Rinkuskiai 'Before-After' Triple Bock. 12% abv. Deep copper color. Hazy with sediment. Thin ivory, bubbly head that falls fast to a collar, which soon disappears completely. Low retention and little lacing. Nose of sweet malt, orange peel, treacle, alcohol. Aroma remains tall, but unchanged, as temp rises.

Front taste is sweet bread, amber malt, orange zest, notes of hard fruit candy. Aftertaste is Cointreau cordial, bitter earthy hops, fruit pie, dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, round, slightly sticky, quite astringent all across.

Rinkuskiai has a reputation for offering off-the-wall, high gravity beers - at least in America -  and this beer is certainly no exception. This is a unique beer that is difficult to pinpoint. 

Judging it as a strong bock - double (doppelbock) or triple - it's mostly true to category. It's sweet, malty, and low carb. However, its failing is its strong astringency. What we have is a powerful beer that definitely smells and tastes like it, for better or worse. Judging it otherwise - for example, as a barleywine - it fits well in category and actually has a pleasant taste among its peers. It's malty sweet with mellow citrus tones, from beginning to end, and its strength is never in doubt.

Bottom line as always, would I drink it again? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, the bottle I'm tasting for this review is my third time enjoying this beer. It certainly helps that the price point is low. This 16.9 oz. bottle cost me $3.99, a price that is strangely often found with quality, old world beers. I would have easily paid double the cost.

If you like sweet, malty beers with a high gravity, stop reading and run and grab a bottle right now. If you like bold, old world European brews, the kind that most American craft breweries are afraid to make, stop reading and run and grab a bottle right now. If you like bitter hoppy beers, or beers with more finesse and nuance, this is not for you. If you are automatically turned off by low-priced beers - like most folks on Beer Advocate or Rate Beer seem to be - this is not for you. Myself, I land in the first category. I like beers that taste malty sweet, almost like young wort, with the high abv as a bonus of sorts. If you're like me, you'll absolutely love it. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Brewery Rinkuskiai was established in the year 1991 in Birzai region known as Beer Country in Lithuania. Rinkuskiai beer quality is the result of old traditions of Beer Country, experience of the past generations, and innovations of the modern days. That makes Rinkuskiai beer one of the most exclusive in Lithuania. This beer is naturally fermented."
[source: bottle]

Rinkuskiai 'Hell on High' Belgian-Style Quad Bock. 14% abv. Hazy yellow-gold color. Collar of bubbly white head. Poor retention, moderate lace. Nose of sweet malt, light fruit, slight orange-citrus. Front taste of amber malt, toffee, sweet citrus. Aftertaste is alcohol, light brown sugar, fruity hop sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, astringent, somewhat thick, sweet back end.

This is a good beer that falls below its potential, slightly out of category. It's thin for a quad, and its taste is not as malty as one would expect. The aroma of sweet fruit and malt is barely present, and the flavor profile not nearly as complex as I would have liked.

It's an enjoyable beer that lands below lofty expectations. I suggest trying it, so long as you know what you're getting into. It tastes like Firestone Helldorado without the round body and ""wood notes from barrel aging. Take that as you will. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Euro Super High Alcohol Lager. Orange-gold. Smell is of rich full caramel malt and well straw. Smooth and well ballanced, with just enough malt and hops to add a fruity taste. Alcohol flavor is not prevalent despite 14% ABV, almost is not noticable until you’re through. Really good with BQ pork or pulled pork."

[ratebeer.com]

"Brewers family takes the old brewing traditions - beer brewed only in pure water, barley malt and hops. Beer boiled water is extracted from the territory RINKUŠKIAI installed 150 meters deep borehole. It is prepared in modern water filters. Beer brewing using only a light barley and caramel malt or barley malts several combinations. Aromatic and bitter hops transport from hops is a famous German Hallertau region. The bitter and aromatic hops gives the beer a unique combination of taste and aroma. Beer is fermented in modern tanks, using special lower or upper fermentation yeast. We do not recognize the technology to artificially speed up the fermentation process or after the maturing beer diluted with water ("high gravity" method), enabling better returns. The beer does not make any additives, preservatives or colorings. Do not use in the production of beer peas, corn, rice or other unmalted raw materials.  As a loyal Biržų edge of brewing tradition, we make no concessions to the quality of the beer."

[source: rinkuskiai.lt]