Westvleteren 12

Brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Westvleteren, Belgium

Yes, I finally tried it! On my trip to Europe, when we went to Belgium. Yes it is everything everyone says it is. Though it is third on my list (blasphemy?). I think the Westy 8 was better, as well as the Andech’s Doppelbock. Anyway, I can’t add anymore that hasn’t already been said except great beer.

aroma is stinging, prickly blend of vinous qualities, deep caramel and stone fruits. pour is further reminiscent of pit fruits and echoes prune juices hazy, deep maple color. flavor is quick blast of booze that starts sweet and warms on the finish. sideways glances of warm nuts with an almost candied aspect fly alongside raisins that have been exposed to a touch of char and some hint of cocoa or its derivatives. this is world class no question and certainly better then st. bernardus abt 12, but in comparison to rochefort 10 not necessarily shattering. big thanks to pat at RG binnys for this gem!

[bottle-thanks, fonefan!] Complex aroma that is slightly vinous with a fair share of dried fruit: raisins, apricots, currants; plus some walnuts, brown sugar, and ethanol. Hazy very dark brown under a lasting beige sheet. Complex but well balanced flavour that contains all of the aromatics detected in the nose along with some coffee/mocha and hints of liquorice. The bitterness is assertive and contrapuntal to the warm alcohol and sweet molasses. Medium body, medium carbonation, sweet and slighty bitter finish.

12oz bottle HUGE thanks to Daknole for bringing this elusive and revered beer for me to finally try. And fitting that this is #500 because I’ve been after it for awhile. Pours a rich mahogany with a densely packed khaki head. Nose is tons of crazy alcohol soaked dark fruits, cherry, yeast, and caramel. Flavor is just wild, with tons of yeast exuberance up front but big plum, raisin and cherry notes throughout. Caramel and toffee flavors battle. Light bitterness keeps the crazy sweetness in check. Like a fine port with its decadent intensity. This is a masterpiece of a beer but it is not the best I have had, deserving of the hype. This is truly one of the best the beer world has to offer.

Fantastic! We should only drink this in Heaven!! The Trappist Brothers always prefere quality to quantity, this beer is the perfect example.

Sample from bottle. Red-brown color with a medium white head. A complex, rich, nice flavor explosion. Full body, smooth and easy to drink. A great beer.

Bought this January 2008 from Belgian Shop, saved for number 1000. Homebrew look to this, thick tan head, nice retention, nice lacing, reddish brown, dark, not filtered. Nose is complex, plums, yeastiness, a bit of spiciness and other dark candied fruit. Palate is the brilliance for me, light, complex, different notes balanced so well. Sometimes it feels a bit warm, nice small bubbled carbonation is understated, kind of a tart feel on the tongue, gives way to sugary sweetness and thick cough syrupy feel. Great, I can see why the buzz, but there are probably others as good. (St. Bernardus)