Apis IV - Elevation Beer Co.

quirkzoo

Colorado

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

Pours a really nice deep mahogany brown with touches of red. Just a whisp of head that leaves a nice ring around the glass.

Tons of dark fruits, currants, raspberries, some nice caramel sweetness and a bit of lightness that I would attribute to the honey. Just a touch of lightly toasted malts.

Relatively light for a quad, but it sounds like the brewer wasn't exactly brewing to style, but brewing for maximum flavor. The taste follows the nose and is very well balanced.

Mouthfeel is very smooth with just enough carbonation.

Overall this is a solid first offering from a new brewery and look forward to trying this one again with a bit of age on it, I think some nice sherry notes could do wonders.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2012 16:04:17 | More by quirkzoo

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle 848: This poured out as a hazy brown color. The head is tan in color with a solid retention and sticky lacing. The smell is sweet, plenty of honey and malt. The taste gives off lots of malt as well as more honey. The mouthfeel is highly carbonated, the bottle actually foamed out over the after removing the cork. It's medium bodied with a good drinkability. Overall it's an interesting Quad, it's more of a a Braggot in my opinion, which I love both style so this is pretty good in my opinion. Really nice brew here.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 04:12:11 | More by Knapp85

TokyoCO

Colorado

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-04-2013 21:56:24 | More by TokyoCO

ucsbmullet

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

05-02-2013 23:37:01 | More by ucsbmullet

WynnO

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -31.4%

04-20-2013 11:51:40 | More by WynnO

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Bottle #05987. 5,987 BEES! Anyway, this stuff pours a deep ruby-brown topped by a finger of sandy khaki foam. The nose comprises fig, raisin, light molasses, light maple syrup, clove, pumpernickel, dark fruits, a pinch of brown sugar, and a light dip in a vat of chocolate. The taste brings in more of the same, with the chocolate and spices leading the charge and the fruits coming through a bit muted in comparison with the smell. The body is a lithe medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a relatively smooth feel. Overall, a very nice quad, one littered with nuance and character in every Thomas-brand nook and cranny (it matters to those who know...). Good times.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:29:15 | More by TMoney2591

smithj4

New York

4/5  rDev -0.2%

04-03-2013 00:52:58 | More by smithj4

Dope

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle 05035, bottled summer 2012

A: Pours a very dark reddish-brown. Good sized fluffy and fizzy tan head. Head fades slowly and sticks around nicely - great retention. Fluffy slashes of lacing everywhere.

S: Very fruity. Lots of grapes and cherries and raisins in fact. Honey is distinct and noticeable and combines nicely with some caramel. Maybe a touch of brown sugar?

T: Again, dark fruits up front as mentioned in the aroma. Honey comes up in the middle and is quite distinct. Combines with some earthiness in the middle. Decent bit of caramel with some toffee and toast into the finish. Fairly drying in the finish and aftertaste; hints of earth and dried fruits with just a touch of honey. Get just a touch alcohol in between sips; the only thing betraying its ABV.

M: Honestly, not nearly as thick or heavy as you'd expect for a 10.7% beer. Nice and smooth, drying in the finish.

O: A nice example of the style. Honey adds a nice layer of complexity. Typical belgian yeast earthiness with dark fruits layering over everything. Tasty and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 05:00:49 | More by Dope

valkyre65

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

03-19-2013 00:40:32 | More by valkyre65

Hex92

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my second beer from elevation and I think I have found my new favorite brewery. Unfortunately my nose is stoppedup tonight, so i can't taste or smell as well as I would like.

From what I can tell this is a great beer. Smells great and tastes great. The honey comes through nicely in both the smell and taste. Very smooth flavor, nice mouth feel. This is an excellent beer. I will have to update my review when I open the next bottle..

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 03:21:13 | More by Hex92

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

03-04-2013 21:06:27 | More by coreyfmcdonald

SFC21

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-17-2013 04:53:20 | More by SFC21

KetchumSuds

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-13-2013 09:40:49 | More by KetchumSuds

beerandcycling88

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-09-2013 21:56:40 | More by beerandcycling88

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-06-2013 23:45:54 | More by Haybeerman

AllenChaney

Colorado

4/5  rDev -0.2%

12-18-2012 04:54:18 | More by AllenChaney

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a dark, slightly hazed crimson red with a modest tannish cap

S: The nose is overcome with sweet honey notes and dark fruits

T: The taste buds are met with an initial wallop of dark fruits in the way of purple grapes, figs, raisins and dates. The honey plays second fiddle as it should and masked just underneath dark fruits. A bit of Earthiness on this beer with a subtle booze sting is noted. The finish is dry, some heat and a tad sweet

M: Medium body, well carbonated

O: Good. No major flaws found

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 23:08:25 | More by barleywinefiend

crobinso

Colorado

4/5  rDev -0.2%

12-02-2012 23:42:45 | More by crobinso

mactrail

California

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Dark brown with a golden glint in the squat CIney snifter. Plenty of foam on pouring. Fruity and honey aromas along with a hint of sourness.

Rich and dark flavors with that interesting zing of honey flavor. Dried figs along with the dark roasted malt. Something dank and earthy to go with the sweetness and the caramel. The Belgian yeasty flavors emerge out of the darkness to provide the trademark dry finish. Still that honey tang at the very end. Label says there are Northern Brewer and Tettnang hops. They are not very forward, but maybe that's what keeps the sweet honey flavor from cloying.

To me this tastes like a Dubbel amped up to something stronger and Quad-like. An interesting and sippable beer, but you have to like honey. From the 750 ml bottle bought at Grapevine Liquors in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 05:21:52 | More by mactrail

kylemckinnis

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

11-15-2012 04:27:28 | More by kylemckinnis

bigaltemple

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Corked & Caged 750mL Bottle #07460

A - Pours dark brown, with some crimson hues appearing at the edges. Thick, khaki colored head builds quickly and easily before settling to a thin cap. Shows some good retention though, as sheets of lacing are left after every drink.

S - Slightly "inspired" by bottle description as to what I'm getting in the nose. However, I feel aspects of this one all come out fairly easy and quite identifiable. I didn't expect the honey and molosses to be so pronounced, but they lend a nice sweetness along with caramel malt, plum, and raisin. There's an underlying floral hops presence that really gives this a nice balance.

T/M - Honey and bready malt dominate at first before mingling with dark fruits and the definite twang of Belgian yeast. Very mild sense of hops in the aftertaste. Medium-bodied with some prickly carbonation. I would prefer a little less carbonation, but that doesn't detract from this brew at all.

O - Definitely a loose interpretation of the Quad label, but I found this beer to be one of my favorites this year. I think there is a great group of people behind the brewery and I'm excited to see what else they come up with.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 04:25:56 | More by bigaltemple

hiphopj5

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

11-06-2012 14:48:53 | More by hiphopj5

Jryan2004

5/5  rDev +24.7%

10-21-2012 02:21:26 | More by Jryan2004

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle, an extra from skycracksopen. It was allowed to warm a bit before being poured into my Brooklyn Breweryl tulip.

Apis IV pours a very dark mahogany, with scattered cherry highlights. There's about two fingers of khaki colored foam left sitting atop the beer, albeit briefly. Neither head retention nor lacing impress at all. The nose is straightforward, but nice. Lots of dark fruit aromas and just a little bit of honey present as well. The flavor profile is a little bit more varied. Honey drizzled plums form the basis for everything, but a subtle, yet distinct rumminess is present as well. A light phenolic clove flourish joins the proceedings for the finish. The body is solidly light for a beer that tops 10% alcohol, but the carbonation disappointingly dull. It leaves the mouthfeel just a little too ponderous and chewy. I've been perfectly content to pass this evening with Apis IV in my glass, though it does lack the depth and complexity of the truly world class quads.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 03:04:29 | More by axeman9182

KajII

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

[Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]

The pour was a muddy dark brown with some mild red highlights and a small (1 finger or less) tan creamy head that was mostly diminishing down to a thin film and small collar, which did create excellent sheeting of lace that totally engulfed the entire glass.

The aroma was of a toasted sweet caramel malt and a chewy doughy yeast with notes of milk chocolate, molasses, honey, banana and dark fruit (figs, raisons and plums).

The taste was extremely malty with a very nice caramel sweetness, and had hints of molasses and slight fruity ester early on. Then a strong dose of dark fruit took hold along with a touch of honey, with the ending having a serious chocolate and a mild alcohol presence. Flavor lasted a average amount of time with a lingering taste of chocolate hanging on a bit longer.

Mouthfeel was medium in body and quite creamy in texture with a nice soft carbonation.

Overall this was a scrumptious tasting brew, which did not allow for any one flavor to overtake another. Also the creamy chocolate finish did an awesome job of concealing the high ABV, this is one that you really need to watch yourself with...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 19:25:32 | More by KajII