New Glarus Unplugged Belgian Quadruple

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

Bottle from trade with JCapriotti. Clear light copper color with a few transient trails of head. Mild Brett aromas mixed with sweetness, cherry, vanilla, oak. Medium to thick-bodied. Very clean tasting, with the sweet dark cherry notes and the mild sourness of the Brett melding into an interesting taste with a short tangy finish. This brew has a lot of variations on the same characteristics that NG Enigma has.

One of the better beers of the series if you understand this is NOT a classic quad. If you’re thinking of this only as a typical quad, I can see how you’d rate this lower. However, if you’re familiar with what Dan’s been doing lately, you’d understand his direction with this beer and what he’s trying to accomplish. Not to be a Dan Carey apologist, as there as some slight flaws which detract from the overall quality, but an incredibly intriguing character helps to offset these. As for the beer itself, the color is quite deceiving and detracts slightly from the overall beer. Crystal clear from filtration that left no sediment behind......unfortunate. Lighter in color than I was expecting. However, this negative is slight in the subsequent tapestry of flavours which nest present themselves. Aroma that reminds me of the old Apple Ale. Nutmeg, cinnamon, apple cider. Light note of brett perfectly accented by hints of bourbon and oak. Creamy mouthfeel, residual sweetness and active carbonation that reminds one of a Belgian ale. Immediately after, a strong presence of cherry, bourbon and a pleasant tobacco/horse character from the brett. A slight warming on the finish that was just a touch hot. Then, the bourbon quickly becomes very assertive, but notes of vanilla remain. A little toasted oak peeps its head as well. I’d love to sit on this awhile and see what happens with the brett and bourbon, but worry about the amount of filtration which may have negatively impacted its ability to age properly. Overall, the slight mis-steps are more than offset by the intriguing complexities of flavour which are interwoven throughout this beer. A must try!

Bottle shared by nolankowal: Pours a clear amber color with an off white head. Aroma, caramel, some spice, molasses, and some fruits, with a nice underlying funk to it. Flavor, oak and vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, some spices, and a yeasty/bready character that went really nice with the light sourness. This was damn good.

Charismatic amber color with a small sweet light brown head. Malty sweet alcohol in nose initially but quite complex. Taste of sour tannins and caramel. Oaky cream notes with a warming malty sweet complex bourbon finish.

Bottle courtesy of Juelze, thanks Ryan. Pours a copper color with a fairly substantial beige colored head, nice lacing. Aroma is fruity pear or apple, estery, oaky, and alcohol. Flavor is cherries, apple, brown sugar, hints of vanilla and alcohol. Palate is medium to full bodied, medium to highly carbonated, finishes on the sweet side, with some alcohol warmth. Very good, I have not tried the best Quads out there, so I did not quite know what to expect, but I liked it!

Brew pours a beautiful cherry amber color w/ a medium sized, semi spritzy froth that reduces quickly to almost nothing. Aroma is malty sweet w/ some candy spice and slightly tart must. Seems like it’s trying to go Lambic. Medium full nectar w/ amples residual effers. This brew is very Belgian, right down to the granite. A malty backbone supporting the "Horn of Plenty" if you will, complexities. Candied apples, black cherries, peaches, nectarines, and vanilla bean w/ other nuances of new leather, tobacco, and spices dumped into a sandy gravel pit of granite shards. The Bourbon is defined and reminds me of the mellow luciousness of a 21yr old Black Maple Hill. This brew beholds a moderate sweetness but is quickly balanced by strict, peach pit bittering component. The finish is long on flavor and bittered abundantly. Overall: A huge, balanced brew of epic complexities. I highly recommend this brew to all connoisseurs.

12 oz bottle courtesy of Stine, thanks alot! This is a light colored quad but in this case that’s not a bad thing. Amber in color with a small to medium off white head. Aroma is very fruity, lightly oaky, vanilla, spicy. Taste is cherry, apple, heavy caramel, belgian spices, with notes of vanilla and wood. Finishes malty and lightly sweet, although never cloying.

Bottle. Thanks to Artusory for sending me this. Pours a clear amber body with thin head. Aroma is of cherry, light oak, some dried fruits. Flavor had alot going on. Dried cherries, vanilla, light fruits with a slight alcohol burn. This was a great sipping beer while relaxing on a cool night in June.