False Summit
Elevation Beer Co.
- From:
- Elevation Beer Co.
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #110 - ABV:
- 11.1%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #12,914 - Avg:
- 4.03 | pDev: 10.67%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 19
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 20, 2024
- Added:
- May 29, 2013
- Wants:
- 11
- Gots:
- 31
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Many a hiker has been disheartened by the false summits on Mt. Princeton, Yale, Antero and the 11 other 14,000-foot peaks that ring Chaffee County. We named this beer False Summit, as some may too be disheartened that this is not a barrel-aged version of our famous Apis IV. Yet this Bourbon barrel-aged quadrupel, like the final stretch of trail to a mountain’s peak, is often much more enjoyable and rewarding then what came before.
30 IBU
30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Wasatch:
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4.34/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml
Capped
Bottled On: 10.02.18
Poured into a goblet a pretty nice translucent dark brown color, nice carbonation, with a nice quick/fizzy one-finger light tan head, which also leaves some minimal sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, with a nice dark fruit complex (grapes, figs, raisins, dates, cherries), with some nice bourbon/oak notes, vanilla. The taste is pretty nice, malty, with a pretty nice dark fruit complex (grapes, figs, raisins, dates, cherries), with a pretty nice bourbon/oak notes, some nice vanilla sweetness. Full Body, ABV is hidden very nicely, a pretty tasty complex brew, a very nice sipper. Overall, this one surprised me, pretty tasty.
Jan 20, 2019Capped
Bottled On: 10.02.18
Poured into a goblet a pretty nice translucent dark brown color, nice carbonation, with a nice quick/fizzy one-finger light tan head, which also leaves some minimal sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, with a nice dark fruit complex (grapes, figs, raisins, dates, cherries), with some nice bourbon/oak notes, vanilla. The taste is pretty nice, malty, with a pretty nice dark fruit complex (grapes, figs, raisins, dates, cherries), with a pretty nice bourbon/oak notes, some nice vanilla sweetness. Full Body, ABV is hidden very nicely, a pretty tasty complex brew, a very nice sipper. Overall, this one surprised me, pretty tasty.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.34/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750 ml bottle from Tavour. Deep brown, clear, beige foamy head, fades to patches. Boozy aroma, molasses, prunes, wood. Taste is sweet and strong, dark pit fruit, brown sugar. Finishes with a sharp tang and a lot of heat. Perfect on a chilly fall afternoon.
Nov 27, 2023
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
4/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On a summit. But not a big one. Definitly not like some Himalayan stuff. Maybe Mount Baldy - which is a bit by me. Yeah, a hippie vacation on a Saturday. That’s this beer. Not a big conquest, but something that stokes a dread head more than it should. Yeah, Raul is fine with it, but… I mean, hippies… And Raul… Nah, let’s not go there. It’s fine, but just not a bullseye.
Mar 07, 2023
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.16/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle into a goblet. Bottled 10/2/18, had 10/25/19.
Pours a darker ruby amber, semi opaque, with only a brief flash of a head and sparse, spotty lacing. Aromas of bourbon, grapes, malt, some caramel and tobacco, a little char. The flavor opens up a little more- bourbon, grapes, figs, caramel, malt, plums, some tobacco, light oak. A decent amount of alcohol warming. Smooth, a good body but a little light for the barrels, appropriately carbonated.
Certainly not a traditional take on a quad, but a solid one. Wasn’t sure I liked this at first, but it grew on me as I worked through the bottle. Thought the body could have been a little fuller. Enjoyable.
Mar 30, 2020Pours a darker ruby amber, semi opaque, with only a brief flash of a head and sparse, spotty lacing. Aromas of bourbon, grapes, malt, some caramel and tobacco, a little char. The flavor opens up a little more- bourbon, grapes, figs, caramel, malt, plums, some tobacco, light oak. A decent amount of alcohol warming. Smooth, a good body but a little light for the barrels, appropriately carbonated.
Certainly not a traditional take on a quad, but a solid one. Wasn’t sure I liked this at first, but it grew on me as I worked through the bottle. Thought the body could have been a little fuller. Enjoyable.
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.73/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.73/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Cork and caged 750, bottled on 10-12-15. Poured a solid very dark brown color with a bout 1/4 inch of tan head that dissipated quickly into just a thin ring, and had no retention or lacing.
Subtle malts at the front of the nose, with some stone fruits aspects, a touch of yeast, and soft touches of wood and bourbon around the edges.
Fairly similar on the tongue, with the fruit notes being a touch stronger, and the bourbon/wood wafting nicely around the edges. There was some alcohol heat on the finish. Maybe a hint of chocolate too?
The body was medium full, smooth, even, and had a medium finish. Could used a touch more carbonation though.
Drinkability was very good, taking down the whole bottle solo was no issue.
Overall, a very nice beer. Will seek out again. Most certainly worth your time.
Feb 20, 2020Subtle malts at the front of the nose, with some stone fruits aspects, a touch of yeast, and soft touches of wood and bourbon around the edges.
Fairly similar on the tongue, with the fruit notes being a touch stronger, and the bourbon/wood wafting nicely around the edges. There was some alcohol heat on the finish. Maybe a hint of chocolate too?
The body was medium full, smooth, even, and had a medium finish. Could used a touch more carbonation though.
Drinkability was very good, taking down the whole bottle solo was no issue.
Overall, a very nice beer. Will seek out again. Most certainly worth your time.
Reviewed by mmilyko from Nevada
4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Unlike some reviews, don’t find it “light” in any way...this is a “Strong Ale” in every sense of the term...dark, spicey, fruity...alcohol/aging was in your face at first, mellowed as it warmed up....Highly recommended for Quad fans.
Dec 01, 2018
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.24/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a 750 ml bottle at Kings Beer & Wine on 9-5-18 for $5.00 (due to Elevation no longer allocating to Arizona and the Distributor having a fire sale - good for us consumers!) Bottled on 09.02.16.
Beer poured brown with an okay off white head that has a wee bit of hang time.
Nose is wine like, dark fruit forward with a light touch of vanilla and whiskey from the bourbon, very pleasant.
Taste is currants, figs, some vanilla, kiss of bourbon, and some tart cherry over a large malt base with the yeast strain consuming the candi sugars.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, the beer lightly dancing its way across the palate.
Overall a very nice American quad. The bourbon which i doubt had much of a presence freshly bottled accentuated the flavors nicely but was a bit player compared to the dark fruit profile. Glad i was able to try this at a great price!
Oct 13, 2018Beer poured brown with an okay off white head that has a wee bit of hang time.
Nose is wine like, dark fruit forward with a light touch of vanilla and whiskey from the bourbon, very pleasant.
Taste is currants, figs, some vanilla, kiss of bourbon, and some tart cherry over a large malt base with the yeast strain consuming the candi sugars.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, the beer lightly dancing its way across the palate.
Overall a very nice American quad. The bourbon which i doubt had much of a presence freshly bottled accentuated the flavors nicely but was a bit player compared to the dark fruit profile. Glad i was able to try this at a great price!
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Color is dark amber brown with a modest head and swirls of foam in the Orval chalice. Deep, rich aroma of Bourbon, and it's Jim Beam that comes to mind rather than something swankier. Delightful prickly and sudsy mouthfeel, lightens up what would be a ponderous brew.
The light Bourbon taste is helped by a touch of hops. Pear and gingerbread flavors. Plenty of malt but enlivened by the yeast. Sweet to start but the usual Belgian dry finish. One of my new favorite barrel-aged beers. From the 750 ml bottle purchased at Grapevine Liquors in Denver.
Jul 01, 2017The light Bourbon taste is helped by a touch of hops. Pear and gingerbread flavors. Plenty of malt but enlivened by the yeast. Sweet to start but the usual Belgian dry finish. One of my new favorite barrel-aged beers. From the 750 ml bottle purchased at Grapevine Liquors in Denver.
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