New Glarus Unplugged Belgian Quadruple

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

Completely sediment free and brilliantly clear, a fair amount of carbonation causes a multitude of streaming carbonation bubbles to dash maddeningly to through this artificially clear, ruby hued brew. The head starts out about a fat one-finger thickness (a bit less than one would expect from the carbonation) and is a tan color. The aroma is quite spicy with substantial notes of clove, a touch of allspice and maybe even a hint of nutmeg. Spicy esters and higher alcohols add notes of white pepper, pickled Japanese ginger, ample nutmeg and cherry cough syrup. The aroma is quite sweet, and really quite cloying, somehow even simplistic, despite the added dimension of oak, bourbon, vanillin and brandy character. If I had to guess based solely on the aroma and heading of this brew, that this one has been overly filtered.

Wow, this drinks quite light for a beer of this strength; I was expecting it to have quite a bit more body and residual sweetness than it does. Bourbon character is noticeable as are flavors of vanillin, lightly spicy wood and buttery oak. The barrel character is actually not overwhelming, but still seems to be the most noticeable thing about the flavor. I can’t help but still feel like this has been filtered quite tightly, lots of malt complexity & yeast character seems to be missing from this brew. Spice notes of nutmeg and clove, mix with brandy-like warming alcohol notes to form some light turpenes driven character.

Somehow, even though I was not expecting too much from this beer, this is really just a lackluster beer. With all of the complex potential something like a bourbon barrel aged quad should have, when missing the mark, I would have expected this to have been a complete train wreck of flavors. Instead it just seems a bit flabby and somehow lackluster; this is missing the depth of malt character & rich fruitiness that I would expect in a Quad, even a mediocre one. If this was actually filtered, I would be curious to try this unfiltered and bottle conditioned.

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

This Belgian Quad pours a medium amber color from a 12oz bottle. Small sized to no head. Aroma is fruity and sweet, some yeast and some oak. There is also some cherries and a touch of funk. A medium bodied quad. The malts are fruity and sweet. Candi sugar and a hint of brown sugar as well. There are hints of oak and bourbon and cherries and some funk. Wow there is a lot going on in this beer. There is some interesting spice interplay as well. Its nowhere near as full in the mouth as most quads, but it has a certain quality that make this a very nice beer to sit and sip and figure out and enjoy the interplay of flavors. Hides the alcohol well. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full, but not thick. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet with a slight hint of alcohol.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Amber-orange colored pour from a bottle courtesy nolankowal. Not an impressive head in the ol' Chimay glass, near nil lacing. Ok, so appearance isn't impressive relative to peers. The aroma was vanilla, oak, cherries, caramel malts and a spice that was seemingly cinnamon. The flavor was sweet caramel-candied sugar, oak, cherries (very prominent), vanilla, light bourbon, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The broubon was very well-tamed if indeed this was bb aged, oak and wood stronger than anything bourbon. Cherry flavors reminiscent of the Belgian Red, as this also had some clear lactic/bret notes. Mouthfeel was light to moderate for the style. Alcohol a little too harsh, and this is lacking the depth of flavor (dark fruits) and full mouthfeel to be a classic quad. However, if you view this more as a Belgian Strong-Fruit or Flemish type hybrid, you may enjoy. I did. Thanks, John, a very fun experience, not a beer in my other 1600 like it!

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

NorCal tasting June '07 - This beer really carried a Jekyl and Hyde character. Upon popping the cap, a really unpleasant aroma began sneaking out of the bottle. Upon pouring, the aroma remained and what it was was some kind of cheddar cheesy nose. Now, I like cheddar. I do. Just not in my beer. So originally, my rating on the aroma was really low but after awhile the cheesy character went away and was replaced with some subtle vanilla notes, alcohol and some sweet malts. Nothing extraordinary, but better than cheese. Appearance was a bright orangish/brown combo, good head with nice lacing. Mouthfeel seemed just right, a bit lively but not overblown. Flavor was a bit of dark fruit, wood, a bit of bourbon but suprisingly there wasn't any domination from the wood or bourbon. Decent beer, but a bit of a let down since I've come to expect great things from NG.

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

Bottle courtesy of Demcorhip: Poured a medium-to-dark brown color ale with a nice foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with hint of vanilla and bourbon coming out. Taste is quite sweet but avoid being exceedingly sweet which would have gross out this beer with some light vanilla and some alcohol. Body is not as full as I would have expected for the style. I find this style to be quite thought for the brewer with the high expectation resulting from the wonderful Trappist example of the style. I also thought that the barrel-aging didn’t work really well on that one and that bourbon taste I could have done without and the sweetness was not balance right.

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

Definitely agree with pfoxyjohn... a first-rate American-brewed Belgian quad. Crystal-clear copper colored pour with a blizzard of carbonation rising through it, and a modest, off-white head with tenacious lacing. Aroma is right there for the type... champagne-like and fruited. In the mouth, it coats and clings and tingles. Each swallow bursts with sweet fruit and honey. Wish to heck I'd picked up more than a pair of these at the brewery last weekend, but I was understandably skeptical. No longer... this is truly top shelf, and recommended! In fact, I'm going back to Madison in a couple weeks, and just may take a detour down to New Glarus and grab a bunch of 'em!

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

Everything about ths beer is first-rate. The deep, almost glowing orange/amber body with a large, foamy ocher head; moderatly persistent with light lacing. Excellent aroma of mature fruit, restrained alcohol, and vanilla. Mouthfeel is full, round, smooth, and inviting. Flavors are complex: cherries and whiskey, wood and honey, allspice and vanilla. Finish is long, warm, and satisfying. This is a delightful excellently-crafted masterpiece. Well done again, Mr. Carey.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

wow, what a very nice beer. It pours a beautiful amber color with reddish highlights. Once it hits the tongue, you’re in for an explosion of flavors: vanilla, peach, candy sugar along with others I can’t make out. Thx to ughsmash for this one