Bourbon Barrel Quad (Barrel Room)
West Sixth Brewing Company

From a growler via DEPS and enjoyed in a snifter, this unique "quad" pours a deep
muddled brownish black with a light head of off white foam that settles to a thin
ring, thin layer, and light lacing. Nose of bourbon, vanilla, oak, heavy brown sugars,
and very strong booze with notes of sherry and light earthy tones. Flavors exceed the
nose with strong slick bourbon on the front and sides, medium amber molasses hits on
the middle and sides with brown sugars and vanilla, and fades into the background with a
searing warmth that makes one aware that this is a brew to be wary of. Flavors of sherry
and cognac light up the back and rear of the taste as well with warmth leaving a sweet and
warming note. Excellent mouth feel; slick, smooth, lightly coating, and VERY warming. A
dark Belgian strong to be certain. Lot's of flavors in this one, yet only slightly reminiscent of
the quad it once was due to the bourbon. Still, excellent and worthy!

Cheers

 

This is a huge beer with a lofty 13.5% tag. Lots of bourbon on the front as this soaked up the oak barrel. I don't get a lot of Quad character but I do get some candied sugars. Mid palate holds chocolate, toffee and bourbon cream. Ends with maple and brown sugar.

 

Shrouded in secrecy, the collection of beers that are seldom seen aren't to be disturbed. A nice long slumber in bourbon barrels gives their stronger, darker Belgian ale a depth of succulence and power that's easily confused with port, sherry and barleywine.

Coming from the "Barrel Room", the simply named Bourbon Barrel Quad arrives with a deep burgundy maroon, appearing nearer to black at first glance. A swift sheet of foam skirts the margins while greeting the nose with savory booze soaked oak, candied fruit, a peppery tingle and a host of mature sweet scents. Its taste is caramelized and of hard candy with a fruity-sweet early palate.

The layers of taste begin to unfold on the middle palate as the deep and savory taste of port wine, sherry, maple and grandma's hard candy caress the tastebuds with its soft liqueur. Blackberry, plum, fig, date and prune hinges of fruitcake proportions before the sweet vanilla and caramel of bourbon suggests an oaken spice and a vinous red wine tartness in finish.

Full bodied and lush like barleywine, the beer's supple carbonation is a far cry from the classics of the style but its decadent sweetness is powerful as the finishing touches of taste are laced with light soy sauce, chocolate and dark berry. A slow simmering spicy warmth is unmistakably bourbon-like as its long lasting afterglow is of fruit, spice and whimsy.