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Bourbon Barrel Quad Barrel-Aged Ale (BBQ)
Boulevard Brewing Co.
- From:
- Boulevard Brewing Co.
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #18 - ABV:
- 12.2%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #1,939 - Avg:
- 4.25 | pDev: 10.12%
- Reviews:
- 829
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 11, 2024
- Added:
- Jul 11, 2008
- Wants:
- 581
- Gots:
- 1,073
Based loosely on the Smokestack Series’ The Sixth Glass, this abbey-style quadrupel is separated into a number of oak bourbon barrels where it ages for varying lengths of time, some for up to three years. Cherries are added to make up for the “angel's share” of beer lost during barrel aging. Selected barrels are then blended for optimum flavor. The resulting beer retains only very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore.
19 IBU
19 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by claspada:
Reviewed by claspada from New Jersey
3.29/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.29/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Batch 2010-1; best by 11/2012.
Pours a hazy crimson color with a nice ample 1-2 inch head with nice soapy white lacing. I love a nice sticky looking beast.
Aromas are kind of a let down to be honest. All I get is a boat ton of sour cherries and alcohol; not even bourbon but like a vodka or cheap grain alcohol booziness. There is a slight caramel maltiness but the sour fruit and booze overshaddows the base beer.
The tastes are equally dissapointing to be honest. Initially I get the nice dark brown ale sour cherry beer taste like supplication but the alcohol rears its ugly head soon after. The sour cherries flavors almost taste bitter combined with the strong alcohol tastes. There is a slight vanilla taste on the backend which is nice but still can't combat the alcohol heat.
Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied. Coats the palate nicely which would be great if I enjoy the flavors. Carbonation is nice and strong here which is a plus for such a high ABV offering preventing it from being cloying or syrupy.
Overall this was a letdown for me. Maybe it is too young but I cannot forgive a beer for being this hot after a year plus no matter what. I am not a fan of cherry addition beers in general but I enjoyed Supplication because I can appreciate a good, well-made beer, but this is a miss for me. I have loved all the Boulevard Smokestack beers I have had to date but I will not be seeking this one ever again. I cannot say this very often, but I wish there were more bourbon flavors in this beer and less pure alcohol burn. I will give Boulevard a pass here because all the rest of the beers I have sampled from them have been top quality. Not every beer can be a winner...
Aug 20, 2011Pours a hazy crimson color with a nice ample 1-2 inch head with nice soapy white lacing. I love a nice sticky looking beast.
Aromas are kind of a let down to be honest. All I get is a boat ton of sour cherries and alcohol; not even bourbon but like a vodka or cheap grain alcohol booziness. There is a slight caramel maltiness but the sour fruit and booze overshaddows the base beer.
The tastes are equally dissapointing to be honest. Initially I get the nice dark brown ale sour cherry beer taste like supplication but the alcohol rears its ugly head soon after. The sour cherries flavors almost taste bitter combined with the strong alcohol tastes. There is a slight vanilla taste on the backend which is nice but still can't combat the alcohol heat.
Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied. Coats the palate nicely which would be great if I enjoy the flavors. Carbonation is nice and strong here which is a plus for such a high ABV offering preventing it from being cloying or syrupy.
Overall this was a letdown for me. Maybe it is too young but I cannot forgive a beer for being this hot after a year plus no matter what. I am not a fan of cherry addition beers in general but I enjoyed Supplication because I can appreciate a good, well-made beer, but this is a miss for me. I have loved all the Boulevard Smokestack beers I have had to date but I will not be seeking this one ever again. I cannot say this very often, but I wish there were more bourbon flavors in this beer and less pure alcohol burn. I will give Boulevard a pass here because all the rest of the beers I have sampled from them have been top quality. Not every beer can be a winner...
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Qu3st from Massachusetts
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
An excellent example of this category. Bourbon notes come through clean and are not obtrusive. Overall balanced flavor with many notes from various sources. Could benefit from a little more aging as some of the edge is still there to cut sharp. Wish it did something more to differentiate itself from similar offerings by others.
Mar 11, 2024Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark textured brown appearance with a one finger short lived beige head, no lacing to really speak of. Mild base quad with modest notes of roasted malt, raisin, and fig. The bourbon is also somewhat modest, playing more of a complimentary role. Medium body, light carbonation. Pleasant and highly drinkable.
Mar 08, 2024Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle, dated 02JUNE2025
thanks to Ken for the bottle - amazingly I’ve never had this one!
L: rusty brown body; thinner tan head fades to a thin layer of foam
S: bourbon, vanilla, spicy Belgian yeast, dark candi, caramel, toffee
T: oaky & boozy bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, candi, spice, bread crust, brown sugar, yeast, earthy/herbal hops
F: fuller body, alcohol is warming, nice balance between booze, quad, and bourbon
O: such a good beer! Thanks Ken!
Feb 17, 2024thanks to Ken for the bottle - amazingly I’ve never had this one!
L: rusty brown body; thinner tan head fades to a thin layer of foam
S: bourbon, vanilla, spicy Belgian yeast, dark candi, caramel, toffee
T: oaky & boozy bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, candi, spice, bread crust, brown sugar, yeast, earthy/herbal hops
F: fuller body, alcohol is warming, nice balance between booze, quad, and bourbon
O: such a good beer! Thanks Ken!
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho
4.18/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L: Reddish brown murky body, two finger frothy head.
S: Sweet, mature, slightly earthy. Fleeting raspberry on the first whiff, a few mineral notes, caramel, fig, and lots of honey bourbon.
T: Less fruity than the nose. A touch of berries up front, even a bit of tartness, quickly overpowered by boozy caramel, hints of toffee, fig, a slight malt driven bitterness, and lingering roasty bourbon notes.
F: Smooth, hot.
O: It’s a big boozy dark beer, of course it’s good. Blind, would I guess it’s a quad? Nope. But, you have to expect that with these types.
Feb 05, 2024S: Sweet, mature, slightly earthy. Fleeting raspberry on the first whiff, a few mineral notes, caramel, fig, and lots of honey bourbon.
T: Less fruity than the nose. A touch of berries up front, even a bit of tartness, quickly overpowered by boozy caramel, hints of toffee, fig, a slight malt driven bitterness, and lingering roasty bourbon notes.
F: Smooth, hot.
O: It’s a big boozy dark beer, of course it’s good. Blind, would I guess it’s a quad? Nope. But, you have to expect that with these types.
Reviewed by Saluki from Florida
4.34/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pretty well balanced between the rich tasting malts, chocolate flavors and the 12 abv.
Can taste why it doesn't get a 98-100 as it is a strong beer with a slight bitterness. Little light on the smoothness.
Bourbon barrel aging is not a traditional beer style and imo why an ABT 12 or other top tier Trappist/style is really tough to beat. The best aged beer is best aged in glass. It's like the local craft guys in town, always experimenting to no end with the hops and flavorings.
Bought four, think the next three will last.
Jan 13, 2024Can taste why it doesn't get a 98-100 as it is a strong beer with a slight bitterness. Little light on the smoothness.
Bourbon barrel aging is not a traditional beer style and imo why an ABT 12 or other top tier Trappist/style is really tough to beat. The best aged beer is best aged in glass. It's like the local craft guys in town, always experimenting to no end with the hops and flavorings.
Bought four, think the next three will last.
Rated by Rwoodroffe
4.4/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Beautiful reddish amber color with a lightly colored head. Sutle aroma but strong sweet bourbon flavor.
Jan 08, 2024Reviewed by vickersspitfire from Texas
4.62/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.62/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Look: Pours out a gorgeous dark burgundy color with amber hues on the outer edges of the drink. The head starts off thick and retains a nice covering with a fill ring around the glass.
Smell: cloves, banana bread and mild brown sugar up front followed by figs and fruit and then the bourbon hits you, very lovely aroma.
Taste: Bourbon upfront, banana bread and roasted malts followed by mild fruit and then a very mild bitterness mixed in with brown sugar. The alcohol really hits you in the aftertaste and leaves you wanting another sip.
Feel: This is a medium to full bodies ale, very smooth and crisp and just envelopes your tongue with flavor.
Overall: A very pleasant beer and very tasty with no regrets, don't pass it up.
Jan 01, 2024Smell: cloves, banana bread and mild brown sugar up front followed by figs and fruit and then the bourbon hits you, very lovely aroma.
Taste: Bourbon upfront, banana bread and roasted malts followed by mild fruit and then a very mild bitterness mixed in with brown sugar. The alcohol really hits you in the aftertaste and leaves you wanting another sip.
Feel: This is a medium to full bodies ale, very smooth and crisp and just envelopes your tongue with flavor.
Overall: A very pleasant beer and very tasty with no regrets, don't pass it up.
Reviewed by QuintusHorace from California
4.06/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a colorful brown with a thick head. Hints of fruit, banana, cloves, and alcohol on the nose. Taste closely follows with nutmeg spices and fruit notes. Finish isn’t too strong but you can tell there is alcohol, but it hides the abv quite well. Overall a complex and interesting beer that snuck up on me quickly after finishing
Nov 18, 2023Rated by KGT426 from Missouri
4.81/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.81/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Powerful but smooth. Sneaks up on you
Oct 24, 2023
Bourbon Barrel Quad Barrel-Aged Ale (BBQ) from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
2860 ratings
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