Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven La Trappe Quadrupel
What the brewers say
“La Trappe’s heaviest ale with an amber color. Aromas of banana, almond, vanil- la, and others. Its warm, intense flavor is rich and finely balanced. Malty sweet, slightly burnt, and pleasantly bitter with a sweet aftertaste.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Some earthy character. High fruitiness with notes of pear, green apple, raisin, dried cherry, and prune. Some bready and toast maltiness. Hints of Munich malt and toast.”
Flavor: “Rich malt flavor for the backbone, with hints of biscuit and caramel. Lighter fruit character, mainly cherry, apple, peach, and pear but some raisin. An earthy spice character adds complexity. Lots of alcohol warmth. High carbonation helps dry the beer out in the finish. A hint of hops bitterness for balance, but finish is slightly sweet.”
Overall: “Approachable quad with pleasant fruity esters and a rich but delicate malt backbone. The high carbonation pairs with the somewhat sweet finish to keep it from being cloying. Nice sweetness with some complex earthy spice character.”
