Quadrupel

The Quadrupel is the pinnacle of the Belgian monastic scale: powerful, complex beers with great aging potential, situated above Tripels and Dubbels. The name was coined by the Trappist abbey of La Trappe (Netherlands) to distinguish its strongest beer, and it has since spread to all very high-alcohol dark Belgian beers. These are contemplative beers, singular drinks for late at night or for aging over many years.

In the glass, it displays a deep mahogany to reddish-brown color, with a creamy, off-white head that has good retention despite the high alcohol content. On the nose, it unfolds an extraordinarily rich palette: prune, fig, date, raisin, caramel, toffee, molasses, ripe banana, chocolate, spices (clove, anise, pepper), and a warm alcoholic backdrop. On the palate, it has a full body, with intense malt sweetness that is never cloying thanks to the candy sugar that lightens it, lively carbonation, very low bitterness (20–35 IBU), evident yet well-integrated alcoholic warmth, and an extremely long, comforting finish. The alcohol content ranges between 9% and 12%.

It is brewed with pilsner, Munich, and specialty malts, a significant proportion of dark candy sugar that provides nuances of dried fruit and lightens the body, European hops in very measured doses, and a highly expressive Belgian yeast. It is usually bottle-conditioned.

It is an ideal beer for blue cheese, foie gras, game, dark chocolate desserts, or as a standalone after-dinner drink. Serve between 10 °C and 14 °C in a chalice glass. It ages extraordinarily well.