Local's Stash: Raspberry Belgian Style Quad by Crazy Mountain Brewing Company is a Quadruple Ale and is being evaluated as a Belgian Dark Strong Ale (2015 BJCP Category 26D) offering according to the BJCP guidelines. For this style expect rich malt and dark fruits which create complexity within these dark and strong Belgian ales.
Dark fruits emanate from the glass as it approaches your nose, giving off prune and dark berry (raspberry) notes, which are somewhat jammy. Rich malt notes of toasted bread crust and dark bread appear behind the dark fruits and eventually allow the soft floral alcohol notes through. Light clove phenol notes mix with soft spicy hops. The beer pours lightly cloudy brown, allowing very little light through, with a small, beige head of small bubbles that recedes to a cordon. The flavor starts just as the aroma with jammy, bright fruits of prune and dark berries, some cherry notes too. Rich malt supports the dark fruits and keeps the floral, nearly peppery alcohol at bay. Light spices add to the complexity as the beer warms a little. Late citrus esters appear with light spicy and floral hops. Fairly dry finish with a full body. Medium carbonation and light alcohol warmth.
This complex beer allows the dark fruit character to be the primary characteristic while using the rich malt to balance and provide a brilliant backdrop. Spending time with this beer and allowing a slow warming presents yet more complexity. Certainly, a beer worthy of aging a bit and evaluating the changes over 6 to 18 months.