Friday, September 14, 2012

The Reverend: Belgian-Style Quadruple ale

Eamon and I got this from the Ludington, MI beer fest a couple weeks ago. It sat in the fridge since then since we could never arrange to try it. Finally got around to it this past Wednesday while hanging out at Jeff's after my shift.

Appearance: Mahogany amber with a rich muddy haze prominent throughout. The head is a pale off white cream color of magnificent stature, while consistency of the bubbles constituting the head vary from micro to medium. Lacing is segmented but stick and wet along the sides of the glass. Very fine carbonation bubbles can be acknowledged with a close look.
Aroma: A potent fruit presence dominates over all else. Figs and dates, specifically, while notes of banana and clove tale not too far off. Belgium spicing along with a candi sugar sweetness run in paralleled balance to eachother. One might even be able to draw some cocoa and salt water caramel in the not too far off distance.
Taste: Just as complex as the aroma, but with the added bonus of malt sugar, candi and spices all swirling around the tongue. Up front I get a lot of the fruit, while the malted caramel and toffee come secondarily. Midtaste is represented by a lot of Belgium yeast characteristics, with a developing spice of clove, and savory reduction. Finally with the accompaniment of the alcohol, which, by the way is nothing too aggressive, but infact amazingly subdued, the beer finishes in a medley of it all with the Belgium candi sugar taking the last say. As the beer warms up more of the fruit comes through. Figs, and eventually so plums.
Mouthfeel: Large, boasting a mouthful of body and texture. With the carbonation at a perfect minimum, it leaves much of the chemical composition of the beer for the tongue to decipher. A bit oily even on the front roof of the mouth at first, while the alcohol dries things out and the remaining residual sugar coating the back roof of the mouth with a slick cloy. Warming.
Overall Impression: Magnificent. This is a beer that could really get me used to the Belgium style ales. Alcohol is subdued, while the figs and dark fruit flavors blossom over all else. Belgium yeast character is present, but doesn't overwhelm in a drying finish.

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