7.1

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Quadrupel from what seems to be a home brewery recently gone commercial, in the village of Belsele near Sint-Niklaas; stumbled upon this at Drankenhal Van Callenberge, which indeed stores some very small-scale brews from its own direct region. Pale greyish white, moussy, medium sized head, misty bronze-brown robe with ruddy hue. Aroma of overripe medlar, burnt sugar, beef stock, caramel, dried porcini, diluted cassis, damp earth, tomato concentrate, English brown sauce, pear, damp forest floor, touch of ruby port, tea. Dark-fruity onset, blue plum, medlar, blackcurrant – sweet, but also with a strong umami flavour (fried tomato concentrate, dried chanterelles and reduced gravy); medium carb, rounded body, smooth caramelly and brown-bready malts, a bit toasty towards the end, with lingering candi sugar sweetness (though nothing cloying) and herbal hop bitterish notes. Strong earthiness too (forest floor), next to warming, ‘jenever’-like alcohol. Typical Belgian strong dark ale, a bit amateurish but enjoyable, less sweet and thick than the average ‘established’ quad; the strong umami and earthy effects bothered me a bit so I think a bit of cleaning up could do this recipe more justice, but for a tiny hobby brewery taking it first steps on the market, this is not bad at all.