St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

csrbv

Pennsylvania

4.96/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A – Dark brown with a dusting of white bubbles that looks fantastic, but it dissipates fast and some lacing that make this brew look even better!

S – Very complex smell. I would have thought the smell was going to be much more intense. It is somewhat mild with medium-fruits, it’s earthy and somewhat peppery spicy aspect to it. Just smells unbelievably good!

T – The taste of this beer just screams quality, is so incredibly complex, and still so drinkable. And it only gets better as it warms in your glass, so each sip is better than the last.

M – The mouth-feel is surprisingly lighter than I would have expected, but it just just about perfect as well. If it was heavier it wouldn't work as well. The steady carbonation gives it a creaminess that is just delightful.

O – This is one of the best beers that I have ever had and surely one of the best beers on the face of the earth. I have been told that is beer is a near duplication of the legendary Trappist Westvleteren 12 (which I have never had). Copy or no, I'm heading back to Wegman's to get another bottle of Abt 12 right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 18:37:42 | More by csrbv

dsuedbeck

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Murky, reddish brown. 2 finger off white head, hangs around surprisingly long for a big ABV beer.

S: Dark fruits, banana, Belgian spice from the yeast, some caramel.

T: Dark fruit, brown sugar, big bready and malty flavors. Very balanced yet very complex.

M: Perfect, as good as it gets for a quad. Great body, perfect amount of carbonation.

O: A great beer, very complex with flavors bouncing all over the place with nothing really taking the leading role, everything works perfectly together from the big bready malt flavors to the alcohol and hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 04:05:46 | More by dsuedbeck

tectactoe

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this one side-by-side with an '11 Westvleteren XII - thanks to Mike for cracking his open. I've heard from many people that the Abt 12 is the closest (easiest) thing to get to a Westy XII, so I guess we'll see. The pour is certainly a very similar color - brown, copper and murky, maybe a little bit brighter. Unlike the Westy, the Abt 12 has quite a bit of tiny sediment particles. Another big difference is that the head on the Abt 12 is huge, frothy, and has excellent staying power - looks like the froth on top of a latte or something.

Whoof, I close my eyes and take a whiff, and honestly, I could have easily mistaken this for another pour of the Westy. VERY similar in the aroma. Huge complexity and just a never-ending array of components: grapes, figs, dates, candied plums, Belgian yeast and spices, brown sugar, molasses, sweet licorice, light bready malts.... Where does it end? It only gets more inviting and more perplexing as it warms up and introduced some new aromas; pecans, light herbal-ness, more earthy tones, fruity esters, mild booze aromas... So far, I don't think I could draw any "major" distinctions from the aromas between Abt 12 and Westy XII. And this was after having them directly back-to-back. Given only one, I probably couldn't accurately discern which was which from the nose alone.

At this point, I'm incredibly impressed, and I'm thinking about just copying and pasting my Westy XII review and using it as my Abt 12 review. Just kidding. The mouth feel is similar, though Abt 12 has a bit more of a sharpness from heavier carbonation, as evidenced by the superior head formation. They both share that delectable Belgian-esque creaminess and they are both full-bodied without being too heavy, sticky, or syrupy. I love the silky smoothness that most Belgian quads deliver, and these two beers are no exception.

I'm sitting here swishing Abt 12 around in my palate, and I'm almost as amazed as I was when I first tasted the Westy XII - just a huge romp around of seemingly millions of flavors. Candied and sugary fruits, grapes, plums - sweet and pleasing without being overly sugary or cloying. Licorice, toffee, light molasses, Belgian yeast, mild spice, and sweet breadiness from the malt. I can see why people compare this to Westy XII - it's the EXACT SAME THING. In all seriousness, the flavor profiles are eerily similar, but I did notice that the Abt 12 was a little "sharper" and "brighter" - sharper from the carbonation and brighter in the form of softer fruits - I picked up some more definitive apple skin and white grape notes. The Abt 12 also has a touch more of a hop profile, but maybe that's because the Westy XII was a year older? This gave the Abt 12 a bit more bitter leafiness with the bread, butter, and slightly boozy aftertaste.

Wow... Wow, wow, wow. People weren't lying. The Abt 12 really is ridiculously similar to the Westy 12. When all is said and done, I don't think I could tell the difference if I was blindfolded. You could hand me an Abt 12 in a blank glass, tell me it was Westy XII, and I wouldn't be able to argue. That being said, they are both fantastic beers - pinnacles in brewing, and quintessential beers for the style they both represent. At the end of the day, I must give a slight nudge to the Abt 12 though, given it's relatively low price point and incredible availability.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 17:57:57 | More by tectactoe

rlee1390

Indiana

4.41/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-Deep amber, two finger light tan head, well carbonated with some lacing.

S-Bananas, clove, darker fruits.

T-Plums, darker fruits, lots of cherries, great balance, some clove.

M-Light, not as much carbonation, creamy and smooth.

O-Second place of the top three Quads show off. A solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 00:00:43 | More by rlee1390

PsilohsaiBiN

New York

4.66/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Crimson, with a small beige head that recedes after a bit.

Smell: Coriander, sweet malt, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, cinnamon.

Taste: Follows the smell nicely. A mildly spicy beginning gives way to delicious, bready malt, with some caramel sweetness that all fade away nicely into the finish, leaving some residual spice and bread. It finishes kinda like cream soda, wow. Really good. I think I like this more than Westy 12. The booze is masterfully hidden as well; it's hard to improve on this.

Mouthfeel: There is enough carbonation to keep this from being a syrupy burden, and that makes this a pleasure to drink. It's just right.

Overall: This is the best quad I've ever had. There aren't many points you can deduct from something that's near perfect.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 03:49:18 | More by PsilohsaiBiN

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Best by date on bottle of 12/7/17.

Appearance: An opaque amber color with hints of browns and oranges. Poured into the official St. Bernardus glass so the half finger head is spread across quite a large surface area. It is smooth and frothy, almost glossy.

Aroma: Mass quantities of belgian candi syrup giving a caramel and fruit sweetness. Smells better with every whiff. Some darker fruits and dark malt but really buried beneath the wonderful sweet overtones. I just wish it was slightly more aromatic.

Taste: I'm genuinely surprised by the nice amount of bitterness up front. It viciously attacks the palate until the finish with each sip. The dark malt and belgian candi syrup flavor comes through in the middle but it's not nearly as complex as I had expected. The flavor mostly consists of dark fruits, caramel, and bitterness until the finish comes. The aftertaste is a heat from the 10% ABV that seems to warm up all the flavors as well. This creates an interesting contrast because during the actual drinking of Abt 12 you get a lot of bitterness and lighter fruit flavor and then the aftertaste is very hot and dark.

Mouthfeel: Very high carbonation on this one definitely makes the bitterness more intense. Feels like it's only medium in body. Average drinkability if you can get over the intense effervescence.

Final Thoughts: I'm a little let down here because I was hoping for a mind blowing experience. However, it's still a great Quad that I won't say a word against. Would I drink it again? Yes, I'm going to see if that expiration date is for real.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 02:43:04 | More by JamesMN

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dark caramel color with a nice light tannish head.

Nice aromas of over ripe banana, fig, dates, and brown sugar.

It's such a classic and perfectly executed example of the style. Brown sugar, caramel, dates, banana, clove, and a nice warming finish.

Smooth mouthfeel, creamy, moderate carbonation.

A couple of is decided we were going to take tonight and visit a few easily accessible classic old world styles and I'm glad we did. This one is easy to find for just about everyone and it's a must have for any beer geek.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:30:10 | More by Vonerichs

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.99/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep brown with red hues throughout. There is about a finger and a half of a light tan frothy head. The foam settles leaving rocky bubbles all along the top of the beer.

S: The nose is a mix of soaked bread, dates, and brown sugar. The yeast is the dominate scent, but the dark fruit and sugars are still very prevalent.

T: It starts out with that yeasty, soaked, brown bread quality. Big malt and big yeast. That flavor stays on the palate for a bit as the dates, raisins, figs, and candied sugars make themselves more noticeable. As it moves towards the back of the palate, the sweetness mixes with big alcohol and more yeast.

M: Full bodied beer. It's hefty and yeasty up front, sweet and coating in the middle, and yeaty and boozy on the back end.

O: Quads are really a love/hate beer for me... long story... but this is a very well made beer. There are others in the style that I prefer more, but this is solid. I don't know if I'll ever seek this out again, but I do appreciate it for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 21:16:57 | More by trxxpaxxs

tut2528

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

poured into a GI Tulip/Flute

A: pours a nice dark brown with dark ruby tints when held up to the light. it created a solid 2 fingers worth of foamy head formation that is going nowhere fast. even after 2 minutes it still is holding strong.

S: big bread and Belgian yeasts, bubble gum, slight sweet caramel, malt, citrus and darker fruits

T: simply a very well balanced brew. Again, very nice bread notes, brown sugar, Belgian yeast, raisins and plums, citrus, and just a slight touch of chocolate. Nice subtle bubblegum/sugar candy notes create a bit more complexity. Big smooth finish.

M: very nice carbonation, solid medium bodied, and it coats the palate with a awesome sugar candy and bready note.

O: just a terrific brew all the way around. extremely well balanced for its big complexity. I thought this was underwhelming a couple years ago when I last had this, but man, I am really am enjoying this brew now. Definitely going out to buy a few more and sit on these for some time to see how this develops.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 00:32:03 | More by tut2528

Bashao

Israel

4.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours dark broune from the bottle. Nice foam head that didn't last long.

Smell: Very strong malty smells. Gives a feelling that it's gonna be a good beer.

Taste: Very strong malty taste, strong hops bitterness. Great taste for a strong beer.

Mouthfeel: Very full body but was very highly carbonated. The side effect of this beer is burping every couple of sips.

Overall: A very good beer. I had enjoyed it very much.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 19:00:15 | More by Bashao

teromous

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A: This beer is heavily carbonated, so watch out after popping the cork. Mine started to snake out of the top. The beer is very dark, but it is still possible to see some of the brown color in it. It's a rock-brown color...brown but a bit gray as well. The head is white and fluffy, then slims down to a white sliver on top. Spotted lacing.

S: I get some banana-chip scents, some alcohol scents, and some faint plum scent.

T: I get caramel flavor, and a little alcohol. The flavor is very faint and calm in this beer. Very simple flavors.

M: The mouthfeel is very smooth, and highly carbonated. Medium bodied as it enters the mouth, but airy and light as it leaves the palate.

O: Overall it was enjoyable to drink, mostly because the flavors blended together nicely and it was not too strong of a beer, despite the 10% ABV. I would have liked more complexity to the flavors, but I would not sacrifice the overall experience if it meant complicating the flavor. Don't expect a lot of fruit, with the exception of banana.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 18:58:29 | More by teromous

Samber79

Texas

4.94/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml corked and caged bottle poured into St. Bernardus Chalice

Beer pours dark mahogany with a 1 1/2 to 2 finger off white head. Gorgeous in the light!

This beer smells heavenly. So much going on it's hard to detect it all. Figs, prunes, raisins, dates, brown sugar...just incredible. As it warms, it smells even better.

The taste... I'm pretty sure I saw angels playing trumpets..which is pretty amazing for an atheist. This beer lives up to the hype. It's so amazing. Figs, yeast, prunes, perfectly balanced sweetness. For a 10% beer the alcohol is well hidden. The high carbonation really makes the palate open up and helps the flavors pop.

The mouthfeel is so nice. Pretty heavy carbonation. Not too dry...just awesome.

This is easily the best beer I've ever had. I would probably go in debt to stock up on this if I had the proper storage setup. I feel like I should be wearing monk's robes when drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 18:56:56 | More by Samber79

MaineBrewing

Maine

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A - Doing a quad vertical with Rochefort 10, first impression is this is going to be a lot better. Two finger fluffy off white head, reduced to some nice airy lumps with some decent lacing. Body is dark brown and murky with a lot of suspended yeast, looks very thick.

S - Very phenolic, alcohol, slight fruit, caramel, nice malt character behind some brash phenol/alcohol notes.

T - Very fruity, really nice banana character. definitely a lot of malt, and candy sugar, lots of molasses notes. The yeast bouquet dominates this beer and it is simply delicious. Finishing hops and pepper yeast character at the end provide a nice refreshing bitterness, makes me crave more.

M - a little heavy ample carbonation. certainly finishes dry, what I would expect for the style.

O - As aforementioned, doing a vertical with Rochefort 10 tonight, this beer is much more awesome, simply put. I would think personally that this is what a quad should taste like. Very complex taste, and pure Belgian from the very fruity dominant yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 01:38:31 | More by MaineBrewing

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.46/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured a reddish, mahogany color that moved into the head and gave it an almost purple look.

Smell was full of bready malt, dried grape, raisin, date, and plum like fragrance.

The tastes follow the nose with bread, malts and raisin. Touches of apple and fleeting citrus are towards the back.

Old world taste but oh so good!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 00:39:41 | More by KYGunner

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz beer was poured into a goblet at the Union Brewhouse.

Appearance: This beer poured a huge white billowy head that is still there. It is a crimson mahogany color with some clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass. Crazy lacing on the glass as the beer was drank

Smell: Bready, malty, boozy alcohol, and spicy.

Taste: bready, boozy, malty, cherries, spicy yeast

Mouthfeel: smooth, medium carbonation, boozy, medium to full bodied, and easy to drink on this cold winter day.

Overall: Pretty solid quad and on of the best around.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:10:16 | More by Flounder57

pkalix

California

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

after the 8, and then the 6, it's the 12.
same murky, amber-brown; very little head on this one and minor carbonation.
aromas of fruit, just like the other two, although moreso like the 8. seems a bit more stable, although it is a higher abv drink.
taste is all dark fruit, candied sugars and booze. it's a smooth drink, though; a little heavier and a little boozier...
beautiful frothy lacing down the sides, and for a 10% abv this is mesmerizing. this is a good time in half the time with that kind of juice. and after the 8 and the 6 and now the 12, i feel like i've just had an entire evening experience in just 3 brews! prost!
update: had this last night on tap at The Globe in garden grove california.... what a difference!! as their description goes: "soft, and warming" is perfect. i noticed how 'soft' it really seemed to be compared to other beers and to the bottle as i remembered it. it's a description i can only fathom in my own mind after drinking it and realizing it but can not explain in any other way... but what a difference in the tap vs the bottle,,,,

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 01:03:16 | More by pkalix

fatmusic14

Colorado

4.44/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Purchased bomber for $11.99

Pours a pleasant copper / amber / cocoa - tons of head, lots of carbonation, lacing insignificant.

Scent stings of citrus, hints of raisins and bread. Subtle tones of Mocha and mint.

Tastes so smooth, SO much going on here. cocoa, allspice, clove, earthy undertones. Slight hints of sour notes, alcohol well masked by flavor. When drinking, scent and tastes combine in your face for a really great drinking experience. Really, really well done.

Mouthfeel tremendous, great head and carbonation. Great aftertaste.

Really tasty, really well done. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 23:30:16 | More by fatmusic14

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Medium brown colored body with slight transparency. Some yeast remnants are noticeable, but settle at the bottom quickly. Bubbly tan head that leaves a lot of lacing.

S- Big aromas of dried fruit. Raisins, apples, hint of cherries, prunes, bready yeast aroma,

T- The dried fruit flavors come through, but I am surprised by the big yeasty profile with a lot of malt. Lots of raisins with a hint of tart cherry, but the yeast and the malt dominate. There is also a medicinal taste towards the end.

M- Medium carbonation, full bodied, very bready and yeasty.

O- A very good quad, but not as good as a few of the others.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 00:49:13 | More by stephenjmoore

JimTeal

Nevada

4.89/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I feel like repeating a previous reviewer snaotheus, why haven't I reviewed this beer before, it is a close to perfect brew. The color is majestic ruby red, the smell is elegant, the taste is sublime, clean and deeply flavorful, but balanced. High ABV but totally hidden, just a slight wisp of the finest malt used to perfection to create this quad. I have spent a while trying to find something wrong with this beer, so far I come up empty, it is a super fine abbey ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 00:07:45 | More by JimTeal

brewdude1982

North Carolina

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: 5.0 dark red pour with amazing carbonation good clarity
S: 4.5 sweet upfront then turns into a pleasant belgium taste
T: 4.5 great Belgium taste perfectly balanced with a little citrus on the back end
MF: 4.5 amazing carbonation and good body for a Belgium
O: 5.0 this is an amazing beer that has a lot to offer. I would love to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:21:26 | More by brewdude1982

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle poured into a wide mouthed snifter, yeast left in the bottle. Best before date of 3/7/17.

A: Pours a deep chestnut brown with hues of ruby. Clarity looks to be very good. The creamy, fine-bubbled, sand colored head is well structured and has excellent retention. A thin blanket of lacing slides back down into the glass, leaving a thin jagged ring behind.

S: Brown cocoa, bakers chocolate, bread pudding, mixed nuts, a bit of bread crust. Dried figs and dates. Plum. Golden raisins soaked in rum. Spicy, estery alcohol. Baked apple pie with cinnamon. yeasty aromas of various spices and even some garden herbs. Truly one of the most complex noses I've ever come across. Each whiff brings something different, and it's a delight to experience as it warms and opens up.

T: Bread crust, brown cocoa powder, mixed nuts. Stiff jab of spicy alcohol on the mid-palate. Mildly phenolic with peppery and spicy/garden herb tastes. Dried figs. Brown sugar. Bready desserts. Touch of caramel. Fairly dry throughout. Finishes dry with tastes of bakers chocolate, fig, and lots of fading spices.

M: On the heftier side of medium bodied. There's a little bit of weight to it, but it certainly isn't heavy. Very slightly chewy, creamy and full. Carbonation is ample but not overly aggressive. It picks the body up and has a mild scrubbing effect. The alcohol had a very warming and soothing effect the whole way through, from mouth to stomach. This is one of those beers that warms the body and soothes the mind.

O: The complexity of this beer is outrageous, and rarely rivaled. Truly one of the elite sensory experiences in the beer world. And maybe it's the alcohol, but drinking this instantly puts me in a good mood. I feel calm, peaceful, and relaxed. At times I could swear that I hear monastic chanting.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 20:54:54 | More by ryan1788a5

snaotheus

Washington

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

750ml bottle poured into a large snifter. I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this beer. The first time I had it was probably eight or nine years ago, when I was just starting to get into beer, and Belgians were an exciting frontier.

Anyway. Pours dark but not cloudy, rich ruby color, lots of carbonation, lots of head. Very pretty. Smell is yeasty, grassy, dark tart plums in the background. There's a very nice sourness.

Taste is complex and rich, short bright flash of tartness, heaps of sweetness and rich malt, heavy yeast flavor, raisins and dates, dark fruit. Not my favorite style, but one of my favorites of the style.

Mouthfeel is thick and rich but mysteriously airy. Overall, this is really a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:28:40 | More by snaotheus

BierJager89

California

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served on tap into some kind of goblety glass I would assume, too long ago to remember the exact shape, but it was at Rose & Crown in Palo Alto, CA, an excellent beer bar.

A: Dark purple with a mocha head, from my notes, which sounds odd, but I have another bottle and I'll edit this review when I try it again.

S: Strawberry, grape and citrus in the nose. Again, this was too long ago to remember, and my notes from back then were shitty. I do remember that it smelled great, and tasted amazing.

T: Grape and other fruit falvors (god damned old notes). The point is, get it however you have to, it tastes amazing and is well worth the roughly $11 price tag (or more if you're unlucky).

M: Medium bodied, probably average carbonation. That doesn't sound right. Just try it. It's amazing.

O: At the time I had this, this was probably the best beer I had ever tried, but I've since had a few hundred more beers, and this sits very near to my top ten. It's my favorite quad, though I've neither tried aged Rochefort 10 (something I will do come Christmas) nor Westy XII. I have had Rochefort 10 that hadn't been aged, Pannepot, La Trappe, Ommegang Three Philosophers, Ovila Quad, La Trappe batch 7 (Scotch, I think), Avery's the reverend, Gulden Draak Batch 9000, and Bourbon Barrel Monk's Brew. This is still my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 19:01:28 | More by BierJager89

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

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

Dare I say the most widely consumed true Belgian Quad in the US? Yes, an outstanding beer choice that pours a dark brown color into a bottle. I pout from a 1pt. 9.4oz cage and cork bottle.

To tell you the truth I was expecting an abundance of carbonation such as in a Duvel or Gulden Draak but wasn't as much. It was still sufficient compared to american belgians. It recommends 52-56 degress which I had this chilling at in my wine fridge. Beautiful bouqet of dark fruit. Rasins, plum in addition to traditional malt flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 00:27:49 | More by Ryanm1

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

4.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Review 200, 330ml bottle poured into Leffe chalice. Dark auburn colour, 90% opaque, one finger tanned head, decent retention, fair amount of lacing. Aroma was musty grape and booze. Tasted rasin, plum, fig, fudge, molasses, and brown sugar. Quite boozy compared to Rochefort 10. Finish was slightly biscuity and boozy. Well carbonated, light body, smooth but had a slightly coarse edge from the booze. Seemed to mellow as it warmed, got less boozy and the carbonation dropped off slightly. A very good beer rather than a great one, places below Rochefort 10.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 14:21:19 | More by jonb5