{"title":"Straffe Hendrik","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"straffe-hendrik-quadruple-4pk","title":"Straffe Hendrik Quadruple 4Pk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStraffe Hendrik Quadruple 4Pk\u003c\/strong\u003e is a four-pack of the 11% ABV Belgian quadrupel brewed by Brouwerij De Halve Maan in Bruges, Belgium. Launched in 2010 as the first Belgian quadrupel ever produced, this bottle-refermented strong dark ale earned Gold at the 2017 World Beer Awards in the World's Best Belgian Style Strong category and again took Gold in 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 11%  |  Origin: Bruges, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Quadrupel  |  Brewery: Brouwerij De Halve Maan\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrouwerij De Halve Maan has been brewing in the heart of Bruges since 1856, making it the city's historic family brewery. The Quadrupel is built on a refined blend of specialty malts and dark candi sugar, then undergoes secondary refermentation in the bottle — a traditional Belgian technique that creates a living beer capable of evolving in complexity over years of cellaring. When De Halve Maan introduced this expression in 2010, it was marketed as the first Belgian quadrupel, carving out a distinct position in a country already renowned for its strong abbey ales.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spicy and elegant on the nose, opening with bready, freshly baked malt and dark candi sugar. Slightly roasted hints emerge alongside warm spice and a vinous quality reminiscent of fortified red wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is rich with dark malt sweetness that quickly reveals layers of plum, fig, and other stewed dark fruits. Mid-palate, a clean dryness balances the sweetness as notes of coriander, anise, roasted chestnuts, and dark chocolate develop. A subtle brandy-like warmth carries through, giving the beer a vinous but tart character that belies its 11% strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e The finish is long and slightly treacly, with lingering dark fruit and roasted malt. A gentle bitterness and dry spice keep it from cloying, inviting the next sip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Straffe Hendrik Quad\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePour into a tulip glass or goblet at 50–54°F (10–12°C) to let the complex aromatics open fully; a slow pour leaving some yeast sediment in the bottle keeps the flavor cleaner, though some drinkers enjoy the added body of the yeast. This quad also works in beer-forward mixed drinks: try it in a \u003cstrong\u003eBelgian Flip\u003c\/strong\u003e — shaken with a whole egg and demerara syrup — for a dessert-like sipper. A \u003cstrong\u003eDark Beer Shandy\u003c\/strong\u003e blending half Straffe Hendrik Quad with chilled tart cherry juice cuts the richness and highlights the fruit character. It also substitutes beautifully for port in a \u003cstrong\u003eBeer Cobbler\u003c\/strong\u003e, muddled with seasonal berries and served over crushed ice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian brewing traditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCellaring and revisiting over multiple years to experience flavor evolution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfter-dinner sipping as a dessert course substitute\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing nights centered on rich cheeses and charcuterie\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Straffe Hendrik Quad taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e It delivers rich dark fruit — plum, fig — layered with dark candi sugar sweetness, roasted chestnuts, anise, and a touch of dark chocolate, all balanced by a clean dryness and subtle brandy-like warmth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Straffe Hendrik Quad compare to St. Bernardus Abt 12?\u003c\/strong\u003e Both are high-ABV Belgian strong dark ales, but St. Bernardus Abt 12 (10% ABV) tends toward a creamier, more caramel-forward profile, while Straffe Hendrik Quad at 11% leans drier with more pronounced roasted malt, anise, and dark fruit character. Straffe Hendrik is also bottle-refermented and marketed as a true quadrupel, whereas Abt 12 is often classified simply as a Belgian strong dark ale.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Straffe Hendrik Quad good for cellaring?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — the bottle refermentation creates a living beer whose flavor profile evolves over time, making it an excellent candidate for vertical aging experiments across multiple vintages.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Straffe Hendrik Quad made?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is brewed at Brouwerij De Halve Maan, a family-owned brewery operating since 1856 in the historic center of Bruges, West Flanders, Belgium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Straffe Hendrik Quad?\u003c\/strong\u003e Aged Gouda or Stilton, where the cheese's sharpness complements the beer's dark fruit; slow-braised short ribs with the malty sweetness echoing caramelized meat; dark chocolate truffles that mirror the roasted malt and candi sugar; grilled lamb chops with rosemary, which match the beer's herbal spice; and fig or date tarts that amplify the dried-fruit notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Straffe Hendrik Quad come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e This listing is a four-pack of 330ml (11.2 oz) bottles; single 330ml bottles and 750ml formats are also commonly available from the brewery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Straffe Hendrik Quad worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e It positions as a premium Belgian quadrupel, backed by multiple World Beer Awards medals including two Golds, and the bottle refermentation adds genuine cellar-worthy complexity — strong value within the high-ABV Belgian specialty category.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Straffe Hendrik Quad?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen De Halve Maan released this beer in 2010, it claimed the distinction of being the first Belgian quadrupel — a bold move in a country where Trappist and abbey brewing traditions run centuries deep. That ambition has been validated repeatedly, most notably with a Gold Medal at the 2017 World Beer Awards for World's Best Belgian Style Strong and a second Gold in 2024. The bottle refermentation is not just marketing; it produces a living beer whose dark fruit, spice, and roasted malt character genuinely shifts and deepens over years of careful cellaring. For anyone serious about Belgian strong ales, this four-pack provides both immediate drinking pleasure and the option to tuck bottles away and see where time takes them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Straffe Hendrik","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838789808297,"sku":"28227","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/straffe-hendrik.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}