St. Bernardus Abt 12

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Watou, Belgium

Bottle at Macclesfield Beer Fest. Do not be tempted to go, it’s rubbish. This was the highlight though. Some cheeky moustached gimp warned me about it’s strength. D head. Purple tinted brown with big fluffy head. Obvious belgian yeast kick, sugar and a little spice. Alcohol is there but not dominant. A little uncomplicated for me but drinkable enough for sure.

Bottle. Dark brown colour with a huge tan head. Surprisingly mild aroma with malts, yeast and dark fruits. The flavour is sweet malty with notes of plums, spices, yeast and some bitterness. Warming alcohol in the finish. Medium to full bodied, very smooth mouthfeel. Delicious brew.

Red brown colour, quiet nice. Foamy head. No carbonation I could see. Coffee chocolate base, rather alcoholic. Somewhat fruity but undefined. Some yeastiness too. Tastes like it smells with the alcoholiness there too. Some hints of strawberry fruitiness. Mainly watery flavour. Some bitterness. A rather balnd beer domintaed by alcohol.

Dark brown beer with an aroma of apples, bananas, toffee, caramel. Flavours of licorice, toffee, bitter chocolate and lots more I can’t discern! Goes down very smoothly and leaves a good warming slightly bitter finish. Cracking beer!

Original review date 2/11/2008... Pours like a loaf of hearty whole-grain or pumpernickel from a 750 into an Ommegang goblet - head has a meringue-like consistency. Nice, light/moderate carbonation. Essence of pine, nutmeg and sweeter spice flavors with moderate hop presence. This tastes like a quintessential Belgian. Deep, soulful yeast/malt presence with well-balanced sweetness, hop and alcohol presence. As time passes it provides the warming feeling of Thanksgiving dinner with even a hint of sweet potatoes and roasted carrots (I know, now I’m really full of $#!+ - maybe it’s the power of suggestion). The carbonation is moderate, inoffensive and pleasant. This is all-encompassing, powerful wonderful stuff. Coats the mouth like a warm, almost-savory dessert and has the warming power of spiked hot chocolate in a ski lodge. For all its power it drinks very easily. Splendid effort.

Bottle from Wine World in NA. Poured a dark brown with huge creamy head. Amazing smell! Kind of a smeet taste with alcohol a tad strong for my taste. After a bit of sipping my wife finished it for me.

Tap at The Map Room. Poured a cloudy dark brown with a large, full off white head. Aroma consisted of dark fruits, molasses, caramel and a bit of alcohol. Flavor was complex, began with sweet fruit notes but became darker with caramel and molasses notes and an undertone of citrus. Smooth throughout. Amazing beer!

Very dark & opaque red color. Intense toffee and dried fruit aroma. Tastes fantastic, sweet with dry finish with some bitterness. Lots of flavors. Amazing beer.