Gaverhopke Den Twaalf

Brewed by ’t Gaverhopke
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Stasegem-Harelbeke, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass

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Had it once in very rural Flanders 3/4 years ago. I believe the tiny brewery’s ownership was about to change hands. Seems unavailable in the midwest. From my notes: Murky, brown with some alcohol bite. Fruity mix sneaks in behind the very sour start. Giant head and nose. Malty, should make a good "big meal" beer. My memory may be a bit incomplete, but I loved it.

Draft. Dark red brown with a foamy head. Have had this quad many times and it has always impressed me with its unique sour quad character. Need to sit with it awhile to appreciate it. Nice full flavor dark quad. Pleasant sourness. Bests the chewy sweet versions, but still not for everyone.

As “Extra” // 2010 Vintage (I assume) // 33 cl. bottle @ Bier Central // (a) dark berry Bordeaux with little head // (s) soured synthetic berries, malt, spices, lightly artificial // (t) malt, bitter synthetic cherries, plastic berries, fake, plastic & plastic fruits, touch yeast, spices & lightly sour overall, touch light tannins wine // (b) touch too fizzy // something is definitely off here, some kind of infection or…

Gusher... Light acidity . Probably infected. Metallic notes. Spicy Meh

Strong metallic aroma, nothing much else. Nice spicy flavour that masks the strong alcohol content.

33cl bottle, BB 08/2016. Ambrée, col léger et fin beige/café au lait. Arôme malté, grillé, cara, note de fruits noirs; cerise/cassis? Pointe aigre aspect sparadra/levure. En bouche, fruité noir rappelant des dates ou figues. Pétillant qui s’estompe vers la moitié de bouteille pour devenir quasi plat. Sucre brun, caramel sur une touche de malt biscuité, peut faire penser à un jeune barley. Au final pas mauvaise, on aurait pu atteindre le même résultat sans pour cela faire du 12%, pour une bière qui reste dure à cerner.

On tap at Local Option. Past the abv line for Belgian yeasts I think. Orange and fruity, yet sour and astringent finish. Booze warming. Aroma neutral.

Bottle at Fiere Margriet, Leuven, Belgium: Hazy dark brown coloured brew with an slightly spiced taste and its very easy to drink with that high alcohol.

Bottle. Pours dark hazy copper with no head. Alcohol comes through. Almost no carbonation. Like a bad wine.

11.2 oz bottle. A very mellow drinkable, and decently complex quad, but lacking a bit of boldness that you hope for in a beer this strong. The pour was pretty average for a strong Belgian, with just a light layer of starchy white head, and a translucent, mahogany-orange body. Aroma is mild, but mixed fruits and toffee are most prominent. Also, some oily honey sweetness and cinnamon graham crackers, pitted fruits, mild herb, and light citrus hop. Mild carbonation in the body, no hint of booze, sweet and oily, with some light funk and mild sour in the fruity notes. Not as much complexity in the flavor, as notes seem to clump a bit. Molasses, honey, sweet fruits, melons, peaches, light herb and citrus, and light grainy graham crackers. Overall, no question that this one could improve with some work, but as it stands, its really not bad.

Draft as "Extra" at the Birch. Reddish, rusty brown. Thin body, and slippery. Drinks almost like a sour, with a tart essence, but easy to drink, particularly for 12%. (#4564, 4/12/2012)