Stormcrusher
Brewery Ommegang

RB transfer

 

A quadrupel in cans? I trust it from Ommegang, but it does raise an eyebrow.

9.7% ABV. 2018 vintage. "Quadrupel ale brewed with blueberries and coffee."

The blueberry does come through, but it's eclipsed by silky caramel malts, toffee, and dark malt. I don't pick up on any overt coffee bitterness or roasty flavour, but I guess there's some faint earthiness. Lacks overt hoppy notes (true to style) and it's frankly not much of a quadrupel...where is the dark fruit?

Medium to full-bodied. Smooth. Wet. Somewhat soft. Well-carbonated. Not chewy, oily, gushed, hot, boozy, or astringent. Hides its ABV well.

It's a failed attempt at a quadrupel, which is surprising coming from Ommegang. Usually they are on point with their Belgian styles, but this misses the mark. Still, the blueberries are effective and the beer as a whole is enjoyable even if it isn't really rigidly style-adherent.

I'm glad I nabbed a 4-pack, but it's far from on par with Saint Bernardus, Westvleteren, Pannepot, et al.

B- / WORTHY

 

Poured from can into tulip, good 2 finger light tan head, recedes rather quickly to a pool, ok lacing. Ruby/reddish in the glass, cloudy and some light passes thru. Smells predominantly of coffee, swirling around wakes up the blueberries, some raisin and dark fruit on the nose. Taste is man, pretty much a lot going on. Initially coffee is up front and then it goes into the blueberry and then all the chocolate, caramel, dark fruit, raisin, plum, slight prune and it finishes with a lingering berry/cherry taste and a slight tartness. Good beer, great complexity.

Pours a cloudy reddish orange color with virtually no head. Aroma is almost like an ashtray with slight sweetness. Taste is the same. Blueberry ashtray. Just not my cup of tea.

Dark fruit, jammy, roasty coffee, black currant, bitter

 

 

 

Poured from a can into a tulip glass.

Beautifully odd reddish-purple color, decent initial head but little lacing. Very fragrant cherry and berry smell and flavor. Coffee flavor is subtle, but the overall flavor is pleasant. Nice beer.

Serving: 473 ml can (stamped “lot 821 2018... best by 8/21/2020”)

Appearance: Hazy burgundy with a brief, frothy head of pink-hued off white foam.

Smell: Bold notes of earthy, roasted coffee followed by caramel and blueberry.

Taste: Coffee continues to dominate with dark, bitter notes, but harmonizes nicely with sour sweet blueberry notes and malty caramel body.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, creamy feel and moderate carbonation.

Overall: The added blueberries and coffee stretch the quadrupel base, but combine nicely in potent, flavorful brew.