New Glarus Unplugged Belgian Quadruple

Formerly brewed at New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

From a 12oz Bottle. Purchased at Riley’s Wines of the World in Madison, WI. Pours a crystal clear, spruce sap amber color with a foamy head of off-white that dies down to a rocky froth after the forced carbonation stops coming out of solution. The aroma is quite satisfying; at first, a light red cherry fruitiness greets the nostrils with a gleam of the trademark NG cidery yeast character greeting the nostrils. Plunging my nose deeper into my tulip glass brings out several more layers of complex bouquet. Squeezed blood orange juice, fermented pineapples, light vanilla caramels, and underripe strawberries form a delcious smelling fruity bouquet, complimented by a touch of brett character that keeps it fresh and alive. Medium bodied, sparkling carbonation mouthfeel. Filtered, which pretty much says it all. It just has this artificial carbonation feel when it really needs that authentic continuous shimmer of carbonation to lighten up the mouthfeel and keep it tasting alive in the way that only bottle conditioning can do. Flavors are solid, but not quite as enticing as the bouquet. Lightly spicy, with some hints of apricot and peach. A light, reddish cherry flavor mingles as well, but isn’t quite as cidery as the aroma would suggest. Borderline medicinal, but never gets to the point of being distractingly prominent. Some hints of moderately dry single malt scotch linger on the back end. Warming on the finish, but not overly hot. Not bad overall, but could really stand to have a matured carbonation mouthfeel and a yeast character that’s less bright.

Thanks to Ughsmash and pantanap for the bottles. Clear orange with a medium head. Aroma is brett and oak with some sweet caramel malt. Not exactly what I was expecting. Dark fruit and cherries with a hint of bourbon in the taste. Alcoholic finish.

12 ounce bottle. Deep amber with no head. Aroma was of alcohol, dark fruit and bourbon. Taste has a heavy alcohol presence up front with smokey bourbon and vanilla notes. Little carbonation. Drinks more like a watered down hard liquor than a classic Belgian quad.

Bottle, Thaks Stine! I was waiting to try this beer since they brewed it. Poured into a goblet that filled straight to the top with a nice taned soft laced head. Smell is good and refreshing with hints of pears, grapes and berries. Taste is lively with a highly carbonated tarty flavor that is a bit dry for a finish, some hints of peach, and orange peels. Not as sweet as i would have thought but im sure some age and warmth will bring it to a better level.

Good looking pour, a deep reddish amber with a modest but sustained off-white head. The aroma is fruity with tart berries and cherries, sweet with vanilla and rich malt, and slightly boozy with Bourbon. It’s got a sweet & fruity flavor with enough alcohol to turn it somewhat medicinal. Vanilla, soft stone fruits, and a peppery spiciness are added to the blend. The finish is sticky sweet, mellowed by the alcohol and a mild iron-like bitterness. Very nice.

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Bottle and served in my Saint Bernardus goblet: A beautiful deep amber hue with a small ring of fine bubbles and some spotty lace. The nose detects heavy fruity esters of crabapple, pear, apricot along with a heavy dose of sugar and biscuity malts. Further inhale found some vanilla and bourbon but they are very well mannered along with nutmeg and cardamom spice vapours.

The taste starts sharp and sweet with many layers of flavors. Let’s see...apple, cherry, oak, walnut, nutmeg, ginger snaps, wheat and rye breads, and finally there is a quick peak of some yeasty barnyard and even a note of brett on the very end. Quite strange and not what I expected but that hardly means it was bad or anything like that, just not your Abbey Quad.

The mouth feel is super sticky and lip smacking, heavy and lush with a comfortable warming upon the finish. I really dunno, my heart really digs this and then my brain gets in the way. Let it be and lets see what happens in 6 to 12 months, will any Brettanomyces take over?

bottle, from trade with JCapriotti. Good aroma, sour & sweet, cherry, sugar, vanilla. only moderate brett about it. Litely hazed brownish orange color, good head that slowly faded to a foam cover, Good lacing most of the way down. Sweet fruity flavor, like aroma though the sweetness was a little more noticeable. Didn’t get much of the ABV really surprised how easy this went down. medium body, syrupy mouthfeel, bittersweet finish, very nice, super enjoyable, delicious. This was a surprise for me as far as my pre drinking idea of what it was going to be and what it was. Aroma & flavor stayed constant as it warmed. Very very good beer, IMO

My Bottom Line:
Coniferous brettanomyces gently seeps into the cherries and peaches as boisterous effervescence and dry wood help drinkability. This is in no way the Quadrupel you’d expect, but rather a crafty creation worthy of study and convivial enjoyment.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam surrounds the clear pale orange.
-Body is surprisingly lean and alcohol barely tickles.
-There is nothing of the rich chocolatey, roasty and spicy notes you’d expect from the style.
-This is strangely reminiscent of a friend’s homebrew Quad with brettanomyces and cherries.

Bottle; Thx Eric!