The story, which appeared in the morning's paper, had Quad in fourth place, behind Westmalle Tripel, Unibroue Chambly and Affligem Tripel. Westmalle was award 3 1/2 stars and the next four, including fifth place Achel Extra, garnered an even 3 stars. The remaining five beers were give 2 1/2 stars.

The panel, conducted by Eric Asimov, who periodically does beer tastings in the paper's "Dining & Wine" section, included Dining section writer Florence Fabricant, NYT wine writer Frank Prial and Tony Forder of Ale Street News. It tasted 25 Belgian-style ales, including bottles from five of the six official "Trappist" brewers (Westvleteren does not export), 11 other Belgian beers, seven U.S. Belgian styles and one beer each from Canada and the Netherlands. All five of the Trappist ales made the list, but only Westmalle was listed over Quad.

The final five beers, in order, were Orval, De Ranke Guldenberg, Witkap-Pater Tripel, Chimay Belgium Grande Réserve and Rochefort 10. Other American beers which came close to making the top rankings, wrote Asimov, were Southampton Abbot 12, Ommegang and Victory Golden Monkey.

At 11.9% ABV, Quad was the strongest beer tasted by the panel. Asimov's tasting notes called it "rich, complex and fruity; seems sweet at first, but turns dry."

"We're thrilled and couldn't be happpier," an unsually succinct but clearly delighted Dan Weirback told the Beer Yard today. Weirback and partners founded Weyerbacher in 1995.

A online multimedia presentation, including audio commentary on the top five beers, is available here..