Westvleteren 6

Formerly brewed at Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Belgian Ale
Westvleteren, Belgium

Bottle. [Courtesy of yespr, quality tasting @ Papsoe] Finally I got to sample the last of the four. There were two vintage years where one of them seamed a bit oxidized. The one I sampled was a vintage 1998 and did not feel like it was oxidized at all. Impressive large creamy off-white head that really lasted. Clear and somewhat flat looking body with a reddish amber color. The initial aroma was very recognizable with notes of yeast, and heavy fruity notes. Raisin and prune could be detected amongst the complex fruity notes. Also some light spice, caramel, grain, liquorish, wood and maybe a hint of citrus. Medium bodied with an average carbonation. Moderated sweet flavor with light acidic. Very fruity and lingering finish. 28-09-2007

Westvleteren Dubbel. NOT RATEBLE. 30-05-2008 Bottel. [Courtesy of yespr, thanks buddy] vintage 1993. Small fizzy white head that mostly diminished. Spare lacework. Hazy brownish color. Aroma of prunes, fruit, caramel, cinnamon. Light bodied with a flat carbonation and somewhat thin texture. Light sweet flavor. Light sweet spicy finish.

Bottle 98 vintage @ kulminator. Has a much richer aroma and appearance than the actual flavour which is a fair bit lighter than I expected. Distinct hint of dirt in the aroma lead in by a peppery edge. Initial hit is a full mouth of prune and sweet then a slight hint of sourness in the finish. I think the lightness in the finish is actually kind of cool as it makes you forget you just had a mouthful and grab the glass again. I could probably spend the rest of the afternoon drinking this which would certainly make my wallet lighter for the walk afterwards. By trying this one a week after bierkoning I saved a euro as well, it’s now 11, hooray!

Bottle. [vintage 1998]. Bought @ Kulminator, Antwerp.
Pours a muddy brown with a small creamy off white head. Wonderful lacework. Aroma is sweet with lots of rye bread, some distant raspeberries and some general muskyness. Quite low carbonation. Flavour is sweet, balanced on rye-bread as well, some caramel sweetness and quite a dose of chocolate in the end. Nowhere near a match on other Westy’s.

3rd LCRBM. bottle 1998, same as bierkoning. Aroma has prunes and malts and some earthy tones. Hazy, brown coloured. Taste is sweet, has caramel malts, prunes, some earthy tones and some red wine. Most likely it was better a few years ago, but still its condition was really okay.

Bottle @ Kulminator, 1998 vintage. I paid € 12,- for it, which is quite decent. Brown color, just a bit cloudy. Malty sweet, with just a bit sherry-like flavors. A bit thin, probably due to ageing. Caramel and a bit of dust. Past its peak, but still quite drinkable and in good shape.

Bottle @ Kulminator, 1998 Vintage. This beer poured a reddish-brown with a slight white to off-white head in a St. Sixtus goblet. The aroma is a mix of fruity and earthy notes. Mouthfeel is a bit like fruit juice, which I attribute slightly to the beer’s age. The flavor is a wonderful mix of fruit with spices and a slight alcohol, but it seems that age has dulled the complexity of the beer a bit. Still, this is another fantastic brew from the Westvleteren monks.

Bottle @ Kulminator. Deep ruby/brown, thinnish white head. Nose is candied plums at Christmas, earthy (clay) malt, some spicy alcohol but the flatness displays its age. Flavor is old cherries, cocoa, old sweet malt, a bit of spicing. Alcohol beings to come out in the bittersweet finish.

Bottled@Kulminator (1998 vintage)... deep brown ... lots of bubbles ... Big foam head ... lots of ovaltine malt(bready) in nose ... Very maly ... very bready ... little fruit ... nicly rounded and deep.