Most convincing American Quad

Oh god! That stuff is awful!

 

Your awful is my delicious.

 

Haha, Three Philosophers is one of the usual suspects, but I don't think I have any down there now, though it, like the others, seems to hit its peak at about 3 years. How long do you think is right for the ones you cellar? And other than 3P and Ichor which US ones do you enjoy to cellar?

 

My experience in cellaring Quads is most extensively from my homebrewed Quads. I brewed a batch in 2013 (bottled 5/14/13) and I drank the last bottle of that batch at a friends beer tasting last summer so it lasted 4 years. That last bottle was glorious! I am hoping (keeping my fingers crossed) that I will have the willpower to let my 2017 batch last for 5 years (2022). It has been my experience that my Quads need a minimum of 6 months for flavor complexity (e.g., dark dried fruit flavors) to become evident and by the 1 year mark they are just starting to come into their own. IMO the beers just slowly improves over the next few years.

The only US brewed Quad that I cellared was Sly Fox Ichor. I have had this beer many times on draft at the brewpub (so those were young beers). I have only purchased one bottle of Ichor for cellaring and after 1+ years in my cellar I popped the cork. That bottle/aged Ichor was notably 'better' than the Ichor beers I had on draft at the brewpub - it had a much more complex flavor profile.

I think that one of the challenges in comparing Belgian brewed Quads vs. US brewed Quads is the difference in bottle age. The majority of the Belgian Abbey/Trappist beers on my local beer retailers shelves are not fresh and so even if purchase them and immediately drink them those beers have already been aged. In contrast if I purchase a US brewed Abbey/Trappist beer on my local beer retailers shelves they are fresh(er) and if I immediately drink them they won't taste the same as if they were aged.

I am not prepared to state that a Belgian brewed Quad that has been cellared for two years will be 'equivalent' to a US brewed Quad with two years of cellaring but to my mind that would be a 'better' comparison.

Cheers!

 

Real Ale Black Quad is awesome.

Like @cavedave one of my favorites was a one off from a local near me in Houston. Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 13 was one of the better Quads/BSDA I have had from a US brewer. I think I might still have a bottle or two somewhere as well

 

I would add Mystic Brewing
Day of Doom,
Cheers all

 

Boulevard gets my vote as well.

 

I dunno, man. I had a fresh bottle a few weeks ago and the sweetness got cloying to me by the end. I tossed my other bottle in the cellar to see if it will mellow out a bit over time.

I have a non-BA non-fruited Belgian quad from a local brewery, Czig Meister's Unholy Ritual, in the fridge at the moment. Will report back on that once I crack it.

 

Hubbard's Cave in Niles IL does a great quad. In terms of BA american quads, Central waters does a great one

 

I agree with the OP that I've had trouble passing the "Pepsi challenge" with a US version that compares favorably to the Belgian classics in this style. Although it isn't as easy to find (better chance if you are in CO or Northern CA), I think the cuvee of 2 "Salvations" known as "Collaboration Not Litigation" by Russian River and Avery is about the best I've had. It's interesting in that it really conveys a vinous quality and a good "punch" while still weighing in under 9% ABV.

I bought one bottle the first time I encountered it, 2 bottles the last time I saw it, and will probably buy 4+ if I find it this season so that I can age a few.

 

Interesting that folks are mentioning both Boulevard and Ommegang in this conversation as both are owned by Belgians now.

I find Three Philosophers a good sipper, but it doesn't really stand out as a quad to me. I'd say the same for Sixth Glass.

As for the discussion on Blauw, I have a few years worth, and I find it swings all over the map. The 2017 for example is a sweet mess, while the 2014 is drinking very well.

 

How do you get a Quad to not impart notes of dark fruits?

 

They used to sell cave-aged bottles of Three Philosophers and Hennepin at the brewery in Cooperstown. It was incredible; like a completely different beer from the "regular"! (not sure if they still do this....it was around 2009 or so)

 

Some of my top American Quads (BA and fruit included):
Boulevard BBQ 4.91
Ovila - Sierra Nevada 4.83
Ovila w/ Plums - Sierra Nevada 4.75
Stickee Monkey 4.68

One's I recommend to avoid:
Avery - The Reverend
Weyerbacher - Quad (not only the lowest rated quad but one of the lowest rated beers of all styles I've had).

 

seems like a common theme in this thread with different quads advocates dislike. Quads tend to be sweet like bitterness in IPAs.

 

I haven't had many quads but I did enjoy Deep Ellums Cabernet BA Four Swords. I have one for trade if anybody is interested..

 

Anyone find it odd that Unibroue doesn't have a quad out there on the shelves, considering all the other big Belgian styles they execute to near-perfection (La Fin, Maudite, Tres Pistoles etc).

 

FWIW I always cellar my Weyerbacher Quads before drinking them. I will try the first bottle at 6 months of age but I much prefer them at 1+ years of age.

Cheers!

 

For me that means drink them super fresh. When I drink Sly Fox Ichor on draft at the brewpub I personally do not pick up any dark dried fruit flavors. The bottle of Ichor that I cellared for 1+ years had notable flavors of dark dried fruits.

Cheers!