Carlyle Belgian Quadruple

Had this one on draught as part of a sampler flight at the brewpub in Rockford, Illinois. Dark amber pour with a filmy, white head, very complex, molasses, orange peel, cinnamon. Amazing.

Personal Milestone: Illinois Rating #700 (out of 3722) !!!!!
From the tap this poured a cloudy caramel, brown body with a short white head. The aroma has a sharp malty sweetness, clove, candi sugar, bananas, dark cherries, alcohol, and a hint of mint. The flavor has all of the above and is warm with a peppery spiciness and the added sweetness of maple along with a slight roasty woodiness. Both interesting and tasty, almost like drinking a liquer.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=2247>Carlyle Brewing Company, Rockford, IL<font size=-1>

On tap at the brewery. Heavy dark orange body, thin off-white head. Powerful clove-heavy aroma, with candied fruits, sugars, and alcohol. Big, bold body dominated by esters (banana and clove), toast, and white wine notes, with hot alcohol contributing a prickly almost champagne-like quality to the body. Very sweet. Lacks the subtle complexity of the best Quads, but still very good.

Sampler. Quite a difference between this and the Tripel. This one’s much darker. Smell and taste bring a lot of candi sugar up front. Then some horse, spice and a little banana. Not quite as refined as its little brother. Again, those sweet cream cheese-filled pretzels might be skewing the sweetness already here.

Great Belgian quad. Nice caramel and clove flavor with sweet aroma. Best served in a goblet. Extra good with chips or pretzels for a slow afternoon sipper.

On tap at Carlyle

The last sample of the afternoon, I opted for a smaller pour of this. Despite the knowledge I’d easily be able to finish it off, 11.2% was a little much coming after the previous two. Again, if this is on tap when I visit next it will definitely be on the ’try’ list. Catch it while you can.

Aroma / Appearance - A one finger offwhite head decorated the top of a caramel colored body. Again thick layers of lacing clung to the glass leaving behind a history of sips. Peppers, bananas, cherries, orange rind and sugar cured ham form the core of a fun nose. There are strong wheaty and yeast notes in the background.

Flavor / Palate - The thick creamy mouthfeel coats the senses with peppers, cloves, caramel, molasses and peat. Sugar glazed apple pie, chocolate mousse and peanut butter pie form the dessert phase. Next comes breakfast in the form of blueberries mixed into oatmeal. Last comes the second round of snacks - lemon meringue and Belgian chocolate dipped orange peels. It might be a little hot but on the whole I found it an excellently done beer.

#1011, On tap at the brewery. Murky, muddy brown with a thin long lasting tan head. Nose is faint but some alcohol is present. Taste initially is "brown." Dark skins, fruit and chewy malts. Then out of nowhere comes a strong sweet perfume hop profile ending bitter and alcoholy with lots of grains. Remarkable. Interseting proigression. Flat and not really carbonated.