Valley Brew Decadence 12

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

Poured an almost clear orange-gold color with a thin off-white head. The aroma was sweet and very fruity, estery, with some browned fruits and sugar. The flavor was fruity with aged malt. Some yeasty notes. Nicely warming.

Strong munich malts outburst is toasty and richly sugary (candi sugar). In the glass, the liquid is of a nice caramel colour, slightly glowing, but failing to raise a firm head. While it is warm indeed, the 12% remains wll concealed. Like the other Valley belgianesque beer that I’ve had (their tripel), you can feel a lot of residual sugars in there, it certainly is not as attenuated as trappist ales and does not quite reach the same ample mouthfeel than most great examples. The carbonation stays timed and lacking a bit in confidence. No hops noticeable, but a generous dose of caramel, vanilla, highly fruity (grapes), toasty malty nuances. The yeastiness is limited to enhancing the bready profile and this might be what makes it less complex than many ales of similar caliber. Nevertheless, I found it rather fun to drink. it is a rather clean strong dark yeasty, caramelly ale.

Date: 06/09/2007
Mode: Hand Bottled
Source: Tasting, Noog 3D

clear dark amber, headless, sweet hot dark caramel aroma, lots of sweet caramel malt flavor, touch of alcohol,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

12 oz bottle from Krausenjockey, shared with Frumpty before going to see Super Bad. Pours is spot-on orange amber with perfect ring of beige lace that lasts throughout. Carbonation and mouthfeel are flawless. Caramel, phenols, a little bit of cocoa, yeasty esters, raisins. Alcohol noted upon, but again, the alcohol is really well hidden. I really enjoyed this beer even though Ryan made me drink it faster that I like to. Definitely one of the top American quads I’ve ever had. Delicious. Steve, Im speechless!

12oz bottle, courtesy of aspidites. Thanks, Mike! Pours a brilliantly clear, orange-ruby color; off-white head with pleasant lacing. Syrupy raisins and dried fruits in the aroma; no show of alcohol. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: dense raisins and candy sugar; chewy, viscous body without being cloying or showing its alcohol (very well-hidden); warm, estery and chewy candy mid-palate; excellent stuff. Lengthy, dried fruits and candy finish. It looks like the Canadians might have gotten a bad bottle?

Slightly hazy amber. Medium head. Slightly peachy, orangey aroma. Sweet, well-balanced. Peach, pear fruitiness with brave candy notes that manage not to be cloying. Fun brew.

Bubblegum, tangerine, nutty marzipan and alcohol in the nose. Clear brown body is topped by a low tan head that recedes to ring. Bubblegum and tangerine flavours blend with some dark malt bitterness and plenty of alcohol. Medium body with fizzy high carbonation that is short lived. Bottle sampled with BeerPrince, CapFlu and Oakes.

(22oz bottle) Sampled at at a gathering at TiggMTL’s place in Vancouver on June 30, 2007. Bottle courtesy of Oakes. Near headless with an orange body. Nose is highly alcoholic with a cantaloupe backing. Flavour is very citrus and mildly malt. Highly fizzy texture. Pretty poor stuff.