Iron Hill Oak Aged Quad

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

12.5% alcohol version from Wilmington Iron Hill
A slightly aggressive pour yields a frothy, initially fat-one-finger thick, amber tinged, tan colored head that sits on top of an amber tinged, very dark brown colored brew. When held up to the light the beer shows a brilliantly clear, jeweled, ruby color. The aroma is clearly oak influenced; a bit like Bourbon with aromas of vanilla, soft butterscotch and a finish that has spicy oak notes as well as a bit of boozy alcohol to it. Competing with the oak character, especially after my nose gets used to it, is noticeable a substantial malt and fermentation character; chewy notes of concentrated plum, brown sugar, toffee and towards the finish notes of toasted biscuits ad whole grain read crust; that last being quite substantial if you dig for it. The aroma is definitely oak influenced as this is the most dominant note, but I like that you can get a sense of the other components too.

Somewhat thick feeling which nicely complements a sweetness that is not too cloying and seems a bit complex. By complex I mean the sweetness incorporates flavors of fruit, caramelized sugar, and grain without being simplistically sweet (like table sugar). The oak character is quite a bit more subdued in the flavor, which is a most welcome surprise, but it is still quite evident, especially towards the finish. The beer ends with a spicy oak character, some tannic woodiness and some alcohol that combines with the oak to provide a bit of Bourbon character. Soft vanillin flavors and light buttery oak combine up front with the malt sweetness. Fruity notes of rum soaked raisins, concentrated plums (but still with some tartness), a touch of fresh jam-like berry notes and even a bit of tart / sweet cherry notes.

At times this beer can taste a bit thin, but a little bit of age should help this out. Age would also add some aged-malt complexity to this brew that is perhaps a bit too simplistic in that department as it is missing the complexity and heft of the best Quads. Don't get me wrong though this is quite a nice a beer. This is one of those brews that proves that at least some American brewers are getting that oak does not have to be overwhelmingly noticeable; oak as only a component of the flavor palette is where it is at.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Jeez train wreck Poured a dark brown some redness to it with no head or lacing. Aroma was malty dark fruits and bourbon. Flavor once again with the bourbon aged beers this one the bourbon won the flavor some caramel in there and some oak but bourbon was the flavor that was over the top bad one here.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Bottle from the Wilmington brewpub. The pour was brown with ruby highlights, weak to no head or lacing. The aroma was sweet bourbon and dark fruits and malts. The flavor was unfortunately over the top bourbon, oak chips, sweet caramel, an overly bourbonized variant of their base beer which I wasn't a huge fan of in the first place. Sticky mouthfeel.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Aged 4 months in Chadds Ford Merlot Barrels... Poured a dark brown color with a thin, off white film for a head that left no lacing on the glass. A very complex aroma of vanilla, plums, raisins, molasses, and sweet honey. Taste was also sweet, of more vanilla oak, caramel malt, light roast, vinous, grape, that finishes alcoholic. A different, though very nice quad. I enjoyed this big time.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

A dark brown appearance. The alcohol really stood out along with a strong whiskey flavor. Syrupy sweet with a strong molasses and grape flavor. This one seems to be overwhelmed by the whiskey flavor. I would stick with the regular quad personally.