Quadruple Ratclops
Bellwoods Brewery

473 mL can from the brewery; dated Dec 21 2023 and served barely chilled. This is review #3500, so I purposely picked a big, bold beer that seemed worthy of the occasion. At 11.5%, I'd say this qualifies.

Pours turbid and cloudy as hell, its pale apricot yellow-hued body topped with one finger of loose, frothy white head that dissipates within three or four minutes. A half-inch band of even lace sticks to the glass, with a tight collar and filmy cap lasting indefinitely. The aroma is hoppy, acidic, juicy and moderately boozy: I'm getting mango, orange juice, lemon, pineapple and grapefruit, with hints of floral hops and oats.

Flavourful and unique, but the alcohol burn is difficult to ignore as the session goes on. There's mango, white grapefruit, orange juice, lime zest and pineapple, with notes of coconut, vanilla and syrupy fruit cup sweetness developing mid-sip. Resiny and floral on the back end - not particularly bitter, but there is some numbing from the booze; the aftertaste is mango, pineapple, citrus and vanilla. On the lighter side of full-bodied, with low carbonation and a smooth, soft mouthfeel; mildly acidic, with moderate boozy-sweetness. More drinkable than could reasonably be expected.

Final Grade: 4.12, an A-. Bellwoods' Quadruple Ratclops is simultaneously affable and gruff. I appreciated my glass and would consider buying this again, but if I'm being honest, I don't have a ton of interest in triple (or quadruple) IPAs - yes, a double is usually enough to do it for me. I find that the extra alcohol really just makes for a less drinkable, more expensive beer that isn't necessarily any 'better' than an equivalent DIPA. Not surprisingly, I'd take their Double Ratclops over this nine times out of ten, even though they're of similar quality.

Pours hazed burnt orange with a chunky, foam coating head. The aroma is of tropical fruit and field berries with some maple syrup and light booze heat. The taste is of mango, melon and lemon hops with loads of resinous, tar hop bitterness and a lot of bready, pale malts. High carbonation and full body in the mouthfeel. The finish is highly bitter with some complimentary maltiness and booze heat.

A fantastic DIPA. A lot of hop complexity and very drinkable for the strength.

473ml can served cold into a pint glass from the brewery. Canned in mid November 2023.

Appearance - a cloudy yellowy orange colored brew with multiple fingers of off-white head. Decent enough head retention given the higher ABV.

Smell - Citrusy with some mango and grapefruit leading the way, floral aspects and a touch of the fusel alcohol reminding you this beer is over 11% ABV.

Taste - Matches up with the nose, some fruity aspects that are rather sweet with mango leading the way, restrained bitterness, a touch of wheat malt and plenty of booziness.

Mouthfeel - Medium-full bodied with low carbonation and a sort of hot but not really hot finish. Restrained heat is a good way to describe this one.

Overall - Quadruple Ratclops keeps everything in check and reasonably balanced but only just. Interesting to try, but reminds me that all my favorite IPA's are sub 10% ABV, much more than that and the delicate balance of a delicious IPA teeters on the brink of collapse. That said, very well brewed and worth a try.

Can: Poured a hazy/cloudy yellow color ale with a large white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of citrusy hops floral hops undertones with some juicy notes and light fusel notes are also perceptible. Taste is also a mix of citrusy floral hops undertones with some floral hops notes and juicy notes with light residual sugar notes and fusel notes. Body is full with good carbonation. Enjoyable but not sure I really need this kind of ABV in this type of beer.

Well crafted hoppy beer: Everything balanced, the malt, the hops. The very high a.b.v. hardly noticed owing to all the taste experienced. Make it again.