 Mes_and_Sim (4365), Highgate, Greater London, England
May 12, 2005 Updated: Jul 23, 2006
A Mes rate:
This particular bottle was rated at Lowlander and that was also the place where I had my first bottle thanks to Duff’s insitance. Aroma is vanilla, sugar and caramel with some chocolate and dark fruits. Red grapes and raisins too. Plus something that I can only describe as playdough. In fact it is reminiscent of all the best things you have ever sniffed at. Appearance is so very very close to perfection. Deep almost black mahogany red body and just the right amount of off white head and lace. Only reason it gets a 4 from me is that the head always dies just that little bit too soon but it is clearly the most inviting "drink me I am gorgeous" looking beer there is. Ok, what do I say about the flavour? Chocolate, cream, vanilla, raisins, pudding, a little biscuit, mazipan and just a touch of spice and malt. Finish is head and shoulders above everything else I have ever tried. I am not drunk, I will stand by this statement. A wonderful gentle warmth from the alcohol, more caramel (but more like toffee this time), just a dab of spice and also some cardboard and leather. Unbelievable length. Nothing has ever left me demanding another sip or being so sorrowful as you drain the last drops as this beer. On top of all this it gets you very very drunk indeed. I have been lucky enough to have had sessions on this and it is truely legendary. Nothing has ever satisfied me so consistently as this always does. Full bodied, superbly balanced, complex in every department. Think of a superlative and its in this drink somewhere. This is not hype it is every bit as good as they say.
lievenvh (13), , Belgium
Sep 7, 2008 caramel, floral, brown, sparkling, brown foam, light sweetness, medium bitterness, medium sourness,
BeerBunker (50), Burbank, Illinois, USA
Sep 6, 2008 Shared this with a friend who received it in a trade. Pours a very dark brown with a white head. Lots of carbonation. Very complex and delish aroma of sugars, bready goodness, malts, and fruit. Flavor is fantastic. Starts of with yeast and malts, and then the fruit and hops balance it out. Finish is very bitter. Alcohol isn’t very apparent. Is it worth the hype? Well, it may not be the greatest beer ever made, but it was very enjoyable and I would gladly drink it again.
cmillward (170), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 5, 2008 Bottle, 6-7 months after being picked up from the abbey, courtesy of Filip!
Pours a deep brown with a big tan tightly bubbled head, fades to the edges and leaves a nice lacing. Huge fruity nose, figs, dates, candi sugar, some spicy hops are evident in the nose too. The aroma is rounded out with some big, bready yeasty aromas atop a fine malty base. Truly a magnificent aroma. In flavor, sweet dates, bready yeasts, spicy hops and surprisingly had a bitter finish. Hardly any alcohol shows through. Very balanced and delicious, just lush and smooth in the mouth. This was light and drinkable. Cheers again to Filip for sharing this!
otakuden (85), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Sep 4, 2008 A rich earthy brown, she pours delectably into my glass, a goblet of course. A generous body, she is a deep earthy brown leaving no room for light to peek through. Thick and luscious in my glass with a nice tight, tan head which fades into a light ring around my glass. Much yeast in the nose with fruits such as prune, fig, and raisin. Westy is thick, heavy, and meaty in my mouth. A light touch of effervescent which I find is typical or bottle fermented Belgian Ales, and I love it. The palate is sweet and yeasty and a blend of darkish fruits like the prune, fig, and raisin I got in the nose. The whole flavor profile seems to settle right on the center of my tongue, lingering with a hint of dryness. Like a good Belgian, Westy warms beautifully, bringing out even more of the tangy yeasty sour goodness. Westy 12 finishes beautifully, much to my sadness, because I really didn’t want this wonderful Belgian beer to end. A true Trappist quadrupel, bless those monks.
For a high ABV, Westy 12 is very drinkable, and I could easily put a couple of these away, maybe with some yummy gourmet cheeses n smoked salmon. I have had a few "religious experiences" over the last few years of my beer geekdom, and Trappist Westvleteren 12 is definitely one of those.
dchmela (702), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 3, 2008 For my 700th rating, I decided to crack this one open on my 40th birthday. Two good numbers coming together, I guess. Pours a deep brownish red with a thick off white head. Nicely packed carbonation bubbles stream up the side of the glass. Aroma has a strong caramel malt sweetness, candy sugar, raisin, plums, and cherries all combined together, yet no one overpowering. Reminds me of a nice cognac where you just sit and savor the complexity of the aroma. Nice creamy body. Taste is thick and malty with lots of dark fruit notes, cherry, candy sugar. An amazing balance of so many flavors. With all of that going on, it finishes very clean with only a slight hint of sweetness. Yeah, it’s worth the hype.
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