Real Ale "Black Quad" Quadrupel

A gift from my brother in Texas, I had never heard of Real Ale before. I have reviewed very few quadruple ales before, and they run from the middle of the road Ommegang Three Philosophers to the objectively great Weyerbacher Quad before scraping perfection with the Van Steenberge Gulden Draak 9000. How will this stack up? Will it managed to make it that extra quarter of a step to five out of five? And what exactly does the idea of this being black, unlike the very dark red that most quadruples are, really mean? Will it change the flavor profile significantly? Let's find out together.

True to its name, the beer looks black. Glancing around the edges, you can see that it's actually just a very, very dark brown, but I don't fault them for calling it black. Most people would. The head goes away swiftly and takes its off-white bubbles to the sides of the glass where a very thin ring goes almost completely around the surface of the beverage. The aroma is strong and contains dark fruits and delicious yeast. This doesn't smell exactly like Belgian yeast, so I'm curious what this Texas breweries going to bring. 

First sip is very good. The expected dark fruits are joined by sweetness, bruised bananas, light spices, and the sense (rather than the taste) of alcohol. Toasted bread seems to lift the other flavors up, and it is subtly changing things underneath. I thought I had smelled yeast whenever I first took a whiff, but I don't really taste it. It's a shame, as I like a good Belgian yeast in my beer. Nevertheless, the beer still manages to stand on its own and give a memorable flavor.

Tip-in is sweet cherries and bananas with a moderate carbonation sizzle and an air of alcohol lingering around it. The middle moves the carbonation to the roof of the mouth to burn while a syrupy sweetness feels like it's about to start encroaching, but it doesn't materialize; instead, the fruits are joined by toasted bread and light spices. The finish turns the toasted bread into slightly burned bread as banana peels and spices pull dryness into the mix for the trail off. 

Bottom Line: A complex and enjoyable beverage.

3.5/5