La Trappe Quadrupel

Brewed By: De Koningshoeven (Bavaria - Netherlands) in Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands   

Purchased: 11.2 oz bottle from a 4-pack set bought at Binny's in IL; 2012 

Style/ABV: Belgian Dark Strong Ale, 10.0% 

Reported IBUs: ?

I love these easy reviews...tonight, I continue my adventure with La Trappe. About La Trappe:

La Trappe has a lonnnng history. The B.V.M. Koningshoeven Abbey was founded in 1880 by the abbot Dominicus Lacaes of the Trappist monastery Sainte-Marie-du-Mont on the Mont Des Cats. At the time, there was anti-church legislation in France, and the monasteries were being threatened. The monks of the Mont des Cats were prepared to leave the country, and Sebastianus Wyart was sent to find a place to stay if they had to leave. Wyart found "the Koningshoeven" or the Royal Farms, near Tilburg, in the village of Berkel-Enschot, in the Netherlands. While the French government never cracked down, the monks still moved to Koningshoeven. In 1884, the leading abbot, Nivardus Schweykart, decided to start a small brewery to sustain the monastery. After World War I, production of beer at the brewery increased rapidly. In 1968, the brewery expanded into a mid-sized brewery, and in 1985 the brewery started exporting beer. In 1991, La Trappe Quadrupel is produced for the very first time. With that said, you should check out the official history page on the website, or even skim through the Wikipedia article on the brewery.

Tonight's beer, La Trappe Quadrupel, is the strongest beer made by La Trappe. This is a fat, warming beer, clocking in at 10.0% ABV.  There's not a ton of info on the website, so you can supplement it with the BJCP's style guidelines. Let's pour this thing.

La Trappe Quadrupel

The beer pours a raisin-bronze color in low light, with 2 fingers of fluffly, golden-tinted head. The beer is hazy and murky, and all the good stuff you expect with something bottle conditioned. When held to bright light, the beer is a hazy, golden/amber color. You can see quite a bit of carbonation rising upwards, and like yesterday's Isid'or, there is about a centimeter of head just hanging around. It's not a bad looking Trappist ale.

The aroma on this is huge. Right up front I get huge, sweet, boozy fruits. There's also a lot of clove on this, with big spice dominating the aroma. I'm getting more of that apple and pear, but also some overripe banana, cherries, golden raisins, hints of plums, and some grapes. There's some toffee and bready notes on the nose as well.

This really drinks like a dialed up Isid’or, with a lot more boozy fruit kick. The booze is never overwhelming or hot, it's present in the most subtle and sinster way. It's typical for the style. Along with the big clove, pear, and apple, you get a blast of pils malts. But you also get some big overripe bananas, some cherries, hints of plums, and some raisin/grape note. There's a rum note in here as well, as the booze plays off the giant clove; maybe some allspice. Reaching for creative tasting notes...I can pull out some funky apricot and some bubblegum.

I really like this beer. This is boozy and warming, but the alcohol is subtle and brings no aggressive heat. This is refined stuff. It's slightly oily, with hints of powdery carbonation, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. It's actually very smooth, nevertheless, and drinks incredibly well. I could kill a bomber of this. Palate depth is wonderful, and this kicks up the complexity a notch from the Isid'or. Up front you get creamy carbonation, boozy fruits, cherries, overripe bananas, apples, pears; this rolls into spice, more fruits, perfume, sugars; the back end is lingering sugars, spice, and fruit. There are hints of toffee throughout. 

Rating: Above-Average  

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this. There's not a ton to say here, except buy a 4-pack of this. This is what I want in a Quadrupel. The booze is well-masked, but this is still boozy (strange, I know). The spice is phenomenal  and this thing feels like a winter warmer. Because of the spice, I think you could pair this with spiced meats like pepper chicken, or turkey. You could also pair this with cheese, and definitely with grilled meats. A meat and cheese tray? Hmmm. 

Random Thought: This beer screams nightcap. Nothing like cheese, meats, and beer before bed. It's okay, I'm a beer doctor.