Style: Quadrupel
Brewery: De Koningshoeven
Origin: Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands
Size: 33cl
Alcohol: 10%
Price: 35kr
Systembolaget: 89369
When it comes to Trappist beers, quadrupels are probably my favourite style. The delicious blend of dark fruit, sugar, spices and alcohol make for a truly magical experience. As I wanted to show at least one quad in the tasting, I thought it seemed only right to go for the original. Indeed, La Trappe were the first brewery to label a beer as a quadrupel and so all others are based or copied from this style. But is the original the best example of the style? I would have to say it’s definitely high up on the list!
It was hazy amber in colour with a cream coloured head that held well. There was a multitude of aromas including brown sugar, syrup, raisins, plums, metal, cherry and almond! As it is 10%, there was an obvious yet slight alcoholic sting to it on the nostrils. The texture was smooth with quite low carbonation. All those aromas push through into the taste, with the syrup, raisins and nuts really pulling through strongly to the forefront. The dried fruits and metal came through in the aftertaste along with the brown sugar. The alcohol was felt in the chest, warming it as swallowed.
What can I say? This isn’t just an excellent quad but a world-class beer in general. Big, boozy and bursting with aromas and flavours, this really sets the bar high for all other quads to follow. It worked beautifully with blue cheese too, with the salt and cream working great with the sweetness of the beer. Just simply excellence.