Most convincing American Quad

Lost Abbey Judgment Day

 

Deliverance by Lost Abbey is nice and it's listed as a strong ale, but probably closer to barleywine.

Judgment Day is a great call as well.


Bull Sluice Quad by Thomas Creek here in SC is very nice.

Although ABT 12 is super easy to get. Might as well just drink that?

 

Would like to add Stickee Monkee to the list. Not conventional but really tasty and reminds me of a quad.

 

By far their best offering, ridiculously expensive, but tasty

 

You got that right. I think it was $25+?

Luckily I got a bottle as a birthday present.

 

I avoid Thomas Creek. What a joke of a brewery. And then they also contract brew for other mediocre South Carolina (Conquest) (and out of state) breweries.

As far as well-made American Quads go: Boulevard The Sixth Glass, Weyerbacher QUAD and Blasphemy (barrel-aged QUAD), The Lost Abbey Judgment Day, Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad, Allagash Four and Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee. I know a lot of people like Ommegang Three Philosophers, but I don't even consider that a Quad. Too low in ABV and it has cherries (cherry beer) added to it. Can't really think of any other at the moment. However, do avoid Victory V-Twelve.

Looks like we need more quality American-made Quadrupels.

 

Cuvee' Van DeKeizer Blauw is the most I've ever disagreed with the consensus opinion of a beer. My bottle must've been infected or something. It was sickly sweet. Some of the tasting notes I used were "buttered popcorn" and "Werthers candy". And I'm used to big, dark Belgians (Rochefort etc.). Need to revisit but I'm reluctant. Probably a bad bottle but who knows.

 

Not infected. It is that overly sweet. Infection wouldn't make it sweet(er). It'd make it sour. Didn't enjoy that one either.

 

Most convincing is a good way to word the question. That is how I feel about the few attempts at Quads/Belgian Strong Darks American brewers make. Like I am trying to be convinced. However, if pressed I would have to say, as mentioned before, Three Philosphers (I know it has fruit @TongoRad) and Sixth Glass are both good quads. The do lack the depth that comforts us to such an extent where we are tranquil enough to examine our souls, yet each get a passing grade.
It is hard to recommend too much because we don't have any common ground. We are both harsh reviewers but you really dislike two of my favorite beers, Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw and Rochefort 8. However, I would try to get your hands on some Unibroue (Trois Pistoles)or Allagash (Like Odyssey, even though it is BA) dark beers. I think they do the best job and they have a wider portfolio of Belgians.
Except for Maudite. It is listed here as a Belgian Strong Dark and I believe it is more of an amber.

 

The Sixth Glass from Boulevard tastes almost legitimately Belgian. It's very impressive, imo.

 

Three Philosophers doesn't even taste like a Quadrupel/Belgian Strong Dark Ale. I don't understand why it gets all the love. But at least it tastes pretty good. Gulden Draak on the other hand is one of the most over-hyped and over-rated beers. That stuff is nasty! Dark Tripel, English-style Barleywine, Quad/BSDA. Call it what you want!

 

Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad was pretty damn good IMO

 

I'm strongly on board with Three Philosophers.

 

My preferred Quads are brewed in Belgium or in my basement (homebrewery).

There are a few US craft brewed Quads that I enjoy drinking and they have been mentioned by others in this thread:

· Weyerbacher Quad

· Sly Fox Ichor (better when aged)

· Etc.

I have also had a few well brewed Quads at local, small breweries.

The positive of the US brewed Quads is that they are more economical than the Belgian brewed version which are ‘over’ priced IMO (I suspect that the importers are obtaining very large margins here).

Cheers!

 

Huh just went back to check my review and it was for a 2008 bottle enjoyed in 2011. Didn't realize it had been that long since my last try. I report it as being sweet but not overly sweet, very complex, nice assortment of fruit and dried fruit flavors, and good yeast flavor component to the taste. Also love the other big guns, Westvleteren, Rochefort, St B, etc.

I haven't found a US BSDA that compares to the finest from Belgium, except a one off version from a local brewer (still have a bottle in cellar too). A few recommends in the thread I haven't tried yet, but with the actual Belgians on shelf here I might not.

 

I'll agree. I had it with 2 years on it and it was wonderful. I very much enjoyed Schlafly's Quad as well ( although they haven't released the non-BA version in a few years) and the aforementioned and ubiquitous Sixth Glass and Three Philosophers, but Ovila is the only one I would put in the same league as the Belgians.

 

Dave, have you ever cellared any of those US BSDA beers? As a point of example, when I cellared my bottle of Sly Fox Ichor I thought that beer was notably better than the draft versions I had of that beer.

Cheers!

P.S. On a related note I homebrewed a batch of Quad (bottled 6/13/17) and I have had a few of those bottles but the bulk of my drinking will be after June 2018.

 

Yes the Het Anker beer I mentioned earlier, for example, was three years in the cellar and I now have a Westvleteren 12 from 2010 and three from 2012 down there, plus the usual suspects ranging from 2-5 years down there, I think 3 years is perfect for St. B and R10, but I've been told W just gets better and better. Hope to be alive to drink the '10 Westvleteren on NY Eve 2020

 

Victory V-12

 

I asked: have you ever cellared any of those US BSDA beers?

But you mention a bunch of Belgian brewed beers!?!

Cheers!