La Trappe Quadrupel

750mL, no date. Clear effervescent tea orange with a three finger rocky head. Lacing has a few holes in it, but overall looks great. Aroma is yeasty with peach, banana, and some lemon--these are a little more in the background. There are some spicy notes, herbal and citrus hops, brown sugar, raisins and a grape tang--overall fairly sweet. Flavor has lots of raisiny, brown sugar and powdered sugar, and grapey sweetness. Still fairly spicy as well. Alcohol is present and warming, but works well with everything else going on here. Very dry finish. Full body with moderate carbonation. Very good beer.

33 cL bottle as Koningshoeven. Warm dark fruit aromas. Something of a mahogany color with a creamy beige head. It leaves lace tatters. Medium bodied with creamy carbonation. It starts with prunes, raisins, caramel. The body seems to thin rapidly. The sweetness has a certain tang, like bitter cherry. Nutty, yeasty notes. The finish is rather dry, nutty, and very slightly bitter. Very pleasant.

330ml bottel (bb. 07-2008). Before the pour it smells like sherry. The pour reveals a nice aroma from plums, figs and grapes. Creamy, off-white head, some of it remaining. Good lacing on the galss. Dark amber coloured body, slightly hazy. Complex and exciting taste of cherries, raisin, bread and caramel reaching its peak with a discreet spicy bitterness at the end. Moderate sweetness and almost full bodied. Surely a brew for contemplation - a real taste of silence. Bottle from Fine Food at Kastrup Airport (enjoyed at home, 08.08.2007).

Hop Leaf, Chicago. Had this one right after my Rochefort 10, so unfortunately it had a tough act to follow. But it held up very well- the alcohol was much more prevalent in this one than in the Rochefort. Flavor was a bit lighter and not as complex, but it must be noted that for 1/2 the cost ($6/bottle vs the $12 for the 10), this was a great deal.

Tasted 2007-08-20. Fresh bottle, 30cl. Pour red/brown with a light brown head. Clear and no floaties whatsoever. Sweet, spicy, fruity. Alcohol is very present in this young beer - it gives the beer a warm touch. Therer’s a nutty touch to this one. Also prunes, oranges and yeast dominates. Very good. I was surprised to see no sediments in this one? Seems like there should at least be some yeast at the bottom? Must be the young age!

Bottle. Pours a deep reddish brown, average head. Sweet aroma. Good flavor with alcohol present. Not bad, not great. Worth a try.

I had this along side a St. Bernardus 12 . . . so it was up against some stiff competition. Not that good. Poured dark. Aroma is sweet, caramel. Flavor was disappointing, a little too much cherry and medicinal tastes. Warming alcohol finish. Not great.

Pour is a copper with a large tan head. Aroma is candi sugar out the wazoo! Some caramel and alcohol also show up. Flavor is slightly musty with some toffee, dark fruit and earthyness. Alcohol is there but not in a bad way. Just more of a warming than anything. A tasty brew, prob not as good as St. Bernardus but its a quality brew.