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Impression

Driftwood Brewery
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🌍 Canada · Belgian Quadrupel · One of 7 Belgian Quadrupels in hopIQ

Quadrupels are the strongest beers in the Belgian monastic tradition — though this one is brewed by beer nerds, not monks. Strong and warming, with intense caramel and plum before a dry, effervescent finish. At 11.5 percent, on pilsner, dark wheat and dark crystal malt, hopped with Pahto. Cellarable.

ABV
11.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber18
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full-bodied and very crisp.

A heavy frame with a sharp finish — a rare combination that stays pointed on the tongue.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Belgian Quadrupel.
Malt character
caramel
malty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Impression

Appearance

Deep amber to mahogany hue, translucent with good clarity. A dense, off-white head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine Schaumkleiden as the beer is consumed. Brisk carbonation is visible throughout.

deep ambertranslucentpersistent headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose leads with rich caramel and toffee notes derived from dark crystal and dark wheat Malz. Secondary aromas of dried plum and raisin emerge, layered with subtle alcohol warmth. A restrained hop presence adds gentle herbal undertones without dominating.

caramel, toffeedried plum, raisinalcohol warmthherbal whisper

Taste

Full-bodied entry with pronounced sweet malt character and caramel depth. The mid-palate develops dark fruit complexity — plum and fig notes — balanced by a dry, crisp finish that cuts through the alcohol warmth. Malty backbone remains present throughout, though restrained bitterness keeps this from becoming cloying.

intense carameldark fruitmalty richnessdry finish

Finish

The finish is dry and effervescent, with lingering caramel and a subtle alcohol heat that gradually fades. Aftertaste carries notes of dried fruit and Malz without sweetness.

dry, crisplingering caramel
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
85
Appearance
85
Finish
83
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Impression

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Goblet
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Impression

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 caramel, dry, dark fruit character as Impression will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Belgian Quadrupels in hopIQ

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