De Backer in Massemen interpreting the old strong dark trappist style ales we now refer to as 'quadrupel' for lack of a better word - in this case seemingly following the classic Belgians (Chimay Bleu, Rochefort 10 etc.) rather than the Dutch La Trappe variant, which actually coined the 'quadrupel' term; steinie bottle from the Carrefour supermarket in Sint-Denijs-Westrem. Pale greyish off-white, tiny-bubbled and dense, even creamy, shred-lacing, medium thick, partially opening head on an initially clear, dark chocolate brown robe with ruddy-bronze glow, misty with sediment. Aroma of toffee, even a bit of milk chocolate, dark honey, raisin bread, medlar, plum jam, dark candi sugar, pear, date, clove, ruby port, background hints of beef stock, wood glue, Poire William, dry liquorice, wet brown bread crust, canned tomato soup. Sweet onset but not too sticky and certainly okay for the intended style, dried plums, candied dates, pear and raisins, some light baked banana, moderate carbonation with smooth yet full body. Brown-bready and toffeeish dark maltiness fills the middle phase, with side notes of caramel, toast and even slight chocolate - the toasty element becoming stronger in the finish and providing malt bitterness rather than sweetness, but not to the extent that it becomes all Scotch- or Christmas ale-like (the residual sugars take care of that, but do it discreetly, contrary to many other beers in this style). Phenolic elements of clove, nutmeg and bayleaf are added retronasally, while something very lightly solventy (varnish) seems to briefly linger in the background - as does a 'meaty' protein aspect best compared with beef stock. Deep earthy hops provide a dim but important bitterness as bready yeastiness gets increasingly heated by 'jenever'-like alcohol - just a tad too much in the end, with tiring and astringent effect, even though a more attractive port-like element appears as well (and probably will become more outspoken as the beer ages). As well hidden as the alcohol was orthonasally, so present it becomes retronasally and in actual flavour - alas, but otherwise this is a fine quad for sure, ticking all the boxes without the addition of any unnecessary ingredients. Technically more than decent, flavour-wise finding a good balance between sweet and bitter and moreish - just a tad too boozy in the very end. Recommendable if you are into this type of beers, just do not expect anything close to Westvleteren 12 or Rochefort 10.

27/IX/25 - 33cl bottle @ Gents, no, Kwatrechts Bierfestival (Heilig Hart Brouwerij, Kwatrecht), BB: n/a (2025-966)

Clear dark amber beer, small creamy off-white head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: very yeasty, alcohol, spicy, bread, some ester, phenols, ok. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: very yeasty, spicy, a bit dry, bread yeast, some alcohol, dried fruits. Aftertaste: pretty bitter, a bit oxidized, earthy, leathery, ok, not great.

27/IX/25 - 33cl bottle @ Gents, no, Kwatrechts Bierfestival (Heilig Hart Brouwerij, Kwatrecht), BB: n/a (2025-957)

Clear reddish brown to deep amber beer, small creamy beige head, a little stable, non adhesive. Aroma: sweet impressions, dried fruits, caramel, leathery, a bit oxidized, sugary impression. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: lots and lots of Pedro Ximénez, very oxidized, sweet and sugary, alcohol, too much sherry/fortified wine, dried fruits, caramel, alcohol burn. Aftertaste: very oxidized, earthy, leather, sweet and sugary, alcohol, too much, too sweet, don’t like it.

27/IX/25 - bottle @ Gents, no, Kwatrechts Bierfestival (Heilig Hart Brouwerij, Kwatrecht), BB: n/a (2025-952)

Clear red brown beer, small aery irregular beige head, a little stable, somewhat adhesive. Aroma: spicy, gingerbread, caramel, spicy, cloves, yeasty, more cloves, nutmeg. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: sweet start, pretty bitter, gingerbread, some dark chocolate, lots of cloves, pretty bitter, yeasty touch, malty. Aftertaste: bitter, dry, lots of alcohol, caramel touch, more chocolate, very spicy, lots of cloves again, nice!

27/IX/25 - 33cl bottle @ Gents, no, Kwatrechts Bierfestival (Heilig Hart Brouwerij, Kwatrecht), BB: n/a (2025-950)

Slightly cloudy light pale yellow beer, small aery irregular white head, stable, a bit adhesive. Aroma: nice, fruity, juicy, lots of citrus, tropical fruits, ginger, a bit floral. MF: lively carbon, medium to light body. Taste: nice, gentle bitterness, fruity, zesty, lemon and lime peel, orange peel, some grapefruit, good bitterness, ginger. Aftertaste: zesty, fruity, orange peel, bitter, spicy, a bit soapy, nice N/A beer!

Sour ale flavoured with hibiscus flowers, created by this microbrewery in Wetteren; contains rye and has been soured with lactic acid bacteria. Steinie bottle from the Carrefour in Sint-Denijs-Westrem. Medium thick, opening, pale pinkish-tinged off-white, tiny-bubbled, regular head over a clear, deep ruby red beer with scarlet shade, shifting to a more cloudy burgundy red further on. Aroma of hibiscus tea (I guess they used dried flowers and quite a lot of them), cassis (strong, oddly), cherry jam from a jar, fruit yoghurt, bergamot, strawberry juice, woodruff, elderberry syrup, hints of freshly baked bread and moist potting soil. Crisp onset, sour and sweet, very fruity with elderberry, blackcurrant, cherry and strawberry aspects - surprisingly, because unless the brewer is holding back some fruit ingredient, all these aspects must come from those hibiscus flowers; the sweetness is subordinate to an underlying, continuous lactic acidity, which remains fruity and mellow, yet does not miss its drying, quenching effect. Smooth, slick bready core, deeply soaked in this truckload of hibiscus, which after a while begins to add its floral and herbal, tea-like effect - something I have never been very fond of, but in bearing so many red fruit colours, somehow manages to increase my appreciation of it. Tart red berry-like effects even outlive that tea-like herbaceousness, with everything ending quite lively and juicy. Not bad at all, seemingly intended as a summery, fruity quencher, but feeling very 'honest' and artisanal - even elegant and balanced. Better than I was expecting, to be frank...

Head gone in seconds over hazy terra cotta beer, still. Sourish nose, as cactusjuice, agave, mezcal, purple gooseberry but also celeri, and finally, recognized hibiscus. Sour tea, tea with lemonjuice, sour berries, lactic acid and again - if less obvious than in the nose - hibiscus(tea). Very faintly astringent, light body, medium carbonation. Interesting, amusing. Txs to Stef!

Hazy blond colour, white foam. Nice ginger notes, hoppy, bitter with some fruity sweetness.

@ Kwatrechts bierfestival. Hazy blond colour, white foam. Complex and good tripel. Citrussy, notes of banana and spices. Not too sweet. Good!

Sample @ 1e Kwartrechts Bierfestival. Dark brown colour, beige foam. Nose of dried fruit, honey, caramel. Complex tastes overpowered by an incredible honey sweetness. Unbalanced.