St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

***Update***
After picking up my first bottle from Vintage Cellar, I called them back due to the fact when I cracked the last bottle it was completely flat without carbonation. So, I called them back and let them now and they shipped out another without a problem, good customer service down there. Appearance: Lucious semi gelatinous tan colored head placed ontop of deep ruby brown cloudy body the lacing is layered in thick patches excellent appearance head is unrelenting lasts great retention. Aroma: Apple, raisin, ginger bread dough, layers of candied sugar plum brandy like tones with the alcohol layers this is excellent. Taste hasn't evolved too much since the last time I tasted but this is most definitely an experience. Mouthfeel: Creamier than before with an even smooth carbonation this one is silky in texture and devine going down.

Appearance: Pours a murky mahogany amber brown tone wih the lightest trickling bubbles of a head thin layer of bubbles on top with absolutely no lacing at all here, on top of that when I popped the cap no air released from the bottle interesting. Aroma: Ambrosia enticing spices, blends of fruit juice, alcohol infused figs, this beer is definitely out there some anise tones with a peppery finish just the most unique smell I have ever come across with all the complexity it still holds the candy like smell of wow, complex. Taste: A warming spiced up alcoholic flavor with trickles of leaves a thick dark roasted malt aftertaste on my tongue this beer is complex creamy flavor hard to describe must be experienced I guess, not sure if I love it but it's good. Mouthfeel: Is think lacking any much carbonation redefines beer I guess but overall an experience to be had, I must find some Westy 12 now but this beer is interesting. Drinkability: Challenging to the senses I am dragging just trying to figure this one out, it goes down incredibly smooth I have no idea what the abv is but I'm sure it's capable of rattling the skull.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2003 15:00:26 | More by WVbeergeek

beerguy101

California

4.3/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown color. Medium head. Aroma is malty and sweet. Nice smooth malty beer. Malts are richly sweet and slightly nutty. Touch of barnyard. Herbal hops. Well balanced. VERY NICE beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2003 02:07:40 | More by beerguy101

jackndan

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

St. Bernardus Abt 12: I understand this beer is made from the same recipe as Westervletern, and there are substantial similarities in the two brews, the most important being that they are both freaking fantastic. Nice looking brew, deep brown, virtually impregnable to light. Nice head, slightly off white, nice rocky eighth of an inch coverage.

The aroma is pleasant, although somewhat port like and vinous.

The taste is exceptional, nice malty taste, with the predominant flavor being dried fruits, such as raisons and prunes. Thick, creamy mouthfeel. The alcohol warmth is notable, in this fairly high abv beer.

St. Bernardus does not quite match the wonderful complexity of Westy, but given the fact that it is a third of the price, its well worth picking up.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2003 22:59:31 | More by jackndan

mickeymac

California

4.47/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love seeing a smiling monk on a beer label and for good reason. Pretty brown beer, nice tan head, and lace. Smells of ripe fruit, spice, and just a hint of alcohol. Tastes slightly sweet, raisiny, and just a bit funky. Big, chunky mouthfeel and happily drinkable at 10% abv. Great beer, plain and simple.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2003 05:00:21 | More by mickeymac

kevinl6

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this one appropriately into a St. Bernardus Goblet glass. I had a huge smile on my face as I studied it for a few seconds in the glass...I had been anticipating this one for a while. It appeared a dark brownish mohagany/chestnut color in the glass, with a thin, lacy head clinging nicely to my goblet. The smell was very rich and fruity, a strong overall aroma. Heavy carbonation in the mouthfeel of this one, but still it was easy on the palate. A complex taste, definately fruity with hints of raisons and grape. Drinkability? Lets just say that I wanted to refill the goblet as soon as I was finished. A fine brew!!

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2003 03:40:48 | More by kevinl6

Elemental

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

App - Nice dark brown color with a half finger of head sitting on top.

Smell - flavorful, hard to place all the flavors but very inviting slightly spicy with a lit hop aroma.

Taste - Strong, malty, and wonderfully pleasent. Nice and tart and slightly bitter all thought it leaves the lips slightly sweet. Nicely carbonated to complement the balance of hops and malts. Pretty smooth

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - great feel and is pretty drinkable.

Overall - Nice! Very Nice!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2003 03:54:56 | More by Elemental

hotstuff

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Dayton, OH AleFest:This beer had a large sized ivory head with a cloudy uncarbonated body.The hue was brown and the nose was malty and of fruit.The flavor of this beer was bitter and malty.The mouthfeel was smooth and light bodied.This beer left good lacing on the sides of my glass.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2003 15:55:58 | More by hotstuff

mzwolinski

California

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma is full of a complex blend of hard-to place spices, a mild alcohol nose, a bready body, and some sharp acidic notes. In appearance, this beer is dark brown with a very thin, but surprisingly persistent, whitish head. The taste is malty, spicy, a bit bready with notes of fig and a slightly burnt aftertaste. Medium-full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. Quite a pleasingly complex beer. Hard to get ahold of, but worth the trouble.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2003 04:19:51 | More by mzwolinski

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in the 330mL bottle. The color is a very dark amber, with excellent head. The smell is a very fruity malt, with hints of alcohol. The taste is a very fruity, yeasty, malty one, with the alcohol a bit more harsh than in the Westy 12. Mouthfeel was creamy yet tasting of alcohol. Drinkability-wise, could have a few more.

Though not quite as good as Westy 12, this is also 1/3rd the price. A wonderful treat, and certainly something that I'd have again.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2003 03:24:40 | More by beergeek279

BierReise

Florida

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appears very similar to the Rochefort 10, deep brown yet with light behind it, a beautiful deep reddish amber. Tan head is thin but creamy and also quite like the Rochefort. Aroma is sweet, fruity and malty. Mouthfeel is crisp yet creamy and full bodied. Really smooth. Has a wonderful big fruity malty flavor. The aroma and flavor here are in my opinion brighter and bigger than the Rochefort. I could drink a few of these quite easily. This ale is quite impressive, I'm extremely pleased to be drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2003 21:25:46 | More by BierReise

Ellbert

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was a decent beer. I was a little disappointed though, with some of the reviews I feel it did not live up to what I expected. The apperance was awesome. It was a nice dark brownish color with a huge head. It was very pleasant to my nose. Very spicy smell. The taste was very complex but not what I expected. There wasn't as much spice as was in the smell. It had a different taste than I can descibe. I could taste the alcohol in the end. It wasn't overpowering though, amazing at %10, it was a very pleasant alcohol taste. I think I may have served this too warm. I will definitely give this beer another chance. I think it may need one for me to give it a fair reveiw.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2003 04:50:32 | More by Ellbert

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz. bottle poured into a St. Bernardus long-stemmed snifter. It pours a deep brown, near black, with two huge fingers of light tan foam. There is lots and lots of lace left behind with each sip. The smell is fruity and pleasant, banana and raisins mixed with just a hint of alcohol. The taste brings forth plums and raisins mixed with sherry. The alcohol, along with the hops, is only slightly noticeable. The body is thick and silky smooth. Even the drinkability is nice for being 10%. This one is right up there with Westy 12!

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2003 03:02:44 | More by SheepNutz

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Best by 5/2005...

Poured in a relatively shallow LaTrappe chalice. Dark brown and plenty hazy. Head spread out and rose to a slight 1/4 of an inch to start, perhaps because of the glass. Big thick sheets of lace. A vinous nose, lots of rum and candied citrons -- and alcohol. This bad boy says alcohol quick, brandy mixes with bing cherries and a pronounced ginger. Finishes with a great fresh manure earthiness, but also with a very well done sense of medium and balancing carbonation. Alcoholic, coating and full-bodied, very heavy-duty to my tongue. The drinkability suffers slightly for me, but this is a spectacularly big and flavorful beer.

Source: Liquid Solutions

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2003 18:01:54 | More by ADR

fattychubs

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours a deep brown color, with dark amber highlights and a huge fluffy head that wouldn’t go away. Aroma is wine like, with fruits and a hint of spice. Taste starts sweet with a touch of spice, middle is so many tastes at once, ripe fruit, brown sugar, molasses, alcohol, sweet malt. Extremely smooth and rich and finishes crisp.

The finish and the aftertaste are the shining moment of this beer, crisp and sweet, and gives your mouth a wonderful feeling, hard to describe but this is a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2003 23:08:52 | More by fattychubs

euskera

North Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Love the smiling monk on the label. Pours out a ruby-reddish brown with a lively head due to the carbonation. Malty-fruity smell with a hint of banana. Nice malty taste, raisins and the presence of banana on the palate. Extremely well balances. Finish is silky smooth and absolutely scrumptious. Another Belgian masterpiece that I will drink again and again and again....

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2003 20:13:21 | More by euskera

Jon

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

St. Bernardus Abt 12 pours a magnificent ruby-brown color. A creamy head sits atop the dark liquid which leaves nice rings of lace down the chalice. Smell is quite complex with notes of dates, raisins, alcohol and yeast. The taste is vastly complex, as well. Here, notes of spice, yeast, dates, raisins, figs and alcohol are all well represented. This is certainly one tasty brew. Mouthfeel is quite luxurious with mild carbonation and an overall creamy texture. With the amount of alcohol in this one, it's really hard to detect overall. This is a beautiful, tasty creation, and one that I will certainly sample again.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2003 20:56:53 | More by Jon

MJR

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish-brown that is quite clear from a careful pour. A thick tan head starts at a full finger thick and holds strong at a sturdy cap. Adding the yeast sediment towards the end darkens the brew considerably.

Smell: The aroma is rustic and rich with a generous helping of dark fruits: raisons, plums, and dates. Rum-soaked cherries add a sharpness. There's a strong bready smell, as well as a hint of phenolics. The alcohol is hidden well, only showing itself slighty.

Taste: Wonderfully complex and bittersweet with a fantastic balance between the sweet, dark fruits and bitter hops. Lots of Concord grapes, plums, and bananas. What starts out fruity, midway melds with a peppery spiciness, along with a taste similar to warm raison bread. Hefty dose of yeast and earth on the tail end. Finishes with a touch of a phenolic note, and a rush of warming alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Thick and rich, but not the least bit cloying. Very warming and smooth...

Drinkability: Damn good! This is widely believed to be the same recipe as Westy 12, and it's just as good. I could go through an entire week drinking only this...slowly of course!

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2003 22:21:05 | More by MJR

cokes

Wisconsin

4.9/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The war horn sounds under a clouded brown sky, with gradients of orange as light infiltrates the edges of the horizion. A large storm cloud of French vanilla-hued cream lies directly overhead.

The battalions converge, preceded by aromatics of clove, candied plums, merlot, chalk dust and oak.

And so it begins...

An epic clash of fruit and spice. Loads of cloves draw swords with ripe prunes. Raisins come swashbuckling down from the hills. In another duel, banana esters rumble with black pepper. Mace-wielding Carobs whallop the crippled and weakened tropical fruit brigade. Walnuts and chocolate join forces against Concord grapes. A hissing sugar cookie dart fired from a dough crowbow strikes and falls a farmy footsoldier and the horse that carried him.

The echoing shrieks fade, as a fruit-cake laden sword clanks upon the ground.

In the wake of the melee, only Brandy alcohol and the doughy union of malt and yeast remain standing. A fierce glare is exchanged, then they walk away. The atmosphere remains energized and thick.
This will certainly be resumed another day.

Delicately embittered hop minions clean up the carnage.

Heavenly cacophony.
Magnificent destruction.
The stuff from which legends are forged.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2003 10:56:28 | More by cokes

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served just below room temperature. It's murky dark brown in color with very large tan head with a whipped egg white consistency. Plenty of bubbles rise up in columns. It's a pure temptation to look at this brew. Malt sweetness and alcohol are in the aroma strongly, also plums. WOW, there's a lot going on here.....chocolate and coffee, yeast and banana, spices, caramel, high levels of sweetness and syrupy alcohol. The alcohol really makes a stand in the aftertaste. I really enjoy it though. I rated drinkability on whether or not I want another sip or not.....instead of another bottle or not. This is a sip and savor brew for sure. Yummy.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2003 14:09:06 | More by AudioGilz

jcalabre

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Originally sampled from bottle on 18 December 2002. St. Bernardu Abt 12 is dark reddish brown w/ a tan head. It has an aroma of toffee & rum. soft textured w/ a slightly sweet finish. Another example of a fine Belgian ale. Take your time and sip this one & savor it.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2003 19:04:15 | More by jcalabre

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark reddish-brown with a very thick beige head. Thin lacing. Aroma is pleasantly fruity, with some malt, spice and alcohol as well. Medium-bodied and sweet, with flavors of malt, licorice, cherry and raisins. Flavor became more rich and easier to drink as it warmed. Pretty good Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2003 08:36:08 | More by Dogbrick

goz

Massachusetts

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

Pours a dark brown, with some ruby tinges in it. Head is large, big-bubbled tan, slowly diminishes to some decent lacing. Body has lots of carbonation, and lots of yeasty bits swirling around in it. Aroma is huge, yeasty, vinous, fruity, grapes, raisin, some doughiness, and hints of honey. Flavor is equally huge and complex, lots of fruitiness and sweetness, and changes over time as the brew comes up to room temp. Very full bodied, massively complex flavors and aromas. Very similar to the Westy 12, but seemed to have more lively and lasting carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2003 09:11:14 | More by goz

clvand0

Kentucky

2.88/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a murky brown like many of the other Belgian strongs. The aroma was very malty with hints of caramel - almost like brandy. The flavor was fairly smooth for the level of alcohol, but too strong in my opinion. For the abv and price for the taste, I'd go with one of the other Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2003 20:33:19 | More by clvand0

taez555

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a HUGE firm very fine white/beige head. The head itself took several minutes to die down to the point where I could even start to taste it. It did however give me time to admire the dark brown almost ruby colored body.

The smell was very sweet and fruity. With banana and clove smells that almost reminded me of some german heffeweizens.

The taste of this beer was very nice. A rather full bodied thick beer, with a lot of up front bitterness followed by some beautiful raisin, plum and even chocolate tones. From start to finish it just passes over the tongue in one smooth motion. The alcohol was a bit more present than I expected, but not overshadowing in any way. Very well balanced. Maybe only a touch to bitter , but otherwise very well done.

It finished very soft, with some lingering bitterness and spice.

To be perfectly honest I found this beer to be a very middle of the road belgian. A well crafted work of art, but just a little too subtle and bitter in it's taste for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2003 00:11:22 | More by taez555

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The jovial monk on the label seems the perfect host, holding his chalice aloft, and, after drinking down this deliriously delectable ale, who can argue his happiness? Not I, not I!!

Color is a dark russet brown, and head is enormous, majestic, utterly awesome!

Aroma hits you right off: earthy, nutty, and not merely deep, but cavernous. Incredibly complex, and utterly gorgeous: cocoa,plum, port wine, medicine, and a very apparent alcoholic character, plus anise, pepper, and more, so much more!

On first sip, I can't help but think that "complexity" is a shallow term with which to circumscribe the many aspects of this amazing brew. So much to contend with, so much going on!
I need to take a breath and reel from the feeling, and seek relief from the rush! Extraordinary!

Integration is perfect: there are hops aplenty, and massive malt, but nothing sticks out above or beyond, it all joins forces to create this amazing masterpiece.

Was this only 10%? Oh, they must be happy monks, indeed!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2003 04:32:39 | More by feloniousmonk