What an interesting beer.

Pour is good looking, with a black body and a head, retention and lace that one would expect for a 12.2% beer, that is to say it’s relatively short lived and not spectacular but appropriate. No problems or issues here.

Nose has some of the acid notes that signal what’s to come (see below) and plenty of fruit. A little surprisingly, not much alcohol.

The initial tastes – just for a moment – suggest a deep, alcohol laden fig and raisin experience. Of course, that would be entirelty appropriate as well, but it really doesn’t stick. It very quickly takes on a mild sour note from the cherries and the Brett that in the end becomes the lasting and memorable feature. I’d expect more solvent and burn at 12.2, but honestly it’s not there.

Carbonation is of course low, and again that’s fine.

As it warms the sour note drops off a little, and more of what I would expect in terms of Quad sherry and richness comes in, BUT it’s all against the backdrop of some lightly sour cherries that permeate the whole beer. There’s is very little (perhaps none for me) whiskey elements here.

Delicious, highly drinkable if not exactly what one might expect in a Christmas beer or a Quad. Quite the departure, and as long as you read the label, note the cherries and the Brett, and do NOT expect a massive whiskey element, I think you’ll like this odd-ball “Quad” and “Christmas” beer!

OG 1.115, FG 1.022, IBU = 38