2016 Judgment Day Ale by The Lost Abbey is a 10.5% ABV Belgian Quadrupel brewed with Raisins.
Label:
Do you believe there would be a Judgment Day? Have you ever thought about what you’ll be doing when the Four Horsemen arrive? Perhaps you’ll be drinking this Belgian Dark Quad Styled Ale when they appear? However, since we have no idea when our time will expire or when we’ll be forced to cash in our tickets, we offer this simple advice. Live an inspired life. Find opportunities in everything to make a difference. Seek out new and spontaneous adventures and when you find them, embrace them as if they were the devil’s song. For an interesting life is one worth living. Challenge yourself to embrace passion, persistence and a motivated way of life. So that when Judgment Day arrives from nowhere, you’ll go out knowing full well that you’ve lived your life on your terms and they can’t take that away from you.
Commercial Description (Lostabbey.com)
A massive beer in every sense of the word. A stronger and more contemplative version of our Lost and Found Ale. Judgment Day is the base beer for our Cuvee de Tomme. Many of the Trappist Breweries produce a version of beer which ages incredibly well for many years to come. And, since none of us knows when the end of the world is coming, we suggest you stock up with lots of Lost Abbey beers so that when the end of the world magically appears from nowhere, you’ll have a beer or two on hand for even the stingiest of angels. Available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select inspired locations. The Judgment Day story
The story has been told and we have been warned about this very moment- Judgment Day and the end of the world as we cease to know it. There will be but one instance where the sunny blue pastoral skies turn sickly black revealing the imminent demise of every soul caught between heaven and hell. From the skies the angels of heaven will race to rescue the virtuous souls before the thundering herd of the 4 Horsemen arrive from the depths of hell to claim more than their fair share. Each of us will ride a wave of terror or relief not knowing from which lot our souls have been cast. It is wholly possible that the Sinners and Saints alike will unite. For sure, each will thrash about in the tumultuous sea of uncertainty not knowing in this abyss whether they bear the mark of the Father or the mark of the Beast himself. There will be a litany of screams from the departing souls riding bareback on the shoulders of the Black Horse. Each of us will be examined and our lives will be scrutinized. It is decreed and so written. Life as we know it will one day cease to exist. Surely you will stand there having all your questions answered.
==Introduction==
The very first Quadrupel I have ever had in my life is essentially one of the beers in the world close to my heart along with the St. Bernardus 12abt that really started everything for me back in 2010. This beer being one of my top 10 while being very common is one that really got craving it ever since I saw it at Bevmo when I visited my friend Adrian in West Covina so many years ago. I had no idea what the hell craft beer was and back then the only thing I really knew in terms of craft beer was New Belgium Fat Tire. The stunning artwork was what really brought me in to the world of craft beer. Coming from an anime background, I really had a strong appreciation for different types of artworks that moved into the label appreciation to eventual taste and art comparison to what you know today as the beer and art pairings and ultimately, my own homebrewing and brewing ideas for recipes. Today I pay tribute to those amazing days and this beer that really lead me to an awesome appreciation for something I consider very mystical, perplexing, awe inspiring and really, the lost treasures of taste and art. TO my favorite style of beer, I salute you. To my fans, I say raise a glass, cheers for many beer years!!
Aromas:
Very rich dark fruit raisins, plums figs, fates, prunes, currants black berries, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, marshmallow, anise, molasses, flan, phenolics, stone fruit peach, plums, slight mango, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, pan dulce, fruit cake, fruit cake, agave, bananas, clove spice and piloncillo sugar cone.
Flavors:
Super duper rich dark raisins, prunes, black berries, currants, dark cherries, raspberries, figs, dates, Belgian candi sugar, rock candy, chocolate cherry cordials, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, pan dulce, fruit cake, capirotada Mexican raisin bread pudding, cinnamon, brown sugar, fruit cake, agave, bananas, clove spice, anise, molasses, flan, phenolics, stone fruit peach, plums, slight mango, dulce de leche caramel, piloncillo sugar cone, toasted rye bread, wine grapes, port wine hints, Chambord raspberry liqueur, marshmallows, chocolate waffle cone, pecan pie , hazelnut nectar, walnut pie, almond joy chocolate and hints of rocky road ice cream.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with rich flavors of dark fruit, bananas, clove spice, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, anise, molasses, flan, raisins bread pudding, fruit cake, brown sugar and cherry cordials. No alcohol in the taste, dark crimson ruby clear to medium body, smooth, creamy, syrupy, velvety and chewy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Exceptionally delicious!! There is always a reason to go back to one’s roots. Despite having tried better quadrupels and world class beers, there is no denying that the beers that started it all which, for most part, “common beers”, are the ones that will always be the best and hold a special place. For being the first quad I tried in 2010, this one is world class to me. So much dark fruit and dark candi sugar forward. Many quadrupels have different appealing characteristics. St. Bernardus is a Dulce De Leche La Trappe Quad is Banana and caramel driven and Weyebacher Blasphemy is pecan pie driven. These are just examples of great quads I have loved and each one delicious and unique in their own ways. I highly recommend this one to all!
Anime Corner:
KOS-MOS from Xenosaga was brought once again since I had used her to pair with the first time I did an anime beer review pairing of the Judgment Day ale. She is one of my favorite characters so since I chose her the last time I choose her again. The reason I chose her has to do with Xenosaga in general. If the coming for the 4 horseman of the apocalypse also involves the return of Jesus, then it fits perfectly. Xenosaga has many themes of the Christian religion and bible references. Heck, KOS-MOS is essentially supposed to be a vessel for the return of Mary Magdalene, Jesus wife in some scriptures. Although, KOS-MOS ends up being her own individual as we find out near the end of the trilogy that Mary Magdalene is separate from KOS-MOS. Regardless, her ties to Christianity is one of the main reasons I chose her for this pairing.
Sources:
http://orig03.deviantart.net/4364/f/2011/247/1/1/11b1ace5857fa4a466e0fd321bd9eb5c-d48t9r6.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/KOS-MOS.full.34385.jpg
http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad240/moke1200/46/dr035_zps02144e2f.jpg