Partridge In A Pear Tree | The Bruery
Brewed by:
The Bruery
California, United States | website
Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
Partridge in a Pear Tree is the first in the 12 Days/Years of Christmas Series. Brewed in the style of a Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale, brewed with our brewery-made dark candi sugar, Munich and Vienna malts. Dark brown in color, fruity and complex with a rich malt backbone. This is a simple yet immensely complex beer meant to be savored and shared with friends and family.
Added by DoubleJ on 12-07-2008
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
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Reviews: 77 | Ratings: 141
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
not often i get to drink beer this old, a cool treat, this one has been cellared well, with minor and not unflattering oxidation happening. its bronze in color, with medium brown sugar color as the sediment in the bottle clouds it, and the head is relatively short, khaki pant color. the nose is lots of caramel malts and candy sugar, the belgian yeast fruitiness has died off a bit, but there is still plenty of yeast character without that side of it. the flavor is very much grain driven, as any quad should be, but notes of raisin, toffee, and even plum present themselves to me as i sip this slowly. booze is totally invisible, this must have mellowed significantly over time. it would have been fun to have had this fresh for comparison, but the beer i am drinking here is very good. the oxidation helps me taste the yeast, which is getting a little stale, but has been largely assimilated by the malt richness, which hasnt backed off much. not my favorite beer in the series, but certainly the rarest at this time, given its age. in some ways i liked this years quad more, but without having had this fresh, its impossible to ever know for sure. a special treat to taste!
★ 1,178 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
not often i get to drink beer this old, a cool treat, this one has been cellared well, with minor and not unflattering oxidation happening. its bronze in color, with medium brown sugar color as the sediment in the bottle clouds it, and the head is relatively short, khaki pant color. the nose is lots of caramel malts and candy sugar, the belgian yeast fruitiness has died off a bit, but there is still plenty of yeast character without that side of it. the flavor is very much grain driven, as any quad should be, but notes of raisin, toffee, and even plum present themselves to me as i sip this slowly. booze is totally invisible, this must have mellowed significantly over time. it would have been fun to have had this fresh for comparison, but the beer i am drinking here is very good. the oxidation helps me taste the yeast, which is getting a little stale, but has been largely assimilated by the malt richness, which hasnt backed off much. not my favorite beer in the series, but certainly the rarest at this time, given its age. in some ways i liked this years quad more, but without having had this fresh, its impossible to ever know for sure. a special treat to taste!
★ 1,178 characters
3.74/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to GRG1313 for sharing this one at his tasting.
Pours an almost opaque super dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, pecan, fruit, and slight cardboard aromas. Taste is much the same with malt, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, spice, and cardboard flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is definitely showing some oxidation at this point, but it's still quite solid all around.
Serving type: bottle.
★ 752 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to GRG1313 for sharing this one at his tasting.
Pours an almost opaque super dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, pecan, fruit, and slight cardboard aromas. Taste is much the same with malt, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, spice, and cardboard flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is definitely showing some oxidation at this point, but it's still quite solid all around.
Serving type: bottle.
★ 752 characters
2.95/5 rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Deep brown body. A little transparent. Small head.
Smell - Dark fruits. Oxidation, kinda cardboardy. Caramel.
Taste - Just like the smell. Dark fruitiness. Sweet caramel malts. Cardboard oxidation.
Mouthfeel - It's big and boozy. Medium carbonation. Oxidized.
Overall - Yeah, it's old. Interesting to try, though.
★ 378 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Deep brown body. A little transparent. Small head.
Smell - Dark fruits. Oxidation, kinda cardboardy. Caramel.
Taste - Just like the smell. Dark fruitiness. Sweet caramel malts. Cardboard oxidation.
Mouthfeel - It's big and boozy. Medium carbonation. Oxidized.
Overall - Yeah, it's old. Interesting to try, though.
★ 378 characters
2.16/5 rDev -45.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Thanks to Andy for sharing this at my 30th birthday whale tasting.
Pours no head, dark mahogany murky ruby brown colored.
Nose has plenty of oxidation, cardboard city, then brown malts, molasses, raisin, candi sugar, BBQ sauce for some reason with ketchup and vinegar, weird, fruity apple, etc.
Taste brings plenty more oxidation and wet cardboard, raisin and fruit, molasses, light candi sugar and syrup, again a weird tomato based BBQ sauce taste which is not pleasant, chewy, light booze, soy sauce, this would make a great marinade for meat but terrible for a beer.
Mouth is thin and almost no carb.
Overall blech! I can't believe this has such a whale status to get, just to do a lousy vertical?! This beer was terrible and the only beer at the tasting we couldn't finish. Thanks for bringing it Andy so I could try it at least once, but wow was that bad!
★ 865 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Thanks to Andy for sharing this at my 30th birthday whale tasting.
Pours no head, dark mahogany murky ruby brown colored.
Nose has plenty of oxidation, cardboard city, then brown malts, molasses, raisin, candi sugar, BBQ sauce for some reason with ketchup and vinegar, weird, fruity apple, etc.
Taste brings plenty more oxidation and wet cardboard, raisin and fruit, molasses, light candi sugar and syrup, again a weird tomato based BBQ sauce taste which is not pleasant, chewy, light booze, soy sauce, this would make a great marinade for meat but terrible for a beer.
Mouth is thin and almost no carb.
Overall blech! I can't believe this has such a whale status to get, just to do a lousy vertical?! This beer was terrible and the only beer at the tasting we couldn't finish. Thanks for bringing it Andy so I could try it at least once, but wow was that bad!
★ 865 characters
2.72/5 rDev -31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Shared by Andy for the JLindros Birthday Whale Tasting. Reviewed from notes.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a murky reddish hazelnut hue with a thin light halo. No real head.
S - Uh oh....Figs, malts, molasses, prunes, and soy sauce. Not really digging whats going on here at all.
T - Taste is well...oxidised? I really don't know. There's malts, sugars, figs, heavy soy sauce, really sweet...just incredibly unpleasant.
M - Mouthfeel is on the tarter side, medium carbonation, medium body.
O - Overall, the general consensus with this beer was while glad to try it it was simply shocking. Not sure what happened here but this beer was almost a train wreck. I really don't think anyone finished their glass....
★ 723 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Shared by Andy for the JLindros Birthday Whale Tasting. Reviewed from notes.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a murky reddish hazelnut hue with a thin light halo. No real head.
S - Uh oh....Figs, malts, molasses, prunes, and soy sauce. Not really digging whats going on here at all.
T - Taste is well...oxidised? I really don't know. There's malts, sugars, figs, heavy soy sauce, really sweet...just incredibly unpleasant.
M - Mouthfeel is on the tarter side, medium carbonation, medium body.
O - Overall, the general consensus with this beer was while glad to try it it was simply shocking. Not sure what happened here but this beer was almost a train wreck. I really don't think anyone finished their glass....
★ 723 characters
2.41/5 rDev -39.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
750ml bottle shared by Andy at our whale tasting last night. Poured into a Portsmouth tulip.
A - Pours a reddish tinted amber color...quite hazy in the glass. Low collar, no real head.
S - Aromas are heavy and sharp - prunes, molasses, soy sauce, buttery. This smacks you in the face with aroma...a little bit rough.
T - Tomato juice, soy sauce, sweet...really rough.
M - Tart, soy, medium carbonation, medium body.
O - Very glad to have been able to try this. Now I know not to try to track this one down - would be very upset to part with what these are commanding in the trade market. Honestly, this was a major disappointment and a drainpour...really was undrinkable.
★ 676 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
750ml bottle shared by Andy at our whale tasting last night. Poured into a Portsmouth tulip.
A - Pours a reddish tinted amber color...quite hazy in the glass. Low collar, no real head.
S - Aromas are heavy and sharp - prunes, molasses, soy sauce, buttery. This smacks you in the face with aroma...a little bit rough.
T - Tomato juice, soy sauce, sweet...really rough.
M - Tart, soy, medium carbonation, medium body.
O - Very glad to have been able to try this. Now I know not to try to track this one down - would be very upset to part with what these are commanding in the trade market. Honestly, this was a major disappointment and a drainpour...really was undrinkable.
★ 676 characters
4.47/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours a cloudy ruby with a touch of brown mixed in with a thin finger of khaki head. The head fades very quickly leaving behind a touch of lace.
S - Aroma is full of dark fruit with some plum and a touch of apple with a hint of Belgian yeast spice, brown sugar, and a bit of booze.
T - Starts off with some sweet dark fruit with some plum and dates with some brown sugar sweetness and some Belgian yeast spice. Through the middle, some apple comes through with some more residual and candi sugars and some fuller dark fruit flavor. The finish is a mix of lingering dark fruit sweetness with some abbey yeast, spice, and some booze.
M - Medium-full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with a warming and sweet finish.
D - Very drinkable. Really smooth and nicely balanced. Good American take on the Belgian Quad style. Good rich dark fruit flavors.
★ 862 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours a cloudy ruby with a touch of brown mixed in with a thin finger of khaki head. The head fades very quickly leaving behind a touch of lace.
S - Aroma is full of dark fruit with some plum and a touch of apple with a hint of Belgian yeast spice, brown sugar, and a bit of booze.
T - Starts off with some sweet dark fruit with some plum and dates with some brown sugar sweetness and some Belgian yeast spice. Through the middle, some apple comes through with some more residual and candi sugars and some fuller dark fruit flavor. The finish is a mix of lingering dark fruit sweetness with some abbey yeast, spice, and some booze.
M - Medium-full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with a warming and sweet finish.
D - Very drinkable. Really smooth and nicely balanced. Good American take on the Belgian Quad style. Good rich dark fruit flavors.
★ 862 characters
4.16/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle at City Beer.
Caramel brown body with some chill haze, clears up as it warms. Lower-moderate carbonation, little in the way of head or lacing.
The nose is surprisingly nice. Toffee and strong fruity esters that are very pear-like. Pleasantly oxidized, nutty, some cocoa powder and molasses.
Palate is very similar, pear comes to mind again along with toffee and molasses. Oxidation lends a nutty note along with a touch of cocoa. Full body with low carbonation. To my surprise, this is aging very well and tastes much better than it did fresh.
★ 553 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle at City Beer.
Caramel brown body with some chill haze, clears up as it warms. Lower-moderate carbonation, little in the way of head or lacing.
The nose is surprisingly nice. Toffee and strong fruity esters that are very pear-like. Pleasantly oxidized, nutty, some cocoa powder and molasses.
Palate is very similar, pear comes to mind again along with toffee and molasses. Oxidation lends a nutty note along with a touch of cocoa. Full body with low carbonation. To my surprise, this is aging very well and tastes much better than it did fresh.
★ 553 characters
4.6/5 rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Huge thanks goes out to Norcalgrowler for treating me to a bottle of piat at city beer store, needless to say I really owe you one marco, thank you!
3 years old, let's see how it holds up
750 poured into two tulips
A- looks pretty darn good so far. Murky reddish brown , half inch of reddish brown head. more carbonation than I was expecting.
S- smells really good! Sweet malts, brown sugar and a bit of Belgian yeast. a slight pear scent in the back ground. My only gripe with the nose is how faint it is, by it's there.
T- wow. I wasn't expecting much from this guy honestly, kept thinking it was going to be like cuadeuple, luckily it's not at all. The pears take a huge step forward that makes this guy taste spectacular! I love every sip. Tons of dark fruits, sweet malts, slight tartness in the finish. I was prepared for a big let down here but this is aging pretty freaking well. The second glass was even tastier.
M- nice thick body which is well carbonated. Works very well with the dark fruit. The body makes this beer excellent.
O- yoa, definitely an amazing surprise. I was expecting over hype to ruin this one for me but I really think we were lucky enough to catch this guy at its peak, I don't see it improving much more than this. Can it make 12 years? Doubtful, but I can tell you it delicious now. Is it worth wales? Depends but I'd drink it sooner rather than later.
Marco, again i appreciate it buddy!
★ 1,430 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Huge thanks goes out to Norcalgrowler for treating me to a bottle of piat at city beer store, needless to say I really owe you one marco, thank you!
3 years old, let's see how it holds up
750 poured into two tulips
A- looks pretty darn good so far. Murky reddish brown , half inch of reddish brown head. more carbonation than I was expecting.
S- smells really good! Sweet malts, brown sugar and a bit of Belgian yeast. a slight pear scent in the back ground. My only gripe with the nose is how faint it is, by it's there.
T- wow. I wasn't expecting much from this guy honestly, kept thinking it was going to be like cuadeuple, luckily it's not at all. The pears take a huge step forward that makes this guy taste spectacular! I love every sip. Tons of dark fruits, sweet malts, slight tartness in the finish. I was prepared for a big let down here but this is aging pretty freaking well. The second glass was even tastier.
M- nice thick body which is well carbonated. Works very well with the dark fruit. The body makes this beer excellent.
O- yoa, definitely an amazing surprise. I was expecting over hype to ruin this one for me but I really think we were lucky enough to catch this guy at its peak, I don't see it improving much more than this. Can it make 12 years? Doubtful, but I can tell you it delicious now. Is it worth wales? Depends but I'd drink it sooner rather than later.
Marco, again i appreciate it buddy!
★ 1,430 characters
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Huge thanks to Amyliz4 for sharing this one! Was not expecting to ever have this one.
a - Pours a murky reddish brown color with moderate carbonation evident and one inch of white head.
s - Smells of sweet dark fruits, molasses, brown sugar, raisins, bready malts, and light toffee and caramel malts. Very fruity and sweet, but I like it.
t - Tastes of sweet dark fruits, molasses, vanilla, caramel malts, toffee, Belgian eyast, light spice, figs, raisins, and lightly toasted malts. More caramel here and not as quite as the nose, which makes it a lot better for me. A step up from the nose and really nice.
m - Medium body and low carbonation, very smooth and creamy. Very easy to drink....great mouthfeel. No alcohol at all here.
o - Overall a very nice beer. I drank 2TD, 3FH, and 4CB's on Christmas day, so only a week earlier, and much preferred this one to those, as the taste and mouthfeel were great. Was actually surprised with how good this one was after all those on Christmas. Very glad I got a chance to try this one.
★ 1,036 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Huge thanks to Amyliz4 for sharing this one! Was not expecting to ever have this one.
a - Pours a murky reddish brown color with moderate carbonation evident and one inch of white head.
s - Smells of sweet dark fruits, molasses, brown sugar, raisins, bready malts, and light toffee and caramel malts. Very fruity and sweet, but I like it.
t - Tastes of sweet dark fruits, molasses, vanilla, caramel malts, toffee, Belgian eyast, light spice, figs, raisins, and lightly toasted malts. More caramel here and not as quite as the nose, which makes it a lot better for me. A step up from the nose and really nice.
m - Medium body and low carbonation, very smooth and creamy. Very easy to drink....great mouthfeel. No alcohol at all here.
o - Overall a very nice beer. I drank 2TD, 3FH, and 4CB's on Christmas day, so only a week earlier, and much preferred this one to those, as the taste and mouthfeel were great. Was actually surprised with how good this one was after all those on Christmas. Very glad I got a chance to try this one.
★ 1,036 characters
4.17/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle shared by Amy. Thanks!
Dark brown with a light ran head, minimal lace and low retention. Excellent aroma of dark fruit, plum, raisin and red grape with light vanilla, oak, caramel and toffee. Medium thick body with low carbonation. Flavor has strong brown sugar and molasses from the start over bready yeast and a dark fruit and plum finish. Minimal alcohol presence. Actually, this is a nice quad.
★ 413 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle shared by Amy. Thanks!
Dark brown with a light ran head, minimal lace and low retention. Excellent aroma of dark fruit, plum, raisin and red grape with light vanilla, oak, caramel and toffee. Medium thick body with low carbonation. Flavor has strong brown sugar and molasses from the start over bready yeast and a dark fruit and plum finish. Minimal alcohol presence. Actually, this is a nice quad.
★ 413 characters
4.42/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I thought I was just hanging out with some friends drinking some pedestrian world class beers like bourbon barrel plead the fifth and Chocolate rain when the always lovely Thorpette decides to turn it up to 11 with this special bottle from her cellar. Thanks a ton, one of my biggest wants.
Beer is brown, hazy, thin off white head, wispy, low lacing, moderate carbonation, looks good.
Aroma is biscuity, strong, mild alcohol, great yeast aromas, fruity, esters, smells awesome.
Beer is medium in body, a great quad. Sweet, strong yeast palate in the middle of the beer. Great finish not dry. No astringency. Dark fruits and malt throughout. Great connectivity and a good beer. I wish I had more. Maybe in 8 more years.
★ 725 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I thought I was just hanging out with some friends drinking some pedestrian world class beers like bourbon barrel plead the fifth and Chocolate rain when the always lovely Thorpette decides to turn it up to 11 with this special bottle from her cellar. Thanks a ton, one of my biggest wants.
Beer is brown, hazy, thin off white head, wispy, low lacing, moderate carbonation, looks good.
Aroma is biscuity, strong, mild alcohol, great yeast aromas, fruity, esters, smells awesome.
Beer is medium in body, a great quad. Sweet, strong yeast palate in the middle of the beer. Great finish not dry. No astringency. Dark fruits and malt throughout. Great connectivity and a good beer. I wish I had more. Maybe in 8 more years.
★ 725 characters
4.27/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Huge thanks to Amyliz4 for sharing this bottle. Served in a Bruery tulip.
Pours a moderately-dark brown with a good light tan head. Nice spotty lacing and a thin collar. The nose carries some strong dark fruits and a bit of sweet malt. Quite a bit of stuff going on there. I'm impressed, as I hadn't heard the best things about this. Malt provides a really nice backing presence. No discernible alcohol presence. Flavor is quite rich with a medley of dark fruits. Some very mild earth. Medium body and pretty chewy. Super smooth. Really excited to finally try this one and glad it lived up to the hype.
★ 603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Huge thanks to Amyliz4 for sharing this bottle. Served in a Bruery tulip.
Pours a moderately-dark brown with a good light tan head. Nice spotty lacing and a thin collar. The nose carries some strong dark fruits and a bit of sweet malt. Quite a bit of stuff going on there. I'm impressed, as I hadn't heard the best things about this. Malt provides a really nice backing presence. No discernible alcohol presence. Flavor is quite rich with a medley of dark fruits. Some very mild earth. Medium body and pretty chewy. Super smooth. Really excited to finally try this one and glad it lived up to the hype.
★ 603 characters
4.47/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle shared by Amyliz4. Muchas gracias.
The beer appears dark brown with a quarter inch of tan head. The aroma is fabulous, with prominent yeast and malt, brown sugar, caramels, toffee. Smells Belgian and wonderful. Fabulous taste. Easily one of the best American examples of a quad I have tasted. Brown sugar and molasses are tempered by a bready yeast presence. Medium bodied and silky smooth on the palate. Overall, a very good beer that I am ecstatic to try.
★ 465 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle shared by Amyliz4. Muchas gracias.
The beer appears dark brown with a quarter inch of tan head. The aroma is fabulous, with prominent yeast and malt, brown sugar, caramels, toffee. Smells Belgian and wonderful. Fabulous taste. Easily one of the best American examples of a quad I have tasted. Brown sugar and molasses are tempered by a bready yeast presence. Medium bodied and silky smooth on the palate. Overall, a very good beer that I am ecstatic to try.
★ 465 characters
3.38/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 750ml bottle into three snifters. Extra special thanks to HeatherAnn and StevePens for the assist!
A: Pours a deep, muddy, russet color with faintly lighter highlights towards the edges. An off-white head of about 1 finger lingered for a decent amount of time before melting down to a clumpy skim that left a surprising amount of lace behind.
S: Loads of caramel, toffee, and nuts. Dark fruit was present as was some booziness. Some spiciness, as well, but this smelled more like an English Barleywine and/or Old Ale than a Quad to us.
T: Hmmm. Tastes just as it smells with a suggestion of oxidation. Not a deal breaker, but not completely endearing either.
M: Far too slick, lifeless, and thin. Sorely lacking in the interesting facets of a true Quad that keep the palate engaged.
O: We were really hoping for so much more than what we got. This was the first beer of the evening (and before the food, too) so we couldn't chalk this up to palate fatigue. The oxidation has me wondering what people who collect these to do a 12 year vertical are going to get many years down the road.
★ 1,105 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 750ml bottle into three snifters. Extra special thanks to HeatherAnn and StevePens for the assist!
A: Pours a deep, muddy, russet color with faintly lighter highlights towards the edges. An off-white head of about 1 finger lingered for a decent amount of time before melting down to a clumpy skim that left a surprising amount of lace behind.
S: Loads of caramel, toffee, and nuts. Dark fruit was present as was some booziness. Some spiciness, as well, but this smelled more like an English Barleywine and/or Old Ale than a Quad to us.
T: Hmmm. Tastes just as it smells with a suggestion of oxidation. Not a deal breaker, but not completely endearing either.
M: Far too slick, lifeless, and thin. Sorely lacking in the interesting facets of a true Quad that keep the palate engaged.
O: We were really hoping for so much more than what we got. This was the first beer of the evening (and before the food, too) so we couldn't chalk this up to palate fatigue. The oxidation has me wondering what people who collect these to do a 12 year vertical are going to get many years down the road.
★ 1,105 characters
3.4/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Found my notes for this in my old notebook. No date on the page, but sometime in the summer of 2009.
A: The beer pours a very dark amber color, some brownish qualities to it, with a finger and a half of off-white head.
S: Smells intensely sweet. Lots of raisins and plums, maybe a bit of fig. Some caramel and molasses notes to it. Also some prominent spice notes, maybe nutmeg and cinnamon.
T: More of the same on the palate. Sweet dark fruits and sugar overwhelm you. It's almost syrupy, in fact. Booze, spice, caramel, molasses, plums, and raisins sum up the different flavors well.
M: Quite full in body with a low carbonation which doesn't help.
O: Sort of a mess. Funny that at the time I didn't think much of this beer and as a result got rid of this beer for almost nothing in return.
★ 797 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Found my notes for this in my old notebook. No date on the page, but sometime in the summer of 2009.
A: The beer pours a very dark amber color, some brownish qualities to it, with a finger and a half of off-white head.
S: Smells intensely sweet. Lots of raisins and plums, maybe a bit of fig. Some caramel and molasses notes to it. Also some prominent spice notes, maybe nutmeg and cinnamon.
T: More of the same on the palate. Sweet dark fruits and sugar overwhelm you. It's almost syrupy, in fact. Booze, spice, caramel, molasses, plums, and raisins sum up the different flavors well.
M: Quite full in body with a low carbonation which doesn't help.
O: Sort of a mess. Funny that at the time I didn't think much of this beer and as a result got rid of this beer for almost nothing in return.
★ 797 characters
3.81/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured(into a Bruery tulip & Delirium Tremens snifter) from a bottle that has been stored correctly since it was bottled.
The initial impression was an aroma of soy sauce and bruised figs and over ripe fig/raisin/prune/plum. After the bottle was open for several minutes, the beer warmed in the glass and started to come into its own.
SIGHT: The color was a dark brown mahogany with copper highlights.
SMELL: The beer smelled of figs, dark raisin, rum cake, molasses, green olive, soy sauce, coke syrup . Oxidation is starting to play a role here.
TASTE: The taste is very sweet and some lingering spice. The age of the beer is making it hard to put words to specific fruits and non fruits. It mainly matches what the nose is showing.
OVERALL: The beer is still tasty (sweetnees dominated) but it showing signs of age and I don't really seeing it going for the long haul. I would say this beer has 2 years left before it starts to fall apart. The soy sauce and the green olive notes worry me for any beer 3 years in its existance.
★ 1,036 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured(into a Bruery tulip & Delirium Tremens snifter) from a bottle that has been stored correctly since it was bottled.
The initial impression was an aroma of soy sauce and bruised figs and over ripe fig/raisin/prune/plum. After the bottle was open for several minutes, the beer warmed in the glass and started to come into its own.
SIGHT: The color was a dark brown mahogany with copper highlights.
SMELL: The beer smelled of figs, dark raisin, rum cake, molasses, green olive, soy sauce, coke syrup . Oxidation is starting to play a role here.
TASTE: The taste is very sweet and some lingering spice. The age of the beer is making it hard to put words to specific fruits and non fruits. It mainly matches what the nose is showing.
OVERALL: The beer is still tasty (sweetnees dominated) but it showing signs of age and I don't really seeing it going for the long haul. I would say this beer has 2 years left before it starts to fall apart. The soy sauce and the green olive notes worry me for any beer 3 years in its existance.
★ 1,036 characters
4.13/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From notes:
Pours a very dark ruby red/chestnut brown color with bright red/mahogany edges when held to a light source and a 1.5 frothy yellowish beie head. Decnt retention, slowly fading into a laying ring that leaves sporadic spots of lacing behind.
Sweet dark fruit aroma with zest, peppery spice, Candi sugar and slight medicinal syrup. Hints of raisin, fig, plum and date.
Full bodied with a pretty prominent malt backbone that balances out the sweet dark fruit, peppery spice and cough syrup notes. Pretty sweet and spicy up front with lots of candy sugar, pepper, grape, raisin, plum and fig. Slightly dry finish with subtle alcohol warmth but overall a well masked ABV.
★ 680 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From notes:
Pours a very dark ruby red/chestnut brown color with bright red/mahogany edges when held to a light source and a 1.5 frothy yellowish beie head. Decnt retention, slowly fading into a laying ring that leaves sporadic spots of lacing behind.
Sweet dark fruit aroma with zest, peppery spice, Candi sugar and slight medicinal syrup. Hints of raisin, fig, plum and date.
Full bodied with a pretty prominent malt backbone that balances out the sweet dark fruit, peppery spice and cough syrup notes. Pretty sweet and spicy up front with lots of candy sugar, pepper, grape, raisin, plum and fig. Slightly dry finish with subtle alcohol warmth but overall a well masked ABV.
★ 680 characters
3.92/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
42nd review on BA
Bottle to tulip.
App- It's a watered down brown color with burgundy highlights that poured with very little head on it maybe a 1/2"
Smell- My wife said it smelled like soy sauce to her. Smelled like a malt overload and it has a nice pairing of fig and raisins.
Taste- It's very sweet with a lingering taste on the back of the mouth. I'm so confused as to what's going on with this beer. I had such high hopes that it was going to be my first A+ rating but it wont be. I hope as I hold onto the 2nd bottle and crack it open in 9 more years it will age nicely. I'm not saying it's bad by anymeans. I just expected more.
Mouth- It's a sweet drinking beer that needs to be taken slowly and enjoyed. It does have some bite to it and the carbonation level is a little low to me.
Drink- It's one of those times where I am glad I didn't give up a small fortune to get something I wanted. It was great to have this and can't wait for the next one at the end of the series.
*Intresting note- Got the wife to try it. She comments, " What is wrong with you people? How do you like this stuff?"
★ 1,106 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
42nd review on BA
Bottle to tulip.
App- It's a watered down brown color with burgundy highlights that poured with very little head on it maybe a 1/2"
Smell- My wife said it smelled like soy sauce to her. Smelled like a malt overload and it has a nice pairing of fig and raisins.
Taste- It's very sweet with a lingering taste on the back of the mouth. I'm so confused as to what's going on with this beer. I had such high hopes that it was going to be my first A+ rating but it wont be. I hope as I hold onto the 2nd bottle and crack it open in 9 more years it will age nicely. I'm not saying it's bad by anymeans. I just expected more.
Mouth- It's a sweet drinking beer that needs to be taken slowly and enjoyed. It does have some bite to it and the carbonation level is a little low to me.
Drink- It's one of those times where I am glad I didn't give up a small fortune to get something I wanted. It was great to have this and can't wait for the next one at the end of the series.
*Intresting note- Got the wife to try it. She comments, " What is wrong with you people? How do you like this stuff?"
★ 1,106 characters
4.12/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Christmas in July!
With an upcoming move, I won't risk this one...
A: Deep chestnut-amber with a slight haze, light tan head, thin ring of retention leaves a little leg.
S: Plum pudding. Enough said.
T: Sponge toffee, figs, brown sugar, golden raisins, candied fruit, nectarines, modest bitterness, slight alcohol warmth.
M: Fairly full body with a moderate residual sweetness for the style.
D: A 'sweet' sipper.
★ 418 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Christmas in July!
With an upcoming move, I won't risk this one...
A: Deep chestnut-amber with a slight haze, light tan head, thin ring of retention leaves a little leg.
S: Plum pudding. Enough said.
T: Sponge toffee, figs, brown sugar, golden raisins, candied fruit, nectarines, modest bitterness, slight alcohol warmth.
M: Fairly full body with a moderate residual sweetness for the style.
D: A 'sweet' sipper.
★ 418 characters
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Found this in a liquor store in Frederick, MD
S: Strong raisins, figs, sweet toffee, nuttiness, caramel, rich.
L: Very dark brown, nice light tan head that dissipates.
T: Sweet sticky toffee like malt, undercurrent of bold dark fruits. Mild alcoholic bitterness leads to fading of fruits to chocolate dryness. Very mellow butter pecan flavor follows. Finishes quite neutral.
M: Rich velvety fullness.
A very rich and sweet beer, the alcohol actually works here to keep it from being a boozy mess. I really liked the flavors in this, very dessert like. Wish i had another one to age a bit, still a treat to try.
★ 615 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Found this in a liquor store in Frederick, MD
S: Strong raisins, figs, sweet toffee, nuttiness, caramel, rich.
L: Very dark brown, nice light tan head that dissipates.
T: Sweet sticky toffee like malt, undercurrent of bold dark fruits. Mild alcoholic bitterness leads to fading of fruits to chocolate dryness. Very mellow butter pecan flavor follows. Finishes quite neutral.
M: Rich velvety fullness.
A very rich and sweet beer, the alcohol actually works here to keep it from being a boozy mess. I really liked the flavors in this, very dessert like. Wish i had another one to age a bit, still a treat to try.
★ 615 characters
3.4/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
I bought this bottle with the intention of holding on to it to complete a vertical, but unfortunately, that's not how things worked out.
I was taking inventory of my bottles today, and accidentally dropped this one. It didn't break, but the cap lost pressure, and it began to gush, so my fate was sealed, and I opened it the rest of the way.
The appearance on this one is a turbid cinnamon and molasses.
It smells like a pile of freshly ground raisins and figs with a pinch of cinnamon and spiked with booze.
After almost a year and a half, I would have expected more from the flavor on this one. It's still cloyingly sweet, like a thick syrupy cider. Spiciness is prominent, with cinnamon taking the lead from start to finish. Boozy.
While I don't care for how sweet, spicy, and hot this beer tastes, I appreciate the mouthfeel. It's thick, soft, and coating. I'm drinking something substantial here.
At this point, drinkability is this beer's biggest fault. I don't think it was ever intended to be a 750ml you'd drink yourself, but I'm having a hard time even getting through my first glass.
This is a nice beer to have as an investment to sell to someone else in the future, but I have a hard time imagining it will EVER be worth the price I expect some people will pay for it to complete their vertical.
In closing, I think I probably lost a lot of money in drinking this thing today, but after trying it, I'm pretty confident, that if I chose to keep it for the next few years, the level of disappointment I'd feel when I finally opened it would be even worse than what I was feeling when I saw the cap starting to gush today. At least I got that out of the way.
★ 1,676 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
I bought this bottle with the intention of holding on to it to complete a vertical, but unfortunately, that's not how things worked out.
I was taking inventory of my bottles today, and accidentally dropped this one. It didn't break, but the cap lost pressure, and it began to gush, so my fate was sealed, and I opened it the rest of the way.
The appearance on this one is a turbid cinnamon and molasses.
It smells like a pile of freshly ground raisins and figs with a pinch of cinnamon and spiked with booze.
After almost a year and a half, I would have expected more from the flavor on this one. It's still cloyingly sweet, like a thick syrupy cider. Spiciness is prominent, with cinnamon taking the lead from start to finish. Boozy.
While I don't care for how sweet, spicy, and hot this beer tastes, I appreciate the mouthfeel. It's thick, soft, and coating. I'm drinking something substantial here.
At this point, drinkability is this beer's biggest fault. I don't think it was ever intended to be a 750ml you'd drink yourself, but I'm having a hard time even getting through my first glass.
This is a nice beer to have as an investment to sell to someone else in the future, but I have a hard time imagining it will EVER be worth the price I expect some people will pay for it to complete their vertical.
In closing, I think I probably lost a lot of money in drinking this thing today, but after trying it, I'm pretty confident, that if I chose to keep it for the next few years, the level of disappointment I'd feel when I finally opened it would be even worse than what I was feeling when I saw the cap starting to gush today. At least I got that out of the way.
★ 1,676 characters
3.82/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to the mothman for providing this beer.
Pours a deep raisin brown color with almost a cinnamon hue. Looks maroon when held up to the light.
Smell is awesome, very rich. Lots of rich toffee, dried fruits, cinnamon, and roasty malts.
Taste is big and flavorful. Lots of spice, seems to be cinnamon. Dried fruits come through as well with a slightly hot finish, the 11% ABV is definitely detectable. Good beer, nice flavorful quad but there is a little bit of off flavor in the finish.
Mouthfeel is smooth with a pleasant level of carbonation.
Drinkabliity is pretty good, it still seems a little hot but should develop nicely over time.
★ 647 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to the mothman for providing this beer.
Pours a deep raisin brown color with almost a cinnamon hue. Looks maroon when held up to the light.
Smell is awesome, very rich. Lots of rich toffee, dried fruits, cinnamon, and roasty malts.
Taste is big and flavorful. Lots of spice, seems to be cinnamon. Dried fruits come through as well with a slightly hot finish, the 11% ABV is definitely detectable. Good beer, nice flavorful quad but there is a little bit of off flavor in the finish.
Mouthfeel is smooth with a pleasant level of carbonation.
Drinkabliity is pretty good, it still seems a little hot but should develop nicely over time.
★ 647 characters
3.23/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Got a pair of these in trade just before the big rush to acquire this beer commenced. Poured into a snifter. Nice orangish-amber color, with maybe a ½ inch of cloudy white head. Aromas of apple skins, candi sugars, apricots and yeast. On the palate, more sugary sweetness, mixed with apple juice and alcohol. The body was kind of thin on this one, overly sweet and hot. Was expecting quite a bit more.
★ 402 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Got a pair of these in trade just before the big rush to acquire this beer commenced. Poured into a snifter. Nice orangish-amber color, with maybe a ½ inch of cloudy white head. Aromas of apple skins, candi sugars, apricots and yeast. On the palate, more sugary sweetness, mixed with apple juice and alcohol. The body was kind of thin on this one, overly sweet and hot. Was expecting quite a bit more.
★ 402 characters
Partridge In A Pear Tree from The Bruery
3.96
out of 5
based on 141 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Tim for this rare quad. Aroma is raisins and cherry. Taste is great, very light mouthfeel. Aged well! Booze is well hidden, sneaks up on you.
★ 151 characters