High Torque 7
Quidi Vidi Brewery

High Torque 7High Torque 7
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From:
Quidi Vidi Brewery
 
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Style:
Malt Liquor
ABV:
7%
Score:
73
Avg:
2.53 | pDev: 31.23%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 20, 2013
Added:
Jul 25, 2008
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Rated: 2.75 by cam477 from Canada ()

Jun 20, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by ahugenerd from Canada ()

Dec 16, 2011
Photo of jondeelee
Reviewed by jondeelee from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +66%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer proudly boasts itself as "high torque" on the box, and is named "7" after its alcohol content. Given these two facts, I was expecting a low to mid-grade beer with a big alcohol bite, much like a malt liquor. However, a quick sniff revealed that I was in for something different, as the nose carried a thick, sugary, malty aroma, with hints of caramel and brown sugar.

But the beer proved itself even better on the tongue, where the thick malty nose translated perfectly, bringing an arsenal of caramelized sugars, toasted grains, toffees, and even some dark fruit esters. Most noticeable, however, is the lack of an alcohol bite. Hops are light to medium, mostly giving the brew a nice bitter background fuzz that nicely complemented the sugars. The flavors last throughout the mouthful, the toasted grains and dark sugars playing off each other well, and the aftertaste having a slightly larger emphasis on the toasted grains. Those familiar with Quidi Vidi's 1892 might find these flavors quite familiar--in fact, 7 tastes much like a batch of 1892 made with double the malt. Mouthfeel is of medium viscosity.

Overall, this is a high-quality brew that well demonstrates the right way to make a beer with a higher ABV, the alcohol being well hidden by sugars and large flavors. Unfortunately, the beer is only available in Newfoundland (and perhaps Nova Scotia and/or New Brunswick), so you're going to have to travel a bit to get a glass.
Aug 08, 2011
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

2.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
341ml bottle, with dimpled metal sheet label imagery, I think.

This beer pours a slightly hazy pale yellow colour, with two fingers of fast-disappearing thin foamy white head, which leaves but a single remote splotch of lace on the aft side of the glass. It smells of stale fruity, bready malt, with a sharp, metallic boozy edge. The taste is cheap fruity malt, and plastic phenols. The carbonation is moderate, the body medium weight, and decent, but for the cloying sugary booziness. It finishes with more of that sugary plastic nature - no thanks.

While the embiggened alcohol doesn't really show itself as heat, it still seems to manifest in an unpleasant industrial effluent sort of way. So not worth it - and a below average, telling finish to this mixed pack from the Rock.
Jan 19, 2011
Photo of Noxious26
Reviewed by Noxious26 from Canada (SK)

2.16/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
341ml brown bottle with twist off cap poured in a pint glass. Part of a 6 pack sampler bought at Willow Park in Regina.

Clear golden colour. White head is 1/2 inch on the pour, but quickly recedes to a thin ring around the edge. Quite a few carbonation streams. No lacing to speak of.

Aroma is fairly weak, cooked veggies with some malt sweetness. Hints of floral hops in the background.

Flavour is typical of a strong north american lager. Mostly cooked veggies with a light sweetness. There's an alcohol burn midway through and a dry astringent finish. Aftertaste is almost chemical like.

Harsh mouthfeel. Feels like a chemical scour of the mouth. Moderate carbonation.

Not terrible, but not very good either. Drinkability suffers from the harsh mouthfeel.

Not the worst strong lager I've ever had, but not the best either. The last of this sampler pack and all of them have been below average. Inoffensive, but nothing I'd go out of my way for again.
Sep 07, 2010
Photo of oakbluff
Reviewed by oakbluff from Canada (MB)

1.41/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
Pours a very pale yellow with minimal head. Nose- grainy, cooked vegetables. Taste- skunky, booze readily apparent, some malt sweetness. Carbonation and booze levels so high is burns on the way down. Stale corn on the finish. Good thing I just finished mowing my lawn and have a thrist to slake. Not a winner.
Jul 16, 2010
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

2.29/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
341ml bottle poured into pint glass may26 2010

A pale straw yellow with a few bubbles and some suspended particles and no head or lace

S the same fruity bread smell in QV only with some booze

T what I smell but with a boozy chemical flavor that I can't place but it may be a good thing I can't place it

M a little thin and not the smoothest finish

D hard to swallow, not one I would drink again

My 6 pack mixer is finished and I'm not too upset it's gone. I swear it's all just altered QV either light, strong or with honey
for a province that loves drinking you would hope they have better options
May 25, 2010
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

2.7/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Canary yellow colouring often makes for pretty-looking beer but it doesn't say anything as far as flavour or quality is concerned. This beer's cheery, sunny complexion and squeaky, spotless clarity bode well for its appearance but I'm not buying into anything just yet...

First impressions aren't everything, but they are important. When I first smelled the beer I thought of a few things, none of which were flattering. Notably: warm urine and apple cider vinegar. While I now completely retract the first of those observations, the soured, tart, funky apple smell seems to only be growing stronger.

It might almost resemble a gueuze if it weren't accompanied by the cloying, chemical-like scent of industrial cleaning solvent. High Torque smells and tastes like high-fructose corn syrup. Flavours of grits and corn muffins fail to either draw or drive away the attention of the taste buds; it is no more/no less flavourful than your typical lager.

But it sure doesn't drink like one! This beer may not have any extra flavour but it does have the extra alcohol. Although only 2 percent stronger than the average lager, this comes across as at least 3 scores above the normal notch. Coarse ethanol, along with a fizzy soda-pop carbonation, buzz the palate and scratch the throat like steel-wool.

But, to be fair, it is likely far and away one of the most agreeable examples of a malt liquor that I, or anyone for that matter, have come across. For a style where so many examples will readily induce gagging, paralysis and projectile vomiting, this isn't half bad...

But let's not get carried away pretending we liked it! All things considered it is relatively clean, agreeable and flavoured but a beer should be much more than just that. The guys at Quidi Vidi are clearly adept brewers and I'm happy they tried their hands at a higher gravity beer - I just wish it would have been of a different (more worthwhile) style.
Mar 11, 2010
Photo of ThatWineGuy
Reviewed by ThatWineGuy from Canada (ON)

2.23/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This was the last of the Qidi Vidi beers my wife brought back from her business trip to The Rock last October, it might have been a good idea not to cellar it quite this long. The yellow, clear liquid had a momentary white head but then took on a flat appearance with no signs of carbonation. The smell was of a warm, flat liquid, salty brine ... and not very pleasant at all. The mouthfeel was very cider-like, taste of pear, poor balance with too much acidity. Aftertaste slightly alcoholic. Just a hint of malt and no hops to speak of. Flat mouthfeel. This was my least favourite of the QV beers I sampled, if I tried it again it would be at the brewery itself like Derek did, otherwise not worth going out of your way for. Still, I must say that brewing good beer in Newfoundland presents a few challenges and I enjoyed trying all the QV beers; thanks to my wife Cheryl for going to the trouble of bringing them home.
Feb 27, 2010
Photo of mrmanning
Reviewed by mrmanning from Canada (ON)

2/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Bottle from Darlene- Pale pale yellow with a fizzy short lived white cap. no retention or lace. Aromas of corn syrup, straw, some malts, corn. tastes of very sweet corn and pale malts. A bit of booze towards the finish as it warms. A sweet boozey beer. Thanks Darlene!
Nov 21, 2008
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

3.88/5  rDev +53.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled at the brewery.

A: Golden-yellow with a white head, very little retention, surprisingly there's some lacing!

S: Slight toffee sweetness & alcohol.

T: Slight toffee sweetness, very little bitterness, slight hop spicing. Alcohol is warming, but not harsh.

M: Well-attenuated moderate body has a dry, alcohol finish.

D: Decent for a Malt Liquor. Not at all offensive.
Jul 25, 2008
High Torque 7 from Quidi Vidi Brewery
Beer rating: 73 out of 100 with 11 ratings