Cruella
The Shed Restaurant & Brewery

Thanks to the belgianator for sharing this rare treat. Pours fairly still with the semblance of a cabernet. Nose was plums and prunes. Taste consistent with nose on a malt backbone. Mouthfeel was medium-bodied with minimal carbonation that contributes to its smoothness. This is a tasty, sweet Quad I have to say. Not sure what it tasted like early on, but it seems to have held up well.

An unlabeled corked 750ml bottle. I got this from weeare138 many moons ago. Uncorked and poured into my Duvel tulip. Cruella appears a murky crimson chestnut color with barely, and I mean barely, a wisp of light tan foam. Careful agitation produces a scant half inch layer of head that quickly ebbs back to a thin ring. Notes of sweet cherries, prunes, chocolate tootsie pops, a huge dose of raisins, molasses/dark brown sugar, and some plum dominate the nose and flavor. Carbonation is quite lacking, but I honestly don't miss it here. There is still a noticeable alcohol burn in the throat with each swallow. best sipped over the course of an hour of so. Thanks again for the opportunity Mike!

Thanks to weeare138 for this bottle. It's been sitting in my basement for almost two years.

A: The bottle opened with a pop but there was little carbonation evident in the first two pours. The ale is a coffee-colored monster, very still with the low carbonation. The lack of head has resulted in a miniscule white band atop the glass.

S: Lots of dark fruit here, cherries, raisins, prunes and figs. Brown sugar and molasses add some body and strength. Alcohol is evident as well.

T: The lack of carbonation is evident up front but it has the effect of concentrating the flavors. Molasses and dark fruits dominate, creating a full flavor that has a sharp edge. Chocolate malts sit below the yeast. In between a spice profile that has some cinnamon and nutmeg augments the dark fruits. The ale has a remarkable complexity that is augmented by the lack of bubbles.

M: The ale shows off a spectrum of flavors, from soft yeast-induced fruits to sharper spice notes.

D: The booze hits pretty hard, seein' as how it is almost 12%. The time in the cellar has brought out more complexity at the expense of the carbonation, a worthy trade-off in my opinion.

Thanks to Tip Top for this beer.

A: Almost totally flat, hardly a pop when the cork came out. Pours a chestnut color with a clean aspect to it. No head exists, only an ultra fine film and a narrow ring around the glass.

S: Extremely alcoholic vapors is the first thing that hits me. Whole bunch of schalack mixed with prunes, molasses, brown sugar, cherries and chocolate brownies.

T: Starts off with mild red and dark fruits frolicking across the tip of the tongue. The brown sugar moves in next, quite mild and basic though. Buttery alcohol mixed with leathery tobacco skirts by with copius dark fruits following suite. Boy is the alcohol strong and abundant…I usually don’t care about these type of things but this is really over the top. Whew!

M: Full bodied and really soft since there is no carbonation to give it some sting.

D: Enjoyable beer, bit over the top. Dial back the alcohol a bit

Appears a turbid dark russett with a small, creamy, off-white head that quickly fades into a mild film and collar. A few tiny CO2 bubbles rise slowly to the top from a little pocket at the bottom of the glass. Spotty remnants of lace are left around the glass.
Smell is of sweet caramel, earthy notes, brown sugar, raisin bread, toasted nuts, along with phenols of over-ripe bananas and a hint of booziness. The aromas remind me a little of Rochefort 10 without the dustiness, or mineral water traces.
Taste is of sweet sugar cookies, brown sugar, condensed syrup, cocoa, along with Belgian yeast and a heavy dose of candi-sugar. Probably still a bit young but the sugar content, yeast, and phenols make for an intriguing Quad with sweetness that captivates natural, fruity pectins of prune juice, olive leaves, figs, rum soaked raisins, along with freshly baked brownies and a low dose of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel is full bodied, sugary, syrupy, sweet, lip smacking, and filling out the palate with complexities of spices, cocoa, caramel, heavy sugar and syrup. The low amount of CO2 makes this brew more of a sipper along the lines of a digestif brandy, or cognac.
Overall, this bready, chocolaty brew is clean but still very raw and sugary. IMO, it will be outstanding given the appropriate time to mellow and develop more character.
Shaun Hill is a brewing virtuoso that has the talent to transcend the beer community on the East Coast. Expect great things, fellow Americans...be it at The Shed, or not!

Got this bottle curtesy of gassrootsVT. Bottled on 10/24/06.

Pours with minimal head that receeds to a thin band at the edges of the glass. Not alot of carbonation. Color is rich and shows a gorgeous mahogony when held up to the light. Aroma is not prominent to me- there is a faint earthy smell that I could only describe as 'Belgian'.

Taste is balanced and rich; candi sugar & earthy yeast notes, with a nice faint alcohol bite at the the finish. Mouthfeel is quite nice and slightly thick, perfect for the style. Easily drinkable. yum.

I have a feeling I drank this a little too soon, as I was excited about trying it. It's good now, but I just bet that a little time in the bottle would really do this beer justice. This also smacks of something that could readily be barrel-aged with astounding results.

*note: I am not entirely sure of the availability, as I know they just started bottling it. If anyone has more accurate info, please update.

follow up 11/20/06- confirmed by the brewer, it needed another month to bottle condition, so i drank it way too soon. D'oh!