In the brewing world, beers with higher alcohol content are often called “high gravity” beers.
That’s because when brewers want to make big, boozy beers, they create a wort with a high “original gravity” that has lots more fermentable sugars than normal, which yeast will then feast on and convert to alcohol.
Hampline Brewing Co.’s newest beer, Gravity Defier, is true to its name.
The Belgian-style Quadrupel, or Quad, was made with 100 pounds of dark Belgian candi syrup, and aged for six months in the tank, according to Hampline’s head brewer, Wes Osier.
The result is a copper-hued beer, clocking in at 10% ABV, which is low on hops but brimming with caramel and raisin flavors and a distinct spiciness.
Osier told Memphis Beer Blog that he brewed a “perfectly executed Quad” back in 2016 when he worked for Urban South Brewery, and decided to give it a try again at Hampline last summer. It’s one of his favorite styles of beer.
You won’t see many locally-brewed Belgian Quadrupels around Memphis, so this one is worth checking out.
Meanwhile, expect to see Gravity Defier again. Osier said he hopes to brew another batch in 2024.
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