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

cosmicevan

New York

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ah, the fabled Westy 12. I acquired this bottle about 6 months back in one of my first trades. I said this was the beer I wanted to toast when my daughter was born. Although she was born a little less than 2 days ago, this is my first chance to sit back and enjoy one. This one is for you, Samantha! Welcome to this world...cheers!

A - label-less bottle with a glass ring around the stem of the bottle that says "Trappistenbier" and a cap telling me that this is the Westvleteren 12. Dated 27.05.13. Opened the bottle and poured into my La Trappe chalice. The entire bottle perfectly filled the glass and had a nice brownish purple color with a picture perfect frothy head. The head was creamy and wonderful. As a big fan of Quads, it is wonderful to see that this beer looks perfect.

S - Sweet grapes nutmeg and booze. My mouth is watering.

T - Oh wow. Just as the nose suggests, this beer is sweet boozy grape juice. I may have opened it a bit too fresh from the fridge because it got much better as it warmed and really came into it's own.

M - Creamy and smooth. The alcohol is HOT on this beer. Tingles like crazy in my mouth and leaves a somewhat bittery yet biscuity after taste. Once I got used to the heat, the flavors and creaminess ruled the roost. Beer felt great.

O - Overall, I am not disappointed one bit. However, I am a bit surprised on the booziness of this beer. Amazing Quad. Best beer in the world...? Maybe. Worldclass...? DEFINITELY. I'd really love to try one that has some solid age on it...I bet it would be insane. I do understand all the comparisons to some of the other better known quads and I do understand some folks choosing other Quads over this one. I'd love to do a blind test next to some of my other favs.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 02:57:46 | More by cosmicevan

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -3%

05-24-2013 14:34:59 | More by tommyguz

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