Straffe Hendrik 2012 Heritage
So far, the two beers (Bruges Triple Ale and Brugse Zot) from De Halve Maan have been pretty tasty. So when I saw this 2012 vintage of their Heritage Ale, an 11% ABV Belgian-style quadrupel, I knew that there was going to be a good chance that it would be impressive.
Heritage, however, isn’t your standard quad. I’m not sure about all vintages of this beer, but the 2012 version has been aged in oak casks for about a year or so. The result is a big and rich beer with just a welcome amount of woodiness to accompany dark fruits. My only complaint with this brew would be the overly active carbonation — it’s a bit distracting.
Appearance
The brew pours a deep brown in color (a garnet edge appears when held to light) and a cap of tan foam.
Aroma
Plum, raisin, wood, light alcohol, herbal notes, soft caramel and a hint of vanilla make for an interesting aroma for this style of beer.
Taste
Heritage definitely has a dark fruit presence with plum and raisin joining a solid backbone of rich malt. A decent amount of sweetness arrives quickly as well as yeast and a moderate amount of oak linger in the background. A distant roast arises late in the lasting and warming finish as hints of licorice and vanilla come out as the beer rests in the glass. The texture of the beer is a bit more prickly than it should be.
Overall
I haven’t had a fresh version of Straffe Hendrik Heritage — this is actually my first time seeing this bottle on shelves — so I can’t compare this year old vintage to a baseline. What I can say is that as far as the cask aging goes, the oak has a welcome influence on the rich malt and dark fruits that dominate the beer without overpowering the palate. Like I said, my only real complaint with this beer is the over eagerness of the carbonation. It’s a bit too prickly for my liking in a quadrupel.
Rating: 4/5
