Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY; 9.8% ABV, Quadrupel, 98% ale, 2% ale with cherries added (kriek lambic)
Poured into a snifter, the beer is a cloudy deep reddish-amber with a dense head of very tightly knit creamy-beige foam. Intriguing aroma with dark molasses-like malt, alcohol, and dark pit fruit. Another deep inhalation brings notes of cocoa and dark cherries. Fairly full-bodied with a rich and creamy texture. Taste is mellow, with smooth dark malt, baked pit fruits, some cocoa, and a faint hint of dark cherries. Bitterness is light, but there’s a mild tart edge instead which brings balance. Superb head retention.
Overall impact is more restrained than I was expecting; perhaps it has mellowed a little too much with age. Flavours are sensitive to serving temperature to some degree, as they bit bigger all around closer to cellar temperature. Definite alcohol note and bite, and more cherry with tartness. Tasty, but still somewhat restrained and a bit alcoholy. Will have to try this year's bottling and compare.
