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Ex Cathedra

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Sweet orange peel and the licorice of star anise lead the aroma, then comes sweet bourbon with hints of cocoa and a slight bite of ginger. The base is Judgment Day, aged over 12 months in bourbon barrels before orange peel, ginger and spices were added. The name nods to the pope's power to speak infallibly. 12.5% ABV.

ABV
12.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
deep amber18
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
orangeoakspicy
orange
oak
spicy
chocolate
fruity
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with bright citrus—candied orange peel and a whisper of star anise licorice.
also:yeasty
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ex Cathedra

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light brown hue with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent head. The color reflects its long bourbon barrel aging and rich malt foundation. Lacing clings steadily to the glass with each sip.

deep ambercleardense headstrong lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus—candied orange peel and a whisper of star anise licorice. Behind this sits warm bourbon vanilla, subtle cocoa powder, and a gentle ginger spice that builds gradually. The barrel character frames everything without overwhelming the delicate spice additions.

orange peelbourbon vanillalicoriceginger spice

◐ Taste

The palate is full-bodied and rich, leading with orange and sweet malt character that unfolds across the mid-palate. Caramel, chocolate, and oak sit beneath the citrus, while ginger and warming spices provide balance against the 12.5% ABV. The 25 IBU holds structure without asserting bitterness; instead, a dry, slightly woody quality emerges in the finish.

orange-forwardsweet maltbourbon oakwarming spices

◑ Finish

Long and lingering, with the ginger and bourbon oak taking the lead as initial sweetness fades. The alcohol warmth persists gently, leaving a dry, spiced aftertaste.

long finishdry spicewarming
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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 Ex Cathedra

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About Quadrupel

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Quadrupel?

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 Quadrupel

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same orange, sweet, boozy character as Ex Cathedra will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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