St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

DougT

Ohio

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

Poured slowly into a St. Bernardus Watou snifter. Bottle dated 23 05 17.

Color a dark, root beer brown. Gentle pour resulted in 1 finger tan head with lots of lace. Settled into a light layer of foam that last the whole drinking time. Even a gentle pour I still got some yeast in suspension but it's so dark you really have to look hard to see it.

Smells of yeast and dark fruits. Dark bread, raisins, figs, dates and a little bit of spices. But not an overwhelming smell, very pleasant and constrained. Makes my mouth water and stomach grumble.

Tastes is very complex. Starts with a malty sweet flavor like beer made with raisins or prunes, then moves to notes of spices and figs or dates. Hops are hardly present, but there are some bitter notes in the finish to let you know it's there. Alcohol is hardly noticeable in the taste, even at 10%, but the kick is there even after a few sips. Gets even better as it warms. The flavors start to merry together and become a flavor that defines Belgian Abbey Quad Ale.

Mouthfeel is amazing. This beer involves every sense in your entire head all at the same time. Effervescence tingles the lips and tongue helping hide the alcohol. Flavors dance across the whole tongue. Even the cheeks get involved as they react to what they perceive as food. Smell up front is enhanced by smells that enter from the throat and develop the complexities of the aftertaste. After 1/2 a glass the sensatin is like you are sitting in a vat at the old Abbey. Wholly engaged.

The cheesy Happy Monk label does not do justice to the sophistication of this brew. This beer elevates the art to levels seldom achieved. This stuff is wonderful. Very easily my favorite beer. Worth every penny.

I would love to save some to see what it's like after a few years, but I'll never make it. It's too good to leave on the self! Maybe if I gave some to my son he could hide it at his house for a couple years...

I had 3/4 the glass writing this. I now have a warm glow and a huge smile. I love this stuff!

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 03:08:28 | More by DougT

bigflatsbeerman

New York

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

Appearance: Classic dark look of a Dubbel.
Smell: Great great smell.
Taste: There are not enough of "o's in smooooth to describe this taste.
Mouthfeel: I would say medium, the beer has a champagne like taste to me.

Overall: Simply said I can't find anything to criticize about this beer. I cannot criticize monks that give their life to God and in the process make mankind very happy. Superb.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 01:43:32 | More by bigflatsbeerman

Blackwolf

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

Poured from a bottle into an oversized wine glass.

WOW!

A- Beautiful, beautiful and I mean BEAUTIFUL beer, and nothing short of that. It poured a very deep mahogany color into the glass, light can barely pass through it. A creamy chocolate to then a semi-light khaki frothy head sits on top of this wonderful quad. The retention is beautiful also, it just won't give up. A decent lacing stares back at you from the side of your glass. Just perfect.

S- Smell and taste are pretty hand and hand with my tastings, but smell is usually the first factor to entice me into a deep ale. The second my nose hit this monumental beer I was hit with a notes of pear, a deep spice and a yeasty/breadiness. It sucked me in almost immediately! Very strong!

T- Yum, and more yum! Fruity, hints of fig... apply pear-ish notes and again the breadiness. There is a a little kick of alcohol in this ale, but a well balanced taste. It finishes with a banana drive and leaves you wanting much more.

MF- Just thick enough but creamy/chewy. An intense mouth feel but a good intense for lack of better words. This quad sits around your palate just long enough to leave you wating for more.

O- 5.0! Just amazing!!! I was hesitant towards grabbing this beer, I don't know why... But this wonderful concoction of smell, taste, look and feel just blew me away! I would recommend this to many, if you see it.... BUY IT! It is just an astounding, well crafted beer that can not disappoint anyone. St. Bernardus is easily making their way into my favorite breweries. LOVE IT! <3

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 10:27:30 | More by Blackwolf

Katriona

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

I've sampled most of the labels listed, including those not available here in the US (e.g. Westvlereten 12) and Abt 12 blows most of them out of the water. The rich, yeasty flavors that linger long after the crisp finish imparts one hell of a taste experience to this fullest bodied ale. The pour explodes into a foamy head instantly, and the initial effervescence within seconds transforms into a robust fizz that carries the bread-like base into at least 10 different flavors (you can actually discern intermediate overtones of vine fruits, assorted spices, etc.). I wonder how many of your raters have actually tried this angelic brew, 'cause if they did the scoring would be quite a bit different!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 14:14:57 | More by Katriona

Chrysostom

Ohio

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

God has a Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Son of God, and is fully God himself. He is God manifest in the flesh. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...there was a man, John, who came to preach the Word.

Now, the Beergod has a son, St Bernardus (Abt 12). St Bernardus is the Son of the Beergod, and in him the fullness of the Beergodhead dwells bodily. He is Beergod manifest in the glass. God created the Beergod, and St Bernardus was in the beginning with the Beergod, and St Bernardus is the Beergod...there is a man, by the name of Chrysostom, who came to preach the Word.

"When the Beergod became flesh, after dinner, he likewise took a bottle of St Bernardus and poured it, saying, This is my blood of the Brew Covenant, which is poured out for many for the inebriation of souls."

St Bernardus is the best beer in the world. Chimay is magnificently superb: it is a signal beer. Other beers: excellent. But St Bernardus Abbot 12 is the Beergod incarnate, made in to a liquid in a glass by some not-monk-monks, to dwell amongst and be drunk by men.

The only thing I have a question on is "appearance"... It's hard to pour, and if poured poorly, will get a bunch of the black yeast-floaties in it, which are unappetizing. If poured poorly, it's a 4.75 on appearance. If poured correctly, it's a 7 out of 5.

Presentation: 750mL, corked and caged. Absolutely awesome label of a jolly, tipsy monk (they changed the colours of his robes when St Bernardus became "not Trappist" about 20 years ago, so he's not a member of any identifiable order now... he used to be in Trappist habit) with ruddy cheeks, making the Priest's sign of benediction with one hand, and toasting your health with an overflowing goblet of St Bernardus in the other. Is there any better way to do so?

A: Poured in to Chimay chalice. A cloudy dark brown, like clean mud made from good earth, which appears black from many angles. Light will show through edges when held directly to a source of light, but the heart is impenetrably opaque, much as the complexity of this beer itself is. On a proper, smooth pour, one finger of thick, creamy, pillowy head, overflowing the rim, is left, which recedes slowly to a thin layer on the face of the beer. It laces the glass in an almost-solid sheet of foam. Don't judge a book by its cover? You can judge this beer by the label, and the pour.

"It looks like what a quad should look like."

S: Surprisingly subdued for such a big beer. There are strong notes of brown malt (think Samuel Smith's Nut Brown) and Belgian yeast, with a mild alcohol character. However, the malt smells -thick-: there is no other way that comes to mind to describe it. There are hints of molasses, brown sugar, grape, prune, date, fig, and other dark fruit, as is par for the course, although the fruit character is much more mild when compared to such a beer as Westmalle Dubbel. The smell becomes more pronounced as it warms. I'm surprised I can smell so little - I'm more-than-likely halfway-ill, so that's probably dulling my olfaction.

"It smells like what a quad should smell like."

T: Much as the smell, but bigger, bolder, and not subdued. Incredibly complex interplay of malt, a dominant grape-like flavour, sugar, the slightest spiciness, and Arabian dried dates. There is no perceptible alcohol character in the flavor. There is a mild sweetness without cloyingness as it hits the tongue. There is a carbonic astringency on the finish, whether from the subdued hops or carbonation, I don't know. It finishes surprisingly cleanly for such a thick, full, malty libation.

"It tastes like what beer should taste like."

M: Highly-carbonated, but blends well with everything else. Causes the flavours to explode on the palate, and contributes to a dry and lingering clean finish. There is a tingle that is left for a moment after the beer has gone, probably due to carbonation. Does not coat the mouth like many malt-bombs that are more familiar, such as double IPAs. Absolutely perfect.

D: Extremely high. A clean beer with complexities begging for another sip, and a completely-hidden, occulted 10% ABV. I could drink 4 or 5 fifths of this, but the drunkenness would have affected my tastebuds to the point that it would be a waste of money; anything more than 2 fifths of this, and you're not getting the full taste - switch to something else.

I gave the smell of this, and appearance, a 4.75 to start, for what reason I don't know, maybe comparison to the Platonic Form of "beer" existing in the Third Realm. However, on this earth, I think it unlikely this beer can be surpassed, and know that it has not yet been surpassed.

It was $11.99 for a fifth, but, like Macallan 25 (which is generally in the ~$750 for a fifth), if this was $50+ a fifth, it would still be worth it to taste, even if too expensive to drink regularly.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 02:13:54 | More by Chrysostom

SheHatesMe

Arizona

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

Have tried them all...Quads, Trippels, Strong Darks, yadda-yadda-yadda. I will save you a lot of time & effort: If you EVER get the chance to order Abt 12 on Tap...Please don't pass up the opportunity.

>Beautiful, consistent ebony color.
>Aroma is a blast of malty, yeasty anticipation.
>Head is ample, creamy & butternut in color.
>Mouthfeel is soft, yet full & even.
>Flavor is a symphony of malt, fruit, spices. Hints of caramel, fig, over-ripened banana swirl & dance upon the palate. Hopps are present & well-mannered. Alcohol is lurking, somewhere, but never, ever obvious. "Complex" is an understatement.
>Overall, drinking this Belgian Quad is a completely preposterous experience. A privilege.

Abt 12 in the bottle is malty Belgian Perfection. Abt 12 on Tap is better. Yeah...That may sound implausible, but it's not. Hold it. Savor it. Understand that it's your lucky day.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2013 21:22:29 | More by SheHatesMe

mts198

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance: dark brown, creamy one finger head

Smell: Vanilla, fruitcake, Brown sugar, stone fruits, old wood, burnt sugars

Taste: Very smooth mild bitterness, slightly muddled in a good way. Overlapping of flavors, Dark liquid candy, sweet, stone fruits in sugar, old wood, fruitcake, jelly.

Mouth feel: high carbonation, fuller mouth feel the warmer it gets, very smooth

Overall: It's an Amazing beer, sweet but not cloying, light bitterness but without harshness, very smooth for a high alcohol beer, the alcohol hides very well, The flavors muddle together in a perfect balance without one over powering the other, Dark fruits take hold as the slight bitterness pushes back with maybe some lighter fruits popping through, old wood seems to be in there too. But everything layers over each other and gives it a great quality. Reminds me of an old plum tree.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 19:25:32 | More by mts198

nefelim

Virginia

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

I don't typically write full reviews as I find that I have trouble describing exactly the different characteristics and nuances of the beers that I drink. I just like them or I don't. So what has prompted me to write this review you may ask? In my many years of trying different brews in many different places, I have never had a better beer than st bernardus abt 12. It is simply the best beer that I have had in the world.

On a recent trip to Philly, the wife and I popped in to Monks as I heard they had Pliny the Elder on tap and I was very eager to try one of the highest rated IPAs on this site. I ordered the Pliny while my wife got the St Bernardus. The Pliny was unbelievable but the St Bernardus was just on a different level. I tasted burnt banana, caramel, delicious Belgian yeast, cloves, figs - basically everything you want in a quad.

Before our trip was over, I had bought thirteen 750ml bottles from the local liquor store to take home. This beer is without equal.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 19:42:18 | More by nefelim

mg3

Mississippi

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

Probably my most favorite beer if not the best beer I have ever had as of now. Didn't exactly fall in love with it the first time, but after a few times it just kinda grabbed a hold of me and never let go. Definitely one of the best Belgian's I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 20:17:53 | More by mg3

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

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

Well-awaited, and worth the wait. Poured from tap into a snifter at Isaac's in Newtown, PA.

A= Murky, muddy brown with a thick, frothy head. Settles down to good lacing.

S= Strong notes of raisin, black bread, caramel, roasted malt. Very sweet and pronounced smell.

T= Wonderful. Sweet at first, then settles down to a rich, yeasty flavor. Strong notes of raisin, brandy, black bread, with lighter fruits in background, esp. plum and cherry.

M= Great carbonation, no bitterness.

0= Just a superb beer, one of the best I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 20:09:39 | More by smooth_aleing

bbluemzbeer

California

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

This is a world class beer! It is not cheap but for a treated myself for my birthday. You can get this pretty easy in my area too.

Appearance: It was a dark brown look to it,. The haed was 1 1/2 inch with thick lacing.

Smells" It is sweet spiced fruits, apple, some banana (with cloves), An aswesome smell to it

Taste. Tremendous ! It has some tartness but not overbearing. I get sweet fruit at first. It has a very comlex taste for a beer. I never taste nothing like it in the world. Roasted malts come through with a great after taste.

Mouthfeel: It is great with good carbonation. Excellent balance. It is full, and yet so slick on my tongue.

Overall,:jThe best beer in the world. If you have never tried you are mssing out on one of the greatest beer in the world!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 15:39:47 | More by bbluemzbeer

Misanthropy_Sipping

Nebraska

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

I think I am pretty sure this was the first quardupel ale I had ever had. Still a favorite and often what I compare to other quads as it is just so straightforward and so good for the style.

Pours a very deep rust/ deep deep brown. There is a very beautiful ruby hew when held to the light. Has a vigorous khaki head.

There is a lot going on in the smell. Almost a woody scent, cherries, Belgian candi sugar, brown sugar, plums, dates, vanilla, , spice, a bit yeasty. Very earthy tone going on. A mellow smell, but awfully complex.

Tastes wonderful. Again, a whole lot going on. There is almost a cinnamon dryness to it. There is spice and cherries, a bit of yeast. Dates, brown and Belgian candi sugar, burnt caramel, a tad plumy. There is a hint of vanilla... just awesome. everything is in the right place and well balanced. There is a bit of an herbal/woody hop bitterness to finish it all off.

Mouthfeel is really great too. I like to pour mine a bit vigorously but the carbonation still clings on nicely. Surprisingly drinkable. A bit sticky on the back of the mouth but it matches with the sweet taste of this beer. It's what's expected. For being a medium to heavy body, I am always surprised at how drinkable this is.

Overall, excellent. As mentioned, this is one of the quads I base opinion of others off of just because it is so solid. The others I hold at top notch right now would have to be La Trappe and Straffe Hendrik.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 03:36:51 | More by Misanthropy_Sipping

DmanGTR

New York

4.98/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've had this beer from both bottle and from tap. The 2 styles are identical in all respects in my opinion, except of course, the carbonation can be adjusted accordingly when on tap. Thus, my review for the draught version is identical to that of it from the bottle, except for the mouthfeel category. I will add, too, that I had a slightly overcarbonated pour from tap at a bar once. I talked to the bartender and they dialed the carbonation down a little bit. I tried it again the next day and it was much better and thus, the review came from the better of the two experiences:

Deep plum brown with a nicely retained beige head in a St. Bernardus goblet. Garnet hues barely shine through in the light. Nicely sweet, predominantly caramel, plum, raisins, and a light toffee hint. Perhaps even a touch of burnt sugar in the very farthest reaches of the crevices of your palate. This beer commands respect to all those savoring its greatness. Very, very light hint of hops keeps it from being cloying, yet remaining undetectable by conventional means. It's almost as if the hops are simple leaving a shadow to dance with the malts and fruity flavors. Carbonation is spot on. Sweet and almost chewy body, but still incredibly smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2012 03:29:12 | More by DmanGTR

SamJory

United Kingdom (England)

4.98/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle kept at cellar temperature then chilled for 20 minutes in the fridge.

Pours a dark brown with a thick, creamy off-white head which results in some nice sticky lacing.

Aromas of dark dried fruits - think figs, prunes, raisins. Also some fruity belgian yeast.

Really full bodied on the palate, the nose matches the taste with a slightly bitter burnt sugar note as well, and surprisingly not overly sweet although there is some sweetness there given the high abv.

Silky smooth, fairly viscous mouthfeel. This is everything you want in a beer, had it recently and it was hands down one of the best beers I have ever had!

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 14:59:16 | More by SamJory

michael69

4.98/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beer was medium bodied with a sweet, slightly fruity smell. It had a nice creamy head, about 1-1 1/2" thick, and for the % of alcohol, it was well balanced. Bought some in the bottle and noticed that it taste better at around 50 degrees rather at 40. I must say though that it is one of the best beers I have tasted.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2012 20:00:04 | More by michael69

HossMcGraw

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

If I may quote Uncle Jesse from "Full House", "Have Mercy!". Just unreal. I took a sip and nearly did a backflip. The taste is just phenomenal. It's like liquid cotton candy. Alcohol is brilliantly hidden. Mouthfeel is perfect with just the right amount of carbonation, and the drinkability is through the roof. I don't know how this is out of the bottle, but on draft, it was almost perfection. This is definitely one you need to try.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2003 21:15:43 | More by HossMcGraw

nogoodreason

Missouri

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Deep brown with a red hue. If you look closely, you'll note small yeast flakes hiding in the depths of this beer. A nice tan head forms, about two fingers thick. It dissipates down to about a centimeter and stays there.

Smell: Fresh baked, whole grain bread. Cocoa. Leather. Sweet Dough. Molasses. Honey. Smells better than most anything else in the world.

Taste: Where to begin? Rich, and with a nice malt sweetness. Not over the top sweet. Some more bready flavors, Pumpernickel? Cream. Some dark fruits and a nicely balanced tang. Yeasty and with a little alcohol character. The finish is huge and the wonderful bready spicy malty character sticks around.

Mouthfeel: Perfection. Honestly. Nicely carbonated, but comfortably viscous and thick. It almost feels as good to my tongue as it tastes. Hate to swallow.

Drinkability: A savory, slow drinking delight and 10% ABV means that one is probably enough.


Notes: This beer should be taken out of the fridge for a while before consuming. It's so much better just a few degrees below room temp. A magnificent creation and as close to the perfect beer as I've ever tasted. Drink it. Know it. Love it.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2004 22:36:52 | More by nogoodreason

ZAP

Minnesota

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a cloudy, muddy mahogany...great nose...big cookie doughalso some sweet fruits....perhaps watermelon..also black cherries...plums..a hint of molasses as well..Body is rich and eloquent...spicy alcohol evident but it fits nicely with the rich flavors...carbonation is jacked up...that fits nicely too...flavors are sweet dark fruit maltiness acented wit ha candy sugar like sweetness...finishes creamy and smooth...as I drink this I realize this is the big dog...this is a true heavy hitter....I am in possession of a fantastic beverage...better than any of the Westy stuff I've had which is saying something and the best of the 3 I've had from this brewery....

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2004 06:19:10 | More by ZAP

Boto

Connecticut

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

33cl. bottle: I finally got around to trying one of these. It pours a cloudy, brown color. There was some off-white head to it, which died down fairly rapidly. The aroma was not quite as strong as I would have expected. Very pleasant, but a hair lighter. The aroma is rich and complicated. There are many kinds of fruits in the mix, but the complexity is making it hard for determining individual notes. The taste is superb. A complicated sweetness, with a tart underlying flavor. Fruits, caramel, heaven. Superb.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2005 01:33:24 | More by Boto

horndecker

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Small brown 33cl bottle. I poured it into a Westmalle chalice. I figured it wouldn't mind. I've had this a number of times before, but am only now reviewing it for the first time.

A huge fluffy capuccino colored head, reminds me of the pillows of yeast overflowing a fermenting cask....the finest of bubbles, clumpy lace clinging to the glass. A deep walnut hue, not too cloudy. Beautiful.

First whiff is cocoa, almonds, sweet malts, walnuts?, hints of lime, turkish taffy, barbecue sauce?, yowzah!, chocolate. HOLD IT! Need time to assimilate.

The taste is sweet fruits, roasted malts and lots of chocolate. Luscious creamy mouthfeel, full bodied, milky, hint of diacetyl. It warms the back of your throat. Alcohol is apparent but very well placed behind the toasty sweetness.

Absolutely wonderful. Dangerously drinkable. I always wait for the end of the evening to partake of one of these, since seconds might have unforseen consequences....like thirds.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2005 03:58:42 | More by horndecker

Wonka

Maryland

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

1PT 9.4 FL. OZ.
10% ALC./VOL.

20 10 09 on the cork cap

Cork released easily with an impressive pop.

Appearance – clear brown body with a light steady stream of rising carbonation; massive rocky light tan head that breaks down slowly but always provides containment to the brew below; lace is chunky and sheetlike in segments; as quads go, this is a great presentation

Smell – malty, spicy, grapes, raisin, reasonable zip of alcohol

Taste – yeast and alcohol jump out early; alcohol remains throughout and provides a reminder of the product’s strength later; nutty; red grape; fruity and at times sugary sweet; hops are severely repressed; wine/yeast aftertaste

Mouthfeel – beautifully full for most of the feel with a slight drop at times near the end; smooth rolling open with an occasional, nice crisp accent to close; at times its evenly full; on the mark

Drinkability – so smooth for its size; for a quad, I have yet to run into any more drinkable

If you are settling in for the 25.4 oz., set away some time for an immense sensory experience. As quads go, this is my favorite, hands down.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2005 19:13:55 | More by Wonka

beermanbrian

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours with a huge tan head that leaves tons of lacing as it drops to a foamy cap. Red, brown in color with plenty floaties in the bottle swirling around to give it some character.

Smell is right on. Molasses, dark fruits (cherries, plums, raisins) with just a hint of alcohol to let you know it's in there. Taste is solid think molasses sweetness but is balanced out by the alcohol. Also some yeastiness that gives it some bread like flavors. Just a touch of nuttiness and spicyness.

Supper smooth going down. For a 10% beer it is incredible drinkable. This is damn near perfect. Slight knock on appearance for head retention time. I'm still searching for that perfect beer but this is as close as I've come.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2006 01:31:51 | More by beermanbrian

sponberg

New York

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Note: Originally listed as Westy 12 on tap. Uhh, no. Call me a drunken dope. Now under its rightful brew...

I used to be an agnostic.

Pours a dark cloudy brown, with a thinnish cream colored head that has good staying power. The aroma is dark fruitiness, sweet maly, chocolate, and alcohol - huge.

One of those beers that, after you take a sip, you put it down, take a step back, and stare at the glass. Starts off with dark fruity maltiness (sugar plums, apricots and figs) with caramel, toffee, and toast joining in, followed by a bitter-chocolatey sweetness/bitterness in perfect balance. Then the alcohol joins in. This may be the best tasting beer I've ever tried. Simply stunning. The finish is merely a continuance of the taste. The mouthfeel is like liquid velvet. You'd never guess the strength from drinking it until you've had two and realize that walking is now a bit more problematic.

I had this in bottle many years ago,and enjoyed it. On tap it is near perfection. My guess is that the monks don't care about being celibate after a few of these.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2006 15:58:28 | More by sponberg

Phocion

Minnesota

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours into a Westvleteren goblet a thick, dark brown, with a hint of amber if held up to the light. Fairly resilient short but creamy beige head.

Nose is rich and complex. First hint is almost like a brandy. Dried figs, cinnamon, yeasty dough, and alcohol are all evident. If I could rate the smell above a 5, I would. Amazing.

Very warm alcohol bite with thick, sweet, toffee and molasses malt, followed by subtle fruits and nuts, and finishes with spice and chocolate.

Very warm and thick, and smooth as silk. 10.5% ABV, but I don't care, the bottle's already almost half-gone by the end of this review.. This thing is delicious. Two thumbs up, would recommend to anyone, etc. Try this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2006 23:28:21 | More by Phocion

pmcadamis

Illinois

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this at Crane Alley in Urbana IL, served in an orval chalice. This one pours a murky dirty brown with absolutely no trace of a head. Although I like the drunk monk on the bottle, this really isn't an appealing beer. One of the girls in my party even went so far as to say it looks like sewage water....but I think that's a little harsh. Maybe more like river water.

The smell is rife with ethanol, and I smell nice clean malts and a firm hop presence. A bit weedy, outdoorsy, and fresh smelling, but warmly malted also. I smell ripe dark fruits...maybe plum and sweet grapes.

There is something very grapey and vinous about this one. I love the rich warmth provided by the full malts and alcohol heat, and the nice dose of hops was unexpected but welcomed. This is really a slow sipper, and gets much more flavorfull as it warms. With time, malty caramel and brown sugar come out to play, and eventually become the dominant flavor (the hops are more evident at first when the brew was still cold. This came to me pretty damn chilly from behind the bar, but I would like to see this served at room temp.

Mouthfeel is excellent and the nice finish left me clucking my tongue to get avery last bit of flavor. This really is an excellent brew, and the big alcohol warmth is a pleasant quality...like drinking brandy from a snifter. One of my all time favorites so far.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2006 13:08:41 | More by pmcadamis