St. Bernardus Abt 12

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

Aged, somewhere over 2 years, possibly closer to 3. BBD 28 02 11.

After drinking dozens of these I’ve finally gotten around to reviewing instead of drinking this heavenly concoction for pure enjoyment.

Pours out a massive, permanent bubbly tan head that sticks to the glass like glue and leaves Guinness-like rings. Dark brown muck in my glass after the sediment dump. Ahhhh. The aroma is simply awesome and makes me drool almost every time I get a whiff. The mix is perfect, lots of variety and seems to rotate with what is featured from smell to smell. Tons of stuff here: sweetness overlooks everything in good order, raisins, plums, cloves, salty bread, molasses, rich malts, fig newtons (I think - it’s been years since I’ve had one), mild licorice, maybe artificial grape flavouring, caramel. I wonder if I can keep smelling this until it evaporates? Love the spice here, mellow but prominent. At this cellared age there is no alcohol on the nose at all. Then again, I’m not sure if a fresh bottle has that as a aromatic characteristic either. All the 12’s I’ve had in the last 2 years have all been cellared.

My mouth just came. The flavours come in waves that continue to happify (new word!) my mouth. The sweetness begins but almost instantly allows the initial mild spice to roll along the tongue. This is only to prepare you for the impressive rich malt middle. This is only there in passing in its own right as the next wave of stronger, harsher spices and bitterness sweep over that and then grab hold of your taste buds, squeezing tight, reminding them that all those other beers they’ve enjoyed do not even deserve to be uttered in the same sentence as ST. B’s 12. Sweet dark fruits, rich malts, licorice, molasses, brown sugar, back or the side of my tongue gets a shot of tartness. Yeast. Now that I’ve said that, I never realized how I was ignoring the yeast factor until now. It’s there without question. Breathe in the spice and realize there is a faint alcohol vapour circling within. Smooth, medium to medium full bodied, all encompassing in my mouth with the flavours seeking every nook and cranny. Finishes with some yeast, dark fruity sweetness and the perfect spice portion and it all blends in with a bitterness that, after quite a while, fades into a weak caramel that melts away much in the same way as a shadow does in late morning sun. This is it. This is THE beer experience as it should be. ABT 12 sits upon it’s throne above tens of thousands of beers and hundreds of imitators among the fabled Gods of Beer - casually pausing to consider... but only casually.

One of the finest ales I’ve ever had. Slight, off-white head. Deep purple, reddish coloring with minimal carbonation. Very fruity on the nose combined with alcohol and some yeast. Overall smooth body, with some pleasant carbonation. Prunes, raisins, spice, alcohol. This beer was far more complex on the palate as it warmed up. If you get this served to you "American Cold", please, do yourself a favor and let it sit for a moment and warm up. Definitely one of my favorites!

Bottle, 330 ml. Pours dark russet, with minimal off-white head. Quite fruity on the nose, with some sugary complexity. Smooth on the tongue, and well balanced, with well integrated alcohol, and a bitterish tail-end. Reminiscent of a Trappist concoction, which isn’t surprising perhaps since they provided the brewing facilities for neighbouring Westvleteren at one point.

Pours dark brown with a creamy tan head. Has a fruity and sweet malt aroma. The body is well carbonated, with notes of dark fruit, apple cider, and a touch of spice . Alcohol is appropriate but not overbearing, and the carbonation improves the mouthfeel.

Bottle. Appearance: Murky brown that is dark in the center with lighter hues around the edges. A medium sized, tan head that lingers momentarily. Aroma: A sweet smell of sugary malts and fruits. Flavor: It tastes of brown sugar and dark fruits with some spice and alcohol notes. Palate: Medium body with a smooth and creamy texture. I really wanted to savor this one, but it didn’t stand a chance. Before I knew it, it was long gone.

Tap @ Ginger Man, Norwalk, CT. This is one of those beers where objective, technical descriptions are futile. This beer is tough to pin down. A fluffy soft, yet dry palate. A wide array of flavors impossible to pinpoint. An orchestra of flavor. If you haven’t, just try it.

Bottle. Chunky brown pour with a huge beige head. Aroma is like a brown ale with Belgian yeast. Very malty and caramelly with some banana and clove. Flavor is of banana-ish yeast, candi sugar and a bit of hop and alcohol. Not bad for a Belgian, but didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Enjoyed at room temp, and its a gusher! Pours a deep brown, with a frothy and large head, that never diminishes. Nose of dark fruit, brown sugar, molasses, booze. Taste is wild, initially sweet, then morphs into a yeasty/malty molasses semi spicy treat, finishes with the taste of alcohol. Very warming in the stomach. Finished the bottle wanting more. Definitely a favorite.