Beer – #1,099 – Kereru – Untrapped Potential

Kereru Untrapped Potential. A Belgian Quad. In a can. When suddenly there’s a few of the unusual styles of beer appearing, and Kereru have chimed in with a Quad. Brilliant! It’ll be no surprise that I really enjoy the Belgian beer styles, and so the first chance I had I got this.

used to make several other variants

A single serve size can of a beer that is  8.5% ABV and 20 IBU, this is 2.2 standard drinks in NZ money.

Kereru Untrapped Potential is brewed in Upper Hutt, Wellington, 🇳🇿 New Zealand as a  Quadrupel / Abt

Untrapped Potential Belgian Quadruple Ale is dark amber ale fermented with an Belgian abbey ale yeast for great depth of yeast character.

Try this rich and malty treat.

This base beer has been used to make several other variants which are coming soon!

So, What could possibly go wrong? Hopefully not a lot, but these things are unpredictable. I have no reason to find any qualms about this being a can, it’s unusual but predictable, and more common now of course.

I opened the can expecting an aroma, I didn’t get one that I could identify, but thought that it smelt more hoppy than malty. I’m not an expert in these things.

The pour is of a deep hazelnut brown beer that sits more to a black in the glass, there’s some action on the head, but it is settling away to a film rather than a froth.

There’s a lack of district aroma in the glass, and this time I fancied more a nose of alcohol rather than anything else. Unusual but not odd, or off, nor does it worry me.

The taste is another level though, all though doubts washed aside as a lovely rich familiar taste leaps out. There’s plenty of carbonation in this that doesn’t do much for being able to move the flavours around on the tongue, but it is an enjoyable experience, and probably looks rather weird as a thing.

Quite a nice beer than, but it does seem under-done, and I can get that the brewer wants to use this is a base to leap from by adding or supplementing, I now know that there is a Truffle version of this that I’ve totally failed to purchase, for now. I’m going to be quite keen to see how that works out

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. What’s really nice is that being able to find these brewed locally and brewed well and to a remarkable standard to style. That I find it light or lacking isn’t a reflection on the beer, more my in-expert expectation and hopes. This is really nice drinking, there’s no alcohol tang or edge to distract you, it’s delicate and smooth through the journey and I’ve ended up drinking it at a fair clip.

The double dip review

• Where did I get it? The local Liquorland of course.
• Am I enjoying it? I am, I always look forward to a beer in the style made in New Zealand local
• Would I have another? I might try the variation version and see where I’m at
• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? There’s a good reason to share this and that is because these are unusual and off-track beers generally in New Zealand, those that are made in NZ and not the imported ones. This stands up to scrutiny and would be an easy comparison and possible contender in a taste off.

Music for this:  Who doesn’t like a bit of Prince?

Quadrupel / Abt

The Quadrupel, or Abt is a dark, complex, rich, smooth and dangerous strong Belgian ale with a delicious blend of malt richness, dark fruit flavors, and spicy elements. Like a larger dubbel, with a fuller body and increased malt richness. Not as bitter or hoppy as a tripel, but of similar strength. They sometimes tend to be drier than Belgian Strong Dark Ale, which can be rather sweeter.