St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

About time I review this. 11.2 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a very dark reddish brown color. The head is a four finger light tan color. Rather than recede in a generic manner, the head merely loses texture before only collapsing partially. There is a LOT of lacing on the glass - not the ringed lacing of a good IPA, but spotty with large clumps.

S: Lots of caramel malts, stewed dark fruits (like fig, plum, and raisin), lighter fruit esters (pear, apple), and a hint of chocolate. Perhaps not as enchantingly nuanced as Rochefort 10, but still wondrously aromatic. Nicely bready.

T: The very first sip is loaded with chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit. After a few more sips, a balanced sensation of pears and phenols pop up on the finish along side faint alcohol warmth. I can also pick up a touch of raspberry and leafy tobacco as well, and the aftertaste has a bit of a milky cream flavor that is immensely enjoyable. It takes a while, but eventually, a spiced sensation of subtle nutmeg and cinnamon on the palate will show itself a little more than half way down the glass. Quite complex, but a little less so than Rochefort 10 - which is a moot point at the end of the day. This still has top caliber balance and craftsmanship.

M: Not perfectly delicate, but the body's thickness is perfect. There's just enough of a cleanliness to the finish to encourage one to drink this faster. The booze manifests as a slight warmth on the tongue and stomach - but because of its balance, it just works in concert with the whole experience.

O: It might be one of the more drinkable and balanced quads I've ever had. 'Course, I've never had Westy 12, but Hell, doesn't Westy 12 have a very, VERY similar recipe to this? Ah well, that doesn't matter, because it's every bit as mindblowing as I hoped.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 22:40:31 | More by ThisWangsChung

Busker

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 17:57:35 | More by Busker

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 04:09:56 | More by CosmoHopHead

ek_ek

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 03:51:28 | More by ek_ek

Stoutamus-Maximus

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-21-2013 00:30:04 | More by Stoutamus-Maximus

powz87

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%

05-20-2013 17:19:05 | More by powz87

kwkdmk

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 12:06:22 | More by kwkdmk

thampel09

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-20-2013 03:46:49 | More by thampel09

assman79

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-20-2013 01:44:34 | More by assman79

HALB

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-20-2013 01:43:07 | More by HALB

crwrunner

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-20-2013 01:31:24 | More by crwrunner

educorgan

Portugal

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-19-2013 23:18:50 | More by educorgan

DMB

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-19-2013 22:55:44 | More by DMB

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

2.5/5  rDev -44.1%

05-19-2013 21:16:28 | More by BeerGut4Life

lancecenter

Texas

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-19-2013 20:09:16 | More by lancecenter

aty11b

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-19-2013 19:44:16 | More by aty11b

nzerbe

New York

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%

05-19-2013 16:42:59 | More by nzerbe

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-19-2013 15:09:03 | More by ShawnMH

MJSJr

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-19-2013 15:06:50 | More by MJSJr

SpruceMoose

Australia

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

When it comes to Belgian beers, most of us see it as, mainly, a dichotomy between Trappist beers and Abbey beers. We love our Chimay and La Trappe, but also our Leffe. However, one of the more legendary examples of Abbey brewing brilliance, the St. Bernardus Abt 12, adds heavy weight to the argument between the two produces of beer as to who should be revered as the greatest producer of quality Belgian beer. Who would've thought that beer could be so divided by religion?

Serving Type: 330 ml bottle, along with its characteristic smiling bishop, poured slowly into a Grimbergen goblet.

Appearance: The slow pour produces a thick head, neither white nor cream, which retains itself with remarkable precision. Beneath it the body sports a deep copper or ruby red colour. Bubbles can be seen quickly rising beneath the head that cling to the glass and add to this beer's remarkable appeal.

Smell: Aromas of fruit, honey, toffee, caramel, nuttiness, chocolate and darker malts enchant the senses. Bewdeful.

Taste: Toffee and bittering hops are immediately noticeable, followed by an even sweeter malt finish. The head is delightfully creamy and an absolute pleasure to sip through. The alcohol is not well masked with a booziness noticeable after the swallow, although the 10% ABV strength enables me to forgive Brouwerij St. Bernardus for this very minor flaw.

Mouthfeel: Bold and dense; everything you'd expect from a Belgian abbey ale. The soft, marshmallow texture of the head contrasts beautifully to the thickness of the body. Carbonation is consistent and not overwhelming.

Overall: An absolute treat for quadruppel aficionados or even those who are mildly interested in delving deeper into the Belgian beer scene. St. Bernardus serves as a brilliant winter warmer on those cold nights with its robust taste and glowing warmth. I would actively seek this out again, for having just one of these would be akin to the highest of sins and would probably result in me being tried in front of some Benedictine court for my gross blasphemy. Oh well - at least they'd have good beer for me there.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 11:03:17 | More by SpruceMoose

haknort

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-19-2013 03:31:58 | More by haknort

Dennycurr

Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Great Belgian beer!
Period!

Has a distinct taste and feels like a real beer. Of course,,,it's Belgian.
Nothing in America tastes like this....tho...they all try....and to a degree...do well.
However....there is nothing like the real deal. .
Have had it on tap and, many times in bottle. I love them both. Am fortunate that it is around a bit, unlike, other Belgians----where one has to seek them out. It isn't easy to find....but it is less hard to find than others.

The head is magnificant when poured correctly. When I bring this beer home---I pour it into a Chimay chalice and...whew....does it look good! The taste is even better. Is rich and dark and very satisfying. Every sip.

Have seen this compared to Rochfort 10's...
Not a bad comparison.

Love this beer!

Den

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:07:15 | More by Dennycurr

sh00ky

Hawaii

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-19-2013 00:29:22 | More by sh00ky

akang

California

3.74/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 330 mL bottle into a tulip.

A: Dark reddish/brown with a little bit of head that settles down fairly quickly.

S: Hints of caramel and dark fruits (primarily cherries for me).

T: The dark fruits come through first followed by a little nuttiness. However, I was disappointed by the finish as there is a noticeable booziness that lingers.

M: Nicely carbonated and pleasing to the tongue.

O: A solid quad that is widely available, but I personally think the Rochefort 10 is better.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:12:54 | More by akang

Kreko7

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-18-2013 17:26:47 | More by Kreko7