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chatRare Beer Club 6-Bottle Selections - September 2024
Duke of Dabblers (RBC Exclusive)
Sudwerk Brewing – Davis, CA
[Belgian Tripel-Style Ale – 9% ABV]
Sudwerk Brewing in Davis, California (GABF 2021 Brewery of the Year for 5,001-15,000 bbls production) was established in 1989 by two German descendants with a mission to deliver the authentic taste of high-quality German lagers. For over 35 years, they’ve been pushing the limits of traditional lager brewing, marrying traditional German techniques with contemporary West Coast craft practices. But Sudwerk doesn’t limit themselves exculsively to lagers; long-time RBC members will remember their rare and exceptional Fünke Hop Farm from 2015 and Microfauna from 2020. We’re excited to once again feature an exceptional brew from Sudwerk, available exclusively through the Rare Beer Club, with a small amount available at their tasting room.
Duke of Dabblers presents a golden amber color with dense foam, with rich and pronounced olfactory impacts showcasing stone fruit, Golden Delicious apple, clove, white pepper, and honey-butter toast, backed up by touches of caramel, floral and piney hops, mandarin-orange citrus, and subtle hints of cotton candy. On the palate, this complex, medium to full-bodied tripel brings prominent stone fruits like nectarine and apricot, along with gooseberry and mandarin. Gentle spice notes of clove and white pepper come forward, followed by bready malt flavors with hints of caramel and honey. The Belgian yeast adds layers of spiced yellow apples, hints of cotton candy and bubblegum, and white grapes. The malt flavor is prominent throughout, delivering a subtle sweetness balanced by the yeast’s white pepper and delicate clove undertones, with just a touch of fennel. The robust malt character is well-balanced by the yeast, resulting in an unexpectedly dry, aromatic profile. The hop bitterness and palate grip contribute to the complexity of this superb Belgian-inspired tripel.
Quadrupel
Brasserie St-Feuillien – Le Roeulx, Wallonia, Belgium
[Belgian Abbey Quadrupel Ale – 11% ABV]
In 655, Irish monk Foillan was killed by bandits while traveling near Le Roeulx, Belgium. A chapel and an abbey was built in his honor, which was home to monks who brewed traditional abbey-style beer. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the brewery known today as St-Feuillien was established in 1873 by Stéphanie Friart, who viewed her brewery as a continuation of the abbey’s brewing legacy. Today, the brewery remains in the family’s hands, and they are members of Belgian Family Brewers, an association of 21 family-owned breweries dedicated to preserving Belgian brewing traditions alongside notable members such as Dupont, Duvel, Huyghe, and Saint Bernardus. St-Feuillien produces a diverse range of traditional Belgian ales, plus less traditional brews like their dry-hopped Belgian Coast IPA and a 92-proof American oak-aged liquor made from triple-distilled beer.
We’re super excited to offer the very rare St-Feuillien Quadrupel this month, as only a few dozen cases are imported each year in 750-ml bottles (in which the beer is refermented). This deep, dark reddish-brown brew offers an aroma featuring dried dark fruits, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, and sweet vanilla, with pepper and clove from the Belgian yeast adding spicy complexity. Dense caramel and dark-fruit maltiness contribute additional depth, presenting an expertly crafted Belgian quad with vibrant fruit and toasty, engaging spices. It’s full-bodied on the palate, rich with layered malts and expressive Belgian yeast character, showcasing red and dark fruits throughout. Secondary notes include subtle chocolate, nutty undertones, and warming spices, adding significant complexity. We picked up a wealth of nuanced details, including chewy malt flavors, multifaceted spice, and notable star anise and milk chocolate. It remains toasty, spicy, and comforting, with cinnamon and coriander grounding the flavor profile. The high ABV is well-hidden and the finish is lasting and delicious, with clove, spicy pepper, and milk chocolate, offering a beautifully balanced Belgian quad with restrained sweetness and exquisite spice.
