Neuhaus (BA Cabernet)
Untied Brewing Company

Solid appearance; it's not perfectly clear, but there aren't clearly visible floaties, either. Head production and retention are decent.

The nose is wonderful! Dry spice from Belgian yeast; plenty of oak; a hint of red grape from the Cabernet; dark fruit and dark bread.

The palate can't quite deliver on the promise of the nose, but it's still very tasty. If I have one complaint, it's that the barrel notes from the nose don't really translate to the palate. Instead, it comes across more as a fairly traditional quad, with loads of dark fruit, bread, and dry spice, accented with a bit of oak and even less red grape. It's a very tasty quad, and drinks remarkably easy, but I can't help but feel that the base beer (sans barrel aging) would be just as good, perhaps even better. Overall, an outstanding and tasty beer.

Poured from 500 ML bottle into a tulip glass. It pours a cloudy, orange-brown color with cola hues, and over a finger of creamy, ecru-colored head and lacing. Quite a nose! The red wine is obvious but it's balanced by floral notes, brown sugar, and raisin. I've had the base Quad before and was impressed. The effect of the Cabernet barrel is immediate. There is also a significant amount of oakiness. The other fruit is more subtle; as it warms I note raisin and plum, along with molasses. But it's not overly sweet. The mouth feel is exquisite; it's thick and creamy with moderate carbonation, and I can feel the 9.9% ABV. Overall, this is impressive. It's perfect for a mild Spring day and pairs well with sharp cheese and rye crackers.