Sunday, April 06, 2025

Kemosabe Quad: A Belgian Dark Strong Ale

Category: 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Brewer: SheppyBrew Home Brewery
ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 9%
IBU (International Bitterness Units): 25
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 16

Appearance: Pours a deep, dark mahogany with ruby highlights. A generous, creamy tan head crowns the beer, leaving intricate lacing as it slowly recedes. The beer's clarity is excellent despite its dark color, with a slight haze typical of the style.

Aroma: The aroma is rich and complex, featuring notes of dark fruit such as raisins, figs, and plums, intermingled with caramel, toffee, and molasses. Subtle hints of spice, clove, and mild phenolics from the Belgian yeast add depth. A faint earthy and floral hop presence is detectable, balancing the malt sweetness.

Flavor: The flavor profile is a delightful harmony of malt complexity and yeast character. Prominent flavors of dark fruit (raisins, dates, figs) meld with rich caramel, toffee, and a touch of chocolate. The Belgian yeast imparts spicy clove, pepper, and slight bubblegum notes. A mild bitterness from the hops provides balance, ensuring the beer is not overly sweet. The finish is long, warming, and pleasantly dry.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with a smooth, velvety texture. The carbonation is moderate to high, lending a lively effervescence that lifts the rich flavors. The alcohol warmth is noticeable but well-integrated, contributing to the beer's overall depth and complexity.

Overall Impression: Kemosabe Quad is a masterful interpretation of the Belgian Dark Strong Ale style, showcasing the intricate interplay between malt, yeast, and hops. Its rich, multi-layered flavors and aromas make it a perfect sipper for contemplative moments or pairing with hearty, savory dishes.

Story of Kemosabe Quad

In the heart of the rugged Colorado mountains lies the secluded town of Tappvale, a place known to only a few. Hidden from the prying eyes of the world, Tappvale is home to a community of Gnome Monks who have lived in harmony with a local family of yeti for generations. Together, they have developed the recipe for a beer that warms the soul and body on the frigid mountain nights—Kemosabe Quad.

The Gnome Monks, led by the wise and jovial Brother Thistlewort, were skilled in the ancient art of brewing. They had long sought to create a beer that embodied the rich flavors and warmth needed to endure the harsh winters of Tappvale. Their quest for the perfect recipe led them to seek the help of their yeti neighbors, known for their deep connection to the land and its natural ingredients.

One snowy evening, as the wind howled through the valleys and the stars twinkled in the clear night sky, Brother Thistlewort and his fellow monks gathered around the hearth with the yeti family. The patriarch of the yeti, a gentle giant named Grumph, shared stories of their ancestors and the secret ingredients passed down through the ages.


With Grumph's guidance, the Gnome Monks discovered the unique combination of dark fruit, caramel, and spices that would form the backbone of Kemosabe Quad. They foraged for ingredients in the dense forests and snowy peaks, gathering raisins, figs, and plums, along with wild honey and local spices. The yeti's keen senses helped them locate the perfect balance of earthy and floral hops to complement the malt sweetness.

As the monks and yeti brewed the beer together, the air filled with the rich aroma of bubbling wort and roasting malt. The communal effort and shared knowledge resulted in a brew that was both complex and harmonious, a true testament to the bond between the Gnome Monks and their yeti friends.

When the first batch of Kemosabe Quad was finally ready, the entire town of Tappvale gathered to celebrate. They raised their mugs in a toast to friendship, tradition, and the warmth of a well-crafted beer. The deep, dark mahogany ale with its creamy tan head and intricate lacing quickly became a beloved staple in Tappvale, savored by all on the coldest of nights.



As always, stay tuned on the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with beer, barbeque, biking and other things in my life: SheppyBrew's Facebook PageSheppy's Twitter FeedSheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.

Thursday, April 03, 2025

H is for CHeluna Brewing Company

Here it is April already. This year is just flying by.

It wasn't all that long ago that we posted G is for Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse, Belmar.

Of course, as you know if you follow along on the A to Z series of posts on the blog, this meant that we need to figure out an "H" brewery to visit next.

I mentioned in G is for Great Divide Brewery that we were going to have to take "artistic license" in our "H" brewery.

There just are not any local breweries that start with the letter "H".

And ... the SheppyBrew Beer Model (aka my wife) was up to the challenge and was cleverly able to save the day with ....

Tuesday, April 01, 2025

SheppyBrew Brewery's Beers Now Officially Declared Health Drinks!

LITTLETON, CO – April 1, 2024:

In a groundbreaking revelation that's sure to delight beer enthusiasts and health gurus alike, SheppyBrew Brewery is proud to announce that our beers are now officially classified as "health drinks"! 

This momentous news follows extensive research confirming the undeniable benefits of enjoying a SheppyBrew pint.


 

Friday, March 28, 2025

G is for Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse, Belmar

We hit another brewery on our A to Z series last Friday.

Of course we posted F is Frolic Brewing Company just the weekend before, which is a quicker turn-around than most of our recent ones.

After "F" comes "G" and the Colorado Brewery Map & List told us we had plenty of choices.

But I ended up picking a spot that isn't even on the Map & List yet. I'm pretty sure this is the first time we've been able to get to a brewery so new.

Great Divide Brewing company (see G is for Great Divide Brewing Company) sent me an email letting me know they opened a new "Brewery & Roadhouse" close to our house.

And ... the wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) wanted me to take her out to dinner Friday night, so we hit the new brewery.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Oisin Owl vs Guinness Extra Stouts

So ... I recently brewed Oisin Owl Irish Stout with the intention of having it ready for St. Patrick's Day.

And, of course St. Patrick's Day was last week.

At some point, I thought it would be cool to grab some Guinness Extra Stout to compare with my homebrew. So, I bought some from a local liquor store.

The weekend before St. Patrick's Day, I tried them both side-by-side.

Monday, March 24, 2025

Roll-a-Style 19: 17C. Wee Heavy

I've mentioned a few times that I want to concentrate more on my BJCP Goal this year.

As of the time of this post, if I'm counting correctly, I've brewed 79 of the 108 styles in the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines. Since the beginning of the year, I've already brewed 4 new BJCP styles (5 if you include Tasman Pilsner).

I'm hoping to brew another 8 or 9 before the end of 2025.

If you've been following along on this blog, you know that I have my Roll-a-Style list, which helps me keep track of styles that I still need to brew.

The idea is that I use a 20-sided online die to decide which style to brew next. However, the past few new styles, I have decided and "pretended" to roll the number I wanted to brew.

But, recently, I actually rolled the online die, and got 19 ...

 

Friday, March 21, 2025

F is Frolic Brewing Company

If you've been following this blog at all, you're familiar with the A to Z series of posts.

Just in case you've come across the blog for the first time, welcome.

The A to Z series started back in 2015 (it blows my mind that it has been 10 years) when I was embarrassed to admit that there were very few local breweries that I had actually visited.

When I looked through a list of Denver-area brewery names, it struck me that I could work my way through most of the letters of the alphabet, and that is what I did.

I started with A is for Alpine Dog Brewing Company, which has since closed, and worked my way through the alphabet.

At some point, the SheppyBrew Beer Model (aka my wife) joined me, and I've worked my way through 5 rounds of the alphabet.

Most recently, we posted our round 6 "E" brewery, E is for Someplace Else Brewery. So, now it is time for an "F" brewery.