Dageraad Brewing 10º (2016 Edition) Abt / Quadrupel at 10.5% ABV (C$10.50 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 28-May-2016, reviewed 4-Aug-2016)
Appearance: hazy deep amber with two fingers of growing rocky beige head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: burnt candi sugar, toffee, darkish boozy fruit, yeast. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Medium-full body, moderate carbonation, mildly warming and slightly sticky finish. (3/5)
To be honest, I was expecting a little more… “presence”? “depth”? It isn’t unpleasant, by any means, but it’s not the smooth Belgian-style Quad I was expecting. The aromas start off promisingly, with burnt sugar dominating. Boozy fruit follows shortly behind, and things are looking pretty good for a while. However, shortly thereafter, the aromas seem to thin somewhat, leaving behind a medicinal booziness but not a lot of depth or character. Things aren’t a total write-off, though, because it continues to taste somewhat better than it smells, reminiscent of a crème brûlée. I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed by this, exactly, and it doesn’t necessarily make me re-evaluate my opinion of Dageraad, but it doesn’t really affirm my prior opinion, either. Not a strikeout, perhaps, but not a home run, either. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
