Vicennial Series: God Complex
River North Brewery

Aroma of Raisins, a sweet, highly potent beer that could also have ABV represented as "proof". Sweet and syrupy, it's a sipping beer that would be great for special occasions. River North Recommends sharing it, in part because of the ABV but also because it's just a special beer to be shared.

 

this is insane beer, super strong, layered, and good for how big it is, like not kitchen sinky as youd think it would almost have to be at this level of alcohol strength, but it presents as well refined, much to my surprise. looks like a few different versions of this exist, or have existed. a belgian quad as a base, but its in many ways barleywine to me, rye whiskey barrel aged, seemingly forever, such an intriguing brew, these guys have long been masters of the big barrel stuff. mahogany colored liquid here with both more carbonation and slightly less viscosity than expected, a thin ring of tan bubbles sits on top of lightly cloudy, woody looking liquid. i smell the oak and the spice, some vanilla and creme brulee, white pepper and clove from belgian yeast, heaps of middle fruitiness, raisin and fig, makes it kind of festive to me, brown sugar and maple, some of that abbey malt richness and some candy sugar likely, leather and tobacco, fusel alcohol the whole way, almost smells like it has actual whiskey blended into it, very subtly belgian, long boiled and reduced and concentrated to me, molasses, granola, rubbing alcohol. the flavor is packed with malt depth, its bready, baked, hearty as can be, but also deeply earthy and sort of just milled and fresh in that regard, then its sweet like crazy, toffee and bread pudding and honey, subtle yeast esters and alcohol swirling together, caramel and hazelnut suggestions make it really desserty, and this is something that could go in a little port wine glass for slow (very slow) after dinner sipping, its cordial-like, very intense, but i like the complexity, the prickle of carbonation, the heavy wood, and the way it crawls along, changing often on the palate as it fades. the alcohol is gnarly, but the flavors and the overall quality are impressive, neat as a sort of quad and barleywine hybrid, the ferment is a needed counterpoint to the grain, and the barrel treatment is just fantastic. i love the name, makes sense for this. extreme beer here, but really well done, nothing really like this out there in my experience, liquid wood, so cool!

Bottled 2022, 99 cases, release no. 4. Poured at 58°. Deep amber almost garnet body with very good clarity; fast fizzy light tan head vanishes immediately leaving no cap retention, ring nor lace; no legs. Nose is oak, toffee with boozy warm exhale; cherry as beer warmed. Sweet toffee, caramel, sugared raisins and plums; oaky black licorice; spicy hot black pepper finish from the alcohol. Sharp alcohol bite across the tongue; full on mouth warmth from 17.5% abv; light carbonation; medium full body, silky smooth feel. Overall, let’s address the obvious - the alcohol burns in the mouth (it is inescapable and I like it!); layers of dark fruit and spicy alcohol flavors. An excellent barrel aged quad.

Somewhat murky brown pour; dense and lively carbonation; thin yet wide ring of foam along the inside edge of the glass, tan colored. Musty, dry white oak nose undercut with a bit of caramel with faint hints of dark, dried fruits. Big boozy flavor right off the bat; caramel; figs; whiskey barrel wood; a murky spiciness; anise and rye. Heavy mouthfeel yet overly fizzy; hot and boozy.

I expected more depth and complexity with this beer. I am inclined to think aging for a year or two would mellow out the definite rough edges, especially with the taste and mouthfeel.

ABV: 20.6%; pouring temperature: 39.5 °F; bottling info: Vicennial Series: I; Vintage: 2024; Barrel Type: Whiskey & Rye; Cases Bottled: 99
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)

2022 vintage - 17.5% ABV on this one. Poured at fridge temp. Pours a dark murky brown with almost zero head. The nose is boozy, full of rich toffee, red grapes, bourbon, vanilla, and a huge pile of malts.

The taste is super intense. Definitely a boozy beer! This is a sipper. Vanilla, toffee, cherries, blackberries, raisins, oak, bread, brown sugar, and molasses. Really good. Not too sweet, and not too boozy to be off-putting.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and the aftertaste is sweet toffee and bourbon.

 

 

Murky brown body with amber tints. Poured with a short lived fizzy head.

Unsurprisingly, this is an unrelentingly brassy, boozy beast. Familiar Quad notes up front, raisin, plum, apple, and brown sugar, though with a sharper, alcoholic bite. The finish gets more sugary before giving way to a potent, perfumed heat. Fun to try but I prefer a non super sized Quad (Octo?)

I sometimes wonder if breweries conflate the ABV of offerings like this for notoriety. Not the case here. Ooooof. I'm feeling this one.