At Bernardus Christmas Ale

It's a quad.

 

At 10% ABV it is indeed a Quad: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/39286/

Cheers!

 

I would say "dubbel style" is simply code for "super malty" haha

 

Did you get your free glass?

 

There was a similar discussion regarding their Abt 12 here:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/st-bernardus-abt-12-a-dubbel.226669/#post-2946626

essentially a 'strong dubbel' and quad two ways of looking at the same thing.

 

Quads are dubbels.

 

Traditionally Belgians never made that much about these styles. And the 'quad'? The term 'quadrupel' didn't exist until LaTrappe used it for their 10% ABV beer in 1991 and now the 'style' is seemingly everywhere. Even more strangely is how so many +10% ABV Belgian beers are now referred to as quads when many (Chimay Blue, Rochefort 10, Westvleteren 12/Abbot etc etc etc) were actually brewed well before the style was supposedly created.

The style police are really an American creation.

 

I had no idea this was available in four-packs. Cool.


Also, a "quad" is just a strong dubbel. As an example, the recipes for Rochefort 6, 8, and 10 are all identical except for the malt-water ratio.

 

Is Michael Jackson (the beer guy) American!?!

http://zythophile.wordpress.com/2010/10/23/michael-jackson-and-the-invention-of-beer-style/

Cheers!

 

Really? I had no idea- plus I get a definite coriander note in the 10 that I don't recall in the 6 and 8.

 

Of course the English born Michael Jackson started the style ball rolling. But he offered it as a rough guide as opposed to the cast iron often make believe rigitity of today's beer style zealots.

 

21st Century problem

Seriously I find the line does blur a little sometimes with these two styles
But awesome beer, drink it!

 

FWIW, that wasn't an anti American comment by any stretch of the imagination. Its just that the driving force behind style zealots comes more from America than any other country. Without the American craft scene the recent Scottish beer renaissance would never have happened the way it did. So thanks.

 

Yeah I don't really think the 6 tastes like the others either, weird how that works.

 

The 'Quadrupel' style is of course an American invention. St Bernardus Abt 12 did not used to be called a 'quad'. And without America it would not be called one now. It is interesting that 'dubbel' and 'tripel' were originally designations of strength. Westmalle Tripel was just their strongest beer (it's origins were in a dark beer). Why not call 'quads' tripels? In fact I might start calling all strong dark Belgian beers tripels (or barley wines).

 

“The 'Quadrupel' style is of course an American invention.”

Not according to @Zimbo as posted above: “The term 'quadrupel' didn't exist until LaTrappe used it for their 10% ABV beer in 1991…”

According to Zimbo the term quadrupel is a Dutch invention. Apparently the American zealots are ‘protecting’ this term!?!

Cheers!

 

I repeat, the quadrupel style is an American invention.