Not The Stoic
Deschutes Brewery
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Belgian Quadrupel (Quad)
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 8.65%
- Reviews:
- 106
- Ratings:
- From:
- Deschutes Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 59
- Gots
- 272
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
Brewed with pomegranate & molasses, 15% aged in oak wine barrels, 15% aged in oak rye barrels.
Reviews: 106
| Ratings: 740
4/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage; drank 10/15/15 on draft @ Fischman's.
Murky orange rust appearance.
Almost no khaki head; no lace.
Plum, cognac & red wine notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Raisin, plum & dried fig flavors up front; cognac notes on the finish.
A bit boozy, but very flavorful.
295 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage; drank 10/15/15 on draft @ Fischman's.
Murky orange rust appearance.
Almost no khaki head; no lace.
Plum, cognac & red wine notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Raisin, plum & dried fig flavors up front; cognac notes on the finish.
A bit boozy, but very flavorful.
295 characters
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - The beer poured a rusty brown color with an off-white head crowning the pour.
Smell - The nose was over-ripe cherries. I was a little worried it was infected based on the nose.
Taste - At the front, the beer is boozy but not hot. The cherries are light initially, but more sweet as the beer warms. Notes of coconut and oak linger throughout the taste. It comes off a little like oaky cherry licorice. Tobacco becomes more prominent in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel - There is a pleasantly bold mouthfeel that allows the taste to linger.
Overall - This is a very solid quad that does not let barrel aging overcome its massiveness.
647 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - The beer poured a rusty brown color with an off-white head crowning the pour.
Smell - The nose was over-ripe cherries. I was a little worried it was infected based on the nose.
Taste - At the front, the beer is boozy but not hot. The cherries are light initially, but more sweet as the beer warms. Notes of coconut and oak linger throughout the taste. It comes off a little like oaky cherry licorice. Tobacco becomes more prominent in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel - There is a pleasantly bold mouthfeel that allows the taste to linger.
Overall - This is a very solid quad that does not let barrel aging overcome its massiveness.
647 characters
3.99/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22oz bottle (best after 4/22/2015) into a tulip. Pours a muddy mahogany/amber with a fizzy 1/2 finger head that quickly disappears. steady carbonation sustains a shallow patch of bubbles on the surface.
Aroma is caramel and fig, dates, molasses. Sugary sweet. Standard quad fare.
Taste follows nose. Sticky sweet, caramel, molasses, rum-soaked figs and dates. Complex, a bit vinous. Almost cloying, but I'm OK with that tonight.
Mouthfeel is sticky and slick, lingering. The opposite of crisp and refreshing, this is heavy and coating. Again though, given the style it feels right.
Overall a pretty good quad. Maybe not up there with the classics, but the barrel aging gives it its own character.
700 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22oz bottle (best after 4/22/2015) into a tulip. Pours a muddy mahogany/amber with a fizzy 1/2 finger head that quickly disappears. steady carbonation sustains a shallow patch of bubbles on the surface.
Aroma is caramel and fig, dates, molasses. Sugary sweet. Standard quad fare.
Taste follows nose. Sticky sweet, caramel, molasses, rum-soaked figs and dates. Complex, a bit vinous. Almost cloying, but I'm OK with that tonight.
Mouthfeel is sticky and slick, lingering. The opposite of crisp and refreshing, this is heavy and coating. Again though, given the style it feels right.
Overall a pretty good quad. Maybe not up there with the classics, but the barrel aging gives it its own character.
700 characters
4.6/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampling a cellar temp 22 oz bottle poured into my snifter. Date on bottle is 4/22/15, says best after. guess I should be fine!
Bottle is part of a trade with my friend Craig. Thanks!
The beer pours a clear mahogany color with some deep ruby highlights. I get a creamy dense khaki colored head of 1 cm. The foam fades slowly, but remains a sturdy edge layer and large island throughout the sampling of the beer.
Aroma is some dark fruit and caramel, red grape or pomegranate mixing with a bit of molasses too. I also get a pretty good dose of booze, reminding me of this 12% brew and its sippability. No hops anywhere.
The first sip reveals a smooth textured body with mild spacious carbonation.
Flavor is caramel, brown sugar and some molasses, also the fruity pomegranate or red grape comes through here. No hops again, and again the booze is present with a good dose of black pepper and some warming on each swallow. This is a big beer. Kind of sweet and a little bite on each swallow. Quite an enjoyable beer that I am glad to have had for sampling. I would buy another bottle if I ever found one.
1,108 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampling a cellar temp 22 oz bottle poured into my snifter. Date on bottle is 4/22/15, says best after. guess I should be fine!
Bottle is part of a trade with my friend Craig. Thanks!
The beer pours a clear mahogany color with some deep ruby highlights. I get a creamy dense khaki colored head of 1 cm. The foam fades slowly, but remains a sturdy edge layer and large island throughout the sampling of the beer.
Aroma is some dark fruit and caramel, red grape or pomegranate mixing with a bit of molasses too. I also get a pretty good dose of booze, reminding me of this 12% brew and its sippability. No hops anywhere.
The first sip reveals a smooth textured body with mild spacious carbonation.
Flavor is caramel, brown sugar and some molasses, also the fruity pomegranate or red grape comes through here. No hops again, and again the booze is present with a good dose of black pepper and some warming on each swallow. This is a big beer. Kind of sweet and a little bite on each swallow. Quite an enjoyable beer that I am glad to have had for sampling. I would buy another bottle if I ever found one.
1,108 characters
3.45/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2015 bottle. Consumed in 2018. The aging didn't do it much favours; an oxidized toffee, caramel sweetness, slight tannin. raisins. Lighter bodied, fair carbonation, again fairly oxidized.
187 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2015 bottle. Consumed in 2018. The aging didn't do it much favours; an oxidized toffee, caramel sweetness, slight tannin. raisins. Lighter bodied, fair carbonation, again fairly oxidized.
187 characters
4.03/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours syrupy orange with pillowy carbonation; smallish head. Probably wouldn't be able to identify this as a quad by its looks - recalls La Trappe.
Not unpleasant, but none of the flavours really shine. Everything happening here generally fights with the natural quadiness, rather than complementing it. Oak aged Abt 12 pulled it off, but aging and fiddling with these things is like throwing perfume on the violet.
417 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours syrupy orange with pillowy carbonation; smallish head. Probably wouldn't be able to identify this as a quad by its looks - recalls La Trappe.
Not unpleasant, but none of the flavours really shine. Everything happening here generally fights with the natural quadiness, rather than complementing it. Oak aged Abt 12 pulled it off, but aging and fiddling with these things is like throwing perfume on the violet.
417 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a giant snifter to a deep ruddy brown topped by a dense finger of tan head that fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of dark fruits, alcohol, candi sugar, oak, vanilla, and caramel with a little toffee
T: Taste is sweet and fruity up front with a lot of dark fruits, hints of pomegranate, oak, caramel, vanilla and some toffee as well. Some hints of dark sugars as well with a molasses note. Swallow is spicy alcohol with more dark fruits, oak, caramel and vanilla
M: This beer has a full body that is slightly sticky with soft carbonation from bottle conditioning that is perfect for the style. The beer has a drying finish from the ABV as well which is nice and expected.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer with some great flavors and complexity. The barrels and additions they made complement the flavors well and everything plays nicely together. It has some age on it but it doesn't have any signs of oxidation. Definitely worth a try.
1,017 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a giant snifter to a deep ruddy brown topped by a dense finger of tan head that fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of dark fruits, alcohol, candi sugar, oak, vanilla, and caramel with a little toffee
T: Taste is sweet and fruity up front with a lot of dark fruits, hints of pomegranate, oak, caramel, vanilla and some toffee as well. Some hints of dark sugars as well with a molasses note. Swallow is spicy alcohol with more dark fruits, oak, caramel and vanilla
M: This beer has a full body that is slightly sticky with soft carbonation from bottle conditioning that is perfect for the style. The beer has a drying finish from the ABV as well which is nice and expected.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer with some great flavors and complexity. The barrels and additions they made complement the flavors well and everything plays nicely together. It has some age on it but it doesn't have any signs of oxidation. Definitely worth a try.
1,017 characters
4.75/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This false Stoic is similar in name but a remarkably different experience from it's namesake beer. This 2015 Not poured an inviting creamy red-brown color with little visible carbonation and almost no notice head. The nose is met with a pleasant bouquet of dark fruits, dried candies, and spirits. The liquid meets the lips with a warm tingle before snuggling the tongue in a medium thick blanket of malted cherries, rich syrup, and candy sugar that resonates in a dry, red apple, finish. Despite the smell, alcohol isn't noticable but this beer leaves the body feeling tingly, warm, and happy. There are few beers that can truly be described as a one in a lifetime experience. Deschutes truly delivered with Not the Stoic.
729 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This false Stoic is similar in name but a remarkably different experience from it's namesake beer. This 2015 Not poured an inviting creamy red-brown color with little visible carbonation and almost no notice head. The nose is met with a pleasant bouquet of dark fruits, dried candies, and spirits. The liquid meets the lips with a warm tingle before snuggling the tongue in a medium thick blanket of malted cherries, rich syrup, and candy sugar that resonates in a dry, red apple, finish. Despite the smell, alcohol isn't noticable but this beer leaves the body feeling tingly, warm, and happy. There are few beers that can truly be described as a one in a lifetime experience. Deschutes truly delivered with Not the Stoic.
729 characters
3.29/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
I like the ruby brown color- quite unique. The smell is pretty heavenly, too! The taste, though, tastes odd with the molasses and pommegranite when a quad can stand on its own. The mouthfeel is pretty simple, almost clean, but the molasses lingers...
250 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
I like the ruby brown color- quite unique. The smell is pretty heavenly, too! The taste, though, tastes odd with the molasses and pommegranite when a quad can stand on its own. The mouthfeel is pretty simple, almost clean, but the molasses lingers...
250 characters
4.08/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark amber color with a thin foamy head. Retention is decent. Aroma of dark fruits, molasses, high alcohol. Very sweet taste. Strong molasses, mild caramel and dark fruits. Medium bodied with mild carbonation. Alcohol content very evident.
254 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark amber color with a thin foamy head. Retention is decent. Aroma of dark fruits, molasses, high alcohol. Very sweet taste. Strong molasses, mild caramel and dark fruits. Medium bodied with mild carbonation. Alcohol content very evident.
254 characters
4.01/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I purchased this a while back(about two years ago looking at the enjoy after date) and decided to pull it out and see what time has done to this. Enjoyed chilled in a Deschutes teku and allowed to gradually increase in temperature.
The color is dark amber like maple syrup with sandstone head
to be continued
312 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I purchased this a while back(about two years ago looking at the enjoy after date) and decided to pull it out and see what time has done to this. Enjoyed chilled in a Deschutes teku and allowed to gradually increase in temperature.
The color is dark amber like maple syrup with sandstone head
to be continued
312 characters
4.19/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Pours a deep dark ruby red with a two finger off white fizzy head.
S - Aroma is raisins, plums, pomegranate, & wine tannins.
T - The flavor starts with sweet dark fruits upfront plums, raisins, and pomegranate. The wine barrel and rye barrel intermingle midpalate through the finish with the molasses throughout. The finish has a light alcohol burn.
M - Medium full body with medium carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel with a dry sticky finish.
O - Definetly excended my expectation. The flavors are on the sweet side but never overpower the the barrel notes. Very enjoyable Quad.
582 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Pours a deep dark ruby red with a two finger off white fizzy head.
S - Aroma is raisins, plums, pomegranate, & wine tannins.
T - The flavor starts with sweet dark fruits upfront plums, raisins, and pomegranate. The wine barrel and rye barrel intermingle midpalate through the finish with the molasses throughout. The finish has a light alcohol burn.
M - Medium full body with medium carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel with a dry sticky finish.
O - Definetly excended my expectation. The flavors are on the sweet side but never overpower the the barrel notes. Very enjoyable Quad.
582 characters
4.08/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Best after 04/22/15...
A - Just shy of two fingers worth of audibly fizzy active crisp slightly fluffy medium khaki colored froth... Modest retention give way to an uneven lopsided lacing and slight to moderate collar... The color is burgundy with some light ruby highlights... A few streaks of sluggish small bubbled carbonation can be seen towards the top of the glass... A modest bit of light leaks in around the edges of the glass...
S - A malt bomb from the get go... Dark fruits (plums, pomegranates, dark grapes, blueberries and figs), molasses and brown sugar competes for prominence at first whiff... Some very faint wine tannin and oak characteristics linger beneath the surface and emerge a bit more as this warms up a tad...
T - A lot more nuance and complexity can be found on the palate... The malty goodness is still at the forefront... Again dominated by the dark fruit notes, brown sugar and molasses notes... The barrel aging notes emerge much more in the flavor profile and ebb and flow throughout... The wine barrel notes are slightly more pronounced than the rye whiskey notes for the majority of each sip but the rye whiskey notes rise on the finish and slightly punish the tongue...
M - Teeters between the fuller side of medium bodied and the lighter side of medium bodied... Starts lush, turns a bit chalky mid sip and finishes with a blistering dryness... Crisp carbonation...
D - A very enjoyable Quad... I'm a fan of all of the Deschutes high-end offerings and this is no exception... Sweet but never cloying... The appearance and aroma are both above average, but the complexity of the flavor profile is where this one excels... The mouth feel is a bit of a let down, but don't let that scare you away...
1,763 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Best after 04/22/15...
A - Just shy of two fingers worth of audibly fizzy active crisp slightly fluffy medium khaki colored froth... Modest retention give way to an uneven lopsided lacing and slight to moderate collar... The color is burgundy with some light ruby highlights... A few streaks of sluggish small bubbled carbonation can be seen towards the top of the glass... A modest bit of light leaks in around the edges of the glass...
S - A malt bomb from the get go... Dark fruits (plums, pomegranates, dark grapes, blueberries and figs), molasses and brown sugar competes for prominence at first whiff... Some very faint wine tannin and oak characteristics linger beneath the surface and emerge a bit more as this warms up a tad...
T - A lot more nuance and complexity can be found on the palate... The malty goodness is still at the forefront... Again dominated by the dark fruit notes, brown sugar and molasses notes... The barrel aging notes emerge much more in the flavor profile and ebb and flow throughout... The wine barrel notes are slightly more pronounced than the rye whiskey notes for the majority of each sip but the rye whiskey notes rise on the finish and slightly punish the tongue...
M - Teeters between the fuller side of medium bodied and the lighter side of medium bodied... Starts lush, turns a bit chalky mid sip and finishes with a blistering dryness... Crisp carbonation...
D - A very enjoyable Quad... I'm a fan of all of the Deschutes high-end offerings and this is no exception... Sweet but never cloying... The appearance and aroma are both above average, but the complexity of the flavor profile is where this one excels... The mouth feel is a bit of a let down, but don't let that scare you away...
1,763 characters
4.29/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bomber into 10 oz tulip glass. Great burnt caramel and amber color with 2 finger foamy head. Very complex taste that builds and rounds out with the 3rd or 4th sip. This is a dangerous one as the molasses and fruity notes make this a very smooth belgian quad that rings the bell at 11%.
297 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bomber into 10 oz tulip glass. Great burnt caramel and amber color with 2 finger foamy head. Very complex taste that builds and rounds out with the 3rd or 4th sip. This is a dangerous one as the molasses and fruity notes make this a very smooth belgian quad that rings the bell at 11%.
297 characters
4.26/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rusty amber orange/brown with a finger of off-white foam. Gorgeous in color, but the decent amount of large particulate matter knocked this score down a tad.
Plum, pomegranate, raisin, fig, oak, caramel, vinous, and rye whiskey.
Sweet pomegranate, plum, and dark fruit character upfront. Followed by some more caramel and molasses sweetness and wrapped up by a nice warming and subtly spicy rye whiskey glove.
Medium-heavy bodied, medium-high carbonation, sweet, chewy, sticky, and marvelously balanced.
Overall, I was extremely impressed with this brew. After having other not so spectacular experiences with pomegranate in beer (adds too much sweetness to most), I was at first skeptical, but this is wonderfully balanced. Not too sweet, sticky, chewy, slightly spicy, low-mild alcohol heat, and a belly warmer.
826 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rusty amber orange/brown with a finger of off-white foam. Gorgeous in color, but the decent amount of large particulate matter knocked this score down a tad.
Plum, pomegranate, raisin, fig, oak, caramel, vinous, and rye whiskey.
Sweet pomegranate, plum, and dark fruit character upfront. Followed by some more caramel and molasses sweetness and wrapped up by a nice warming and subtly spicy rye whiskey glove.
Medium-heavy bodied, medium-high carbonation, sweet, chewy, sticky, and marvelously balanced.
Overall, I was extremely impressed with this brew. After having other not so spectacular experiences with pomegranate in beer (adds too much sweetness to most), I was at first skeptical, but this is wonderfully balanced. Not too sweet, sticky, chewy, slightly spicy, low-mild alcohol heat, and a belly warmer.
826 characters
4.09/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Amber, clear, thin head. Lighter in color than expected. Smell is slightly tart phenol, oak and white wine as it warms there is some whiskey. Sweet tasting, smooth woody oak, no dark fruits as I expected being a quad.
217 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Amber, clear, thin head. Lighter in color than expected. Smell is slightly tart phenol, oak and white wine as it warms there is some whiskey. Sweet tasting, smooth woody oak, no dark fruits as I expected being a quad.
217 characters
4.09/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
10oz tulip glass consumed at Jones Radiator in Spokane. I don't yet know what I'm paying for it.
Dark colaish color, with a thin, beige colored head that dropped fast. No real lace to speak of.
Fruity nose, like a not terribly bitter, mostly tannin-free glass of red wine.
WAY more interesting in the taste than the nose. It starts off much like the aroma leads you to expect, with a fruity, vinuous, slightly oaky thing. Then the molasses and bourbon barrel ageing makes itself known. The whole thing melds together sublimely and ends with a sweet yet well-balanced summary of all the flavors. At no point did things become boozy, either, a bit of a rarity when dealing with a beer that's 12% alcohol.
The body is somewhere between light and medium, with a coating mouthfeel.
A very interesting blend of flavors that wound up working well together. I don't think I'd want to session this, but a glass was divine.
918 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
10oz tulip glass consumed at Jones Radiator in Spokane. I don't yet know what I'm paying for it.
Dark colaish color, with a thin, beige colored head that dropped fast. No real lace to speak of.
Fruity nose, like a not terribly bitter, mostly tannin-free glass of red wine.
WAY more interesting in the taste than the nose. It starts off much like the aroma leads you to expect, with a fruity, vinuous, slightly oaky thing. Then the molasses and bourbon barrel ageing makes itself known. The whole thing melds together sublimely and ends with a sweet yet well-balanced summary of all the flavors. At no point did things become boozy, either, a bit of a rarity when dealing with a beer that's 12% alcohol.
The body is somewhere between light and medium, with a coating mouthfeel.
A very interesting blend of flavors that wound up working well together. I don't think I'd want to session this, but a glass was divine.
918 characters
3.87/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
popped side by side with a batch 1 stoic for science. this one is way darker with deep purple maroon coloring and highlights vs the transparent orange of the stoic. nose is straight whiskey but the fruitless comes out in a big way on the taste. really nice and way more quad like but sill nothing like the style...this one is way boozer but the flavor is better. both were enjoyable.
385 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
popped side by side with a batch 1 stoic for science. this one is way darker with deep purple maroon coloring and highlights vs the transparent orange of the stoic. nose is straight whiskey but the fruitless comes out in a big way on the taste. really nice and way more quad like but sill nothing like the style...this one is way boozer but the flavor is better. both were enjoyable.
385 characters
4.09/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The best after date on the bottle is 4/22/15 opened on 11/26/15.
I loved the smell of this beer...... Darn shame this is retired very well blended lots of character and not over powered by any one of the barrels used. I am very glad I have one left for a warm spring or summer day. If you find one buy it if you're into quads you'll enjoy it.
342 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The best after date on the bottle is 4/22/15 opened on 11/26/15.
I loved the smell of this beer...... Darn shame this is retired very well blended lots of character and not over powered by any one of the barrels used. I am very glad I have one left for a warm spring or summer day. If you find one buy it if you're into quads you'll enjoy it.
342 characters
3.98/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
An interesting beer, poured into a tulip at cellar temp. Looks solid, nice rich copper-brown color with good lacing. Smell is underwhelming here, sweet date, pomegranate, and some slight oak. Taste is raisin, brown sugar, oak, slight pepper, vanilla, and tannin. The beer is hard to pin down taste-wise and while I like the complexity there's also part of me that wants some aspect of this to dominate more. Its not a mess, but I'm also not sure what to make of it. The mouth is very nice; what you'd expect from the abv without tasting it.
Glad I tried it, but not, as the title suggests, quite stoic.
603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
An interesting beer, poured into a tulip at cellar temp. Looks solid, nice rich copper-brown color with good lacing. Smell is underwhelming here, sweet date, pomegranate, and some slight oak. Taste is raisin, brown sugar, oak, slight pepper, vanilla, and tannin. The beer is hard to pin down taste-wise and while I like the complexity there's also part of me that wants some aspect of this to dominate more. Its not a mess, but I'm also not sure what to make of it. The mouth is very nice; what you'd expect from the abv without tasting it.
Glad I tried it, but not, as the title suggests, quite stoic.
603 characters
4.44/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz. Bomber
Black Wax/Capped
Best After: 04/22/15
Poured into a Westy chalice a very nice slightly cloudy dark golden brownish color, very nice carbonation, with a nice small fizzy/creamy off-white head, which leaves some very nice small islands and sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with lots of dark fruits (raisins, grapes, figs), slightly oaky. The taste is very nice, malty, with some very nice yeast note, very nice dark stuff, very nice oakyness, getting more of the wineyness, than rye whiskey, but I expected that. Full body, ABV hidden pretty well, but still watch out, a pretty complex brew for sure, a nice bitter finish though. Overall, this is a very nice brew, would buy again.
709 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz. Bomber
Black Wax/Capped
Best After: 04/22/15
Poured into a Westy chalice a very nice slightly cloudy dark golden brownish color, very nice carbonation, with a nice small fizzy/creamy off-white head, which leaves some very nice small islands and sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with lots of dark fruits (raisins, grapes, figs), slightly oaky. The taste is very nice, malty, with some very nice yeast note, very nice dark stuff, very nice oakyness, getting more of the wineyness, than rye whiskey, but I expected that. Full body, ABV hidden pretty well, but still watch out, a pretty complex brew for sure, a nice bitter finish though. Overall, this is a very nice brew, would buy again.
709 characters
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Excellently complex beer from Deschutes. Served in a goblet.
A - Copper red, almost rust. Very clear with some beautiful crimson hues when light shines through. Very small head that's gone in seconds.
S - Not too complex, a little underwhelming actually. Molasses, syrupy sweetness with the jammy dark fruit notes of a red wine. Aroma suggests an almost saccharine note.
T - Very different from smell. Brown sugar and syrup leads to more caramel notes with dark red fruits - cherry, pomegranate, date - then finishes with just a lovely vanilla, bourbon barrel kicker with some warm alcohol phenols. So many things going on here, and I'm sure I'm missing a few flavors. More complex and differentiated as it warms.
M - Fairly standard for a quad. I'm not noticing the mouthfeel much, which I think is a good sign. Well carbonated but not so much that it obscures any flavors. Definitely helps to hide some of the alcohol content.
O - Sincerely fantastic. Got this for my birthday and saved it for a special occasion - this made it all the more special.
1,059 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Excellently complex beer from Deschutes. Served in a goblet.
A - Copper red, almost rust. Very clear with some beautiful crimson hues when light shines through. Very small head that's gone in seconds.
S - Not too complex, a little underwhelming actually. Molasses, syrupy sweetness with the jammy dark fruit notes of a red wine. Aroma suggests an almost saccharine note.
T - Very different from smell. Brown sugar and syrup leads to more caramel notes with dark red fruits - cherry, pomegranate, date - then finishes with just a lovely vanilla, bourbon barrel kicker with some warm alcohol phenols. So many things going on here, and I'm sure I'm missing a few flavors. More complex and differentiated as it warms.
M - Fairly standard for a quad. I'm not noticing the mouthfeel much, which I think is a good sign. Well carbonated but not so much that it obscures any flavors. Definitely helps to hide some of the alcohol content.
O - Sincerely fantastic. Got this for my birthday and saved it for a special occasion - this made it all the more special.
1,059 characters
3.75/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle: Poured a clear copper color ale with a nice foamy head. Aroma of molasses and residual sugar offset by some vinous notes and light vanilla whiskey notes. Taste is a mix of molasses and residual sugar notes with some dry fruits notes with some light vinous notes and light vanilla and whiskey notes. Body is lighter then I would have expected for the style with light warming alcohol notes. Interesting experiment but needs a fuller body and I would drop the wine barrels as well and concentrate on the whiskey barrels which are a better match for the base beer.
569 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle: Poured a clear copper color ale with a nice foamy head. Aroma of molasses and residual sugar offset by some vinous notes and light vanilla whiskey notes. Taste is a mix of molasses and residual sugar notes with some dry fruits notes with some light vinous notes and light vanilla and whiskey notes. Body is lighter then I would have expected for the style with light warming alcohol notes. Interesting experiment but needs a fuller body and I would drop the wine barrels as well and concentrate on the whiskey barrels which are a better match for the base beer.
569 characters
4.1/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a snifter.
3.5 A: Clear deep amber color. Under one finger of beige head formed and quickly fell without leaving any lacing.
4.25 S: Quite enticing. The pomegranate hits you hard, but its fruitiness does not run solo. Fig, date, and plum follow with some sweet orange peel. Vinous grape, vanilla, and oak. While I can't smell the rye whiskey directly, I can sense it is blending with the other flavors. I'm not getting much spice from the nose, but that's probably because the pomegranate is so powerful.
4.0 T: The spice does come out well in the taste - peppery which complements the earthy rye spiciness and the subtle boozy heat. The wine barrel also is more potent as the vinous grape matches the power of the pomegranate. Again lots of plum, fig, and date to accompany. Vanilla and oak with a touch of tannic astringency.
4.5 M: Medium to heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation with a spritziness that makes this light on the tongue. Warming boozy finish.
4.25 D: Very nice beer. It has some powerful flavors that all mesh well together all while being quite drinkable.
1,118 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a snifter.
3.5 A: Clear deep amber color. Under one finger of beige head formed and quickly fell without leaving any lacing.
4.25 S: Quite enticing. The pomegranate hits you hard, but its fruitiness does not run solo. Fig, date, and plum follow with some sweet orange peel. Vinous grape, vanilla, and oak. While I can't smell the rye whiskey directly, I can sense it is blending with the other flavors. I'm not getting much spice from the nose, but that's probably because the pomegranate is so powerful.
4.0 T: The spice does come out well in the taste - peppery which complements the earthy rye spiciness and the subtle boozy heat. The wine barrel also is more potent as the vinous grape matches the power of the pomegranate. Again lots of plum, fig, and date to accompany. Vanilla and oak with a touch of tannic astringency.
4.5 M: Medium to heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation with a spritziness that makes this light on the tongue. Warming boozy finish.
4.25 D: Very nice beer. It has some powerful flavors that all mesh well together all while being quite drinkable.
1,118 characters
3.94/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
on tap at Deschutes. One of the best American quads I’ve tried, rich and dark, some mellow alcohol warmth, elements of aged wood, dried fruit. Near perfect.
158 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
on tap at Deschutes. One of the best American quads I’ve tried, rich and dark, some mellow alcohol warmth, elements of aged wood, dried fruit. Near perfect.
158 characters
Not The Stoic from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
740 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.
Close