Deschutes Brewery - The Stoic

Does anyone out there play Words with Friends?  I'm dangerously addicted to this scrabble-esque game, it's like a bad crack habit.  Why?  First of all, it's free, my favorite price.  Secondly, I'm damn good at it.  If you're up for a challenge - start a game with me - my name is 'Duny22'.  Disclaimer:  If you challenge me, you will lose, probably many times over, and I'm not liable for your disappointment or frustration.  You've been warned!

Tonight, while I kick your asses in Words with Friends, I'll be drinking The Stoic from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.  The Stoic is a Belgian-style Quadrupel Ale loaded with 11% alcohol.  This brew is fermented in 4 different stages, and aged in rye whiskey and wine casks.  There are some other, well-known Quads that Steve and I have had in the past, like the Trappistes Rochefort 10 and Ommegang Three Philosophers - brews in this style tend to be malty, fruity, and on the higher end of the alcohol spectrum.  Let's see how The Stoic stacks up against the rest of the pack.

This beer comes in a bomber bottle with a wax-sealed cap and a label that explains this is "A prized, potent Belgian-Styled Quad of stirring depth and complexity".  Below that it states "The Stoic: Malt Beverage brewed with pomegranate with 16.5% being aged in oak wine barrels and 16.5% being aged in oak rye whiskey barrels".  The beer is a clear, golden orange color, a lot lighter than I expected.  While this first glass is clear, I can see plenty of sediment stirred up in the bottom of the bottle.  The pour leaves an inch of fluffy white foam.  The aroma accentuates the Belgian yeast-funk up front, plenty of bananas, candied apples, cinnamon sugar, and tart, spicy alcohol fumes.  The fumes really waft out of the glass.  First sip, starts off with a wave of tart, sugary sweetness.  Then the yeast comes into play with a sour farmhouse flavor - grassy, herbal, earthy.  Towards the end, the fruits finally come through - hints of pomegranate, and some warm, woody oak is also there.  The alcohol finishes things off with some heat. 

Overall Rating:  This was a tough beer to rate.  Positives - pleasant quad flavors, the base beer is obviously very good.  Negatives - the pomegranate and barrel aging create too much of a diversion, and take away from what must be a great Quad at the foundation.  A good beer, but not quite great.  B