Boston Beer Company / Sam Adams Tetravis
What the brewers say
“Deep complexity begins with a molasses sweetness with notes of dark fruits like raisins and figs but develops further with an undercurrent of tart spice from the distinctive Belgian yeast for a truly transfixing brew.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Vanilla, oak, some coconut barrel character. Pleasant, but not intense, dark fruit character: raisin, cherry, plum, and prune. Rich sweet malt, with cocoa and caramel. Some mild smoky phenols. Some oakiness and a touch of malt round out an interesting but balanced aroma. Strong alcoholic aroma.”
Flavor: “Strong malt sweetness with toast, chocolate, caramel, and lightly burnt sugar, and nice dark fruit: cherry, plum, and prune/ raisin. There is a pleasant, but slightly understated barrel character, with a light vanilla and oak character. Finishes slightly sweet with a nice warmth. Alcohol adds some spicy warmth and dries out the finish.”
Overall: “Tasty and smooth with nice rich balance in the malt, barrel, and fruity notes. A restrained but balanced beer. Feels like it could be fairly high in alcohol, but it doesn’t drink like it.”
