Clown Shoes Beer The Peace Money Can’t Buy Abt / Quadrupel at 11.5% ABV (C$13.62 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 18-Dec-2014)
Appearance: clear amber-brown, one finger of light tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, dark fruit, stone fruit, vinous, vinegar, cloves. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, drying lightly tart finish. (3/5)
Not entirely sure what I was expecting here, but this wasn’t it. Though, perhaps in retrospect, it should have been: the fact that it’s a quadrupel indicates the dark fruit and sweetness are to be expected, and the label tells you it’s bourbon barrel-aged. I guess the combination of the lighter-than-expected body and the livelier-than-expected carbonation make this feel like a much lighter beer, while the intense bourbon edge is more in keeping with the high ABV, so it’s a bit of a study in contradictions. Not an unqualified success – it still feels hot to me at nearly a year old, and the flavours still tend a bit to the harsh – but interesting. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
