Bourbon Barrel Quad Barrel-Aged Ale (BBQ)
Boulevard Brewing Co.

Bourbon Barrel Quad Barrel-Aged Ale (BBQ)Bourbon Barrel Quad Barrel-Aged Ale (BBQ)
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From:
Boulevard Brewing Co.
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #18
ABV:
12.2%
Score:
94
Ranked #1,934
Avg:
4.25 | pDev: 10.12%
Reviews:
829
Ratings:
2,860
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 11, 2024
Added:
Jul 11, 2008
Wants:
  581
Gots:
  1,073
Based loosely on the Smokestack Series’ The Sixth Glass, this abbey-style quadrupel is separated into a number of oak bourbon barrels where it ages for varying lengths of time, some for up to three years. Cherries are added to make up for the “angel's share” of beer lost during barrel aging. Selected barrels are then blended for optimum flavor. The resulting beer retains only very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore.

19 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DavoleBomb:
Photo of DavoleBomb
Reviewed by DavoleBomb from Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a goblet. Batch 2-2009, Bottle # 4499 of 11248.

4.0 A: Hazy medium brown color. Two plus fingers of creamy beige head with pretty good retention and moderate lacing.

4.0 S: Dark fruits with fig, raisin, cherries and currant. Light toastiness. Belgian yeast clove spiciness. Bourbon show up about as strong as everything else and competes with it. Still, not bad.

3.5 T: After sipping this, I've found that I wish the bourbon barrel aging isn't there. The bourbon masks a lot of the subtleties that the quad beneath holds. Cherries come through big time and is very noticeable, but only hints of raisin, fig, and tobacco are penetrating the bourbon shield. Don't get me wrong, the bourbon itself is a nice taste, but the quad flavors aren't big enough like in an imperial stout to override the bourbon.

4.0 M: Medium body. Good spritzy carbonation in moderate amount. No problems here.

4.0 D: Seems like I want to keep the bourbon out of my Belgians. In stouts and barleywines it works great. Hell, even my boubon weizenbock is good, but the beauty of a quad is the great things the yeast does. The yeast can't shine in a hostile bourbon environment.
Jul 21, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of Qu3st
Reviewed by Qu3st from Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
An excellent example of this category. Bourbon notes come through clean and are not obtrusive. Overall balanced flavor with many notes from various sources. Could benefit from a little more aging as some of the edge is still there to cut sharp. Wish it did something more to differentiate itself from similar offerings by others.
Mar 11, 2024
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark textured brown appearance with a one finger short lived beige head, no lacing to really speak of. Mild base quad with modest notes of roasted malt, raisin, and fig. The bourbon is also somewhat modest, playing more of a complimentary role. Medium body, light carbonation. Pleasant and highly drinkable.
Mar 08, 2024
 
Rated: 4.1 by Boone757 from Virginia

Feb 19, 2024
Photo of barnzy78
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle, dated 02JUNE2025
thanks to Ken for the bottle - amazingly I’ve never had this one!
L: rusty brown body; thinner tan head fades to a thin layer of foam
S: bourbon, vanilla, spicy Belgian yeast, dark candi, caramel, toffee
T: oaky & boozy bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, candi, spice, bread crust, brown sugar, yeast, earthy/herbal hops
F: fuller body, alcohol is warming, nice balance between booze, quad, and bourbon
O: such a good beer! Thanks Ken!
Feb 17, 2024
 
Rated: 4.18 by HabaJohnTheReal1 from Illinois

Feb 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.08 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Feb 07, 2024
Photo of Iamaskier
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L: Reddish brown murky body, two finger frothy head.
S: Sweet, mature, slightly earthy. Fleeting raspberry on the first whiff, a few mineral notes, caramel, fig, and lots of honey bourbon.
T: Less fruity than the nose. A touch of berries up front, even a bit of tartness, quickly overpowered by boozy caramel, hints of toffee, fig, a slight malt driven bitterness, and lingering roasty bourbon notes.
F: Smooth, hot.
O: It’s a big boozy dark beer, of course it’s good. Blind, would I guess it’s a quad? Nope. But, you have to expect that with these types.
Feb 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4.32 by ChaosUncaged from Illinois

Feb 01, 2024
Photo of Saluki
Reviewed by Saluki from Florida

4.34/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pretty well balanced between the rich tasting malts, chocolate flavors and the 12 abv.

Can taste why it doesn't get a 98-100 as it is a strong beer with a slight bitterness. Little light on the smoothness.

Bourbon barrel aging is not a traditional beer style and imo why an ABT 12 or other top tier Trappist/style is really tough to beat. The best aged beer is best aged in glass. It's like the local craft guys in town, always experimenting to no end with the hops and flavorings.

Bought four, think the next three will last.
Jan 13, 2024
Photo of Rwoodroffe
Rated by Rwoodroffe

4.4/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Beautiful reddish amber color with a lightly colored head. Sutle aroma but strong sweet bourbon flavor.
Jan 08, 2024
 
Rated: 4.35 by Prospero from Colorado

Jan 05, 2024
Photo of vickersspitfire
Reviewed by vickersspitfire from Texas

4.62/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Look: Pours out a gorgeous dark burgundy color with amber hues on the outer edges of the drink. The head starts off thick and retains a nice covering with a fill ring around the glass.

Smell: cloves, banana bread and mild brown sugar up front followed by figs and fruit and then the bourbon hits you, very lovely aroma.

Taste: Bourbon upfront, banana bread and roasted malts followed by mild fruit and then a very mild bitterness mixed in with brown sugar. The alcohol really hits you in the aftertaste and leaves you wanting another sip.

Feel: This is a medium to full bodies ale, very smooth and crisp and just envelopes your tongue with flavor.

Overall: A very pleasant beer and very tasty with no regrets, don't pass it up.
Jan 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by akk14 from Illinois

Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.67 by averageninjaface from Alaska

Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Dec 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
Photo of QuintusHorace
Reviewed by QuintusHorace from California

4.06/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a colorful brown with a thick head. Hints of fruit, banana, cloves, and alcohol on the nose. Taste closely follows with nutmeg spices and fruit notes. Finish isn’t too strong but you can tell there is alcohol, but it hides the abv quite well. Overall a complex and interesting beer that snuck up on me quickly after finishing
Nov 18, 2023
Photo of KGT426
Rated by KGT426 from Missouri

4.81/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Powerful but smooth. Sneaks up on you
Oct 24, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Oct 20, 2023
Bourbon Barrel Quad Barrel-Aged Ale (BBQ) from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 2860 ratings