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

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

DaveBlack

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Rich mahogany color, maybe a 1/2 finger of white head that has almost no retention.

S: There isn't much of a smell on this beer at all, but what there is is good. Smells sweet and malty with dark fruit, chocolate and a slight touch of yeast.

T: Wow. Big flavor considering the faintness of the aroma. Starts very light and floral, with a taste akin to rose, then a hefty hit of the alcoholic phenols give way into deep, rich malty, chocolaty flavors. There's a lot going on in the flavor of this beer and all of it good.

M: Fairly heavy body with a lot of carbonation. A little bit slick at first, but leaves the mouth feeling a little bit sticky.

O: Not the best quad that I've had, but it is quite drinkable. The faintness of the alcohol makes this a potentially dangerous beer. I wish there was more on the aroma, but the flavor more than makes up for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 23:09:25 | More by DaveBlack

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an amber color with a thick two finger pillowy head which gives way to skim and leaves nice strand of lace on the glass. The aroma is of dark fruits and caramel malts. The aroma is slightly faint. The taste has a caramel malt backbone, over top there are flavors of dark fruits. There is also a slight milk chocolate taste along with brandy like flavors. At the end there is a very slight hop bite. The mouthfeel is moderatley carbonated. Overall this is a good beer, the aroma was a little faint, but the taste was good and complex.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 23:38:48 | More by goblue3509

u2carew

Massachusetts

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

750ml bottle.
A) Pours with a finger thick head then settles. Clear mahogany color.
S) Raisin. Caramel. Alcohol.
T) Delicious malty flavors combine with a alcohol twang. Notes of apple, raisin. Sweet earthy caramel.
M) Medium to full body. Alcohol warmth. Very mellow carbonation.
O) A delicious Quad. I would definitely drink more.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 17:51:14 | More by u2carew

mrfrancis

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: The initial pour is jet black with a dense, compact beige head. The appearance is misleading, however, as the beer proves itself to be garnet in hue when held up to the light. As can be expected of most quadruples, the lacing is great. Really, this is just a great looking beer.

S: The smell is a bit of a disappointment, proving to be simplistic for the style. My nose was greeted by a fiery alcohol scent, and after several attempts, I was just barely able to detect faint aromas of raisins, figs, and prunes.

T: The taste is complex and surprisingly lacking in any sort of alcohol burn, so don't expect there to be a tremendous amount of continuity between the sensations present on the nose and those present on the palate. Notes of raisins, figs, prunes, milk chocolate, woody spice, heavy cream, brandy, and maple syrup are easily detected. The finish is long, rich, and warming with a notable brandy and fruitcake character.

M: Full bodied, slick, and velvety with a prickle of carbonation. An alcohol burn is somewhat noticeable in the mouth, though as I noted in the section above, heavy alcohol flavors are thankfully absent. This ale becomes a bit sticky and syrupy on the finish. In my opinion, it needs a little more balance to be truly successful.

O: I had some difficulty rating this beer because it's so hit-or-miss for me. On the one hand, it looks great and tastes great, while on the other, its smell is not all that appealing and the mouthfeel is a little too boozy for my liking. In the end, this is a fairly solid quadruple, but it has the potential to be so much more.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 16:37:23 | More by mrfrancis

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff!

The beer appears a dark maple brown color with a thick, dense, light beige head. Excellent retention and ample lacing. Quads are just great looking beers.

The aroma brings dark fruits, particularly plums, figs, raisins. Yeast presence is there as well. The aroma is a bit weak for the style.

Sweet raisins with a hint of yeast. Lingering bitterness in the finish. Caramel malt and toffee.

Alcohol presence is very well disguised. A bit of warmth going down. Nice feel.

A good sipper. Not as complex as the Trappist examples of the style. Still, an enjoyable beer and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 21:18:51 | More by Huhzubendah

RuckusDu

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was excited for this beer after visiting the town of Bruges yet not getting to the brewery. 2011 Vintage

A - Looks good with a very deep and dark reddish body. The head came across nicely at 2 fingers. Falls to about 1 mm in a wonderful cappuccino color.

S - The highlight of this beer. Dark fruits - bing cherries, prunes, and red grapes that all have some sweetness. There is also a hint of alcohol.

T - Gets better as I go and continue tasting. It immediately hits the top back of your throat with raisins and those red grapes. I pick up some allspice and cloves.

M - The carbonation starts strong but quickly falls off. For me, quads should be more consistent with low to medium carb to start and remain there. Because this falls off, you want something thicker.

O - It is growing on me. Some good quad aroma and flavors. Nothing that really stands out, but overall this is well done.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 04:08:40 | More by RuckusDu

jayhawk73

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown color, w/ a massive three finger cocoa head. Head sticks around for about 10 minutes without moving. Excellent lacing on my snifter glass. Some dark crimson highlights when held up to the light. The nose is really fantastic- raisin, apple, fig, plum, malt, yeast. Really smooth and blended extremely well. No hint of the 11% ABV. Taste is equally as impressive, with toffee, caramel, and a touch of alcohol burn on the aftertaste. Feel is medium for the style, and super smooth. There is a crisp carbonated aftertaste as well. I really liked this beer. Let's hope the 11% ABV kills my cold. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 03:38:20 | More by jayhawk73

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a dark burgundy color with a two-finger, tan head of bubbly foam. It left sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of dried fruits - plum, raisin and currants.

T - Rich bready malts make a nice backbone. Great dried fruit flavors of plum, raisin and currants. Some yeasty spice.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a warm alcohol presence.

O - Great quadrupel. Another great find at Sycamore.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 21:01:43 | More by zeff80

bagpiper2005

Idaho

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

Pour: Clear, dark ruby red to mahogany body. Thick, frothy three fingered tan head that recedes very slowly and leaves thick rings of lacing behind all the way down. Total eye candy.

Smell: Tart and sweet with a combination of sour and dark fruity tones, lots of caramel malty goodness, a touch of molasses, and a touch of alcohol astringency.

Taste: Rich and full flavored. Lots of caramel, and brown sugar sweetness with a touch of sour cherry and the ever slightest hint of vanilla. Chocolatey middle with hints of raisin and dried plum. Dry, tart finish with a moderate level of bitterness and a hint of mocha. Slightly alcoholic and warming.

Mouthfeel: Medium to thick body with high carbonation. Slightly creamy and ultra-smooth.

Drinkability/Overall: Very easy drinking, with lots of good flavor leaving you yearning for the next sip. You could easily put away a couple of these big bottles, though you wouldn't like the results next morning, as it is 11%!

Final Notes: One hell of a beer. This is one to sip on in front of a fireplace in the cold weather to warm up. Would also make a great after-dinner beer or beer to pair with dessert. It is a touch dangerous at 11% though, so treat it with respect!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 00:33:22 | More by bagpiper2005

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

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

Nice and solid quad offering.

Presentation: 750 ml corked and caged brow bottle. Dark somber label with the image of a humanized half-moon in dark golden brown over black background. Back label notes main intent and characteristics alongside brewery background. Narrative offers cellaring and serving notes, as well as succinct wording on the characteristics of the brew. Shows bottling date 2010 on the cork, and 11% Alc. by Vol. Served in a snifter.

A - Dark brown pour with crimson edges, with a generous frothy head, medium retention, fair surface memory and some lacing.

S - Long malty nose, sweet notes of dark fruits, sugar, and a characteristic yeasty sense.

T - Taste follows with a nice sweet sense of malt, long fruity notes, plums raisins, hint of spices, unfermented sugar...

M - Medium body with ample but adequate carbonation, and a fairly smooth sense.

O - Pleasing quad, well rounded and matching a nice benchmark for the style.

Notes: Nice quad, reminds me quite a bit to the middle bracket and dexterity of Malheur´s 12, nice, and while not tremendous it is well worth the experience.
--

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 18:20:08 | More by Daniellobo

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Memorable beer! Pours a nice cola brown with thick bubbles and lacey-creamy head that lasts for the entire duration of the pint. Nose is rich with musty, attic & cave aromas with dark cherry and an estery/yeasty element . Enormous carbonation and therefore tingling pleasant mouthfeel that hosts a range of flavors from cherry to black tea to raisinbread. Finish has some of that musty quality and more raisins.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 03:08:44 | More by yemenmocha

sprucetip

Alaska

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

Best before December 2013. Good looking brew. Brown like black tea, but with ruby highlights in normal light. Backlit, it is mahogany/ruby in color, with excellent clarity. it is highly carbonated and a gentle pour fills the tulip about 50/50 liquid and foam. The head is creamy and thick on top, but big bubbles cling to the side. It recedes gradually and leaves thick patches of lace and foam on the edges.

Wow, I can smell from afar. When I finally stick my nose into the glass I am greeted by rich dark fruity notes, yeasty spiciness, and gentle boozy warming helping to open my sinuses. After a few minutes I detect some caramel and malty sweetness underneath all of the dark fruit. This is a really nice smelling brew, even if it isn't the most complex I've ever met. ... Unlike many brews that seem to open up during the sample, this one is putting out less and less as the glass drains.

The taste follows the nose. Yeasty dark fruit and spice define it, but there is also a mellow bitterness evident right from the first sip. The rich caramel malty sweetness is far more evident in the flavor than in the nose, and provides good balance and contrast with the spicy/fruity yeasty character. The bitterness, from modest hopping I assume, is spot on and really helps balance and adds depth. Very tasty.

Carbonation is strong, body is full and rich, and a whisper of dryness in the mildly bitter finish.

This is a really well done Quad, that I believe would hold it's own with some of the best. I think it's better than the Westy 12 my buddy shared with me the other day.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 02:58:25 | More by sprucetip

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330 mL bottle, best before date of December 2013.

bubbly, dark brown with beautiful garnet highlights, and monster 3" tall creamy off-white colored head. the head settles down to a 1/2" layer that stays to the bottom of the glass, leaving great lacing. pleasant aroma of raisins and booze.

tastes of brown sugar, a little fruit - figs, raisins. contrary to the smell, no alcohol detected in the taste. body is fairly thin, but smooth, easy to drink.

overall, a great Quad.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 02:22:08 | More by jmdrpi

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ok, after my soup and Zot Dubbel at the Halve Maan on 28SEP11, I opted for a 0.33l bottle of the Quad for "dessert", at €4.00. Good choice!

I filled my glass with a deep, deep dark brown liquid, opaque even to backlighting. A creamy, short beige head layered things up top, lasting well and lacing nicely. Aroma was a tad restrained, yet dark fruit was noticeable here. Though the bier felt a touch airy on the tongue, it still had a solid medium body.

Flavorwise, it started dry right off. Subtle choco malts with light sweetness melded with dark fruit, more as the quad warmed. Had no real bitterness pe se, and could be more complex, but it was still damn tasty. Zum Wohl!!

4.22 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1392

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 21:47:14 | More by Bierman9

martincm

North Carolina

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

Pours up nice and pretty with that beautiful, soaring quadrupel head. Lacing stays true throughout the glass, almost like a foam wall.
This is definitely a sipper. Take a big swig and it looses drinkability points. When sipped slowly, the foam gets to build in your mouth (my favorite part of a quad) and all those malty flavors release.
I would really like to see one of these in a cellar for nearly a year.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 00:40:39 | More by martincm