Twelve/163
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

Amber color with a slight head. Very sweet plum scent and Belgium yeast. Def brandy barrel taste along with dark fruit like plum and fig and some Belgium yeast. Medium light body and carbonation. Fantastic quad and the brandy barrel really gives it a good accent.

Thoroughly enjoyed form the 22 oz bomber in a snifter. This fantastic Cincy made quad pours a muddled cloudy brownish orange color with a moderate head of off white, subtle tan colored foam that settles to a thick ring, thin pooling layer, and nice spotty lacing. Nose of dark cherries, brandy, subtle oak, rich candy sugars, and toffee notes. Flavors far exceed the nose with bandy and candy sugars on the front and sides, toffee and caramel rule the middle with a light dose of bing cherries. Oak presents itself on the back with light brown sugars and brandy highlights that finishes moderately sweet and dry with a warming herbal note of light clove in the background. Nice mouth feel, lightly carbonated and a perfect example of the style done right here in the Queen City. Worthy of the re-invented brand whose brews have raised the bar on what Cincinnati is know for.

Excellent.

Cheers

Well within the mantra of Easter, the twelfth anniversary of their rebirth brings us a stronger, darker ale of the Belgian style with an imaginative brandy barrel role. Complexity and power are surely on the agenda.

Deep and hazy amber hues garnish the glass while a short and subtle head begins to mount. I high aromatics are dense with caramel and maple with bold overtones of stone fruit, spice and a boozy tingle send the nose reeling. Its malty-sweet taste saturates with kettle caramelization, toffee and a kiss of butterscotch.

Clinging to the middle palate, the caramel sugars are syrupy and candy-like as the earthen sweetness of fig, date, apricot and orange provide a marmalade mélange of tastes. Peppercorn, clove and a light vanilla coat soothes the senses and rounds the malt. Toasty, nutty and almond-like the grain dissolves on the finish, giving way to the sharp taste of peppery brandy, oak and a subtle hop bitterness.

Full on the mouth, its dense sweetness is like poundcake laced with honey and toasted grain. Spicy with booze, the brandy influence cuts through the malt and prickles the tastebuds with near numbing effects. Finishing with a robust Bordeaux roundness, the ale trails long, sweet and boozy.

Aroma is sweet and caramelly, with notes of fig and cherry adding depth.

Flavor is slightly sweet toffee throughout, with surfacing mid palate and carrying through to the dry, warm finish. Should open up some, with age.

In terms of a Quad style this is worth trying if Belgian quad are your forte and your a native to Cincinnati. Aging in brandy brandy barrels had truly brought the right balance of fruit quality to it. The only slight let down was these bottle are not waxed like they were last year.