Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel
Brouwerij De Halve Maan

750ml bottle into a teku. Best by June 2023.

Superb looking drink. Almost black body with a strong tan head replenished by constant streams of carbonation. Malty and dark fruit aroma becomes stronger in the taste. Abv well nigh invisible. Excellent beer, aged to perfection.

 

 

 

I may have picked up a few bad bottles. Way too bitter at first but eventually the sweetness came through, no fruit or complexity at all. A big disappointment for me, especially at $6/bottle from a renowned brewery. I probably will never buy this brewery's beers again.

Not much to look at, but I enjoy that the carbonation isn't as hyperactive as your Chimays or other quads. Alcohol is really well hidden for 11%. Wowzers. Bonus points for not being in a pint can and giving me more of a decision to make.

 

From the side of the label: "Lot - Best before end: 28-06-2025 14:46"

Appearance: The body is a very dark ruby brown but it has excellent clarity. Although it is extremely dark, as light glints through it, the clarity becomes apparent. The beer has a very large tan head that is frothy and a bit creamy. It has excellent lacing and outstanding retention. It is a fantastic looking beer in the glass.

Aroma: It has a slightly spicy aroma of what smells like spicy hops with a bit of white and black pepper. There is a bit of a floral note to the beer which gives it a bit of an Irish Spring aroma. There is a bit of a coriander and vanilla aroma which is sharply followed by a light bit of caramel.

Taste: Up front there is some caramel with a touch of a metallic character and some coriander. As it passes towards the middle of the palate it picks up some charred notes and a bit of an earthy quality. There is some alcohol present.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is exceptional on this beer. It has a body that on the upper edge of light and plays in the realm of medium, which is good, but the real hero here is the finish. The beer has a nice dry finish which is notable for a beer with a lot of malt character. The carbonation and effervescence of the beer only assist in rolling the beer across the palate with ease. There is a light woody bitterness and a bit of charred carbon bitterness which helps ground the beer a bit. There is a light hoppy tinge that also gives the beer a small shot of bitterness.

Overall: The flavor characters of the beer were a bit on the light side, but the appearance, aroma, and especially the mouthfeel really made up for it in a holistic drinking experience. It is a very enjoyable beer to drink because it is so easy on the palate. The mild but present bitter notes from the grains and the hops help to cut into the light sweetness and maintain this as a beer you will want to keep in front of you. It is strong and well-mannered. I would recommend it and I would drink it again when I want a Quad that is a bit on the stronger side of bitterness.

Appearance: Brown, initially thick head that reduces to a thinner yet persistent white ring (that aids the smooth mouthfeel)

Aroma: Fruity, sweet, rich, boozy, strong banana and dark fruit

Flavour: Strong, rich, very sweet, incredibly warming (not surprising considering the 11%), dark fruit, caramel and very strong caramelised banana, cherry, prune, date, very smooth, slightly creeps up into the nose, malty, a flavour profile that’s somewhat like a cross between an IPA and a porter, almost bourbon-like spice and sweetness (though the former is apparent yet milder, and the latter is strong - the inverse to the average bourbon, from my experience), not cloying whatsoever considering the sweetness, settles on the palate beautifully (and goes down very well, despite the strength), a slight savoury note of very (very) lightly bitter toasted malt that provides both balance and that great ‘toasty’ comfort that the best dark beers provide, ever so slightly carbonated to prevent it being flat, increasing richness that’s rarely ever experienced.
Beautifully complex, decadent, suited to both sweet and (richer) savoury dishes, best served somewhat cold (but above fridge temperature), best sipped like a wine and is not too expensive for its quality (just over £4, purchased from the Fuggles bottle shop in Tunbridge Wells).

Overall, a truly outstanding beer, one of the best I’ve had (and definitely the best non-stout/porter). Absolutely exceptional, would highly recommend.

 

 

 

75cl
brown with some red, mahogany. 2-3 finger head.

A/F: Apples, cherries, figs, liquorice, apricots, some spices.
Very sweet. Complex, creamy.

I usually like sweet quads, though in this case it feels a bit overwhelming to me.

 

 

Bought a bottle of this beer at my favorite beer shop in Dallas.

Poured into a tulip glass. Very beautiful beer! Dark reddish brown color with a rich, creamy beige head and excellent curtain lacing. Smell and taste of sweet dark fruit, raisins, prunes, blackberries. Caramel and toffee with candied cherries. Very smooth feel. Pleasant, comforting quad.

 

 

330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 11%. Very dark brown to ruby colour, large beige head. Nicy spicy and intensely malty aroma, also notes of brown sugar, dark dried fruits and oak. Rich and warming mouthfeel. The flavour is sweet with distinct notes of spices, oak, malts and molasses, also dark dried fruits again. Pretty impressive stuff.

11.2oz bottle purchased at the Rocket Market, high atop Spokane's South Hill. Wandered in looking to grab a box of Bruttles for a box to Ozzylizard that was afterwards intercepted by a very unchill Postal Inspector. I'd never heard of this one before so I grabbed one. According to the label, it is best consumed before April 14, 2024.

Poured into a St. Bernardus goblet, this was a chestnut brown when coming out of the bottle, but assumed a much darker shade of brown once in the glass. Big, creamy, beige colored head. Lots of lace.

Initially fruity nose, reminding me of apples, when first poured. As it warmed, it became more sweet and more complex. Cherries, plums, raisins also come into play, nasally. There's a bit of a nougat type scent as well. Reminds me of a sweet and fresh take on a fruitcake.

Once it warmed beyond the temperature of the the fridge, the taste was much like the nose, except perhaps more complex and rich. There's a bit of a banana like clovey zing, a bit of bourbon like sweetness, even a bit of Marzipan, which happens to be a favorite of mine (folks either really like or really dislike Marzipan in my experience, without much of a middle ground).

Has that light bottle conditioned feel that's so hard for most American brewer's to duplicate.

Fantastic beer. I've been feeling a bit of a hankering for a Belgian Quad, and this has definitely scratched that itch. Would definitely buy this again.

 

 

 

Bottled and presumably bottle conditioned and purchased presumably from Café Beermoth presumably
Aroma is molasses and balsamic vinegar
Flavour is prune juice & icing sugar

 

 

 

Look: Pours a light shade of redish brown, almost coca-cola color with a one and a half finger off white head of foam that doesn't lace the glass, but hangs around for a good five minutes before finally settling down.

Aroma: Chocolate covered strawberries, praline cookies, candied apples, tamarind and brown sugar. Savory, salted caramel like undertones in the background. Really inviting aroma.

Taste: Follows the nose with soft notes of plums and dates, red cherries and milk chocolate. A pleasant, clean alcoholic warming sensation follows suit. Soft caramel and brown sugar. Highlighted by yeasty notes of white pepper, banana and clove.

Feel: Silky and smooth. Low carbonation but not flat or tepid. Body is heavy with low-mid carbonation. Alcohol profile is apparent.

Overall: Impressive quad, honestly this is perfect for the winter; it's hearty and filling with rich, complex flavors of chocolate malt and confectionary fruit with a silky mouthfeel that never becomes cloying due to the balance from the spicy elements of the yeast.

 

How come this one not hitting top 10?
Dark fruit. malt and spice. What a nice quad!
Never tried W12 personally, ABT 12 and rochefort 10 are better.
So for me this one should just rank #4 under Quad category.

bottle purchased early August; has a date with a smudged year (15-06-20_3), but based on other reviews, I'd assume this was a "best by date" of June 15, 2023 - though there is no "BB" or other such contextual marking.
poured into a red-wine goblet.

pours a murky cola brown body with a thick, tan colored soda foam head that has moderate retention, and leaves occasional lacing behind, though it all gradually dissipates and/or slinks back down the sides of the glass; the cap is left as a murky center with defined medium sized halo.

aroma is sweet, clean, floral, and slightly earthy. maybe sub "clean" with "herbal" on second glance. clove and brown sugar with a yeasty punch; malt is thick and bready, spiced and cake-like.

first flavor upon the taste is black licorice. didn't see that coming with the aroma, yet it makes sense as a total of the aroma notes. sweet, but "rooty" (sans tootie) and herbal. clove oil jumps in somewhere like Kato and jumps out again, settling in the background menacingly (playfully?); cola rock candy wiggles around somewhere before the black licorice grabs the focus once again. nearly tastes "medicinal" to me, but could be my disposition concerning black licorice manifesting.

mouthfeel is very high carbonation and medium-thick body; it's smooth, fluffy, and has a dry finish that leaves a black licorice flavored bubblegum aftertaste plastered around the the cheeks and tongue.

overall:
feels very "old world" - though this could be my own association of black licorice being antiquity's notion of a proper treat. it's never been one of my favorite flavors, and that perhaps holds back my scoring here a bit. aside from the reliance on this flavor, I can state that it is excellently made, with a broad yet complete feeling scope. it deserves a mention in the official canon of what the style can and should look like, but because of the particular flavor leaning, I'll keep it from my top 5. would and should totally make a great flight addition showcasing the style or Belgian brews in general.

 

 

11.2oz bottle bb 20-01-2024 poured into a snifter at just above fridge temp 11% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright medium brown in color with massive, persistent very light brown head. I poured gently and still have half a glass of head after 10 minutes. Eventually, there is an uneven ring with a mountain of head on one side of the glass. Thick, clingy lacing.
The aroma is malty and yeasty with hints of bread and clove. The taste is semisweet malt with brown and candi sugar notes before mild clove and noticeable earthy bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with above average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. No sign of the ABV in the taste or aroma. Overall, very good to excellent. This quad rides the line of sweet & dry beautifully and is very drinkable.

To my taste, this is the richest and most satisfying Belgian Quadrupel out there. With its rich color and aroma and frothy head, it's a cut above some others with higher published ratings. My only complaint about it is, that one bottle at around 11.5 oz is not quite enough, while 2 bottles is a bit too much. Of course I wish the price were lower, but it's well within the expected range for this class of Belgian Quads. Although not related to beer quality, I wish to add that it also has one of the most elegantly restrained and refined label designs among beers. Note also the graphic on the cap. Just little details that add to the overall experience.

 

 

11.2 oz bottle. Label has best before end '20-01-2024'.
Amber brown colored body. Billowing light tan head (took four pours to fit bottle contents into glass). Leaves behind remnants of the high volume foam.
Aroma of caramel and multiple dried fruit - prune, dates, raisin, and a little apricot.
Taste of black licorice, honey caramel, and the dark fruits - dates, prunes, raisin, and apricot. Introduces a nutty component.
Thicker mouth feel, with a very smooth texture. Good carbonation.
The high ABV% dries out each sip, but the flavors are full and the feel is inviting. Definitely has some sweetness that allows repeated quick sips.

750ml bottle poured into tulip.

Looks lovely. Pours a deep chestnut brown with three fingers of suede head that leaves some splashing sea foam lace as it recedes.

Smells of rich nutty cake, raisin tarts, stewed fig and plum, a stiff rum and coke, singed orange rind and banana chips, chocolate covered cherries and mixed dessert spices.

First sip had a huge wave of black licorice that seemed to calm down pleasantly as I kept sipping. Tastes of hazelnut cake, more stewed dark fruit, toasted orange rind, banana bread, chocolate raisins and cherries, and a bit of dusty ash.

Feels big and lively. Full bodied with frothy carbonation. Finishes sweet and a bit chewy.

Verdict: Vigorously recommended. Huge and delicious, perfect for a long movie.