The Bruery Mélange à Quad Reserve

I've been fascinated from my first taste at how MàQ Reserve isn't so much an accentuation or sequel to its base version, but rather takes the beer and barrel notes in a completely different direction. I wouldn't blame anyone for approaching this beer expecting it to taste like a quad, but the truth is that the Reserve version accentuates the barleywine notes, with a rich toffee aroma and loads of smooth caramel on the palate. It's not as complex, sure, …

How much you love Mélange à Quad Reserve depends in part on how much you prefer a careful layered blend of distinct flavors vs. a cogent mixture that creates a singular flavor that can't otherwise be replicated by a single beer. If you're looking for layering, I'm not sure this is the beer for you. But with a rich, cognac-forward aroma and a hearty maltiness with a solid grape backbone, all tempered by a shockingly smooth finish, this will definitely …