There is a very dark, almost mahogany appearance to this Quadrupel, which featured a restrained head that dispersed relatively quickly on this occasion despite quite a vigorous pour.
A lightish but persistent nose for a Trappist beer of this strength with liquor-washed aroma, like Christmas pudding ingredients steeping in bourbon and brandy, with some tropical fruit overtones.
The taste was really rather overpowered by the surge of alcohol in this sample, which did not display the sort of complexity I would have expected. So yes, malt, dark sugar, tangy 'Belgian' yeast (although NB this is actually a Dutch brewery), but none of the interplays and riffing I was hoping for. I am not sure whether this La Trappe Quadrupel might become more alluring after a year in the bottle; I'd like to lay a couple down to experiment.
A blasting finish of raucous alcohol that nevertheless drinks smoothly and without abrasiveness, but doesn't really deliver the sort of satisfaction you'd hope.
Pleasant, but not outstanding, at least on this showing.
70
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