St. Bernardus Pater 6 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

SHODriver

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: poured into a SAt Bernardus Chalice to a deep mahogany with a half ich of off white head that fades to a small mat
S: smells of bready malt, dark fruit, caramel sweetness and a bit of spicy yeast
T: bready malt sweetness, some caramel, spicy yeast, dark fruits, slight candi sugar like sweetness and a tinge of bitterness. swallow brings more bready malt, dark fruits and spice
M: lighter side of medium in the mouth with slightly prickly carbonation and a semi dry finish
O: good complexity, good flavors, solid balance and very enjoyable. very smooth and easy to drink. a fantastic Dubbel

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 01:28:12 | More by SHODriver

hackmann

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: ruddy brown body with a light tan 1-1/2 finger head; spotty lacing

Aroma: dark bread, dark fruit, light overall, builds character as the ale warms

Flavors: dark fruit – raisin like; pumpernickel with a little rye swirl; touch of spice;

Mouthfeel: fizzy carbonation sparkling wine like, mild-moderate body, nice balance between sweet malts and hops, light dark fruits linger on the palate; to me it is fairly simple: raisin, pumpernickel bread with a touch of rye grain spice and a light aftertaste.

To the Point: a nice Pater, pleasing to drink, easy to enjoy, I think I like this better than the Prior 8 which has a cinnamon raisin bread likeness;

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 17:36:51 | More by hackmann

jeranbrews

New York

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - light auburn with faint beige head. Pretty lacing that glides down the glass gently

S - faint nutty aroma.

T - well balanced malty. Slight abv burn sweet gentle

M - slightly sparkly not to hot stays in your mouth just the right amount of time

D - high not as good as the 8

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 01:55:39 | More by jeranbrews

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

P: A speckled mahogany body with a dollop of off white head that fades to a bubbly wake.

S: A controlled caramel, great Belgian yeast strain, subdued sweet dark fruits, clove, the black bottom part of a banana, pumpernickel bread and spicy hops. Aroma is similar to a musty cardboard fruit container.

T/M: Malty caramel, bready yeast, dark fruits, booze, and spices. Vivacious medium body that finishes dry with green apple tartness and bitter spiced tea tannin.

O: Complex and perfectly balanced. I gotta say I love it and want some more of it. The balance is what really shines here. Not over barring in any way but just nicely married. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 01:45:39 | More by Hopswagger

alex_hart

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into St. Bernardus glass.

Appearance is a beautiful milk chocolatey brown with a one finger beige head.

Smells slightly sweet, effervescent belgian yeast, and hints of spices and citrus.

Taste is very much like the smell. Invitingly sweet, but well complemented by a bitterness. its hard for me to put this one down because I can hardly wait for each sip to come. Yet again some hints of spice and citrus. Beautifully balanced.

Mouthfeel is somewhat sticky, yet smooth, and is medium to light bodied. Enjoyable all the way through.

Overall just a plain and simple great beer. Recommend to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 17:30:01 | More by alex_hart

themind

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

This is a quality brew that I very much enjoyed. The only draw back for me was a high level of carbonation which effected my mouth feel score. Overall I would purchase this again. St. Bernardus scores another knock out with this offering.

Bottom Line: Great beer that I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 00:04:45 | More by themind

Patou

France

3.93/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle 330ml. Pours beautifull brown/deep with creamy beige head. Aroma is of malt, caramel, citrus, sweetness. Taste is of malt, medium sweet, caramel, citrus, hops, belgian yeast and a rather long dry and slightly bitter agreable finish. Palate: Medium body, average carbonation. Overall: Very good, tasty. Interesting body and balance. A serious beer, with a reasonnable abv.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 19:08:09 | More by Patou

jera1350

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Transparent brown body with a dense everlasting head of foam.

Great complex taste from the yeast. Malty, effervescent yeast, cocoa.

Has a nice complexity, but tastes a bit light overall. Light cocoa, malty, wheaty grain, yeasty, hint of spice from the hops, earthy.

Feels thin for the abv. Lots of carbonation with a dry finish.

Drinks easily and has a well masked alcohol content. Complex and well made, but lacks body and the overall flavor is just a bit light to take the score down a bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 00:46:00 | More by jera1350

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.76/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

a deep amber pour with 2 fingers of creme colored head.. good head retention. smells of dates, figs, raisins, cinnamon. the flavor is sweet and bready, but not overwhelming. there is a nice presence of all the dark fruits i smelled, plus a nice caramel-like flavor. medium in body with high carbonation and is a bit more refreshing than most belgian dubbels.

not a huge fan of this style, but i appreciate it for what it is. a nice sweet malty profile with a nice spicy finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 18:00:19 | More by facundoCNB

Blindpigbiz

California

4.09/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Since I don't discriminate against the color of a beer, I find appearance to be of little importance. By the way, I'm terrible with math and with that being said, I am not sure if my average score I gave the beer is correct or not

Smell: mineral water with hints of sweet cashews and flecks of pralines

Taste: subtle sweet lemon bitterness with cashews, earth, and tinges of sweet malt with a slight bourbon burn

Mouthfeel: dry bitterness with mild effervescence; very crisp

Overall, this is one of the most unique dubbels a person can find. Typical dubbels have the ever-so cloying attributes of intense maltiness and bananas; pater 6 is a pseudo-antithesis to the aforementioned. You don't have to agree with the profile that has been given to this beer, but I have led many beer tastings with this as the dubbel of choice (sometimes) and no one has ever asked for their dos Equis amber ale back.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:07:51 | More by Blindpigbiz

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From: Whole Foods, Omaha, NE
Date: Best by 03/10/2014
Glass: St. Bernardus Chalice

St. Bernardus' Pater 6 is a mild-smelling and tasting, sweet dubbel. I was surprised at how moderate the beer played itself across my senses, I was certainly expecting heavier scents and tastes along with a greater caramel-like malt influence on the beer, which I did not find. While not unappetizing in any way, I did not find this beer to be particularly exceptional and would probably not purchase it again. As I note in the review itself, this reminded me of a light version of a Belgian Strong Dark ale.

Pours a 1cm tall head of khaki-tan foam, composed of small to medium-sized bubbles, with average retention rates (about a minute). Retention is about average, fading to a thick ring around the glass and a few light, spotty islands of wispy foam atop the body. As the head descends, it leaves modest lacing along the sides of the glass, lines and an occasional odd shape, nothing spectacular. The body itself is a very dark, semi-transparent amber brown, light bringing out brighter brown and burnt red hues. Carbonation is not visible.

Aroma is fairly light, of sweet, amber Belgian candi sugar, slight grape ester, and mild spices as produced by the brewery's yeast strain. This does not seem particularly amazing or complex to me.

The beer is very smooth and sweet, with dominant flavors of amber malts and Belgian candi sugar, grape-like esters, and a noticeable bitterness. Overall, this drinks, to me, like a light version of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Front of palate is sweet and fruity, with grape-like esters, amber Belgian candi sugar, and a bit of amber malt for a very mild toffee-like effect. Mid-palate features moderate bitterness, grape-like esters, and amber Belgian candi sugar sweetness. Back of palate features continued bitterness, Belgian candi sugar influence, and grape-like esters, along with some Belgian yeast or ethanol induced spices (anise? or clove?). Aftertaste is mildly bitter, with very mild grape-like esters and amber malt and candi sugar sweetness.

Beer is medium-light in body, with carbonation of fairly high intensity, resulting in a beer that is fizzy at first, eventually creating a mass of foamy bubbles upon the palate. Closes semi-dry, with moderate stickiness lingering across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 02:13:33 | More by falloutsnow

rangerred

Tennessee

3.65/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

330ml bottle into a goblet.

Pours a slightly hazy dark brown due to the sediment that got into the glass with a half finger fluffy white head. Really good head retention and decent lacing.

Aroma is a little bit weak but I really can pick out brown sugar and vanilla. There is also a slightly musty odor but it is more complimentary than it is distracting.

The brown sugar is more muted in the flavor allowing the the banana/clove Belgian yeast character to shine through. More vanilla that is subdued but there is a noticeable lack of complexity compared to some other versions of the style. Mouthfeel is on the watery side with a little bit of stickyness left on the finish.

Overall, I am not very impressed by this Dubbel. It really lacks complexity and depth of flavor along with a weak mouthfeel. I feel like this could be a whole lot better with a little bit of work.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 02:29:59 | More by rangerred

Arno

3.5/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's not the greatest "dubbel" i had and i didn't like it all the first and second time, but i started to grow on it a little better. It has the same characteristics of the 8 and 12, but weaker and more mellow. It has a better balance then the 8 and lacks the layers of the 12.

It's an ok beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 00:16:48 | More by Arno

impending

California

4.29/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.75

A

33cl into a tulip. Pours as if cola, the head was large bubbled, receded fairly quick to a ring, minor lacing.

The aroma is a clean sweet upbeat. Root beer, caramel, fig and a touch of mentholatum.

The taste is classic. Black cherries join the root beer, raisins join the caramel and fig. Zero bitter, zero dry. Just shy of medium bodied smooth mouthfeel.
Joins the Prior as royalty within dubbels.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 06:51:26 | More by impending

tectactoe

Michigan

3.81/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a murky, dark-ish copper-brown color with little bits of off-white sediment swirling among the haze. The khaki head is thick and creamy looking and lasts for a considerable amount of time; a few chunks of lace cling to the top of the glass. Nose is sparkling and fruity; ripe, sour grapes, apple skins, and loaded with phenols. Toasted malts give it a steely-caramel structure, side-by-side with a full-out, sweet ester-laden parade. Some slight spices on the nose, most likely from the characteristic Belgian yeast. The aroma almost gives off a tartness, similar to a Lindeman's lambic, though slightly less pungent.

Sweet, sugar-coated grapes and plums are the first thing that comes to mind when taking a sip. Body is fairly thin and carbonated so much that the brew seems to evaporate in your mouth. Light, deep cranberry sauce flavors start to come out - a tartness evolves, spikes, and lasts for only a split second - it's refreshing and borderline sour and puckering, something you don't always find in dubbels. The infrastructure of Pater 6 is full of earthy, dirty hops and sweet, fruity esters. Some spice noticeable at the tail end, mainly clove, but it isn't as powerful or prominent as it is in many other Belgian brews. Nice little bitter twang in the aftertaste, coming mostly from the hops which turn from earthy to floral as the beer goes on. Aftertaste of wine-soaked bread and light clove. The alcohol in this one isn't strong, but it's phenol characteristics shine through at the right moments. Nearing room temp, this beer surprisingly seems to lose a bit of flavor, but is still nice and drinkable.

Solid dubbel, nice balance of sweetness, earthiness, and bitterness. Didn't pack as big of a punch as I was expecting, but maybe that's a good thing. Can't wait to try the Prior 8.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 13:18:30 | More by tectactoe

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Deep chestnut colored body with not much in the way of transparency. Huge, frothy, creamy beige head that lingers around for awhile.

S- Spicy Belgian yeast with notes of pepper, dark malts, slightest bit of dark dried fruit, along with a nutty aroma.

T- A little more sweetness in the taste than the aroma would indicate. Sweet malt and dried fruit comes through first, the middle has more sweet malt along with some nutty flavors. The finish has a little more of the fruity flavors along with a little bit of hazelnut.

M- Medium-high carbonation, medium mouthfeel. Smooth and creamy, with a bubbly feel. I do notice a little bit of a metallic flavor/feel mixed in.

O- Good beer, good flavors, strong dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 18:58:50 | More by stephenjmoore

bobhits

Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Deep murky brown with a bit of color in the glass (poured of course in a St Bernardus glass), perhaps not almost black but this bastard is dark. Head forms but fades quickly leaving just a bit of lacing.

Brown toasted nutty, dark fruits and with some clove and other odd spices. This is the darkest smelling of the St. Bernadus numbered beers.

OK lets just say it...this blows 8 the hell out of the water! Figs, DARK fruits, toasted bread, cloves, other spices. The dark fruit flavor here is just great. This is the perfect sweet dark fruited Belgian beer.

A bit too much lingering, it doesn't have that dry finish the 12 has, but the lower alcohol allows for this to be ok.

This isn't a master piece like their 12 or the tripel, but this a very nice beer. If the price weren't near 20 a 4 pack on this 6.7% beer I might grab one from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 13:01:18 | More by bobhits

spoony

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

From an 11.2 oz bottle (best buy May 8, 2015) into a chalice.

A-A mild pour produced one finger of rocky, tan-tinted foam. Foam fades quickly, but not surprisingly for a true Belgian, a thin cap hangs around. The brew is slightly cloudy and murky brown.

S-I smell ripe, sweet, dark fruits like plum, fig, and raisin, as well as a pretty strong aroma of light brown sugar. There is nice whiff of Belgian style spice and banana yeast to cap it off.

T-The taste is slightly lighter than the smell, by which I mean there are hints of apple and pear to go along with the aforementioned darker fruits and brown sugar. The sweetness remains, as well as the slight Belgian kick.

M-The body is slightly slick. Heft is medium and carbonation is medium to high (for the style).

O-This beer is unmistakably (and deliciously) Belgian. The sweet flavors are indeed sweet and there are fruit components, but it doesn't hit you over the head like a lot of the stronger-flavored American interpretations of a dubbel. A fine example of restraint in beer-making.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 03:50:00 | More by spoony

Quackershnoc

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

11.2-ounce bottle, served in a goblet (01/09/2013 – best by 07/27/2015)
Appearance: a dark, deep brown color; hazy, with some sediment in it; thick, creamy off-white head that sticks around
Aroma: molasses; caramel; malt; yeast; fig, and other dark fruit
Taste: tobacco is the first thing that popped into my head; not nearly as sweet as I was expecting; it starts with a dark, tobacco-like flavor; then some of the yeast and toasted malt come through, a hint of sweetness, but not much; then some of the fruits come in, kind of apple tartness to it, there’s also some spice (clove, cinnamon, pepper?) on the back end and a hint of tobacco revisited; not at all what I was expecting
Mouthfeel: medium bodied; a bit sticky/clingy; excellent carbonation
Overall Impression: it’s a good beer, but quite a shock at first taste, my nose and my tongue went in opposite directions; it’s a good, solid brew but one of the weaker Belgians (especially considering the St. Bernardus Abt 12!); it was fun to try, but to honest, I doubt I would ever buy it again

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 03:30:55 | More by Quackershnoc

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle into goblet.

A - Hazy amber brown with a frothy off-white head.

S - Sweet bready malt, dark fruit, caramel, biscuit.

T - Toasted malt, brown sugar, spicy Belgian yeast, and lots of sweet dark fruit. Finish is very peppery, herbal, and fruity.

M - Light-medium body, smooth and creamy. Prickly carbonation, dry finish.

O - A flavorful, balanced dubbel. Easy to drink. A little bit lighter body compared to the "8" but it holds its own. Great brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 04:45:29 | More by mooseo

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a hazy orange/brown with a thin off-white head that dissipates quickly. A trace amount of lacing is left on the glass.

S-Extremely fruity-dried fruits, apple, fig, and a hint of pear.

T-Similar to the nose as it is very fruity. Dried fruits dominate with a hint of alcohol and Belgian yeast. It tastes amazing, I like it more than the regular Dubbel from St. Bernardus.

M-Thin, slightly carbonated as the beer feels light in your mouth.

D-I could drink this all day.

Overall, another truly great beer from St. Bernardus, I love it. Its a lighter and fruiter version of the style and a must try.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:58:13 | More by thegodfather2701

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 11.2 oz bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet glass. Best by date of 27-07-15.

Appearance: Pours a deep and hazy brownish amber with some ruby. Moderate amount of bubbles and a solid three fingers of off white head which slowly recede into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A nicely complex fruity and yeasty aroma. Belgian yeast with some clove and pepper spicing. Big esters of ripe bananas along with some apple and melon. Toasted malts with hints of caramel, toffee, biscuit, and grains along with some Belgian candied sugar. Big hints of dark fruits including dark grapes, raisins, plum, fig, prune, dates, and dark cherries. Subdued earthy hop presence. Light scent of alcohol. A very solid Dubbel aroma.

Taste: Like the nose hints, a good mix of fruity esters and spice. Belgian yeast with some funk along with some clove and pepper spicing. Candied Belgian sugars. Taste of ripe banana and some apple and melon. Bready toasted malts with notes of biscuit, caramel, toffee, and wheat grains. Solid taste of dark fruits including raisin, dark grapes, plum, prune, fig, dark cherry, and dates. Light taste of earthy hops towards the finish. A very good fruity Dubbel taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, slightly slick, and pretty smooth. Alcohol heat is pretty subdued.

Overall: A very good Belgian Dubbel. Solid balance of complex fruit esters and spice.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 07:33:53 | More by MattyG85

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a St. Bernardus chalice
Bottle date - 27 07 15

A - Tawny brown with a wettish off-white head that forms a wispy cap.

S - Spiced banana bread, clove, cinnamon, caramel grain, raisins, plums, sublime aroma.

T - Brown sugar, spicy and peppery yeast, spiced bread, like the aroma, clove and cinnamon, plantains, hints of prunes, some grassy hops show at the end.

M - Moderate carbonation, floats across the palate, medium body.

Pater 6 showcases Christmas spices and sugary, bready malts. There's also plenty of fruit esters as well. Excellent mix of flavors that really hit the spot around Christmas time.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:07:53 | More by StaveHooks

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Three fingers worth of slightly off-white colored rich whipped frothy lush head... Stellar retention... The color is a rich yet slightly murky medium brown... A slight bit of micro bubbled carbonation swirls towards the top the class but can only be seen under close examination... Some small gobs of lacing cling to the glass... Very elegant and regal...

S - Light Belgian yeast and rich over ripened fruity notes combines for a very pleasant but slightly understated aroma... Bananas... Plums... Dates... Golden raisins... Prunes... Some light brown sugar and caramel undertones as well...

T - Hidden on the nose, but the palate yields large amounts of tobacco... A lot of the expected fruitiness is missing in action... The brown sugar is present but to a lesser than expected degree... A hint of spice, namely nutmeg lingers on the finish... While there is improvement as this one warms, it never really quite gets to that next level...

M - Medium bodied... Sturdy... Light yet sharp carbonation... The finish is slightly dry and slightly astringent...

D - Undeniably Belgian... A bit of a let down compared to this Abbey's other high profile offerings... Excellent appearance and solid aroma, but a bit of a disappointment otherwise... I would gladly drink again, but would suggest others gravitate towards other examples of the style and from the brewery... The best facet of this beer is that drinkability in that the sub 7% ABV in this style is a rarity...

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 02:50:09 | More by philbe311

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into a matching St. Bernardus goblet. The brew appears a clear light mahogany to brown with a finger of white froth that slowly fades to a creamy film atop. When held to the light, it has more of a lighter brown to orange and yellowish tints around the edges. As the cap fades, it leaves some small stringy fingers of lace sticking to the glassware. Rising bubbles of carbonation maintain that thin film seemingly throughout the entire duration.

The nose has a mild suggestion of belgian candy sugar overtop of some maltiness that smells faintly bready with toasted grain. Some herbal hops are present that intermingle with trace amounts of fruity alcohol. Overall the nose on this is quite nice with no fault at all. It is balanced very well.

The taste has a bit of fruity alcohol at first that blends in with some herbal hop notes. At times, it has a faint medicinal character before the onset of some naturally flavors of cherry, toasty biscuits to bread, yeast, and a hint of herbs. Just like the aroma, the flavors here are balanced very well and transition from one flavor seemingly effortlessly into the next.

This is a medium to lighter bodied brew with a moderate amount of carbonation. It is light and refreshing with a crisp finish. The aromatics and flavors integrate well with each other and formulate a brew that is complex enough to nitpick but very easy to drink as well. This is worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 03:30:20 | More by stakem