Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ) - Boulevard Brewing Co.

Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ)Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ)

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BA SCORE
94
exceptional
-
770 Ratings
THE BROS
100
world-class
-
read more »
rAvg: 4.23
pDev: 13%
Reviews: 421
Hads: 349

Ratings Help


Brewed by:
Boulevard Brewing Co. visit their website
Missouri, United States

Style | ABV
Quadrupel (Quad) |  11.80% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (419), on-tap (2)

Notes:
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
View:  Beers  (37) |  Events  (0)

Reviews

Sort by:  Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Read the Alström Bros Beer Reviews and Beer Ratings of Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ) Alström Bros  | Show Hads:
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Reviews by tcampbel1:
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tcampbel1

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

07-25-2012 03:39:10 | More by tcampbel1
More User Reviews:
Photo of mikeincharleston
mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

05-23-2013 01:24:00 | More by mikeincharleston
Photo of cosmonick
cosmonick

Indiana

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-19-2013 01:35:26 | More by cosmonick
Photo of MinorThreat
MinorThreat

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-16-2013 13:13:18 | More by MinorThreat
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baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-14-2013 05:24:23 | More by baybassboy
Photo of Stinger80OH
Stinger80OH

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-11-2013 16:45:10 | More by Stinger80OH
Photo of AltBock
AltBock

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Corked and caged 750ml bottle with a plain Jane brown and tan label of an oval surrounded by 2 crossed barley stocks and 4 hop buds. In this oval is vintage year and bottle number. This was bottle #10552 and from 2011. The back label has the Government warning, a lengthy description of the beer, proper serving glass, and a batch number/best by date. This was from batch 2011-2 and best before 11-2013.

When poured into a CCB Hunahpu Snifter, this Quad was an interesting hazy dirty reddish brown color. When I held it up to the light, this beer appeared to be on the orange side. It was a bit on the weird side. There's nothing wrong with having a weird hue. The head of foam was not as interesting as the color. On top was a short lived fizzy dark beige head of foam. It fizzled away pretty fast, but it did manage to leave behind a string of beige rings and a few miniature spots of lace.

The aroma was a little sour and tart. I have to say that it was more tart than sour. Up front in the aroma was the tart and lightly sour bing cherries. After it got the cherries out of the way, the aroma went Quad aged in Bourbon barrels. This part of the aroma consisted of lightly toasted malts, yeast, a drop a caramel, green apples, oak, and a subtle whiff of alcohol. I guess the alcohol was suppose to be the bourbon. I thought it got the cherries out of the way in the beginning, but they showed up again at the finish line. Interesting aroma, but still not as interesting as the color.

Was the taste as interesting as the color and smell. I have to say yes. The taste wasn't sour or tart like the aroma. The taste started off with the toasted malts, a pinch of caramel, and a splash of cherry. After the cherry, the alcohol swooped in like an eagle. Just when I thought that the alcohol completely took over the taste, the oak, a subtle taste of vanilla, and a tab bit more cherry came in to rescue the taste from the alcohol. No bourbon in the taste. Like the aroma, the bourbon was the slight burn taste of alcohol.

This was a medium to full bodied barrel aged Quad with a nice level of carbonation, and a slight boozy aftertaste. The aftertaste was on the dry side with malts, a small dab of caramel, oak, a big bite of bing cherries, and a lot of alcohol. I got the taste the alcohol, but not the burning sensation that comes with that. After a few sips, the taste of alcohol will start to work on your body.

I'm going to first thank fellow BA BlueOkie for giving me this interesting barrel aged Quad. The alcohol wanted to take over the taste, but the oak and company saved it. However the oak couldn't hold back the alcohol in the mouthfeel. Pick your battles I guess. It's a very good beer. The bourbon barrel aging added some nice characteristics to this beer. I would drink it again if I had the chance.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 04:24:19 | More by AltBock
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Rob315

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-10-2013 16:58:44 | More by Rob315
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deadliest

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-08-2013 00:10:28 | More by deadliest
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cnbrown313

Illinois

5/5  rDev +18.2%

05-07-2013 18:26:06 | More by cnbrown313
Photo of Kelp
Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -5.4%

04-26-2013 07:00:24 | More by Kelp
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MarkyMOD

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-14-2013 03:16:38 | More by MarkyMOD
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beernads

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-10-2013 09:39:00 | More by beernads
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flyingPharmacist

New York

4/5  rDev -5.4%

04-05-2013 12:20:51 | More by flyingPharmacist
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Crash_the_Dog

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-31-2013 02:45:42 | More by Crash_the_Dog
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Sparky44

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

03-24-2013 02:48:26 | More by Sparky44
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Magery

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

03-23-2013 22:45:49 | More by Magery
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Ish1

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

03-23-2013 03:22:27 | More by Ish1
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Eichenlaub

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

03-23-2013 02:49:01 | More by Eichenlaub
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jewellrunner

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

03-08-2013 02:29:35 | More by jewellrunner
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match1112

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-03-2013 00:35:12 | More by match1112
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buffs9

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

02-26-2013 21:46:48 | More by buffs9
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CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

02-26-2013 06:33:34 | More by CaptainNomihodai
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JustinMatthew

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%

02-25-2013 23:27:43 | More by JustinMatthew
Photo of StonedTrippin
StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.99/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

mildly underwhelmed by this. pours a brassy copper color, a little hazy with some good suds on top and a slow going southern sort of feeling about it. the nose is a touch smoky, a lot alcoholy, and plenty sweet as well, with a huge grain bill and enough woody bourbon notes to bring me down to Kentucky on an imaginary horse. I like this fresh better than aged, as the older version (2010) thins out quite a bit, loses its more tasty sweet elements, and takes on a peculiar cocktail sauce horseradish funk that just doesn't belong in a beer, at least not in a quad. fresh through, the vanilla is large, and the wood is campy and mature. there is a statesman quality about this, formal in a way, but lax enough to kick the shoes off too. a good mix. not arrogant, but certainly not laying low in the background either. this is a robust beer, with just enough carbonation and a little less body than most American made quads. I appreciate it for what it is, but would not that its overpriced and a must share bottle at almost 12% abv. get it while you can, I don't think its being made anymore...

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:56:20 | More by StonedTrippin
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Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ) from Boulevard Brewing Co.
94 out of 100 based on 770 user ratings.