Sixpoint Express

Brewed by Sixpoint Brewery
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Brooklyn, New York USA

Serve in Trappist glass

Tap at Barcade. I never thought I’d see these old Sixpoint beers, but here one is. hazy deep orange-brown coloured brew. Very thick creamy persistent head. Aroma is immediately very rich and sweet. Toffee and caramel aroma, dried apricots, plums and a rich cherryish fruitiness. Some nice spicy hops are there in flavour and aroma, but the rich malts are what is really on display. Flavour is quite rich and fruity with some lovely figgy and lightly plummy fruitiness and a soft leathery character. There is a fairly fruity grapey/vineous component on the back of the beer. Fruity and spicy yeast, but not overly so. This treads the line between barleywine and quadrupel, but does so in such an elegant and understated way that it works. The years have been kind to this beer and I hope to see it again.

(Old BA rate - tap) Really bright orangey copper color, and looks quite different most most other Quads....this is much lighter in color, but still interesting looking. Spices and even catch some bubblegum; light fruit; yeasty. Tart at first with a hint of sour fruit; great maltiness; darker fruit flavors; and spices finish it out. Lots of layers. A little syrupy, and much heavier than the appearance suggests. Fairly light carbonation. Hugely drinkable even though it’s more like a sipper for me. Couldn’t even tell the abv was 11.3%.

[2005 Draft @ Barcade] Poured a murky purple brown color with a small, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of raisins, cocoa, roasted malts, caramel, and a bit of alcohol. Taste of dark fruits, raisins, roast, chocolate, sweet toffee, and a bit more alcohol in the finish.

On tap at Bellport Cold Beer and Soda. When I gave my glass to Jeff from Sixpoint to try this beer, I was given a sample that barely covered the bottom of my glass. When I asked him for a bit more, he told me that this was a "strong" beer and I should be careful. Hell, I’m old enough to be this guy’s father! I walked over to Dave’s tap and proceeded to pour myself a proper sample, thank you Dave...pours a hazy golden amber with a moderate off-white head. Very pleasant, sweet smelling aroma filled with brown sugar, caramel and raisins. The flavor is quite similar with again brown sugar, caramel and raisins. I was very pleasantly surprised by the smooth texture and nearly full mouthfeel of this beer, and the lack of the characteristic Sixpoint hops bite at the end. A very nice domestic quad.

22oz bomber from Bierkraft courtesy of mikeyv35 poured into a snifter. Pours fairly light for a quad, a hazy caramel orange with a small, short-lived cream-colored head that recedes to a collar and leaves spotty lacing. The aroma is boozy and sweet with lots of spices. Tons of yeasty sweetness in the nose which also lends a bit of spiciness as well. There are alcohol-soaked fruits as well. The taste also has lots of initial sweetness from yeast and candi sugar with a big dose of fruit in the middle. The finish is an interesting combination of coriander and spicy yeast combined with a subtle alcohol burn that builds up after each sip. The mouthfeel is thick and almost syrupy with soft carbonation and just coats the palate with fruity sweetness. I certainly can’t compare this to most quads I’ve had but I definitely liked it though the massive sweetness and high ABV lend itself to be more of a sipper.

Tap at Barcade. A solid quad. Pours a light red with a fine white head. Nose of slightly funky yeast and sweet fruits. Flavor is a balanced blend of fruits, spice, malt and Belgian yeast. Medium bodied and high in alcohol, this alcohol warms. Sweet and slightly bitter finish.

Growler purchased from Bierkraft in Brooklyn. Appearance: Tangerine with honey corners. Nice fluffy 3 finger buttery white head. Lots of retention and lacing. Smell: Tart green apples and grapes coupled with a nice belgian style yeast. Touch of molasses and lemon. Taste: Bready in the beginning but gives way quickly to the tartness of green apples, grapes and lemons. Soon you get a plum/fig/honey combination and a tart finish that lasts a long time. Mouthfeel: Oily and slick with a good amount of carbonation. Medium bodied and a touch light for the style. Drinkability: The light body, generous carbonation, and strong tart quality which masks the alcohol makes this an extremely drinkable 11.3% brew. Home Run Sixpoint! Serving type: growler Reviewed on: 03-14-2009

On draft at R & H. Pours a deep caramel with a tiny beige head. Aroma of candied sugar, fruit, and malt. Taste of candied sugar, fruit, malt and cotton candy. Alcohol detected in the taste.