-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Decadence 12 Cuvee Speciale
Valley Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
- From:
- Valley Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Quadrupel (Quad)
- ABV:
- 13%
- Score:
- Needs more ratings
- Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 8.58%
- Reviews:
- 8
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 04, 2013
- Added:
- May 12, 2008
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by Stoneman78:
Reviewed by Stoneman78 from California
4.62/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.62/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle sample from wetherel at Real Ale Festival, thanks!
Appearance is dark orange hue, minimal head and lacing
Smell is sugary sweet, dark fruits (raisins, figs), molasses, caramel and toffee malts, hints of brandy and oak
Taste is initially dark fruits and oaky presence, followed by butterscotch and caramel malts, tones of honey, belgian sugars, flowery hops, toffee, and vanilla, finishes sweet, delicious!
Mouthfeel is medium/full-bodied, thick and creamy texture, moderate carbonation
Drinkability is high, amazing flavors combinations and a ultra rare beer, the butterscotch and caramel have a unique interplay that works very well here, try to find this if you can!
Jun 25, 2008Appearance is dark orange hue, minimal head and lacing
Smell is sugary sweet, dark fruits (raisins, figs), molasses, caramel and toffee malts, hints of brandy and oak
Taste is initially dark fruits and oaky presence, followed by butterscotch and caramel malts, tones of honey, belgian sugars, flowery hops, toffee, and vanilla, finishes sweet, delicious!
Mouthfeel is medium/full-bodied, thick and creamy texture, moderate carbonation
Drinkability is high, amazing flavors combinations and a ultra rare beer, the butterscotch and caramel have a unique interplay that works very well here, try to find this if you can!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by bulletrain76 from California
4.15/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draught at The Bistro. Leftover from the BA fest. Really lucked out on coming across this one; awesome beer. Amber orange with a fine head. Huge fruity and caramel aroma, with plenty of brandy and wood influence. The flavor is quite sweet, but has so many good fruity nuances, along with honey, caramel, and vanilla, that It comes together. Full bodied, with a smooth, melded feel. The brandy and bright, popping fruit really make this one.
Nov 07, 2009Reviewed by largadeer from California
3.56/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Shared by seaoflament at the You Bring the Cheese tasting. Thanks, Carlos. This was described as a brandy barrel aged Belgian quad.
Appearance: Crimson-colored, bright and clear. The head recedes to a ring fairly fast, not unexpected for a barrel aged beer of 13%.
Smell: Huge brandy aroma, with typical quad-like qualities beneath. Brown sugar, whole grain, red grapes, coconut and roasted pumpkin. Somewhat hot.
Taste & mouthfeel: Grainy and sweet, flavors of dates, brown sugar, figs and tobacco come out first. Big brandy barrel flavor mid-palate, somewhat hot and overly sweet, and lacking in authentic quad character. The finish is simultaneously sweet and tannic. Decent, but a bit too rich for my tastes, and the barrel doesn't seem well-integrated.
Sep 14, 2009Appearance: Crimson-colored, bright and clear. The head recedes to a ring fairly fast, not unexpected for a barrel aged beer of 13%.
Smell: Huge brandy aroma, with typical quad-like qualities beneath. Brown sugar, whole grain, red grapes, coconut and roasted pumpkin. Somewhat hot.
Taste & mouthfeel: Grainy and sweet, flavors of dates, brown sugar, figs and tobacco come out first. Big brandy barrel flavor mid-palate, somewhat hot and overly sweet, and lacking in authentic quad character. The finish is simultaneously sweet and tannic. Decent, but a bit too rich for my tastes, and the barrel doesn't seem well-integrated.
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California
3.78/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.78/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Carlos for opening this at the tasting we had on 7/25/09-7/26/09.
The beer appears dark amber with a fizzy white had and decent retention.
The aroma is reminiscent of sugar coated brandy soaked dates. The malt is brown sugar and bready with lots of sweetness. The brandy is somewhat reserved, but it's still noticeable. I detect a subtle vegetable note in the aroma, akin to squash or pumpkins. Some green apple is also evident.
The flavor is very, very sweet, with brandy, dark fruits, and tons of brown sugar. The malt is bready, with lots of alcohol. Notes of dates and figs are evident. The sugary sweetness is dominating, and the brandy is much stronger in the flavor than I found it to be in the aroma.
The beer is medium bodied with low - medium carbonation and a sticky mouthfeel. This is a sugar sweet beer with dark fruit notes. It's reminiscent of a port wine.
Jul 29, 2009The beer appears dark amber with a fizzy white had and decent retention.
The aroma is reminiscent of sugar coated brandy soaked dates. The malt is brown sugar and bready with lots of sweetness. The brandy is somewhat reserved, but it's still noticeable. I detect a subtle vegetable note in the aroma, akin to squash or pumpkins. Some green apple is also evident.
The flavor is very, very sweet, with brandy, dark fruits, and tons of brown sugar. The malt is bready, with lots of alcohol. Notes of dates and figs are evident. The sugary sweetness is dominating, and the brandy is much stronger in the flavor than I found it to be in the aroma.
The beer is medium bodied with low - medium carbonation and a sticky mouthfeel. This is a sugar sweet beer with dark fruit notes. It's reminiscent of a port wine.
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon
3.82/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.82/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Yet another great beer at a great tasting. Thanks, Carlos
A: Brilliant amber with a thin, white head with poor retention
S: Brandy dominates the done with a fruit-cake like character. Rather bready. Big sweetness, reminiscent of pumpkins and plenty of brown sugar. The brandy heat has kinda overridden the base quad, and that's probably for the better 'cos I'm not getting a lot of complexity from it
T: Massively sweet with a lot of honey, brown sugar, caramel and a rather vegetal sweetness. Lots of brandy on the palate with a lot of barrel sweetness with plenty of vanilla. The combination is rich and delicious, but does get tiring after a while. Long and sweet finish, this is not very quad-like. Still very good, though
M: Big body, soft carbonation and a sweet, boozy finish. I *usually* like my quads a little drier
D: This is a definite sipper, I'm glad I got to try this.
Jul 29, 2009A: Brilliant amber with a thin, white head with poor retention
S: Brandy dominates the done with a fruit-cake like character. Rather bready. Big sweetness, reminiscent of pumpkins and plenty of brown sugar. The brandy heat has kinda overridden the base quad, and that's probably for the better 'cos I'm not getting a lot of complexity from it
T: Massively sweet with a lot of honey, brown sugar, caramel and a rather vegetal sweetness. Lots of brandy on the palate with a lot of barrel sweetness with plenty of vanilla. The combination is rich and delicious, but does get tiring after a while. Long and sweet finish, this is not very quad-like. Still very good, though
M: Big body, soft carbonation and a sweet, boozy finish. I *usually* like my quads a little drier
D: This is a definite sipper, I'm glad I got to try this.
Reviewed by seaoflament from California
3.9/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.9/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to AgentSteve for trading me this beer, was really looking forward to it. Took this bottle to the "You Bring the Cheese Tasting" that took place on July 25-26, 2009. From a 22oz bottle/growler.
This beer poured a strawberry red hue with surprisingly not much head, maybe about half an inch, but that quickly fell down to a ring. I do like the color on it though.
Soft brandy notes initially, very sugary, toast, dark fruits, cherries, raisins, nutty, a bit of heat, bits of caramel and chocolate, brown sugar, and oddly some roasted pumpkin notes. Interesting aroma.
This one starts and finishes quite sweet, loads of brown sugar, caramelized apples, sweet raisins, very yeast fruity, strawberries, dates, sweet oak, sweet cherries, toast, and bits of chocolate in the finish. Quite tasty actually but the finish is just too sweet.
Great carbonation, on the low side but very creamy...just wish the finish was a little drier. Pretty easy to drink despite the sweetness, the alcohol is well hidden and I forgot this was 13% until I was about to enter my review.
Jul 27, 2009This beer poured a strawberry red hue with surprisingly not much head, maybe about half an inch, but that quickly fell down to a ring. I do like the color on it though.
Soft brandy notes initially, very sugary, toast, dark fruits, cherries, raisins, nutty, a bit of heat, bits of caramel and chocolate, brown sugar, and oddly some roasted pumpkin notes. Interesting aroma.
This one starts and finishes quite sweet, loads of brown sugar, caramelized apples, sweet raisins, very yeast fruity, strawberries, dates, sweet oak, sweet cherries, toast, and bits of chocolate in the finish. Quite tasty actually but the finish is just too sweet.
Great carbonation, on the low side but very creamy...just wish the finish was a little drier. Pretty easy to drink despite the sweetness, the alcohol is well hidden and I forgot this was 13% until I was about to enter my review.
Reviewed by illidurit from California
4.2/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
RBSG09 growler at the grand tasting. Pours dark amber gold with a tan head. Huge estery nose, raisins, stone fruit, apples, caramel. Yeast and toffee sweetness in the flavor with a slightly tart fruity brandy note and a woody earthy finish. This definitely stands up to the barrel aging, enough to make a pretty nicely balanced and tasty beer, though a bit too sweet.
Jul 14, 2009Reviewed by Floydster from California
4.67/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.67/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
22 ounce labeled handbottle thanks to Steve, thanks for the opportunity to try this rarity, split with my dad tonight, poured into my Trappist Westvleteren chalice
A-Color is a mix between an amber and a dark orange, nice one inch creamy beige head that lasts nearly ten minutes, great retention, only lacing at the beginning
S-Big brandy aroma, raisins, red apples, dates, figs, vanilla, big oak smell, candy, sweet sugar, other fruits, toffee, caramel, booze, and maple syrup
T-Right out of the fridge this one tasted strong of brandy and hot booze, spicy notes that made the tongue tingle a bit too, as it warmed an amazing blend of fruits came to the surface, could not believe the complexity here, it went from every dark fruit you can imagine all the way to sweet apples and Belgian-like sugar, almost a candy taste by the very end but the brandy was still there to add uniqueness and warmth, loved the wood characteristic of this too, never smelled so much oak in a beer, cool to think this beer aged in a barrel that is more than half a century old, I want more as I finish writing this
M-Sweet, hot, sticky, and sugary mouthfeel, medium bodied, pretty thick for a beer than spent twelve months in a barrel, just the right amount of carbonation, taste lingers delightfully
D-Could have drank the whole bomber but the 14-15 ounces I had was sufficient enough, complex while not being heavy, alcohol is not fully hidden but pretty well done for thirteen percent, smooth and enjoyable
Brief Description: "A 56 year old Brandy Barrel was acquired from Brian at Gallo. This is the primo da primo of barrels. Cuvee has been aged for 1 year in the barrel."
One of the best Valley brews I have tasted, this little brewpub in Stockton wows me once again, truly unique, where else can you find a brandy barrel aged quadrupel with a huge fruit character, would love to drink again, this one deserves all the awards it has one, I am jealous of all the people who will be drinking more this at the Bistro Barrel Aged Fest in a few weeks, highly recommonded
Oct 25, 2008A-Color is a mix between an amber and a dark orange, nice one inch creamy beige head that lasts nearly ten minutes, great retention, only lacing at the beginning
S-Big brandy aroma, raisins, red apples, dates, figs, vanilla, big oak smell, candy, sweet sugar, other fruits, toffee, caramel, booze, and maple syrup
T-Right out of the fridge this one tasted strong of brandy and hot booze, spicy notes that made the tongue tingle a bit too, as it warmed an amazing blend of fruits came to the surface, could not believe the complexity here, it went from every dark fruit you can imagine all the way to sweet apples and Belgian-like sugar, almost a candy taste by the very end but the brandy was still there to add uniqueness and warmth, loved the wood characteristic of this too, never smelled so much oak in a beer, cool to think this beer aged in a barrel that is more than half a century old, I want more as I finish writing this
M-Sweet, hot, sticky, and sugary mouthfeel, medium bodied, pretty thick for a beer than spent twelve months in a barrel, just the right amount of carbonation, taste lingers delightfully
D-Could have drank the whole bomber but the 14-15 ounces I had was sufficient enough, complex while not being heavy, alcohol is not fully hidden but pretty well done for thirteen percent, smooth and enjoyable
Brief Description: "A 56 year old Brandy Barrel was acquired from Brian at Gallo. This is the primo da primo of barrels. Cuvee has been aged for 1 year in the barrel."
One of the best Valley brews I have tasted, this little brewpub in Stockton wows me once again, truly unique, where else can you find a brandy barrel aged quadrupel with a huge fruit character, would love to drink again, this one deserves all the awards it has one, I am jealous of all the people who will be drinking more this at the Bistro Barrel Aged Fest in a few weeks, highly recommonded
Decadence 12 Cuvee Speciale from Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.08 out of
5 with
9 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!