This post is a part of the 2015 New Beer Every Day Beer Diary Challenge, #ottbeerdiary. Over the course of 2015, I will be trying a new beer every day. Please read the background in the link above, and enjoy reading about the most recently tasted beers below. If you’d like to join the challenge as well, let me know in the comments below, and be sure to check out Grown-up Travel Guide and his #grownupbeerdiary, where Andy Higgs came up with the diary format in use below. You can catch up on all of our posts as part of the challenge under the tag ottbeerdiary.
Day 48: February 17, 2015
Diary entry:
Another quiet day at work as most colleagues finish off their last day of Carnaval. Tomorrow most people will return to the office, and the agenda is already filling up with meetings.
Managed to get some blog work done after work today in addition to a few tasks completed at work as well, so all-in-all a productive day.
Even made it to the gym, which was also quiet. Something tells me tomorrow will be like January 2 in terms of crowds at the gym, so getting it out of the way today.
The Beer:
Name: Rio Reserva (2011)
Style: Belgian Quad
Producer: De Struise Brouwers
Alcohol content: 10.5%
Bottle size: 0.33l
Purchased from: De Struise Brouwers
Tonight’s beer was Rio Reserva 2011 from De Struise Brouwers. A lovely barrel aged quad, aged a year in Saint Emillion Tour Baladoz wine oak barrels, then in Kentucky Bourbon barrels. Toasty vanilla notes on top of the Belgian Quad fruitiness. 10.5% ABV. Lot No. 0602201130092014. Best before 10/30/2019.
Commercial Description: This ale was brewed back in 2011, and in collaboration with brew master Ryohei Sugawa San from Rio Brewing & Co. Our goal was to brew a deep-golden, blond Belgian quadruple with an enormous potential of aromas and flavors, with added complexity from oak barrel aging. First aging for one year took place in Saint Emillion Tour Baladoz wine oak barrels. We chose Bourbon barrels from Kentucky as second barrel aging for their very special soft roast quality and noble vanilla flavors. Year after year, different quality controls were executed, and we finally decided to bottle condition this very special ale in August 2014.
Another three moths of cold maturing was done at the brewery so we could be certain about the absolute quality of the beer before releasing to our customers.
