“The Reverend, was created in tribute to the life of our friend Tom Boogaard’s grandfather, an ordained Episcopal Reverend. Tom was inspired by the life of his grandfather and wanted to create a tribute beer that contained his sterling traits. True to the spirit and character of the departed Reverend, this beer is strong willed, assertive, and pure of heart. Our brewers included as many authentic imported Belgian specialty malts as they could, making this the perfect beer for folks who love malty beers and are ready to take the next step. A divinely complex and beautifully layered beer with hints of dark cherries, currants, and molasses, complimented by an underlying spiciness. Sinfully smooth considering the high alcohol content.”
Served in to a snifter glass. The murky chestnut hue is capped off by a tightly packed one and a half finger head that defiantly holds but eventually shrinks down to a thin sheet over the top. Laced reasonably well. The nose is brimming with rich, yeasty aromas. Banana bread, toffee, caramel, candy sugar, ripe cherries and fig are jumping out of the glass. Quite a robust syrupy character as strong wafts of honey and maple come through as well. In the background we pick up subtle wafts of peppery spice, pot pourri and just the faintest touch of honeycomb. The depth on this nose is simply amazing. Solid start to this Quad. In the mouth it’s surprisingly smooth. The texture is slightly chalky but what must be mentioned is how well they’ve masked the 10% ABV – hardly any heat on the palate whatsoever. The Co2 is mild and the body is about medium-full. Really nice overall feel. Upon entry we taste loads of sweet, dark fruits like raisin and dates. Candied banana, toffee apple, and a delicate alcohol warmth carries across the mid and ushers it all in to a malty sweet, almost tangy yeasty finish that endures well in to the next sip. This is a damn fine representation of the style. What we love the most is how the brewers have kept it traditional and have executed it perfectly! The question proposed now is La Trappe or Avery? Have the Americans beat the Belgians at their own game? Tough call, you decide. All we know is that this is a bloody brilliant Quad.