New Struise quadrupel named after a Thelonious Monk jazz standard - and when Urbain does a new quad, the beer geek world knows about it, as this beer has been receiving tons of attention lately. Medium thick, pale yellowish beige, lightly lacing, moussy head dissipating in the middle but otherwise well retaining; burgundy robe with wine red hue, hazy, very dark but still translucent. Rich bouquet of everything a good quadrupel (or ’abt’) should offer: a ton of brown sugar, toffee, ripe banana (but not in the bubblegum way), cherry ’bonbons’, maple syrup, cashew nuts, ruby port, some subtle vanilla, something vaguely soapy (lavender almost), candied fig, honey-glazed spare ribs, marzipan, toasted bread, chamomille, something subtly ’meaty’, hint liquorish candy, cake dough, pear, brown rum, unmistakable fresh paint solvents but well hidden in all these other odours, lovely whiff of oak bringing it all together without becoming too intrusive but gaining strength as it warms up (and so does the ’meaty factor’, by the way). Quite ’heavy’ onset of overripe peach, fig and dried banana with a lot of candi sugar sweetness on top but a ’deep’ basic sourishness for balance as well, though the sweetness dominates, along with unmistakably meaty umami flavors. Soft carbo, big and thick but soft and ’fluffy’ mouthfeel, bit resinous; thick layer of sweet caramelly and bittersweet toasted maltiness ensues, while the initial dark sugar and beautifully restrained fruit sweetness continue, all leading to a very satisfying, rich finish, malt and brown sugar sweet with becoming cloying, as this sweetness is balanced by a late, earthy, lightly peppery hop bitterness, a drying ’oaky’ effect which remains subtle and discreet, and the expected glow of warming, yet non-astringent, rum-like alcohol. It is good to see that Struise has reconnected with its own past in searching for the perfect quadrupel - after a whole bunch of Pannepot variations, this one is indeed a bit different, more straightforward perhaps, and definitely sweeter. One for those who like their quads sweet and opulent - I can recommend this to e.g. adepts of Rochefort 10 and the like. Interesting, overpowering beer, Struise did it again, though to me it does not quite reach the levels of the best of the Pannepot family. Still, I’d sure like to see what becomes of this after five years of cellaring, must prove really interesting...

#6666 Rating. 330 ml. bottle shared with Kraddel @ Gollem. 2013 Vintage (released just now, vintage denotes when the beer was put in barrels it seems). This is the first big largescale notable Struise release in quite a while. It is quite an interesting one, a strongly umami flavored quad with clear oxidation & mushroom-like notes. Oddly this works for me. Dark reddish brown with a tanned head. Nose carries oxidation & big dark fruits, sugar, candy. Taste is strongly herbal, mushrooms, umami, sugar, gravy, sugar, candy, very strong umami, dark fruits. Substantial body with clear oxidation. Very interesting & oddly successful. Different luckily from the recent super-alcoholic, raw & massive sweet hard to drink recent brews by Struise.

Thnx to Chris . pours dark Brown, clear. Small white head. Smell is sweet, dark malts, some barrel. Taste is intense, dark grainy. Sweet, red wine , oak. Very intense, perfect mouthfeel .