Velvet Fog
Sun King Brewing Company

 

a bourbon barrel aged quad, rather complex, dark and layered on the grain side, big and and full and well crafted, even if it lacks that impeccable refinement we see from actual belgian examples of the style, a bit less yeast driven than the classics too, but its really tasty for this time of year, strong and warming, sweet and rich. darker than many in the glass, deep brown with some apparent viscosity and a short off white ring of small bubbles popping and falling away. notes of cocoa, fig, raisin, and of course the bourbon here, which adds sweet toffee and vanilla as well as compatible oak and some char that seems to balance some of the sweetness in this, molasses, maple, brown sugar, and good abbey type malt. the flavor is pretty barrel forward, sugary, and strong, with a bit of alcohol warmth woven all through it. there is some light astringency as this warms, but the belgian yeast element i expect in this style is subtle here, way back in the nose with just a light peppery thing, a little more complex in the flavor with mulling spices and maybe a coriander note, but its way back still, behind all the malt and the barrel treatment for sure. dark leather, old wood, dried cherry and cranberry, fudge, bran, and even a sort of soy-like umami thing before the alcohol washes over it. nice complexity, a tad less outwardly belgian than i expect a quad to be, but a distinctive strong ale that is highly autumnal, cozy, and layered, enjoyable as a slow sipper, bourbon forward, hearty, bold.

draught
Very dark auburn color. Sweet, medium roasted wood, mixed with medium dark roasted grain, with plenty of bourbon, to the smell. Medium bodied, a bit syrupy, with a caramel and dark toast malt, being the subject of that syrupyness.

IBU: 24

 

 

Attractive dark plum color but pours without much head and no retention. Smells nice, like plums and figs and cherries and yeast. Taste follows the nose but with bourbon barrel and is great for a 11.9% abv. Smooth and creamy with notes of vanilla, bourbon, plum, cherry, yeast, fig and biscuit. A bit thin and watery. First impression was very positive, but over time the oak barrel predominated and the lack of head and watery texture left me disappointed.

 

Although the majority of Belgium brewers believe that their darkest and strongest ale has enough complexity, balance, charm and refinement that it needs nothing more than the malt driven taste and yeast fruitiness and spice that anything else would be excessive to a fault. But that doesn't do much to alleviate the temptation of Sun King brewers from unabashedly putting the ale in bourbon barrels.

So as the Velvet Fog settles over the beerscape, its tawny amber appearance is shrouded in a fine and misty haze. A thin trickle of lace embraces the margins while the wealth of aromas shed bold aspirations of dark, dried fruit, stone fruit, vinous and peppery spice and a sweeter caramelized tone. A pep of bourbon closes as the taste looms with caramel, brown sugar and sorghum in the shape of toasted coffee cake.

As those malt sweetnesses nestle onto the tongue, the fruit flavors unfold with dates, fig, apricot, cherry, raisin and a hint of prune. On the flip side, a quick followup of peppercorn, allspice, clove and oak works to offset the fruit and to take an edge off of the sweetness. Modest hopping rates also bring a mild bitterness and a broad woodsiness that leads into the bourbon soaked oak that trails on the late palate with caramel, toasted coconut and vanilla.

Full bodied, prickling and warm, the beer has both a brandy and port effect on the finish despite its strong bourbon roots. A long and savory aftertaste rewards the palate much like fine sherry and madeira do. Its whisky soaked fruitiness is sure to satisfy lovers of sweet robust and fortified wines as much as it does us beer geeks.

 

 

 

 

Look - amber clear color with very slight head and not really any skimming
Smell - dark fruit, plum and fig. Slight sweetness
Taste - sweet candid dark plum
Feel - full body light carb
Overall - fantastic

2-9

I sat on this one for about 6 months. The bourbon really takes over with little character of the quad base coming through other than the look. The nose and taste reveal cherry notes but not much complexity or depth. This is a nice example of ale as a neutral base to feature the BBA but was hoping for more.