How to pour it
a quadrupel in
Rinse the glass with cold water and shake it out, but do not dry it. A wet, grease-free surface lets the head build evenly, while grease from a tea towel or residue from rinsing agent breaks down the foam.
Hold the glass at an angle of about forty-five degrees and let the quadrupel run gently down the side. Pouring gently is more important here than with a light beer, because a strong beer foams up vigorously all at once.
Set the glass upright once it is half full and pour from the center until it reaches a small serving size, around 15 to 20 cl. In a bowl-shaped glass, this leaves space above the beer where the aroma can linger.
Leave the yeast sediment in the bottle if you want to keep the beer clear. Then set the glass aside for a few minutes: a quadrupel that warms from refrigerator temperature to 12 to 14 degrees only reveals its raisin and date notes then.
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The story
Quadrupel is a Dutch and Belgian designation, not a standardized term: there is no rule determining what it must contain or from what percentage a beer may be called that. In practice, it refers to the strongest beer in a range, roughly 10 to 12 percent and sometimes more, dark in color and full-bodied in flavor thanks to a generous dose of dark candy sugar. This makes comparisons difficult, as two quadrupels from different breweries can differ widely. What they usually have in common is bottle conditioning, allowing the beer to age for years and become softer and rounder over time.
The right glass
A quadrupel calls for a round glass with a rim that curves inward, so the aroma stays above the beer instead of drifting away. Our range doesn't include a glass sold as a quadrupel glass; the closest match is a snifter, a round-stemmed goblet made for strong specialty beers. Pour a small serving, around 15 to 20 cl, and leave the rest of the glass empty. A smaller stemmed glass works too, and you'll find more models in the Belgian beer glasses collection.
Bormioli Rocco Snifter Beer Glass 53 cl (6 pieces)
Royal Leerdam Specials Beer Glass 25 cl on Stem (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 53,40.
The right tools
Strictly speaking, for a quadrupel you only need a bottle opener besides the glass, and we don't sell those. If you're sharing a bottle between several glasses, use a jigger to measure equal amounts, and a bar spoon to carefully layer one on top of another. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you'll find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 57,85.
What do you serve alongside it?
The quadrupel takes center stage; these are the bottles that can sit alongside it on the table. With raisin and date notes, cognac is the closest match. Well-known bottles include Hennessy and Vieux. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails pair well with it, and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Because the term is not defined, the selection varies. One quadrupel is mainly dark and malty, with raisin and date notes; another leans toward port or sherry because it has been aged longer or rested in a barrel. A beer of the same caliber may also simply be called an abbey beer or grand cru. Compare two bottles from the same brewery with a few years between them, and you can taste how aging makes the beer smoother. Want to read more? View all drinks and brands.
Serving tip
Take the bottle out of the refrigerator well over an hour before serving; only at 12 to 14 degrees do raisin, date, and port notes emerge, while at ice-cold temperatures there is nothing left of them. Pour a small serving and keep the bottle upright so the yeast sediment stays at the bottom. It pairs well with aged cheese or walnuts.
Good to know
Is quadrupel a protected designation?
No. Quadrupel is a Dutch and Belgian designation without a legal definition. There is no rule specifying what it must contain or from what percentage a beer may be called that, so the name mainly indicates that the beer is the strongest in that brewery's range.
How strong is a quadrupel?
Usually 10 to 12 percent, and sometimes more. That is stronger than a tripel, which is around 8 to 9.5 percent, and considerably stronger than a dubbel. Because of its full flavor and small serving size, this is not always noticeable while drinking.
Why can a quadrupel age for years?
Because of the alcohol percentage and the secondary fermentation in the bottle. The yeast remains active and there is little oxygen in the bottle, so the beer changes slowly instead of spoiling. Over time, the sharp edges soften and the fruit shifts toward port and sherry.
What is the best way to store a quadrupel?
Cool, dark, and upright. Keeping it upright leaves the yeast sediment on the bottom, so you can pour the beer clear later. A cellar or a cool cupboard at around twelve degrees is fine; large temperature fluctuations are not.
Why a small glass for such a strong beer?
Because you drink a quadrupel slowly and it warms up in the process. A small serving in a spacious, rounded glass stays at the right temperature and keeps the aroma beneath the inward-curving rim. Filling a glass to the brim works exactly the opposite way.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a quadrupel?
A rounded glass with a rim that curves inward, so the aroma lingers above the beer. A footed snifter comes closest; we do not offer a glass specifically sold as a quadrupel glass. Pour a small serving into it, around 15 to 20 cl.
What is the difference between a quadrupel and a dubbel or tripel?
The strength and the amount of candi sugar. A dubbel is around 6 to 8 percent and is dark and malty, a tripel around 8 to 9.5 percent and blond, while a quadrupel is stronger, at 10 to 12 percent or sometimes more. All three are designations within a series, not fixed styles.
At what temperature should you serve a quadrupel?
Between 12 and 14 degrees. That is warmer than most people serve beer, but it is necessary at this strength: when kept cold, the raisin, date, and port notes disappear, leaving only the sweetness.
Can you pour in the yeast sediment?
You can, but with a quadrupel most people leave it behind. The beer stays clear and the flavor remains crisper. If you pour it in as well, it becomes cloudy and fuller, with more yeast character over the dried fruit notes.
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