Marin Barrel Aged Quad

Brewed by Marin Brewing Company
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Larkspur, California USA

Name: Quad Brett
Date: July 11, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub
Vintage: 2006
Appearance: dark amber, wispy beige head, drippy lace
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma
Flavor: rich malt flavor, caramel sweetness, dark fruits, just a hint of funk, sweet vanilla
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

(Draught, 2006 vintage) Pours a brown body with a spare beige head. Aroma of raisins, dates, candi sugar, subtle wood, and bourbon. Flavor of raisins, yeast, candi sugar, bourbon, caramel, and brown sugar.

On tap at the Marin brewpub for RBSG 2009, this beer is a solid winner. The dark fruit flavors of the quad play magnificently with the oak/vanilla notes of the bourbon barrel. Extremely well crafted and tasty, I wish I could get it in a bottle.

RBSG09 ’06 vintage on tap at the brewpub. Pours ruddy dark brown with a light beige head. Aroma is inexplicably berry-dominated. Blueberries, strawberries, cherries. Slight nail polish perfuminess. Flavor evokes berry pie filling with a rich vanilla note and some yeasty bread. Dry warming finish. Body is medium, lending it a nice drinkability. Absolutely delicious, completely unexpected.

Draft. Rich copper beer with a light tan head. Light bourbon and rich malt aroma. Sweet caramel flavor with bourbon and a bit of dried fruit/fig. Very light yeast if any. Medium body. Sweet caramel and bourbon lingers. No real Belgian characteristics stand out - it’s much more like a makers mark and coke. I don’t think this version had any brett added (Marin barrel night at Toronado).

Sampled at the second annual Bistro’s West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Fest: Pours a transparent dark copper orange with a wispy-lacing spotty off-white head. Aroma of sweet caramely bourbon with an oaky semi-tart light fruity complexity. Body starts rich and slightly cloying caramely biscuity sweet with some fresh oaky bourbon vanilla notes. Finishes with a touch of tartness and sweet warmth. A decent brew.

Draft at The Bistro’s BA Fest 07. Dark and murky brown color. Sugary nose with bourbon and brett notes. Sweet and fruity flavor with a slight brett sourness, very slight. Bready.

On tap at Bistro’s 2nd BA Fest. 3-4 ounce sample. Slightly sour, vinous, wine-like aroma with some sweet, malty caramel notes present. Aroma is kind of bubblegum-like. Mild/moderately hazy dark amber-cola colored body with a small, wispy, off-white head. VERY sweet, VERY sugary, sweet, sweet start. A little spicy and peppery in the middle. Light sourness late. This is super sweet and super cloying. A mess.