Foudre-Aged Belgian-Style Quad
Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, United States 🇺🇸
Belgian Style - Quadrupel / Dark Strong Rotating|
Score
7.04
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Allagash Four was our first foray into making a Belgian-style quadruple ale, a staple of brewing in the monastic tradition. This special version was aged with lactobacillus and pediococcus and aged in an oak foudre for nine months to add notes of red apple, strawberry, and stone fruit to its signature flavors of raisin and caramel, finishing with a gently sour sweetness.
Grains: Mapleton Pale Malt or Blue Ox Pale Base Malt, Blue Ox Light Munich Malt, Carapils, Caramel Malt
Hops: Cashmere Hop Alternative, Hallertau, Crystal, Saaz
Spices/Other: Date Sugar, Molasses, Sugar
Yeast: De Dolle, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus
Grains: Mapleton Pale Malt or Blue Ox Pale Base Malt, Blue Ox Light Munich Malt, Carapils, Caramel Malt
Hops: Cashmere Hop Alternative, Hallertau, Crystal, Saaz
Spices/Other: Date Sugar, Molasses, Sugar
Yeast: De Dolle, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus
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6.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Sampled at the Churchkey Allagash event. Clear brown, thin Grey head. Nose is sour, dried orange and tobacco, malt, nettles. Flavors follow. Lots of tea and neutral wood, dried wild herbs, yarrow. Thin, lightly sour finish. Bit of a miss. 7 6 6 6 6
Tried
from Draft
on 08 Dec 2025
at 15:01
7.5/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7
Lots of foudre and wine. Probably more sour than a quad ought to be. Pours golden amber with good head and lacing. Some plum, apricot. Light tart finish. Bottle pour at Churchkey
Tried
from Draft
at
ChurchKey
on 05 Dec 2025
at 21:48
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Rail Trail draught, 11/12/25, as pictured.
Big and fruity with light, tart acidity. Not all that dark, which is nice. No roast, no toast, no big chocolate or anything to get in the way of the yeast. Lots of rapberry and vanilla-like notes. A bit more of a sour than a quad but whatever.
Big tartness but it doesn't get out of hand and no acetic character builds up or destroys the palate. Soft oak and biscuity malts help balance and soak up potential acid. Very fruity with no big tannin, but lots of vanilla and mild woodiness. Really nice take on this often boring style.
Big and fruity with light, tart acidity. Not all that dark, which is nice. No roast, no toast, no big chocolate or anything to get in the way of the yeast. Lots of rapberry and vanilla-like notes. A bit more of a sour than a quad but whatever.
Big tartness but it doesn't get out of hand and no acetic character builds up or destroys the palate. Soft oak and biscuity malts help balance and soak up potential acid. Very fruity with no big tannin, but lots of vanilla and mild woodiness. Really nice take on this often boring style.
Tried
from Draft
at
Rail Trail Flatbread Company - Hudson
on 12 Nov 2025
at 20:26