpresent carbonation.

Pretty nice for sure and not too bad at ~$10 for the 750.

3.5/4/4/4/4

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 04:19:59 | More by JohnGalt1

impending

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

La Trappe. Black mahogany, minor edge transparency, served with little dense head, minor lacing.

Aroma of the classic quad, full, thick and rich. Dense, complicated, rewarding, vinous.

Taste follows the nose and delivers a quality traditional quad, full, thick and rich. Well restrained alcohol, no burn but some would be welcome. Minor grape bubblegum appears in the pleasantly fading aftertaste. Medium to full bodied smooth mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2011 04:28:15 | More by impending

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

75 cl

Pours a deep ruddy brown with a tan head about 4 inches thick. Dissipates very slowly. Retains as a thin film.

Smells of rich caramel, mild fig sweetness, some cinnamon like spice, a hint of alcohol and a just a bit of hop flavor.

Tastes richly spiced, with a hint of hop bitterness, followed by caramel and brown sugar malts and some distinctly Belgian yeasty notes.

Mouth is thick with lots of fluffy carbonation.

Delicious and tasty, quite a treat. The strength makes it a sipper. The mild hint of hops is a bit different than other less hop focused quads I've had, which gives it a unique characteristic. I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 17:02:56 | More by Cylinsier

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

On draft at Brasserie Beck in DC. Poured into a tulip glass, rich and intense dark Belgian ale. It is brewed with a subtle blend of specialty malts, which give the ale an extremely dark color and a chewy, malty complex character. The quadruple combines a clean dryness with a warm full bodied mouth feel and essences of fruit. Overall a very nice Quad! Be warned this is some strong stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 23:25:36 | More by CuriousMonk

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear dark reddish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense beige head that quickly died down, leaving only a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface that never completely faded away.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of dark fruits and yeast in the nose.
T: Like the smell, flavors of dark fruits stand out in the taste (cherries, plums and prunes come to mind) and there is some malty sweetness. Hints of spices are noticeable in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and relatively smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is relatively easy to drink considering its strength because the alcohol is well hidden from the taste.

Note: 2010 vintage

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 02:30:18 | More by metter98

BeerNemesis

New York

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

Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel | 750 ml. | 11.0% ABV | 2010 vintage

Brewer: Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik / De Halve Maan
Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
Glass: Ommegang chalice

Apparently Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik was founded in 1564 and has been run by the same family since 1856. It is the oldest continuously operating brewery in Bruges.

Appearance:
Rich, coffee-brown body with a nice ring of sandy foam.

Aroma:
Chocolate, coffee, dark fruits. The usual.

Taste:
Toasted dark malts, dabs of coffee, and sprinklings of cocoa powder. It's heavy and somber, but very tasty. I get plums and raisins as it warms.

Mouthfeel:
Too much carbonation, but otherwise a silky-smooth, thick brew.

Harmony:
I like how Staffe Hendrik Quadrupel is less focused on the plums, cherries, raisins, and other dark fruit and more about bringing out roasted, toasted malts. While I like sweet and fruity quads, this was a welcome diversion from the norm.

Would I get it again?:
Yes. The fantastic bottle art on the the 750 ml. bottle (matte black label, moon with a face) is a plus.

Bottled: 2010
Served: July 7, 2011

Price = $10.99 at Whole Foods NYC

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 23:15:19 | More by BeerNemesis

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Sold at around 11 dollars at the Giant Eagle Market District in Robinson. I love the De Halve Maan Brewery logo, big bottle 750 ml or 25.4 oz here. Pours a Deep russet, nearly opaque ruby tinted cola brown body...the head layers with a deep khaki tan head fomring large bands of Belgian style lacing with each sip. Aroma has a hint of cherry with apple/figs and other dark ripend fruits let's throw in raisins as well. Hint of alcohol tickles the nares with a heavily malt laiden mild dark roasted edge to it. Each sniff you take, you get more of a vinous character that really builds the backbone of the experience that this quadruple ale offers. Flavor wise this beer is drinking nicely, I'm excited to try other Straffe Hendrik offerings based on this big bodied Belgian beauty. Toasted dark malts brings on some mild bitterness but layers of complex malt also bring on layered fruit between dark plum tartness, deep sweetness of plump raisins burst, with an accent of tannins found in your favorite tea or big bodied red wine. More sweeetness than I can typically handle in a big bodied ale like this but I'm a sucker for well balanced big ass Belgian bier. Mouthfeel is still considered a bit effervescent even with loads of malts it doesn't seem the least bit cloying on my palate. Which is an amazing feat that true Belgian ales always seem to pull off with ease, it's hard to believe this is 11 percent abv, probably more hidden booze than any big American craft brewer will offer excecute. An artform the label states this is Bruges last standing brasserie or at least one of them. Mouthfeel is full bodied but carried so well with some lively carbonation it's pretty amazing. Overall exomplexity and flavor combined this is one of the better quads I've had in some time, a different style than my normal beer consumption is really a welcomed addition and revisit to beers I've tried in the past but either haven't had access to or just haven't desired since I've pretty much devoted myself to craft beer (typically hoppier offerings).

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 14:53:32 | More by WVbeergeek

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

Straffe Hendrik Quad

Pours a dark brown, off white head forms and fades. Aroma of nutty, toasted malt, sweet dark fruits and doughy bread. In the flavor, raisen, fig, toasted almond and caramel. Smooth on the palate and the alcohol is only barely noticeable. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, clean enough finish and semi dry at that. Overall, a very solid quad with great traditional flavor. Without a doubt this is one worth revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 14:24:15 | More by Stinkypuss

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving Type - 22oz bottle

Appearance - Dark tan, brown, not much head, or lacing. Kinda bland looking.

Smell - Dark fruits, some malt, chocolate and spices, not alot of smell.

Taste - Very dark roasted malt flavor. Not as many flavors and spices as most quads ive had. A little pepper and chocolate notes in the aftertaste. I get some licorice and dark fruits like plum and rasin. Very surprized how different this quad is compaired to standard quads.

Mouthfeel - Medium thickness and rather light on palette. No way id guess this was 11% or even a quad. Aftertaste is weak and not long lasting at all.

Overall - This is solid, but not a top of the list quad. It almost comes closer to a strong ale then a quad. The dark fruits, roasted malts, it would be hard to guess this as a quad. Pretty good but there are a few other quads that smoke this beer. If you are looking for a different twist on the style, this would be a nice sample.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 07:40:58 | More by wvsabbath

AmericanGothic

Iowa

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

Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

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. Not my favorite example of the style, mostly held back by the dryness of the flavor. But, really not bad, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 03:04:49 | More by AmericanGothic

brugge2004

New York

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

poured out a good frothy head that disapated slowly leaving moderate lacing. the aroma of roasted malts and dark fruit dominate the nose.Peronally I like this one altough my preference leans toward strong blonds and tripels but this could change my mind on that. alcohol well hidden not overly sweet high carbonation definitely worth a try ,I bought a second bottle after to cellar .

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 13:33:41 | More by brugge2004

adamette

Ohio

2.65/5  rDev -35%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Live review. Poured from the corked and caged 1 pint, 9.4 oz bottle that I bought at World Wines & Liquor in Mentor a few weeks ago into my Brewery Ommegang gold rimmed Westvleteren style goblet. I do not recall the price. Sorry about that! I do not see any indication of the “best by” date or even the “bottled on” date but I am not sure that it matters. Update: After I removed the cork I found that the cork had the following printed on it: 2.010 I am going to guess that it is the bottling “year” so with the 11% ABV I am absolutely fine here.

A Medium brown head over a dark brown body that glows a deep mahogany in front of direct light. I like the look of this quad. 4.5

S Dark roast malt without a great amount of sweetness in the smell. It is a rather distant smell. This should be interesting… 3.5

T The dark roast malt is there as well as the typical “De Halve Mann” grainy malt nature along with the stgrong Belgian yeast notes. As suggested by the smell this is a rather distant taste. It took repeated sips to determine my tasting notes due to the distance of the taste. There is certainly an earthy, grainy, organic sense to the taste of this beer. Some may appreciate that but I do not. 2.5

M As suggested by the notes on the taste, the feel is too dry. I enjoy quads with a nice syrupy thickness to them. 2.0

D/O Actually less than fair since the ABV is 11% and the taste and feel leave me wanting more. 2.0

Notes: It kills me to record this rather low rating to a beer from one of my sentimental favorite breweries, De Halve Mann. I visited there June 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the beers that I had sampled that day. I would recommend touring there anytime. I happen to think that their barley malt is too grainly and their yeast profile is too strong. This beer certainly did nothing to change that opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 04:08:16 | More by adamette

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz brown glass pry-top bottle. Label notched L:C, D, 13. Purchased at Winooski Beverage Warehouse.

Pours a deep, dark brown with frothy khaki head, looking like a traditional Quad. Nose is very bready and yeasty. Smells like freshly baked baguettes and caramels. Palate is structured and firm, a little booze slips through as heat. Not overly sweet, but flavors of milk chocolate and caramel dominate. Doesn't have the "classic" Quad fruitiness.

I rather like this brew as it's quite unique. If you're expecting the big dark fruit and leather thing that you get from Gouden Carolus or La Trappe's dark brews, you will be surprised. Gets big points for a unique interpretation of the "Quad."

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 04:40:52 | More by SFLpunk

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a deep amber to brown-ish in color with a tan head. In the aroma, sweet alcohol, nutty, and some dark fruit. In the taste, sweet nuttiness, alcohol, and a mixture of raisin and figs. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with and dry dark fruitiness, especially raisin in the aftertaste. Dry and nutty, with a nice presence of dark fruit.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 18:57:23 | More by OWSLEY069

illidurit

California

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared at the May Santa Cruz tasting. Pours a dark cola color with a poofy tan head. Aromas of yeasty brown bread, candi sugar, vanilla, alcohol. Flavors of dark and red fruits with coriander, fruitcake, raisin, vanilla, licorice, and booze. A bit too hot and perfumey on the palate at 11 percent.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 22:21:28 | More by illidurit

daledeee

Iowa

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

A rather hard to find one at John's in Iowa City.

Pours an uncontrollable light tan head that leaves nice lacing. A pretty dark brown body but it can be seen through.

Nose has cherries at first, but afterwards has a dark fruit and alcohol smell.

Taste is dark cherries and earth.

Mouth feel has nice carbonation with not really heavy mouth feel for a strong one.

Overall this is a tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 00:27:32 | More by daledeee

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

this beer pours dark brown/black, looks like purple along the edge. Somewhat dense foamy head, off-white

Aroma is sweet. Baked caramel and sweet bread. Fruity a bit like red plum and Gala apple.

Not quite the flavors I was expecting. Very sweet, but I didn't get the soft banana or orchard fruits. More plum, dark cherry, Jolly Rancher-purple. Overripe apple on the end though. Boozy

Sweetness hampers this beer a bit. Finished a bit twangy and sugary. Booze thins it out. Character is a puzzle

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 21:17:18 | More by Mebuzzard

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

2.68/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle from Beer Planet in Brussels. Split with a friend. From notes.

A - Poured a really dark, hazy brown. Some slight carbonation came up with a nice creamy one finger beige head. Good finger of retention but not much lacing.

S - Lo's of yeast, some sort of woody character, and fruit. Not entirely what I look for in a Quad. Lacks that rich dark fruit note.

T - Significant dark fruit improves up on the aroma quite a bit. Lot's of yeast. Sugar. Really yeasty and quite a fair bit of spice.

M - Strong carbonation and a medium body. Yeasty and spicy lingering notes. Body seems thin.

O/D - Not a big fan. An OK Quad but not what I look for. Too much spice and yeast and I could never have a full bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 14:47:29 | More by tbeckett

ktrillionaire

Florida

2.95/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - It pours a cola-brown, capped with a big khaki head.

S - The nose seems quite nice - but also quite different than most Quad/BSDA. There is a sort of woody-medicinal sharpness that seems like brettanomyces, but I don't think it actually is. Pale and pils malt seem evident, as does candi sugar and aged hops. Fruity notes of apple, pear, apricot, plum and banana are present, but not in the way one would generally expect.

T - The taste is not quite there; I wasn't sure how this was going to go down, given the unusual specificities of the aroma, but it is a letdown overall. The alcohol is way too strong here; its as if someone poured vodka into a Grimbergen or Corsendonk brown. As for the nuances, there is some medium and dark fruity notes (not enough), and a lot of pale malt minerality. This would make for a decent Tripel/BSPA, save for the color; as a Quad or BSDA, it is lacking the richness, complexity and decadence necessary.

M - Bad. Champagne-esque carbonation; prickly and somewhat thin.

O - As referenced earlier, this beer tastes, smells and feels like a Tripel. Way off the mark for the style, and not great regardless of style consideration.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 13:04:05 | More by ktrillionaire

Patrickbrusil

Massachusetts

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

Served out of a bottle.

The appearance is spot on what one would expect with a nice frothy and foamy head that took a while to relax.

I'm having it colder than I should but here we go:

Smell is bready with almost an oat characteristic. Very nice lace is forming that clings to the glass like a dress.

The taste is slightly booze oriented for my liking. Lots of carbonation - border line too much for my liking. Champagne esque carbonation that is aggressive throughout giving a tingly mouthfeel.

As it warms the malty characteristics shine through more. Dark plum flavor and smell is developing. Almost like a plum/fig spread on top of a thick slice of multigrain bread.

Not my favorite Belgian quad but a nice break from the rochefort and saint bernardus I so thoroughly enjoy. The lace is truly spectacular on this guy.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 01:02:53 | More by Patrickbrusil

Brabander

Netherlands

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I bought this new Quad at Dranken Geers in Gent when i was there two weeks ago. The woman behind the counter advised me to try this one out.

I must say that this is a good quad, not the best there is, Westy 12, Pannepot, Amatus and Rochefort 10 are (much) better but hey, with those beers we talk about worldbest beers.

Poured the beer i my small Wesyvleteren tasting glass. The beer looks absolutely great. A very darkbrown/deepdarkred fluid with a very decent two finger lightbrown head which stays for quit a while. The is lots of carbonation going on in the glass.

The sweet smell of candisugar comes in the nose.

Taste is good but the carbonation is a bit too much in the mouth (and i like carbination!) it feels like a small carbonationexplosion in the mouth.

The alcolhol is well hidden and overall i have to say that this one is a very drinkable quad. I would like to see how this beer is when you age it a few years, it can only get better.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 10:55:39 | More by Brabander

RuudJH

Netherlands

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

Quad, relatively new product from this brewery.
Colour brown, with beige head. Big head, a lot of carbonation in the clear(!) drink.
Smell of caramel, dark fruits, some floral components, some alcohol too.
Taste is full malty, sweet. Dark fruit, caramel, koriander.
Medium to full body. lingering taste. In many ways it reminds of Rochefort 10. It's just not as chewy and complex.
It's a good drinkable beer. the 11% is not a big problem. It's covered well enough.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 14:40:22 | More by RuudJH

BucBasil

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap into a branded tulip at Cambrinus in Bruges.

A: Blackish purple on first glance, but red notes in the edges when held to light. 2 finger light tan head with good retention.

S: very sweet aroma of sugared dark fruits and jam. Yeast character subdued. Very sweet smelling with brown sugar rounding things out.

T: Sweet in the taste as well. Berries mainly. Slightly nutty character. Finishes long with a butterscotch and caramel note covered by yeast and brown sugar.

A good quad overall, and must be some special offer since I didn't even see this at the brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 19:36:26 | More by BucBasil