The Lost Abbey Judgment Day (Judgement Day) Belgian-style Quadrupel

The Lost Abbey Judgment Day is a Belgian-style quadrupel brewed with raisins, a flagship high-gravity ale from the San Marcos, California brewery that has anchored its lineup since the mid-2000s. Unlike the adjunct-heavy barrel-aged beers that dominate modern craft shelves, Judgment Day takes a traditional approach to the quad style, using dark fruit as its structural backbone rather than layering pastry ingredients. It sits consistently around 10.5% ABV, pours a deep murky brown with a frothy tan head, and has earned its reputation as one of the best American-made examples of the Belgian quadrupel tradition. The Lost Abbey operates out of San Marcos in San Diego County, a region better known for West Coast IPAs than monastic-inspired ales, but the brewery carved out its identity by focusing on Belgian brewing techniques adapted to California ingredients and sensibilities. Judgment Day follows the quad blueprint: a strong, dark, malt-forward ale inspired by Trappist breweries, but brewed with American craft precision and the addition of raisins during fermentation to amplify the dark fruit ester profile that defines the style. The result is rich plum, fig, and raisin character woven through a malt structure that supports the high alcohol without turning cloying or heavy. Expect layers of dark fruit, caramel malt sweetness, and a warming alcohol presence that never reads as harsh—closer to a sipping brandy than a sessionable ale. The raisins contribute a jammy, almost port-like quality that balances the Belgian yeast's spice and phenolic edge. This is a beer for slow evenings, paired with braised short ribs, aged Gouda, or a dark chocolate tart. It's also cellar-worthy; the high ABV and residual sugars allow it to develop complexity over years, softening the alcohol heat and deepening the fruit integration. Pour it into a tulip or goblet at cellar temperature to let the aromatics open. Judgment Day is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, for local Chicago delivery, or we can ship nationwide.