St. Bernardus Abt 12

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

Quite simply my favourite Belgium beer in this style, blows Westy away and thankfully lacks the absurd hype. Beautiful condition with good lacing, always best left for a while to allow it to breath, aroma of candy and rich fruit cake. Warming but unabtrusive alcohol compliments the massive fruit and pear drop complexities, just rich and beauiful. I may not be able to describe flavours that well, but i know a great beer, and this one of the greats.

Dark ruby colored liquid, almost garnet. Three finger head of thick tan colored foam. Excellent retention and thick, clumpy lacing. Big dark fruits. Cherries, grapes and figs. Hint of booziness. Caramel malts. Hint of spice. Slight yeast presence. Dark fruits and mulling spices are up front. Plums, cherries and figs. Candi sugars and brown sugar. Slight nuttiness. Mellow yeastiness. Nice undertone of apples. Earthy notes. Very light hops presence. Good medium body. Nice and creamy. Carbonation level is just right. Very smooth. This brew is nice and complex, yet super smooth and easy to drink. Though the hops presence is not very big, there is alot of balance in this one. Just be sure to watch out for that 10%ABV, though.

pours a dark cloudy beige. Aroma is like candy. Very fruity, plums, apricots and caramel. Lively carbonation (I personally preferred it after the carbonation had died down). Taste of caramel, sugarcane, plums and a slight spice. Alcohol very well hidden, decent mouthfeel. In a blind tasting rated this a close 2nd to southampton quad and above st bern. special edition. Very nice

Poured from a bottle into my Duvel tulip. Color is dark brown with a cream-colored head. Awesome smell of sweet fruits and molasses that beg you to drink it! Taste is great, fruity with dark chocolate and a small amount of spice with a very small hint of alcohol. I’m surprised I cannot taste more of the alcohol since it’s a 10.5%er. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Very smooth and has a nice clean finish. I could drink this beer over and over again but then I’d probably be asleep by 6pm every night from drinking too much of it!

Restaurant Hommelhof Watou. Hazy brown beer with light beige mousse. Aroma is rich, sweet caramel like and hoppy. Taste is full, round, sweet with hints of caramel and hops. very tasteful beer in the same style as the famous Westvleteren trappist.

11.2oz bottle poured into a Trappist glass. This is the 1st of the re-rates. I lost my personal list (something like 900 beers in addition to the ones I have in here.) Now I have the opportunity to re-rate some good ones. 100 percentile beer? Let’s just see about that! 12 pours dark brown with ruby tendencies and a beautiful fluffy head. The nose has yeast, bread and syrupy fruits. It smells silky like a truffle. The body is ultra smooth like with a milk-like feel. The carbonation is just right, not too light nor too heavy. The alcohol is beautifully integrated into the beer being neither hidden nor obnoxious. The taste is complex with plum, candi sugar, mild nuts and clove. The finish is warm and tender. Yup. It’s a 100 percentile alright.

11.2 oz. bottle from Total Wine in Norfolk (best before April 21, 2014). Muddy brown pour with a fizzy off-white head. Aroma of dark fruit, bready yeast, clove, and a hint of cinnamon. Complex flavor of raisin, plum, brown sugar, banana, and Belgian candi sugar. Moderate alcohol warming but it does not get in the way of the taste. Truly remarkable.

Pours dark brown with a thick off-white head that disappears quickly. Aroma of bready malts, dark fruits and cloves. Taste of dark cherry, raisins, spices, and a nice alcohol finish. Dry. Overall a delicious, complex beer.