Trappist Westvleteren 12 (XII) - Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review from Inaugural Issue of Beeradvocate Magazine.

The so-called Holy Grail for many beer geeks, with single bottles going for upwards of $20 in the US. This bottle is at least eight years old. Poured into a silver-rimmed Westvleteren chalice. Translucent brown with shimmering ruby hues, and a thick, tightly-laced, creamy, sticky head above. Similar aroma as the other Westys; a complex, deep malted nose of carob, toffee and honey. Massive creamy buildup on the palate, as the tight carbonation hits the warmth of the mouth. Silky smooth, with a dry, medium, even body. Again with the powdery feel. Interesting twang of grapes. Dextrin sweetness. More carob, golden syrup, blossom honey, toffee, medicinal phenols, anise, ginger, booze-soaked golden raisins, raw candi sugar and a watery, slightly fruity currant character. Alcohol on this one is quite boozy and warming. Bone-dry, powdery, with a residual cocoa character and alcohol breath.

Stellar fresh, preferred fresh, damn good aged. Best beer in the world? That's a debate for the forums on BeerAdvocate.com, but it's definitely among the top.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 18:34:02 | More by BeerAdvocate

Jason

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 11.2 oz slender brown bottle, no freshness code and no label.

Appearance: Silky looking off white lace, very tiny bubble dropping rings around the glass.

Smell: Very aromatic. Suggestions of plump golden raisins, anise, herbal tea, buckwheat honey, caramel, lemon rind, fresh baked short bread and a mild phenolic character. Sweet and spicy alcohol in the nose with a mellow malt.

Taste: Luscious velvety mouth feel, medium carbonation that fuels the viscosity of the smoothness and body. Big maltiness is pushed around by a flailing spicy character, bit of clove with a mellow medicinal phenol also. Malt is sweet and has flavours of brown bread and caramel but Christmas pudding also with alcohol and candied fruit. Alcohol is very prevalent but not overwhelming, adds a sweet and spicy presence and a warming effect. Hints of raw honey, anise and lemon zest. Touch of yeast adds the element of earth to the complex mix, esters grow more towards the end with an addition of ghost like fusel alcohol. Semi-dry finish with lingering spicy and phenolic flavours.

Notes: So damn smooth, near perfection in a bottle. The alcohol at its strength does not bring down the drinkability and makes this beer so balanced in a heavenly way that it is devious for making you want more and more.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2002 22:46:15 | More by Jason

desint

Belgium

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

05-24-2013 12:01:33 | More by desint

WallE89

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +7.8%

05-24-2013 03:46:23 | More by WallE89

tholm273

Wisconsin

4.84/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

WOW, I couldn't believe I ran into a bottle of this. I am by far not as big a beer snob as some of you, but I love to try and share beer when I get it. This beer goes beyond complex. Each and every sip I took I got a different experience of flavors. The owner of the place I got it from took out a bottle, poured it into a westy12 glass and the head just kept on going thru the tip of the glass, and staying there. Took a frew big, deep breaths into my nose and trying to get a hint of anything going on off the top of the glass. Sipped it, took a bigger sip and let it sit in my mouth, trying to get some of the initial tastes.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 15:41:19 | More by tholm273

TheRuss9585

Vermont

5/5  rDev +7.8%

05-23-2013 14:34:08 | More by TheRuss9585

Abrengle

Washington

5/5  rDev +7.8%

05-23-2013 01:29:45 | More by Abrengle

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -3%

05-23-2013 01:29:11 | More by mikeincharleston

Mattias

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -24.6%

05-22-2013 20:10:19 | More by Mattias

grover37

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

05-22-2013 04:19:12 | More by grover37

zonker17

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

05-22-2013 03:43:32 | More by zonker17

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

05-21-2013 03:59:45 | More by CosmoHopHead

CraftEyeDoc

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -3%

05-21-2013 02:34:38 | More by CraftEyeDoc

Thedrizzle

Florida

5/5  rDev +7.8%

05-21-2013 02:14:26 | More by Thedrizzle

adhallick

Manitoba (Canada)

5/5  rDev +7.8%

05-21-2013 01:02:17 | More by adhallick

DoubleJ

California

4.41/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

This has been a long time coming. I had a small taste of it years back, but having a taste is not the same as having an entire bottle to yourself. It also isn't the same as being in the cafe across the street of the monastery and having it served properly in its own chalice. The main event is here. On to the beer:

A large rocky head sits on top of this dark, creamy brown colored beer. It retains well and leaves reasonable lace around. The aroma is...not as intense as expected. It features notes of plum, chocolate, and pudding, however I needed to dig deep to find this subtle, lovely notes.

The flavor puts this beer on track. The flavor is as intense as I thought and does feel more so than the 8. Ironincally, soft yeasty fruit hits first, followed by figs, a peppery biterness, pudding, and dark chocolate. Very deep in flavor, and the full creamy body of the beer suits the beer very well. Yum yum yum!

On its own, Westvleteren 12 is an excellent beer. If you're not at In de Vrede, it's a bit of work to track down a bottle, even at bottle shops in Brussels! Everyone shoud try this beer at least once.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 23:52:06 | More by DoubleJ

Jslay013

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

05-20-2013 21:34:32 | More by Jslay013

powz87

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

05-20-2013 17:17:17 | More by powz87

chippo33

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

05-20-2013 14:26:14 | More by chippo33

kirkfrailey

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

05-20-2013 14:21:42 | More by kirkfrailey

Dave_Treat

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev -3%

05-20-2013 11:06:23 | More by Dave_Treat

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -3%

05-20-2013 03:23:31 | More by Kmat10

gfx

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +7.8%

05-20-2013 01:26:25 | More by gfx

bcuz7

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -3%

05-19-2013 21:41:35 | More by bcuz7

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

05-19-2013 21:18:29 | More by BeerGut4Life