Valley Brew Decadence 12 Cuvee Speciale

Brewed by Valley Brewing Company
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Stockton, California USA

Courtesy of KrausenJockey. The aroma is defined mostly by the intense alcohol kick, but beneath this is what amounts to a brandy soaked macaroon with coconut, vanilla, sweet toasty malt and gobs of caramel. It’s just a joy to sniff. The appearance is that of a Barely Wine rather than a Quad as it never gets much of a lasting head though you can tease up a thin tan head with a vigorous swirl. The flavor is coconut, vanilla, toasted malt, brandy a coterie of rich dark fruits and boozy alcohol that manages to both burn and be delightful on the finish. Caramel and that "macaroon" flavor are the standouts, but the fruit notes are still quite pronounced. Just an amazingly tasty big beer that I would love to try with even more age.

Huge thanks to Degarth for sharing this truly rare treat.

Pours hazy brown with thin off white head. It has a simply huge creamy – chewy – delicious – inviting aroma. Wow! I get sweet rich molasses, moderate wood notes, sweet dark fruitiness, some red wine and some understandable alcohol presence consider the massive ABV. I get a thick initial mouth feel ushering notes of dates, figs, prunes and sweet raisins that moves into wood and mild sweet booziness. It then becomes more and more whiskey infused as the taste progresses. It runs toward the finish with unbridled joy carrying tasty rich malt sweetness mixed with sweet dark dark fruitiness. Just plain old YUM!!

Hehe. All kinds of goodness here: Rare + highly rated + >10.1% + barrel aged. 22oz handbottle via Steve and AgentSteve in a combo trade with WeeHeavy. Wow, what an aroma. Buttery sweet. Thick. Malty. Darkish amber color. Tastes very barrel aged. Definitely the highlight of the night. Excellent. You never know with a hand bottle, but this one was top notch: 10,4,10,4,19: 4.7-4.8. Rerate at Another Santee Sampling. this time at toncatcher’s house. 9,3,10,4,18:4.4

My goodness, Steve is the man. At the NorCal tasting, he brought out several that just kept getting better, and better, and this was our last Valley of the evening. This was like sipping a fine cognac. Rich, malt and dried fruit nose along with the slightest of a brandy influence. Sweet, complex, unique flavor that is spot on the aroma. What a treat.

From a growler at the GT 2009 - big thanks to Steve the Brewer! Nose is light fruit and malt - this and the odd orange color were not what I was expecting from a quad. Then some nonsense happened: I tasted it. Big fruit notes and that sharp flour taste of Rochefort 10 gave way to a prickling, fruity (quince, orange zest) alcohol from the brandy barrel. Finish was long and gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve had a subtle quad before, but this was genius in its crafting and a treat to taste. What an 800!

Nose of oak, dried dark candied fruits, vanilla, and a wonderful brandy filled center. Distillate laden marzipan, toffe, creme’ caramel and dark honey fill the palate with pleasant wonder. Deep yet delicate forever maintaing this precarious dance it finishes to a wonderful fruit filled note.

Bottle shared with AlohaC at toncatcher’s tasting. My favorite of the night.Very sweet and malty aromas with hints of wood. Flavor was very vanilla and more sweet malt. Caramel and Dark fruits. Very very awesome.

handbottled from rodger. Smooooth. Huge aroma of pecans and walnuts. Malty flavor with a smooth, nutty finish. Reminds me of caramel and pralines. Excellent!