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BBC Four

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BBC Four is a strong, powerful quadrupel with a spicy finish: dark fruit, peppery spices and caramelised sugars, plus raisins, caramel and herbs in the taste. A minimal addition of Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kruid, Our Lady's herb, brings it into balance. The name stands for the Bronckhorster Brewing Company, for the QUADrupel and for a TV channel Steve Gammage grew up with.

ABV
11.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber18
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
spicydark fruitcaramel
spicy
dark fruit
caramel
herbal
fruity
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced dark fruit esters—raisin and dried plum—layered beneath peppery spice and warming alcohol vapors.
also:yeasty
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for BBC Four

◎ Appearance

BBC Four presents a deep amber to chestnut brown hue, characteristic of a well-crafted quadrupel. The beer displays excellent clarity with a tight, persistent head that leaves distinctive lacing down the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a creamy visual presence.

deep amber-brownclear with tight headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced dark fruit esters—raisin and dried plum—layered beneath peppery spice and warming alcohol vapors. Caramelized malt sweetness underpins the bouquet, while subtle herbal notes from the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kruid herb add complexity and balance. A touch of yeasty warmth rounds out the aromatic profile.

dark fruit esterspeppery spicecaramel maltherbal complexity

◐ Taste

The palate opens with full body and rich caramel sweetness, followed by distinct peppery and herbal spice that builds through the mid-palate. Dark fruit flavors—raisins and plum—integrate seamlessly with the malt backbone, while the herbal addition provides a stabilizing dryness that prevents cloying. Moderate bitterness (28 IBU) sits restrained but present, allowing the complex flavor layers to dominate.

full-bodied richnessspiced complexitydark fruit and caramelbalanced dryness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with the peppery spice lingering prominently and the alcohol heat becoming more apparent as the beer fades. A gentle herbal dryness persists in the aftertaste, gradually giving way to subtle caramel notes.

warming spiceherbal dry finishextended warmth
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
89
Appearance
85
Finish
85
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–14°C. This is a contemplative beer — warmth unlocks the dark fruit, caramel and complex malt.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

Built for cellaring. Age 2–5 years for deeper complexity. Store upright at 12–16°C.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with BBC Four

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About Belgian Quadrupel

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Quadrupel?

Belgian Quadrupel is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Quadrupel

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, dark fruit, full-bodied character as BBC Four will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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