Une Annee Quad 4Pk

Une Annee Quad 4Pk is a Belgian-style Quadrupel ale brewed in the Chicago area at a robust 11% ABV, sold in a four-pack format. Produced by the independent Une Année Brewery — a name that translates to "One Year" in French — this Quad carries strong community recognition, holding a 4 out of 5 rating across more than 4,480 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11%  |  Origin: Niles, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Belgian Quadrupel  |  Brewery: Une Année Brewery

Production & Heritage

Une Année Brewery was founded in 2013 with a focused mission: producing fine Belgian-inspired ales. Based at 6343 Gross Point Road in Niles, Illinois, the brewery originally built its identity around a seasonal rotation of annual Belgian beers — each release marking another "year" in the project. The Quad sits among the brewery's most ambitious offerings, embracing the traditional Belgian Quadrupel approach of high gravity, complex malt character, and expressive yeast-driven esters and phenols. As a certified independent craft brewery, Une Année maintains full control over its recipes and production.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark fruit leads the nose immediately — brandied cherries, dark raisins, and fig develop first, followed by layers of fruitcake and a subtle undercurrent of dark chocolate. Mild phenolic spice from the Belgian yeast strain rounds out the bouquet without dominating.

Taste: The entry is rich and malt-forward, with strong flavors of toffee, caramel, and plum arriving upfront. At mid-palate, dried cherry and fig esters expand alongside a sweet bread-like malt backbone. The 11% ABV warmth is present but integrated into the overall structure, lending the beer a brandy-like depth.

Finish: The finish is moderately long with a heavier body and low carbonation, leaving residual sweetness of dark fruit and toffee on the palate. A gentle alcoholic warmth trails off alongside faint chocolate and spice notes.

How to Drink Une Annee Quad

Serve this Quad at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a tulip glass or Belgian goblet to concentrate the complex aromatics. Drinking it straight is the most rewarding approach — the layered dark fruit and malt character unfold as the beer warms slightly in the glass. While Quadrupels are not traditional cocktail ingredients, adventurous drinkers can use a small pour as a float on a Black Velvet variation for added richness, blend it into a Beer Flip with egg and nutmeg to amplify the dessert-like qualities, or incorporate it into a Dark Fruit Shandy by mixing with tart cherry juice and a squeeze of lemon for a lower-intensity serve.

Best For

• Sharing with friends during a Belgian beer tasting flight
• Pairing with a holiday dinner or rich winter meal
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates high-gravity ales
• Cellaring for one to two years to see how the flavors evolve

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Une Annee Quad taste like? Une Annee Quad delivers bold flavors of dark fruit — plum, dried cherry, and fig — layered over a toffee and caramel malt base, with mild phenolic spice from Belgian yeast. The body is heavy with low carbonation, and the 11% ABV contributes noticeable warmth throughout.

How does Une Annee Quad compare to Rochefort 10? Rochefort 10, brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium at 11.3% ABV, is widely considered the benchmark Belgian Quadrupel, known for its brown sugar depth and signature yeast character. Une Annee Quad is an American-made interpretation of the same style at 11% ABV, delivering a similar dark fruit and malt profile but produced independently in Illinois rather than within the Trappist tradition.

Is Une Annee Quad good for sipping neat? Yes — at 11% ABV with substantial malt complexity and layered dark fruit, this Quad is built for slow, contemplative drinking from a proper Belgian glass at cellar temperature.

Where is Une Annee Quad made? Une Annee Quad is brewed by Une Année Brewery, an independent craft brewery located in Niles, Illinois, just outside Chicago. The brewery was founded in 2013 with a focus on Belgian-inspired ales.

What foods pair well with Une Annee Quad? Rich braised short ribs complement the beer's toffee and dark fruit weight. Aged Gouda or Gruyère echo its caramel malt notes. Chocolate lava cake or a dark chocolate torte mirror the subtle cocoa undertones. Fig and walnut bread pairs naturally with the fig esters, and a traditional Belgian carbonnade stew creates a regional flavor bridge.

What sizes does Une Annee Quad come in? Une Annee Quad is available in a four-pack format, which is the standard retail configuration for this beer.

Is Une Annee Quad worth the price? Une Annee Quad positions as a craft-tier Belgian Quadrupel from a small independent American brewery, and its 11% ABV and complex flavor profile place it alongside other premium high-gravity Belgian-style ales in terms of value and drinking experience.

Why Une Annee Quad?

Belgian Quadrupels demand patience and precision — the style requires controlled fermentation of a very high-gravity wort to produce complexity rather than harshness, and Une Année built its entire brewing program around exactly this kind of Belgian tradition. With more than 4,480 Untappd ratings averaging 4 out of 5, the Quad has earned genuine grassroots credibility among craft beer drinkers. The four-pack format makes it practical for sharing or cellaring a bottle or two while drinking the rest fresh, which is a smart approach for a style that can evolve meaningfully over time. For drinkers who want a domestic Quad that respects the Belgian blueprint without copying any single monastery's recipe, Une Annee delivers an honest, full-bodied interpretation.