St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

lifeboyq

Washington

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

11.2 oz bottle poured into a St Bernardus chalice. Dark mahogany, not fined beer with deep chestnut tones. Monster cream head typical of the strong carbonation in Belgian offerings. Smell is of caramel malts, unrefined sugar and that all too familiar peculiarity of a belgian yeast phenols with bready overtones. The beer tastes like figs and dates and caramel and toffee, bready, sweet and again that all too hard to put your finger on delicious belgian pecularity. Incredibly complex, incredibly deep that improves as it warms. One of the top few beers of the world. Most closely resembles the Westy of any other offering. Absolutely amazing. In my eyes, as close to perfection in a beer as you can get. This is so good it hurts. Lip smacking good. One of the finest examples of the most complex tasting beer class, Belgian Quads.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 04:37:44 | More by lifeboyq

Dirksen

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-24-2013 19:23:05 | More by Dirksen

robertmitchum

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-24-2013 09:49:43 | More by robertmitchum

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.68/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

A- Reddish brown, one finger of white head that settles down fairly quick

S- Caramel, dark fruits, cherry's, and a little Belgium yeast

T- Dried fruits, little sweetness, roasted malts came through

M- Medium bodied, high carbonation, very smooth, barely any bitterness

O- Very good beer, very complex, the different dark fruits makes it really good, little sweetness, roasted malts, very easy drinking and good balance

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 04:41:07 | More by Kmat10

deereless

Colorado

4.31/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Head dropped quick quickly, deep rust to dark brown in color, looks a little flaccid – 3.75, S: Nose is dry and chalky with a candied pineapple aroma, some dry cherries and faint figs, subtle sweetness from some fragrant malts and minor sourdough bread – 4.25, T: Extremely dry and with medium alcohol burn, significant candied sugar which provides defined sweetness, prunes, figs and cloves, touch of carob, lots going on in this beer – 4.50, M: Medium mouthfeel with a dry effervescence, sharp tongue – 4.00, D: Very complex, extremely drinkable for a 10% beer - 4.25

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 01:59:00 | More by deereless

IHyphySF

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-24-2013 00:32:46 | More by IHyphySF

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-23-2013 22:54:37 | More by Zachtheporter

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-23-2013 22:04:13 | More by thegoon55

DRTBrewster

Arizona

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-23-2013 21:45:11 | More by DRTBrewster

kvnstfrd

Missouri

3/5  rDev -32.9%

05-23-2013 04:53:34 | More by kvnstfrd

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-23-2013 01:29:31 | More by mikeincharleston

Stickler

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-23-2013 00:20:44 | More by Stickler

velcrogrip

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-22-2013 18:31:35 | More by velcrogrip

ACY73

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 18:05:39 | More by ACY73

tipfortap

New York

4.69/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

5 words to describe it: Clove, Plum, Carob, Brown Bread, Boozy

Paired it with: Nothing. (Okay, like three dark chocolate covered peanuts.)

Should have paired it with: Super rich brie, smoked meat

Drink it if you like: Superlative beer. Shiraz, American Strong Ales, Bourbon

A few other thoughts: Instead of finishing with a lingering sweetness, this finishes with a little bit of the 10% ABV, and paired with a very prickly carbonation, it balances out into a pretty much perfect beer that works alone and would also pair brilliantly with food.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 17:58:18 | More by tipfortap

MBlakeshow16

Illinois

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 06:38:11 | More by MBlakeshow16

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-22-2013 03:29:30 | More by SmellsofMahagony

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