Trappistenbrouwerij De Kievit B.V. Zundert 10 – Abt / Quadrupel at 10% ABV (C$7.39 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 22-Oct-2021, acquired 27-May-2019, reviewed 22-Mar-2020)
Appearance: clear cola brown with one finger of pillowy light tan head, excellent retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark fruit, brown sugar, banana, nuts, leather. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, mild spiciness. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, building bitter and boozy finish. (4/5)
My first offering from the only Trappist brewer in the Netherlands. I’m not sure if this is the first (2018) vintage, or an early 2019 one, but either way it’s a relatively new product by them. The brewery itself is actually pretty new, opening in 2013, and prior to 2018 producing only one type of beer, renamed as the 8 after the introduction of this one. This is a nice Quad, fairly Belgian in character, though I find the aroma to be slightly mild for the style, even after warming. There’s also a very slight astringency in the finish that hasn’t disappeared even after a year’s cellaring. I mean, sure, it’s no Westy XII, but what else is? All in all, a nice sipper. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
