Most convincing American Quad

I'm not sure on that. The first came out in 2011, best before September 2012. I checked my review to get that and giving it a 3.98 rating, I apparently did like it.
All I can be sure of is that I liked the next batch more. Whatever year that was.

 

Not at all sure if there was any influence one way or the other. But IIRC the La Trappe is the only one with Quad in the name.

 

La Trappe (Koningshoeven) came up with the term ad the style Quadrupel.

 

The only one out of all the Trappist breweries.

 

Should have named it Grand Cru but then, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

Possibly.

That is what Tim Webb says beers similar to the La Trappe Quadruple are/were often called in Belgium

Webb, T. Good Beer Guide to Belgium, 6th edition

 

Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple is brewed in Belgium and that beer is branded as being a Quadruple.

Cheers!

 

Boulevard Smokestack Series: The Sixth Glass Quadrupel
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Samuel Adams (Barrel Room Collection) Tetravis

The ones I can think off.

 

These are your words, "I wanted to see what people thought the most convincing American Hops Quad/Belgian Style strong Dark ale was..."

If there was confusion it results from the use of "American Hops" which says to me, "beers made with American Hops."

Since there is a locally brewed example:
https://www.victorybeer.com/beers/hoppy-quad/

If that was not your intent then the words "American Hops" can simply be deleted from the OP and the words "American Made" substituted.

Agreed that there is no Belgian monopoly on noble hops but that was not what I said or meant to imply. Given that I thought you were requestion information about Quads made with American Hops my comments should be taken in that context.

Since you say you are not looking for Quads/BSDA made with American Hops then then that clarification makes everything good and my comment earlier does not apply.

 

Very locally, the Bryan/ College Station Zoigl has a pleated quad that is as good as an Belgian quad I have had.

 

The Brewers Association recognizes the Quadruple beer style under the section of BELGIAN AND FRENCH ORIGIN ALE STYLES and the style is labeled as Belgian-Style Quadrupel.

Cheers!

 

I recently tried DNR from COOP in OK, definitely ranks up there high to me as far as US versions of BSDA go

 

Nice! Thank you! How recent is it?

 

Sixth Glass gets my vote, too, but there really aren't very many that are worthy of praise.

I consider the BA ones and the fruited ones to be almost different styles entirely.

Would love to get my hands on Funkwerks version and Spencer's.

 

I think I picked it up in the October/November time frame.

 

Unfortunately, none...
For the overwhelming majority, American breweries do not practice true bottle and/or keg refermentation. Therefore, you will never achieve the same (and ever-evolving) complexity and big, beautiful head that Belgian Ales are so known.

For North American breweries that do in fact perform true bottle refermentation...look for those who are using corked and caged 750ml bottles. 12oz bottles are only partially refermented over here since they cannot withstand the pressure from the high C02 levels that Belgian breweries use (hence the use of the thicker, German Steinie bottle).

 

I've always got the impression that Belgians are a lot less bothered about style than people elsewhere. I can't remember seeing a beer menu with a more sophisticated categorization than blonde / amber / brown / wit / sour, for instance. Gulden Draak is Gulden Draak and Carolus Classic is Carolus Classic and Delerium Nocturnum is Delerium Nocturnum and if you don't know what it's like then why not try it?

 

With the exception of Gulden Draak 9000 which is branded with "quadruple".

Cheers!