The Quadrupel

So, one of the perks of living in Belgium is that you pretty much have the opportunity to enjoy great beer any time you want. 

The Belgian Quadrupel is one beer that I particularly enjoy, and I was lucky enough to have my friend Bram drop by and bring me a bottle of La Trappe Quadrupel- a well known Trappist beer from the Netherlands. 

Man, this thing was tasty. It's the kind of beer you want to sit in your yard and appreciate after a day's worth of grass and hedge cutting. 

Oh wait... that's just what I did. Thanks again, Bram!

Info on The Quadrupel (Quad)

Why is it called a Quadrupel (Quad)? While no clear explanation has been found, folklore holds that due to illiteracy monks would mark beer with a number of tallies to illustrate the strength of the beer. 

Thus, one tally would indicate a weaker beer, while four marks would tell you that another is much stronger. 

What is it? Typically speaking, it's a strong beer that falls between 10-12% ALC. They are usually darker beers and can be amber, garnet, or chestnut hued. But, they aren't limited to these colors.

Taste? You can look forward to enjoying a lovely range of tastes, from a malty, caramel with hints of clove, to a toffee, coffee, raisin, or even fig flavored quad.

This beer style should go on any beer lover's list of need to have.