- Style: Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- Availability: 750 mL Bottles Only
- Locations: Try our Beer Finder
Based loosely on the Smokestack Series’ The Sixth Glass, this abbey-style quadrupel is separated into a number of oak bourbon barrels where it ages for varying lengths of time, some for up to three years. Cherries are added to make up for the “angel's share” of beer lost during barrel aging. Selected barrels are then blended for optimum flavor. The resulting beer retains only very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore.
| Color (EBC) | 67 |
| Bitterness (IBUs) | 19 |
| Original Gravity (Plato) | 21.0 |
| Terminal Gravity (Plato) | 2.6 |
| Alcohol (ABV) | 11.8% |
| CO2 - Bottles | 3.3 vol (6.5 g/L) |
| CO2 - Kegs | N/A |
Barrel Character: At the forefront; warm, toasty, boozy, earthy
Finish: Lingering dry bitterness with bourbon and a hint of tart cherry| Aroma | Oak, bourbon, cherry, almond, dried fruit |
| Malt | Caramel, molasses |
| Hops | N/A |
| Balance | |
| Body | Light but warming, so the perception is a drinkable medium-bodied beer |
Brewers' Notes
Like the 2010 edition, 2011 Bourbon Barrel Quad is 100% barrel-aged. The length of aging time ranged from eight months to two years using a combination of first-use and second-use oak bourbon barrels. The relative newness of the barrels resulted in a beer that is more oak-forward than previous releases. The tart cherry characteristics, while still subtly present, take a backseat to the warm, earthy qualities of the barrels.
Malts and Adjuncts
Hops
- 2010 Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival “Favorite Pairing” — Ben & Jerry’s® Crème Brûlée ice cream
Glassware
Tulip Glass
Pairings