Malheur 12° - Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV

Patrick999

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured carefully into a chalice - a couple small pieces of styrofoam from the packing found their way into my pour, upon which I exhaled a "oh shit," and frantically fished them out with a spoon. Capped the 750 for later, as this is an awfully big beer to tackle in one sitting. Pours a cola color with a thin head, but one that seems to want to stick. Good looking quad.

I can't pick out anything too different in the nose from other quads I've tried. I want to say there's a vinous grape-bubblegum quality with a touch of smoked meat. A subtle aroma overall, but pretty damned good.

What immediately strikes me about the taste is that there's a touch more underlying hop than some quads, and that there's plenty of phenolic kick. Some sweetness up front, but the considerable alcoholic spiciness seems to want to dry it out to a really clean finish, especially for a quad. There's a tad sour/bitter thing going on here that makes me want to think of an Orval with more alcohol. The alcohol is not that well-hidden; it's out there for all to experience.

This feels surprisingly well-attenuated. I note very little residual sticky syrup; in fact, this seems to drink almost airy, far lighter than it should. For such a huge beer like this, it does not feel like one, even though alcohol presence is considerable. I think that's pretty impressive.

For a quad, this is very drinkable. I think the fact that it doesn't overload you on caramel malts and dries out well helps drinkability. One to savor and admire? Definitely.

Final verdict? While this doesn't blow my mind, it's obviously an extremely well-crafted beer. With the second pour, I swirled and dumped the yeast in for the hell of it. It doesn't seem to alter the taste much, but now I'm getting an interesting perfume-y smell coming from my chalice. Also, there's a distinct almond nuttiness in the aftertaste I'm noticing now that I didn't notice before. Glad I have a couple more bottles, as I think this one deserves further investigation. I have a feeling this is one of those beers you can't fully know in one tasting....need to relax and let the subtleties reveal themselves.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 00:51:39 | More by Patrick999

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-17-2013 03:18:21 | More by ElizabethEleanor

Partridge

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-14-2013 13:48:04 | More by Partridge

yeaprolly

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-11-2013 04:52:35 | More by yeaprolly

PHBoiler

Illinois

4.61/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

3 yr old 12 oz bottle poured into snifter

Given to me by local bartender that called it a pleasant surprise/mistake that these had aged and compared it to Westy.

Deep amber/almost purple darkness in the hue with a 1/4 inch bright white head.

Smell has a bit of dankness and sharpness almost like a raw cheese.

There is so much flavor playing in perfect harmony. Deep fruits almost like dried plums and raisins blend with a bright carbonated mouthfeel that ignites the booziness that is incredibly hidden for 12%. I'm not veteran enough to understand the flavors at play, but understand that it is supremely delicious and the best Quad I've had. Age these with care and you'll have a beer worthy of high regard.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:30:50 | More by PHBoiler

PhantasIPA

Delaware

4.49/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This monster, with horns and fangs, that someone in Belgium decided to call a beer, pours a dark, cloudy brown that barely allows light through. The head poured a legitimate 4 inches and settled to a 1/2 inch after about 10 minutes. Lacing is decent against the glass.

The smell of this brew is like two raisins, covered in brown sugar, drank brandy all night and then got into a brawl in the alleyway outside of the bar...after neither one could call himself the victor, they self immolated, and that is where the toasty character of the brew comes in to play.

The taste is strong and complex. Sweet, pungent fruit (raisins) then sweet malt (brown sugar, maybe caramel) is followed by a toasted barley and balanced bitter flavor. The smell and the taste are absolutely connected. Spice is very hard to place...

Mouthfeel is smooth and heavy. Carbonation can't live in the realm of 12% ABV, at least in this bottle. Taste lingers for a VERY long time on the tongue, the scent permeates the nose and lingers as well - inescapable!

Overall this beer is a beast. Strong, complex, flavorful, and well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:45:20 | More by PhantasIPA

beernads

Florida

3/5  rDev -26.3%

05-08-2013 07:51:38 | More by beernads

Dactrius

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -26.3%

05-07-2013 02:49:28 | More by Dactrius

akttr

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-30-2013 02:43:36 | More by akttr

videofrog

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-28-2013 02:25:53 | More by videofrog

Sjdavis

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

04-22-2013 20:28:26 | More by Sjdavis

MarioM

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-21-2013 17:30:51 | More by MarioM

BierMeJohn

Germany

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-21-2013 12:45:08 | More by BierMeJohn

kurt65

Washington

5/5  rDev +22.9%

04-10-2013 03:36:25 | More by kurt65

crosenkrantz

Switzerland

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

04-03-2013 23:52:25 | More by crosenkrantz

nrb1

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

03-23-2013 15:30:38 | More by nrb1

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a very dark brown with almost three fingers of thick off white head. Great lacing and retention.

S: Dried apricots, orange bitters, nutmeg, and a bit of peppercorn. A bit brighter with less dark fruits than I'm used to for the style, but still quite nice.

T: Sweeter than I thought it'd be based on the aroma. Plums start off with a bit of prunes. Quite peppery as well without as much of the brighter apricot and orange I got from the aroma. A tad soapy.

M: Medium thickness with a nice, strong carbonation.

O: Not a bad Quad, it has a nicely complex aroma and a decent flavor, it just doesn't stand up with some the heavy hitters of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 17:46:44 | More by coreyfmcdonald

SocalKicks

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

03-12-2013 02:00:46 | More by SocalKicks

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

03-11-2013 04:52:43 | More by spycow

aakerman

New York

3.5/5  rDev -14%

03-07-2013 14:07:37 | More by aakerman

elNopalero

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle dated best before 10/11. Aged at least two years, enjoyed 3/13.

This pours a ruddy dark raisin color with light foam.

There’s an aroma of dark fig, raisin, caramel, and brown sugar.

It has an interesting flavor. I pick up some more malty sweetness, caramel, fig and date puree, and a light rum note. Still retains its carbonation. Definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 08:04:07 | More by elNopalero

jmann40

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +22.9%

03-04-2013 03:18:56 | More by jmann40

zivis

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

03-03-2013 11:49:52 | More by zivis

mattpatey

Germany

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

02-23-2013 00:19:53 | More by mattpatey

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

02-09-2013 21:23:09 | More by Zachtheporter