The Quad
Free State Brewing Co.

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From:
Free State Brewing Co.
 
Kansas, United States
Style:
Quadrupel (Quad)
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
89
Avg:
4 | pDev: 10.25%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
17
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 14, 2016
Added:
Jan 10, 2010
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
Our interpretation does not disappoint. Belgian Candi sugar added to the kettle augments an already large malt bill consisting of nine different malts. Subtle hop additions of Perle and Czech Saaz contribute bitterness and a hint of spiciness. This beer underwent a secondary fermentation in the conditioning vessel after a small dose of Candi sugar and yeast were added to the finished beer. This secondary fermentation is what gives the Quad its carbonation and mouthfeel. It all finishes off with a noticeable presence of alcohol that marries well with the spicy notes and equates into a complex brew not so easily solved from the first drink.

21 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.25 by Whiskeydeez from Kansas

Dec 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Theogre83 from Kansas

Mar 13, 2015
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Rated by Bosoxfan20 from Missouri

2.93/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Big let down. Not a lot of quad qualities. Yeast was overpowering. Little to no dark fruit or candy
Mar 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by Thirstygoat from Illinois

Mar 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by jaydoc from Kansas

Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by Hohnbaum from Kansas

Feb 21, 2015
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Reviewed by aphamer from Kansas

4.63/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
8 month Brewers Reserve rendition of The Quad was amazing. On draught, pour was neat, with a beautiful head. Taste was astounding. I personally prefer Belgian Style Ales, and this was one that could easily be downed. Wonderfully complex beer that does not overstimulate the pallet.
Feb 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.41 by Coopersbeer from Kansas

Feb 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by 22Blue from Kansas

May 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Mikevicgates from Kansas

Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by LightnerLiquorKS from Kansas

Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Eric908 from South Dakota

Jul 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by sammo from Kansas

Jun 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by jrenn from Kansas

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by jwmarcum from Missouri

Feb 15, 2012
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Reviewed by BigHeavy from Missouri

3.62/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 64 oz. growler into a Boulevard Smokestack goblet. Beer was allowed to warm for about twenty minutes before consuming.

A: Beer pours a nearly opaque deep brown color with auburn accents around the edges. No head really ever forms, but there is some faint foam on top of the beer. Intense bubbles are clinging to the inside of the glass pretty much all over the place.

S: Main aroma I gather is of raisins and other dark fruits. Initial smell has me pretty psyched about the beer. Digging deeper, I get some spicy hops, and my nose is tinged with a little bit of alcohol. Some caramel sweetness is there as well.

T: Sweetness from the malt slams into your taste buds. It's almost like all the sugars didn't get fermented. As the beer warms, the sweetness does subside, however. The spicy hops are really pretty prominent. Keep the sweetness in check a little. The alcohol makes it presence known, as do some fruity esters. All the elements of a Quad are there, but just a touch off. None of the flavor depth of other world class Quads.

M: Mouthfeel is a little bit thin for a Quad. Carbonation is pretty high. Feels a little bit oily on the palate as well.

D: Sweetness makes it a little more difficult to drink rapidly. Alcohol doesn't really overwhelm the senses.

O: Free State takes a stab at one of my favorite styles and comes up just a little bit short, in my opinion. It's a good beer, just not up there with other locals like Sixth Glass from Boulevard. Just a fraction off on all of the elements of a Quad. Kudos to them for trying just about any style, though.
Jan 10, 2011
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Reviewed by Mebuzzard from Colorado

3.49/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
a fellow patron ordered about 4 of these in a row, saying it was the best Belgian style beer he's ever had...and he was kind of old. Sooo...
Pours a dark brown/ruby color with a thick, creamy, splotchy head. Didn't quite like the glass it was poured into, though; a pint glass with water residue in it. Hrrrmph..

Aroma is very faint. I didn't pick up anything 'quad' about it. Some sweetness and biscuit. could have been the atmosphere, but still not there.

Taste overcomes the lack of aroma, but still not 'the best ever'. Sweet malt, prune, green banana and sticky bread. Served way too cold. As it warmed the flavors started to expand, but by then it was too late...gone.
So, it was easy drinking. Nothing close to St. Bernardus or Rochefort, though. But, hey, that's a tall order.
Jan 10, 2010
The Quad from Free State Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 17 ratings