La Trappe Quadrupel (Koningshoeven / Dominus)
Appearance: Dark, rose-shaded crimson. Thick, cream-colored head. The glass remains coated in foam as the head recedes. Smell: Rich & buttery malt profile. Cake-like, with rich, soft diacetyl sweetness. Soft & doughy yeast overtones, with a burst of alcohol in the background. Taste: Very sweet; the diacetyl is off the map. Extremely smooth and buttery. There's almost nothing to balance the sweetness; the hops are very low-key, and the yeast lends only a moderate earthiness. Light, fruity estery flavors compliment the malt, tasting mostly like raspberries and cherries. You can taste the 10.00% ABV, but it's fairly well-concealed. It provides a definite warming sensation, but it doesn't detract from the gigantic sweetness of the malt profile. Sticky, fruity and sweet; definitely a dessert beer. Mouthfeel: Very firm and chewy, as is expected of a beer this big. The carbonation lightens the beer just enough. Excellent. Verdict: This isn't an everyday beer. It lacks some of the complexity of other Trappist-style ales, but simple joy can be found in La Trappe's eager-to-please sweetness. I imagine this would be incredible after a dinner of roasted turkey.