St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

JohnnyMc

Ohio

5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My all-time favorite Quad!! This was a 2012 bottle.

Pours out a dark mahogany, with deep amber highlights and a big, slight khaki head.

The aroma is full of dark fruit, some banana and clove, caramel, toffee and molasses, followed by some bready malt notes. The spice this has when fresh has definitely faded a bit.

The taste has tons of dark fruit; plums, figs, raisins, dates and there are notes of banana and clove, some caramel, toffee and molasses all finished by a nice yeasty/bready finish. It's pretty dry and there is some bitterness to balance it all out.

The 10% isn't noticeable on the taste or aroma, but you can feel it slightly. The body is full and the mouthfeel is slightly creamy with a crisp, kinda dry finish.

This beer is awesome fresh or with a year on it! I don't believe this is the perfect or best beer in the world (or that there is such one), but it embodies the Quad style perfectly! It's very easy to drink, complex and balance and I don't think there is anything that could improve this.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 00:34:10 | More by JohnnyMc

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-18-2013 16:48:05 | More by eyeenjoybeer

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 12:12:55 | More by NJB145

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 330 ml bottle into a St. Bernardus chalice.

A: This quad pours a murky brown with some ruby hues. Upon pouring there is a small head, but this dissolves quickly leaving a small wisp and some lacing.

S: Dried fruits are prominent, and the lovely smell of Belgian yeasts are present as well.

T: The dried fruits come forward, a sweet taste but not overpoweringly so. The yeast can be tasted as well and you can certainly notice the alcohol on this beer.

M: The carbonation is good, and the beer leaves a nice feeling.

O: This is a superior example of a quad. In the same wheelhouse as Rochefort 10, it has a great flavour and body. This just confirms to me my preference for abbey beers. I would highly recommend this beer to anyone who wants an example of a quad.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 11:31:01 | More by polloenfuego

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-18-2013 01:57:44 | More by hotsudge

GinsuDave

Michigan

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-18-2013 01:10:09 | More by GinsuDave

TheConnMan

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-17-2013 19:03:06 | More by TheConnMan

EricClayton

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-17-2013 19:01:56 | More by EricClayton

hsaye

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-17-2013 18:42:59 | More by hsaye

athesing10

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-17-2013 14:01:25 | More by athesing10

Glider

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-17-2013 13:38:37 | More by Glider

lndsy

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-17-2013 13:01:50 | More by lndsy

chossboss

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-17-2013 04:28:22 | More by chossboss

myersk27

Indiana

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-17-2013 03:50:18 | More by myersk27

Dave7500kl

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-16-2013 23:35:24 | More by Dave7500kl

Blashawright

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-16-2013 22:23:05 | More by Blashawright

pkenkman

Estonia

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%

05-16-2013 20:19:23 | More by pkenkman

iamnitrox

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-16-2013 20:04:54 | More by iamnitrox

BradStokley

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-16-2013 19:37:15 | More by BradStokley

carlosega

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-16-2013 18:31:23 | More by carlosega

Westuh

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-16-2013 18:26:55 | More by Westuh

DStoked

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-16-2013 17:02:13 | More by DStoked

Rainblows

Illinois

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-16-2013 14:38:28 | More by Rainblows

JoshFrierson86

Arkansas

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-16-2013 12:20:13 | More by JoshFrierson86

deekyn

California

3.5/5  rDev -21.7%

05-16-2013 03:59:03 | More by deekyn