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

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz(?) brown Westvleteren Trappist style bottle with a spot raised midway a lot like the Westmalle bottle. Absolutely no label here. Yellow Gold/Black cap on top. Bottle really reminds me of authentic Belgian abbey style. A sleek and to the point bottling.
Poured this into a Westvleteren Trappist goblet that was almost as difficult to acquire as the 12 itself.

A - Hazy dark brown with lighter golden brown highlights around the top edges of the glass. Head was cream colored and sat just long enough to take a few photos before it vanished into a thin ring of lace. Pretty normal Trappist stick to the glass Which isn't much at all.

S - fresh bread and a nutty character. Cinnamon rolls caked with gooey icing, dark fruit with figs and raisin. Baked dates and A nice Belgian yeast aroma with some booze, but not bad booze. This aroma is sweet and complex with multiple layers and spice. Very pleasant whiffs as every note is noticed and appreciated.

T - more cinnamon rolls and fresh bread. Nutty with a lot of dark fruit. Fig, dates and raisin. Biscuity and a perfect yeast strain. Ripe banana and dead on spices. Light cloves and cinnamon notes. Small flavor of sweet chocolate in the background that's noticed as the ale warms a bit. An abbey booziness in the finish that only adds to the flavor. Flavor has a Real brilliance about it.

M - pretty smooth and almost velvety. Coats the every inch of the mouth with so many different flavors its almost crazy. Smooth and delightful feel despite its booze and abv. I'd drink this all day every day if I could get it and had nothing else to do of course lol.

O - some of these authentic Trappist ales make me think to myself that if I didn't have 2 beautiful little boys at home I'd move to Belgium and take up a life of prayer, a life of work, and a life in a community while wearing wool robes. Just as long as I got to drink stuff like this everyday. But hey I wouldn't trade my family for anything so I quickly come back to reality. Anyway, this is the God Father of all the Trappist brews and the King of fine Belgian ales in general. It has a rep that's nearly unmatched and often great Trappist brews are overlooked due to the mystery and the need to know that comes with the Westy 12. It's definitely one of the best crafted brews on the planet, but aren't all Trappist ales? It's the world's best quad, but is it that much better than the Rochefort 10? Yes to me it is, but its not on a whole different level. Both are in that top tier of best quads. What the Westy 12 does offer are flavors no other quad provide and an experience every craft beer lover deserves to have. In fact an experience everyone deserves to have over and over again. It's a shame this thing isn't easier to get ahold of. Bc its easily not only one of the best I've ever had, but would be one of my favorites to pick up throughout every year. Ill definitely be paying close attention for my next experience of this Belgian gem.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 13:51:35 | More by BradtheGreat7

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

330ml bottle, with labels signifying its US import status, shared with a bunch of BAs at a birthday tasting last night, 6/15/2013.

Aroma: I was really wowed by the nose on this beer. Super pungent, sweet dark fruits- figs, raisins along with a little bit of blueberry sweetness. There is quite a bit of Belgian yeastiness that I've come to associate with dubbels and quads- really complements the sweetness very well with its spiciness. Smells incredibly delicious, quite sweet, and keeps getting better as it warms up. (5)

Colour: Dark brown, not quite black but more like a mahogany brown. Pours a thick (a bit thinner than super thick and viscous) body. Its not quite motor oil but this is quite viscous. The head is a 1cm white, perhaps slightly tan, head that becomes a somewhat thick film on the beer. Looks delicious, like a dessert. (4.5)

Flavour: It was an incredible beer. A tasty melange of Belgian spiciness of cloves, maple syrup, figs, raisins, blueberries, and caramel. The yeast and hops mellows out the sweet malt. I think that compared to some of the other quads I've had, this puts together a great bit of flavours high in complexity that is incredibly mellow and pleasing to drink. (5)

Mouthfeel: Thick bodied, very viscous and incredibly chewy. Carbonation was solid, nothing special. Aftertaste is the spiciness of the yeast, which was incredible. Smooth and incredibly easy to drink! It's too bad there's only 33cl of this beer in a bottle. (4.5)

Overall: Incredible quad, one of the best beers I have ever had. I thought it was all hype and came in with a jaundiced eye, but this one really blew me away, which was an incredibly nice surprise. It's not that the specific flavours in this beer were especially great compared to other quads that I've had, but it all came together incredibly well. I think that's the difference between this beer and all the others. (5)

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 13:49:10 | More by Stevedore

dwren89

Virginia

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

Appearance: foamy tan head, medium burgundy color, opaque

Aroma: beet, prune, slightly sugary malt character, Belgian yeast character-- pungent and slightly earthy

Taste: blast of sugary sweetness at first, then developing beet/prune/date flavor, with supporting bitterness, and surprisingly balanced and somewhat dry finish

Mouthfeel: High carbonation, tingly in mouth, surpringly light bodied for the style (medium body), nimble and not at all cloying,

Overall Impression: This is the Quad to end all Quads. An immediate dark fruit punch in the mouth with slowly developing dark malt and yeast character that somehow manages to stay medium bodied and a slightly dry finish. Although it is very similar in taste to most well made quads, its nimble body and drying finish take the Westy XII to another level. This is a malt bomb that is amazingly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 21:30:02 | More by dwren89

rand

California

4.94/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

From 330 mL bottle to Westvleteren chalice.

A: Mahogany in color, the beer pours less viscous than expected and forms a small, wispy head. Leaves almost no lacing.

S: The nose is comprised of distinct notes of maple and toffee, toasty sweetbread and alcohol. Esters are readily apparent, as notes of holiday spice linger in the boozy bouquet.

T: Malt-forward, caramel and toffee notes leap to the front of the palate. The sweet overtone reveals distinct banana esters and cherry-ish phenols. The candy-like profile is kept in check by ample hop presence and spicy alcohol, as subtle notes of cinnamon and clove work to dry the palate. Remarkably, the beer finishes relatively short and clean, leaving a touch of cherry and caramel lingering.

M: Much more chewy and viscous than the beer appears, but the ample carbonation scrubs the palate clean between sips.

It seems there are a lot of beers in the top of the list that've climbed by inertia (especially the top beer). This isn't one of them. A couple hundred years of trial and error, coupled by the fact that the brewers don't make a profit...at least monetarily speaking, makes this one of the most interesting and satisfying experiences you can have imbibing a brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 07:32:15 | More by rand

marysparks18

California

4.64/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: golden brown, small head, somewhat opaque

S: toasty, nutty, strong smell of bannanna-ish esters, maple

T/M: carbonated, light boozeyness, smooth roasted malts, caramel, mildly phenolic

Overall: amazingly well balanced mix of booze, toastyness, caramel and mouthfeel. Historic, time tested brew at its finest.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 07:09:11 | More by marysparks18

Etan

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz shared by Marco into a snifter.

A. Burnt orange with a large off-white head.

S. Deep honey and raisin, mild alcohol heat, figgy, concentrated caramel, dried peach.

T. Taste is less interesting. Dry, slightly bitter alcohol, old dried fruit, raisiny, mild oxidation, a little soapy, orange zest.

M. Medium-bodied, high carbonation.

O. I was less than impressed with this bottle. There are a lot of easier-to-get Trappist quads that are better than this.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 16:56:54 | More by Etan

yankeepride

New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Picked up a bottle in a swap for some BT last year. Split it with the wife, pouring into a pair of tulips. It fizzed up quite a bit, like a soda, and then quickly dissipated into a thin head with a rich, deep caramel color base. The nose was perfectly sweet, with strong notes of candied figs and dates. For a quad, I was surprised at how mellow and sweet it was, rather than dark and powerful. I thought it was really drinkable for a 10%, and could easily put down more than one bottle if afforded the opportunity. The alcohol was warm, but not overpowering. It had a bold feel, but not chokingly strong. Again, mellow was the word I kept thinking of, with a bit of a sticky finality that I think was more in my head from the fruit smell/taste than actually having me smacking my lips. Overall, I was afraid after all the hype I would be slightly disappointed, but it was actually the opposite. I was even more impressed with this than I hoped I could be. Absolutely worth going out of your way to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 04:12:25 | More by yankeepride

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours dark brown with typical head for the style. Leaves slight lacing.

The aroma is more bright fruit based than I'm used to for a quad rather than blatant caramel and prune like I'm used to.

The flavor is much like a double, but with additional fruit. Some raisin and plum as well as apple. Bubblegum in the background. Almost a hint of scotch ale flavor.

The feel is full yet light. Slightly sticky aftertaste.

Overall I was quite impressed with this. It was far less sweet than I expected, and that was quite welcoming. The apple was quite nice too. I'm quite glad that I tried this. I didn't expect it to live up to the hype, but it's the best quad I've had to date. It even makes me optimistic about trying quads again.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 02:31:47 | More by BBP

spoony

Colorado

4.74/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

From a 330 ml bottle into a chalice.

A-A normal pour produces a dark chestnut colored brew that is nearly opaque with reddish highlights. There is a bubble or two of carbonation visible. The head is one and one-half fingers of dense, tan head. The retention is good.

S-The smell is sweet, intense, and full of dried dark fruits, over-ripe banana, hints of spice, molasses, and a touch of leather. The fruity alcohol is well-integrated into the mix. It smells really lovely if you like your quads on the sweet side.

T-The taste, like the smell is loaded with dark, sweet dried fruit notes. The banana is still present, but a strong spice note (pepper and clove) comes through, along with some dark cherry and just a hint of earthy leather. The alcohol is warming and sweet.

M-The beer is more carbonated that some quads, but the feel remains pretty soft and the carbonation works with the big flavors well.

O-Hype notwithstanding, I was blown away by how complex and pleasing the flavors were in this beer. I know there is some debate about whether this brew is really better than Rochefort or St. Bernardus (or De Struise or...whatever), but for me, it really hits all the sweet spots. I mean that literally and figuratively because the beer really is quite sweet, but unlike some others, I did not feel this was cloying or syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 01:47:48 | More by spoony

csrbv

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Orval tulip glass. Bottlecap says 29.09.15.

A- Pours an opaque medium brown color with a 1/2 inch dark tan head. It loses retention quickly and becomes a thin ring around the edge of the glass. Thick, semi-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass and minimal surface foam.

S- Boozy aroma reminds me of a barleywine, once I swirl, I get a nice waft of Belgian candi sugar and toasty malt. Still, the alcohol sticks out unpleasantly.

T- And there's a sharp booziness in the flavor too, followed by some faint raisin and dark fruit. Once the palate acclimates, things mellow out a bit. Semi-sweet, somewhat toasty with a syrupy aftertaste. Not very complex.

M- A bit stinging from the booze, sticky and dry. Medium carbonation and a hefty body.

This is a very good beer, but I feel that it is wildly overrated based on it limited availability. Maybe I should have let it sit longer, but I feel like it should be good fresh as well considering all the hype surrounding it. A pretty big letdown but I guess my expectations were quite high. I I compared this to Abt 12 which I found to be superior.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 15:29:41 | More by csrbv

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

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

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

4.95/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

330 ml bottle, poured into a Westvleteren chalice. Bottle cap stamped 25-05-15

A: A beautiful hazy ruby or deep maple colour. A small tan head of about 1 finger appears, but some halo sticks around for your enjoyment the entire time.

S: The first smell I pick up is the yeast. It is gentle and pleasant. Dark fruits are there as well as hints of caramel and yes a bit of alcohol.

T: Carrying over from the smell, the dark fruits come to the fore on this beer. It is fantastically flavorful with so much going on. What jumps out at me is the fact that the yeast is somewhat hidden in the taste.

M: Incredibly smooth. Carbonation is perfect and there is little boozy finish on this. The beer leaves a lovely memory in your mouth with a great warm finish.

O: This is a superior beer. I hemmed and hawed as to whether I should actually pay the price for this, and in the end, it was well worth it (and quite reasonable considering). I prefer Belgian quads and tripels so to me this is like nirvana. What was surprising and pleasant was the complexity of the smell/taste. The fruitiness hid the yeast and the alcohol stayed in the background until the end. I've had Rochefort 10 and St. Bernardus Abt. 12 and Westvleteren just reaches above those making it well worth the chase.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 11:00:16 | More by polloenfuego

Danny1217

Florida

4.66/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Ordered a bottle at Cambrinus in Brugges. 12 euro for the bottle, but with all the hype surrounding it, I decided it was worth trying once.

It pours into the challice a deep, slightly murky brown color with a thick, tan head of foam. Excellent head retention.
Smells of rich dark fruits, caramel, fresh baked bread, cloves, and a slightly vinous grape aroma.
The smoothness of this beer on the palate is incredible. The alcohol is very well hidden. The taste is similar to the aroma, but with an incredible richness.

I went in expecting it to not meet up to the hype, but it actually almost does. I'm a big fan of Belgian dark ales, and this might actually top St. Bernardus Abt. 12 and Rochefort 10 for me. Incredible beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 08:30:08 | More by Danny1217

Liquid_Bread

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a La Trappe chalice. Bottle cap says 17.01.16.

A: the color of dark maple syrup with a hint of a beige head

S: almond and vanilla, was expecting a stronger smell but that probably comes with aging (will write again in 2 years now that I'm cellaring my case!). The La Trappe Oak aged gives off a much stronger scent but this one has some nice notes.

T: coffee and chocolate sweetness to start, finishing with bitter alcohol and even a hint of hops, didn't expect that from a quad. This is quite distinct from Rochefort 10 or St. Bernardus ABT 12.

M: more carbonation than I expected. Light tingles down the throat.

O: I drank the three other quads referenced in this review within 9 days of finally drinking this one and, I'll admit, I struggle to separate my review from the beer's mystique. To be honest, I like the other three better. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Westy 12 with some slices of a very buttery brie cheese. Like I said, I think the magic of quadrupels comes in the aging so I'll write again in a few years.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 23:22:09 | More by Liquid_Bread

Naugled

New York

4.38/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This was a very good beer, it didn't live up to my expectations, but still very good. It had a surprising complexity that I wasn't expecting. Appearance was average to normal compared to other quads. It had an earthy feeling, dank mushroomy taste and smell. Very drinkable for a quad.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 16:47:39 | More by Naugled

MrKennedy

Australia

4.6/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle with 07/01/14 on the cap.

Deep russety brown appearance with a hint of murkiness when held up to the light. Nice beige foam on top doesn't require any coaxing to stay at about a finger in height.

Intriguing smell. Lots of dark fruit with figs, dates, prunes some spice there as well. Reminds me of some red wine at certain stages, not that I drink much wine. Seems to have the warming alcohol bring out the spice without inflaming the situation. Brilliant!

Spicy, cinnamon and allspice are there along with the dark fruits of plum and figs and prunes. Seems to transition from the spices on the front to the fruit on the back and then some spice right at the end to keep you really, really interested. Really dry ending.

The body is solid, but by no means too big, i think the spice helps cut through things. Nice interaction between the spice, the warming alcohol and the fruity smoothness. Really well done.

Don't recall ever having liked this as much as i like this sampling. I always seemed to prefer the 8 out of the Westvleteren brews, but this is helping change my mind. Not a big fan of Quads, but this is very well done and so well integrated.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 11:26:37 | More by MrKennedy

The_Beer_Nut

Belgium

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

I think that everything that can be said about this beer has been said ... It is god inspired perfection.
I will add that I was at the abbey today, and ordered one at the tavern right across the way (Owned and operated by the Abbey). They serve it very cold which I personally like and recommend for any beer. However, I noticed that this beer has more taste dimensions when served at cellar temperatures. If you have more than one to try then savour it at cellar temp and see if you agree.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 22:24:38 | More by The_Beer_Nut

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.49/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

at long long last, I finally got my chance to try this beauty. a friend of a friend lucked out when it came to the states, shared a bottle, and I was invited. the anticipation was obviously huge here, and the beer met all expectations. this pours a lighter brown color with plenty of fish food yeast floaters and maybe a finger or two of tan airy froth. the nose is remarkably complex, lots of interesting dried fruits and that classic Belgian yeast. it also smells pretty sweet, like brown sugar or molasses, and just a clue about its strength. the flavor immediately reminds me of Ramadan. dried figs and dates, raisins, and bready yeast, its got a lovely buttery component, and seems somehow understated compared to what my palates definition of a quad is, recognizing of course that this is THE quad of quads, and this is a personal definitional problem, rather than a shortcoming of this particular brew. its layered and refined, and dangerously drinkable. the body is light, still medium probably, but it doesn't feel heavy or sticky or filling at all. the carbonation is ultra bright, and the flavors come one after the other throughout the entire drink until well after the swallow. this beer is famous and renowned for a reason, it is of the highest quality. I am maybe most impressed by how well the alcohol is hidden. one would never know this beer is so strong. one of those rare moments when you feel a connection with people you have never and may never meet. this beer is like a brotherhood of sorts, and I am humbled and honored to be a part of it now.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 16:40:50 | More by StonedTrippin

Immortale25

Florida

3.86/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a snifter. Bottlecap says 29.09.15.

A- Pours an opaque medium brown color with a 1/2 inch dark tan head that's very crackly for a quad as it loses retention quickly and becomes a thin ring around the edge of the glass. Thick, semi-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass and minimal surface foam.

S- Boozy aroma reminds me more of a barleywine than a quad although, once I swirl, I get a nice waft of Belgian candi sugar and toasty malt. Still, the alcohol sticks out unpleasantly.

T- And there's a sharp booziness in the flavor too, followed by some faint raisin and dark fruit. Once the palate acclimates, things mellow out a bit. Semi-sweet, somewhat toasty with a syrupy aftertaste. Not very complex.

M- A bit stinging from the booze, sticky and dry. Medium carbonation and a hefty body.

O- I love quads, but this is probably the most overrated one I've ever had. Maybe I should have let it sit longer, but I feel like it should be good fresh as well considering all the hype surrounding it. A pretty big letdown but I guess my expectations were quite high. Either way, definitely not worth the money.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:18:55 | More by Immortale25

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Served from a european bottle into a Krombacher pils glass. Shared with RoninTK3. Vintage 08'. Cellar temp.

Appearance- Beautiful hazy orangeish/brown with huge three finger fluffy white head that dissipated surprisingly quick. Lots of yeast floating around. Crazy lacing.

Smell- Cherry, tobacco, rich bready belgian yeast, dark dried fruit, vanilla. The list goes on, but this is one of the most layered beers I've had the pleasure to have.

Taste- Vanilla, plum, raisons, fresh bread. Finish is pure raison. Yeasty character isn't as pronounced as in the smell which is nice for me. Sweet clean lingering flavors.

Mouthfeel- Tons of bubbly carbonation with a nice resiny stickiness. Clean without the booze heat one might expect from a 10% (especially with 5 years on it.

Overall- Quads are a hit or miss with me, but this is hands down the best quad I've had. Truly a beautiful beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:22:55 | More by Seanniek91

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.81/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2008 bottle

A - Pours a murky red/brown with lots of head and lots of sediment. A bit of lacing.

S - Alcohol, dark fruit, vanilla, cloves, apricot, and brown sugar.

T - So much going on with this one. Plums and raisins are at the forefront with hints of brown sugar, cloves, roasty malts, and a bit of cloves and spices. Not a hint of the 10.2% ABV.

M - So smooth with lots of carbonation and no burn. Incredibly drinkable.

This certainly lives up to the hype. Just sweet enough with the perfect balance of flavors and not a hint of alcohol after the smell. Glad to finally try this and would happily welcome another.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:12:24 | More by RoninTK3

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

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

300 ml bottle, one of six from the recent overseas release.

Pours a deep, cloudy mahogany, two plus inches of yellow-white foam dissipates very slowly to a lacing, leaves some tracks down the inside of the glass.

Smells of rich cocoa, molasses, bananas, white wine grapes, caramel, slightly toasty bread and a hint of licorice, cloves, and cinnamon. Of note is the exceptional balance of all these aromas; despite sound like a weird mixture, they fit together perfectly.

The flavor is nutty at first, mildly bitter but also rich like hazelnut. What follows is a bit of cocoa and wine-like grape fruitiness. The conclusion is banana, caramel, and cloves. The beer manages to be rich without being cloying in the least, and seems to balance a malty sweetness with a wine-like dryness. Subtle hints of bitter hop sneak in as the beer warms. There are savory elements as well.

The ale is full-bodied and features as an expansive effervescence that feels refreshing and seems to fill the cheeks and tingle on the roof of the mouth.

This beer absolutely lives up to the hype and perhaps even exceeds my expectations. A picture of this beer should appear next to the definition for "world class" in the dictionary. Absolutely a worthwhile experience. If you have the opportunity to try this beer, take it. While I am sure some will still find it overrated, I feel most will certainly not be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 01:20:34 | More by Cylinsier

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.59/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I've been saving this brew for a little while since receiving it via joemcgrath27 in a cross-Canada trade (madd props!). The moment has arrived with the birth of our baby daughter this past Monday.

A - Poured into the Westvleteren goblet. Before sediment it pours a crystal clear ruby red, finger of head with some retention and no real lacing. A murky amber brown after sediment.

S - Rich caramel and dark fruit, figs, candied apple, rye bread, toffee, hints of chocolate and cocoa alongside a heavy dose of cloves and a touch of booziness.

T - Pre-sediment pour had a stronger cocoa and burnt malt flavour, dark fruit notes were prominent throughout and post-sediment pour the heavier cloves and candied fruit notes come through. Vineous grape notes, earthy hops and a lingering bitterness come through alongside a hint of ABV heat and sweetness.

M - Lighter bodied ale that is incredibly smooth and finishes surprisingly wet.

O - This is one tasty quad and it certainly lives up to the hype. Insanely drinkable, which I would imagine would only improve with time. The high ABV is incredibly well hidden amongst a complex flavour profile. Not only was this an incredible brew, it made for the perfect drink to celebrate such an incredible moment. Thank for sending this treat along Joe!!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:20:35 | More by andrenaline

JamFuel

Sweden

4.21/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

So, one of the best beers in the world, ever... Been waiting for this one for quite some time. Managed to get two bottles fromhet very limited release at Systembolaget.

Looks the part, murky with plenty of sediment...

The smell that rises from the glass is sweet, absolutely a Quad. Hints of raisins, plums... In the back I sense som yeast and a bit of booze.

Taste... Well, still a bit sweet, Brown sugar blended with the plums from the smell. Not really a lingering taste at all. Only left with a bit of sugar on the tongue.

Honestly... If it wasn't fot the whole Westie thang, I would put a beer like Rochefort 10 way ahead of this. In no way is this bad, it is in fact very good. But world-class? Not for me...

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:10:46 | More by JamFuel