beer_name: La Trappe Quadrupel (Koningshoeven / Dominus)
text: A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to Holland with this beer in tow as a gift to me. Wow! That was very generous. I thought I hadn't seen this particular one in the US, but this just seems to be a 500ml bottling of Koningshoeven's quadrupel, which is widely available. I've had this beer on at least one other occasion. Firstly, the squatty, ceramic bottle is just too cute! The brew pours a dark, nutty brown into my pink elephant, Delirium Tremens snifter. A substantial off-white head formed, and it remained in some form for the entire life of the beverage. The smell is exquisite; there are aromas of ripe raisins, dark malts, caramel-colored soda, and brown sugar to be found here. Rich, dark fruit and candy sugars dominate the taste, while banana, sweet bread, and a mild spiciness linger in the background. As the brew warms the flavors become more pronounced, making for a more complex taste experience. Of course the alcohol is moderately high at 10%, so it's best to take it easy. My 500ml bottle allowed for two snifter-full glasses, which was plenty for a lightweight like me. All is good in Koningshoeven land! This has to be one of the best-if not THE best-Belgian quads I've tasted.