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

doopydoogle

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Words cannot describe. Rich, complex, and delicious. The epitome of ultimate beerdom! Cherry, yeast, bread, full bodied, beautiful color, and packs quite a punch. Sampled at the Trappist Tasting @ The Moan and Dove, Amherst, MA. At that point I was quite libashed, so apologies for a less specific review. Try it if you can!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 04:37:54 | More by doopydoogle

vecernicek

Czech Republic

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Very nice beer, aroma of honey, yeast, clove, bread, schocolad (?) malt, dark fruits and vanilla. Big taste - honey, dark fruit, bread, nice hops, candy sugar, yeast and light earthiness
It is the king of beer. He has a great background. Pity that it can not simply buy

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 10:22:57 | More by vecernicek

lwhcchh

Oklahoma

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had the opportunity to visit l'abbey of Saint Sixtus and their cafe, de Vrede, late in October 2010 with a beer tour group. We tasted all three beers. I waited a few months to review this and add comments just to see if time and more tasting would alter my opinion. It has not.

Everyone in our group had read and heard all the hype for years and quite frankly many in the group, including myself, were doubtful that any beer could live up it to such a reputation. For the record, although the beer by the six-pack is sometimes available for purchase and carryout at the cafe, it was not on the day of our visit. In reality, unless you live in the area or are visiting for a long time, you will probably never be able to buy any of the beer in great quantity. Check our their website to review their order and purchase system. If you are lucky enough and living right, their system allows you to purchase a couple of cases (sometimes more) through their reservation system. We did see an OCCASIONAL bottle for sale in beer stores such as Bier Temple in Brugge and Brussels.
When I see Westvleteren for sale in the U.S. and it has a label on it or a different cap, etc. I wonder who did that? Certainly not the monks. I wonder if it is even the same beer. The individual bottles I saw around Belgium retailed for 14 Euro (close to $20 per bottle).

Now, on to the tasting!

We ordered all three and if memory serves me right, we paid about 3.5 Euro per beer. The beers arrived in bottles and the staff opened and poured each at the table (they weren't going to allow any unopened bottles to leave the premises). Poured into Westvleteren chalices. Naturally, we started with the 6, then the 8 and finally the 12. The 6 and 8 were great beer in their own right but we had come for the 12! Quite frankly we had been tasting beer for two weeks all over Belgium and the Netherlands and had some very fine beers, some well known and others from small artisan local breweries. I love Belgian ales and I doubted that any beer could top my favorites. I was looking and hoping to find fault. I did not. The 12 was pure perfection.

I won't spend my time rehashing what most reviewers have already covered. You already know the color, feel, etc. I will say the smell is heavenly and unlike any I had ever experienced. I wondered if the taste would match. It did. I will concur with those that were amazed at the complexity of the taste (earthy, dark fruits, sweet, etc. ) and how well masked the alcohol was. This beer slowly crept up on us and just covered us. This will be the taste against which I will always measure similar styles of beer. I will be chasing the memory of that taste and the rest of my beer drinking days. It was just different and a notch above everything else. We may have been drunk as we walked out of the cafe, but we all agreed that . . . yes . . . there is a God and he has his hand in this endeavor!

I have had a couple of 12s since that day, both had been aged for a couple of years. Great, but not the same. Perhaps the travel and heat altered it. Fresh is what I will always remember. The monks advocate drinking it fresh and from my experience . . . I have to agree.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 00:07:18 | More by lwhcchh

nsp73

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have had it from the bottle (in a glass of course) twice now. Thank god I was sitting down both times.
Truly is the only beer I have ever said that with and that's all that needs to be said. It tastes and smells wonderful. Malty, dark fruit, and earthy. The absolute best beer. I keep thinking others may overtake it from my favorites... like I said, it is still the only beer I have ever had that made my knees quiver.
Can't wait to try this on tap some day.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 23:00:22 | More by nsp73

tenaciousp65

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

i am fortunate enough to be studying in london this fall and was even more fortunate that my dad wanted to visit and see belgium and him and his friend were willing to drive to the middle of nowhere to try a beer they had never heard about. As i walked into In Dre verde my whole body was shaking with anticipation and i must say the 12 didn't let down. It was poured into the Westvleteren glass and it looked so elegant. It had a perfect one and half inch head right up to the lip. And from the first sip i could tell what an amazing beer it was. Just like the other Westys it has a full and I mean FULL body and right away you can taste 4 or 5 different flavors coming through. What most impressed me was the smoothness. From start to finish it was incredibly consistent. After all of my hyping my father and friend were also very impressed and could see why we made the trip. Can't wait to try another bottle of this when i get home

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 19:19:13 | More by tenaciousp65

ssznyter

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I only got to try about 1/4 of a bottle of this exceptional beer but it has definitely lived up to it's reputation. Amazingly enough a bartender at a bar me and a friend frequently attend and joined a beer club at got a bottle from a friend who had been to Belgium recently. He was kind enough to share it with us and give us a each about a quarter of the bottle. I would definitely like to try this again but I savored each mouth-full of the little I tried.

A: Dark brown and somewhat opaque. Small head but difficult to judge what the head would be like on a full pour from the small amount sampled.

S: Fruity, malty, and sweet notes rose out of the glass with each smell. Even after the initial smell and taste complex and intense scents still shined through.

T: Amazingly complex. Fruity, sweet, and malty with yeast flavors coming through. Apparently the bottle we tried was extremely fresh and strong flavors really pushed through and popped. Flavors of this beer lingered long after it was finished and I hoped they would have lingered even longer.

M: Fairly high carbonation but still very smooth. Each sip was savored and taken very slow in order to get as much as I could out of the small sample and the texture was perfect for a quad.

O: Overall I would say this may have been one of the best beers I have ever tasted. I wish I could have had a full bottle of it but from what I had it was outstanding. I feel as though there is much more to experience from this beer because it is just so complex. If I ever get the opportunity I will definitely try this again and hopefully unlock more of the complex secrets this beer offers.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 18:08:27 | More by ssznyter

sespourteille

Maine

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Unfortunately this beer came at the beginning of my beer drinking career and I'm convinced has forever tainted my taste by setting the bar so damn high. It is perfect, subtle yet bold with a fruity taste that is neither to sweet nor to tart. Light with an amber/brown color, it goes down smooth and has a taste reminiscent of times only monks could capture in a beverage. A+ and R.I.P probably the only bottle i will only drink, if you see this, get it.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 01:58:00 | More by sespourteille

coy

Mexico

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hunted for more than a year this beer, overpriced but worth every penny.

Appearance.- Big head, good retention, dark mahogany brown.

Smell.- Complex dark dried fruit, caramel.

Taste.- Complex but perfectly balanced, a lot going on.

Mouthfeel.- Medium body, goes faster than you would like.

Overall.- One of the best beers in the world, not over rated at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 06:27:46 | More by coy

gtermi

Texas

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Pours a watery brown with a think white head that quickly fades. All thats left after a few minutes is a ring around the beer.

S: The beer is pretty calm. I am picking up some dark fruit, like figs or raisins. Maybe I am crazy, but I also get a bit of banana in there.

T: Now this is where the beer deserves to be considered the greatest beer in the world. There is a nice amount of dark fruit with some malt and a good amount of sweetness. I am also getting a tiny bit of banana. Really tastes more like a 4% beer and not 10.2%.

M: This is the perfect mouthfeel to me. It is so smooth and easy to drink. There is a tiny amount of crispness that tingles the tongue, but other than that it goes down like water. Cant ask for anything better.

O: If I could give this beer a 6 out of 5 I would. It just doesn't get much better than this and I wish it was easier to find, but I cant complain too much because I was lucky to get one thanks to my wife. Just amazing!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 06:44:32 | More by gtermi

sterstar1

Colorado

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Purchased a bottle in Belgium and brought it back to the states. It was in the cellar for 4 years and I just opened it the other day. What a treat. The color was deep and beautiful. The nose was an absolute delight. Definitely candy and caramel notes. The mouthfeel was perfect in terms of body. Not too much and not too little. And the taste, well, amazing. Looking forward to going back to buy another for those blessed monks. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 21:50:27 | More by sterstar1

tsauce2

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes 11-22-11

P: 11.2 fl oz bottle in to a snifter.

A: SRM is caramel/toffee brown. Translucent with sediment. Head is off white, 1 in, dissipates to 1 cm. Medium carbonation. Heavy lacing.

S: Semi sweet, some dark fruit, light hops, medium roast malt, blegian yeast(bread notes), alcohol.

T: Wonderfully balanced maltiness, semi sweet dark fruit, light hops, some yeastie bread notes, and some caramel notes. Aftertaste is malt and yeast/bread with a light caramel sweetness.

M: Medium/full body. Quite complex and layered. Malt and yeast give a thicker feel, but the light hops and friut lighten the feel a bit. Light alcohol gives another layer to the feel. Finished wet.

O: Easily in the top five beers I have ever had. This was the second time I have had this beer, and it was just as good as the first. I think I might like the 8 more, but not by much. Fantastic flavors, all almagamated nicely. If you are in to craft, this is the Holy Grail of craft. Consider yourself extremely honored and privileged if you get the opportunity to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 05:30:38 | More by tsauce2

harrmatees

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is by far one of the best I have ever had. It is so smooth you dont even notice the high alcohol content. I ordered this through the Belgian shop. I have also tried the Trappist Westvleteren 8 and it was also excellent!

I wish I had another, it was well worth the money.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 20:15:48 | More by harrmatees

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have had the pleasure of enjoying this beer on a regular basis. Having lived in England for three years, I was able to travel to Belgium and acquire numerous cases of this hard-to-get brew. I drank about half of my stock (about 10 cases total) and have saved and began to age the other half. I break one out and drink it about once a month or so. I am fortunate enough to have tried a variety of Westvleteren 12s, some being as old as 30 years (acquired these from a Belgian teenager who found a couple cases of Westy's in his Grandmas basement!) I have found that the "sweet spot" for these beers is about 5 years old (+/- a year). The beers that fall into this range are perfect. There is not much more to be said, they are the perfect beer. Store these beers right and they will reward you with the best that any beer has to offer. Liquid caramel. Smell, taste, everything is spot on. This beer is rightfully the number one beer in the world. I will continue to make trips to Belgium for the rest of my life to enjoy beers in the cafe (In de Vrede) across the street from the Monastary.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 02:21:16 | More by 4thelvofbeer

49erLou

California

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely, positively the greatest example of an explosion of flavor.Coats the tongue with a blanket of awesomeness.A taste that you wish will not go away.If you can get your hands on this don"t be selfish and share the nectar of the gods with a great friend.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 04:19:57 | More by 49erLou

DaveC93036

California

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Smells of grapes and raisins in the bottle give way to a floral aroma in the glass after it is poured. Pours out and gives an inch of head that quickly dissapates. It is golden in color and even more golden when held up to the light.

Upon drinking, I was so happy that I started giggling like a little girl. That's how good this stuff is. The taste is right in line with the smell, grapes, raisins, and a floral aroma. It feels great in my mouth and settles well in my stomach.

This is one of the best beers I have ever had, it could be my favorite if I had it more often.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 15:34:15 | More by DaveC93036

mscudder

Georgia

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A huge thanks to Kevin for gracing me with this beer on multiple occasions. Reviewing with a documented version from around two months back.

A - A dark copper amber. A nice thick, frothy head with optimal lacing. Stunning.

S - So soft on my nose. Some dry sweetness, near no hop profile whatsoever. The best way I can describe this is by summoning the scent of a fresh loaf of bread, but beer!

T - Fantastic collection of spices, tingling my palette in ways I previously could not imagine. Bready malts and ripe dark fruits follow and the Westy finishes with a crisp and warm sensation. Top class!

M - Medium body which is rich, smooth and creamy. This defines a perfect mouthfeel. While it could be more stout/bold, this is refined excellence.

O - This lives up to the hype, I raise my glass to the Trappist monks of Westvleteren. Their passionate brewing has been transcribed into their product and warrants its throne atop the beer world.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 04:19:46 | More by mscudder

joseph82

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ain't nothing like this beer, it's one in a million. There's simply no comparison. The fact that you can only pick up one crate per car, at the abbey where this stuff is brewed by monks (!), only adds to its exclusivity. It's taste is like honeysuckle dipped in angel sweat. Best beer in the universe bar none.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 13:26:50 | More by joseph82

philbe311

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Majors thanks for Rfgetz for sharing a bottle with me... I've been saving this one for a special occasion and the birth of my latest child qualifies... This one is for Andrew Michael, born on May 20, 2012...

Cap Code - 16.06.13

A - Slightly more than finger's worth of rich creamy velvety light cream colored froth with a couple of medium sized bubble mixed in for good measure... There is a bit of an audible fizz... Modest retention gives way to a full lacing of identical characteristics... Lightly carbonated with a few small streaks of rapid paced carbonation seen within.. The color is a medium to dark brown that lets bits of light in at angles... The delicate lacing clings to the sides of the glass...

S - Wonderfully sweet aroma... Loads of dark fruit are at the forefront... Raisins... Dates... Fig... Plums... Brown sugar... Molasses... Light toffee notes... Some light dark bread undertones... A bit of Belgian yeast and booze lie further beneath the surface... Complex and completely satisfying...

T - The expected dark fruits lead the charge... Riasins... Plums... Figs... Dates... Then comes the additional malt sweetness... Caramel... Toffee... Brown sugar... Molassess... Then emerges light of tobacco... A bit of eye heat and booziness on the finish that is potent, but never overwhelming... On the very deep finish are some very very light peppery notes which are a bit surprisingly, but compliment this brew wonderfully... Layers and richness and complexity...

M - In the lighter side of full bodied... Uber lush... Uber rich... Uber creamy... Surprisingly light... Starts sharp with a touch of dryness... The finish is ever so slightly chalky yet saliva producing... An excellent and complex mouthfeel that delights with each sip...

D - This one lives up to the hype... After 974reviews, I have finally found the elusive perfect 5... This one exceeds lofty expectations in all categories... So tasty and satisfying, it's hard not to gulp this one down... A truly satisfying and enriching reward for any BA who has the honor of putting their lips to this fine offering... Complex and completely satisfying in all facets... Now if I could only get another bottle...

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 01:44:47 | More by philbe311

Raiden805

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This was one of THE best Belgian Quads I've ever had. I tried a Rocherfort 10, and the spectrum of balance and flavor doesn't compare to the slightest. But the price different would make some people beg to differ.

The pour was pretty epic, it was out of the bottle, I purchased a 6 pack. I bought their brick box, so I received the two chalices to go along with the tasting. It pours a very dark caramel color, and even if you put it up to the light, you're not seeing through it lol.

I had my first smell, and I smelt oakey smells. Definitely an ingredient to this brew. It was aged for 2 years in a Belgian cellar before I received it, so it really had a chance to ferment. The expiration was 2014. There wasn't too much of a head for very long, but it had a little bit of lacing on the top.

Since it had aged for 2 years, it wasn't as carbonated as I had hoped for. But I wasn't expecting it to be honest, as it IS a Belgian Quad.

I had a lot of hype leading up until my first sip, and I believe it held its own. The first sip, I got was oakey, and VERY malty/bitter, with a hard winey after taste because of the 10.2% ABV that comes along with the beer.

Presentation was great, all brown bottle with Westvleteren XII on the front, with a trappist ring. Proving it is still a competitive world class beer. Great opportunity and it has really gave me a great outlook on Belgian beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 09:42:08 | More by Raiden805

lnashsig

Texas

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

#BOTG 75! A huge one for tonight, a long time want. Bottled 4-14-11. Poured from bottle into Chimay Chalice. Pours blood brown/red. Super creamy off white head that doesn't go away at all. Beautiful. Smell- apple sauce, cinnamon, raisins, prunes, sweet fusel alcohol, ripe pears, dark cherries, dark overly ripe plums. Brilliant. Super complex. Taste- sweet, deep ripe dark fruits, raisins, plum, with a salty sweet ending. Prunes, brandy notes, a tiny bit of alcohol notes, but it doesn't burn at all. Just super smooth. I was wondering how it could possibly be better than Rochefort 10, and it is. It's just so creamy, smooth, deep, complex. Bravo, its the hype.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 01:04:06 | More by lnashsig

bamadog

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

OK, I've been sitting on this one for a couple of years now, and I figured that the beer isn't doing me any good collecting dust. Enjoying this beer for my 800th review here on BA. Review is from notes taken on 7/15/2012. Poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Pours as a Quad should -- rich and dark, caramel brown with some deep ruby hues where the light comes through; starts with a big, full 2 finger off-white/light tan head that sticks around for a moment or two and fades to a full and frothy cap; body is dark, but it's moderately clear and free of sediment;

Smell: Full of rich, dark and very ripe fruit -- smells of figs, dates, raisins; some nice and sweet caramel malts in the back; definite alcoholic and vaporous whiff to it, but it's well blended and not burning the nostrils at all.

Taste: Meh, I've had better. Just kidding. I can see this beer is as hyped as it is, and it earns every bit of it. Part of me thinks that it could be a matter of the rarity or the rave reviews it has received over the years that are tainting my thoughts, but it's absolutely fantastic. Very sweet and full of the dark and ripe fruits as mentioned in the nose; it has a touch of some Belgian spiciness to it, and a nice bready and yeasty flavor; alcohol is present, well blended, but making a strong appearance nonetheless; some sweet caramel malt falls on the tongue after the booze burns off.

Mouthfeel: This beer just seems to keep getting better as I go... The body is full, chewy, but not heavy -- very sticky on the palate; the carbonation is full and lush, leaves the gums very tingly; the alcoholic vapor adds to the tingle on the gums, and it warms the belly.

Overall: Worth the wait and the Dark Lord that I traded to get it. Stands out from other Quads in quality and mouthfeel, well balanced and amazing. I would drink this beer everyday if I could, and that's not easy for me to say about Quads because I sometimes find that they weigh me down. I would be willing to sacrifice my body to the beer-bellied gods to have this frequently.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 23:55:12 | More by bamadog

laurastradford

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I made the pilgrimage to St. Sixtus to drink this beer. It was a highlight of my Belgian beer tour. I started with one bottle of each of Westvleteren's beers and the 12 was hands down my favorite.

It poured so smooth. The lace on glass was a perfect amount. The flavors were all delicate and came together to so perfectly for a smooth flavorful drinking experience. I tend to not like dark beers because they can feel too heavy. Despite the dark color this beer is not heavy at all.

I even managed to score a few bottles to bring home to America. I poured one a month later wondering if it would be as amazing as at the Abbey. It was. Once again it poured perfect and tasted amazing.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 17:51:58 | More by laurastradford

MrVonzipper

California

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Best by 1.27.15. Haven't had one in 5 years.
Pours a hazy raisiny-brown color with sediment and a large fluffy tan head with excellent retention and lace.

Smells of rich dried fruits such as dates, raisin and figs. A touch boozy. Caramel and Belgian candy. Even a touch of spice like mild cinnamon.

Flavor explosion following the characteristics noted in the nose. Dark dried fruits especially. Again a touch of heat which I love and fits this beer. I wanna know this will fuck me up when I drink it.

Mouth is bright and effervescent with high carbonation. Ligh bodied yet slightly sticky.

Overall just a world class phenomenal beer. It's been a long time since I was able to enjoy one of these guys. I love it young and look forward to trying my other one with a few years on it in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 00:28:11 | More by MrVonzipper

amendt

Italy

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Tasting this beer, drinking this beer is very different than what you might expect.

The Westy 12's distinguishing feature is its complexity. It is a multi-layered experience. None of the vertices that lay down its shape are arbitrary, though. Other reviews guess at the 'notes' which range from being raisins to prune to plums to dates to molasses. Whatever the true sources are, the beer is almost classical in that a) there aren't too many of them; b) they exist in just the right combination.

Unlike an Oerbier, say, which is similarly well-crafted -- the Westy 12 is actually thirst-quenching. It's even a bit watery, without that detracting from the flavor or composition at all.

On the way down, it diffuses beautifully. It's the kind of beer that gives you a red, full face with which you can go out and face a winter's night.

This beer is not a gut-buster. In my experience it is unique. You can wrestle with it for long hours, drinking one after another. But instead of besting you or defeating you -- and instead of wasting your time -- the beer seems to match you move for move. It dances with you. It never overpowers you. Until by gentleman's agreement, the match is over, and you get up and find pleasantly that you can hardly walk.

N.B. This beer was had by the reviewer on two separate summer afternoons at the In de Vrede cafe attached to the monastery in 2012. He had 2-4 of them on each occasion.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 11:28:41 | More by amendt

sbrotschul

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The heavens opened up, and His light came down and landed on a small Abbey of Monks. In turn, they grace the world with one of the perfectly complex beers for those lucky enough to find and partake.

I have been lucky enough to spend a year visiting my wife and kids in France, just 45 minutes away from the abbey. In my visits, I would have a beer in the restaurant, and take home a few boxes for enjoyment. The 12 sets the standard; a Holy Grail for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. I had a "taste" of one in Pittsburgh at the House of 1000 Beers (New Kensington), where four of us split one bottle ($9 each, for 3 ounces!). I first visited the Abbey with wife and kids, sitting on the outdoor veranda and enjoying each second of the visit. I've been finding that the best beers are made better by the journey and the exclusivity of the brew. In this case, the journey was as memorable as the beer, and the beer is 'top rate.'

Appearance (5.0). Smooth and deep, thick but light, dark reddish brown, with sticky lacing after a full head. Thinking that I heard the voice of god as I took my first sip of beer, I was disappointed to look up and see my waiter asking for my lunch order. I had ham sandwich and salad.

Smell (5.0). Too many real smells, blending together to show hints of plum and fig, yeast and a bit of sunshine. The garden also helped enhance the smells, as the spring morning gave way to a pleasant afternoon.

Taste (5.0). Who can argue on the complex nature of the tastes, which changed and grew as the beer became warmer. By the end of the 2nd draft, I had hints of chocolate and fig, brown sugar and caramel.

Mouthfeel (5.0). A party. Bubbles and Belgian at first, and then calm and tasty to finish.

Overall (5.0). After the skies shined, we had to return home. But not without stopping at the gift shop to pick up as many boxes of the samplers as I could manage. Flew home with four boxes of beer (four glasses, four 12, four 8 and 8 blond). Gave one box to my brother, split one with my beer nerds, and saved two for myself. I can't wait to try the 8 & 12 in a few .... years.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 03:19:58 | More by sbrotschul