 Ernest (4197), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Mar 1, 2002 Updated: Apr 1, 2005
Head is initially average sized, fizzy, light brown, fully diminishing.
Body is hazy dark brown, bottle conditioned.
Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, cookie), moderately yeasty (mold, dough), with light notes of plum, raisin, brown sugar, alcohol.
Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic.
Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lighlty bitter.
Medium to full body, syrupy texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic.
I suppose this is one of the better St. Bernardus brews, but it just doesn’t show the breeding of a Rochefort or Westy IMHO. Every time I have this, I always knock it down a peg or two. Though I admit part of the problem for me is the clunky mold-on-wet-cement yeast character, along with the unbalanced sugary sweetness. This is literally going in the direction of Kasteel Donker, which I abhor.
fata2683 (17), APO, New York, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Wow, this is a fine beer, and it’s fairly easy to get which is why this is a staple in my fridge. Right up there with Westy 12 but not as creamy.
FatguyRacer (83), Crownsville, Maryland, USA
Aug 18, 2008 Bottle 750 ml. Pours a deep dark chocolaty brown with a moderate caramel colored frothy head. Held up to the setting sun nary a ray of light shines through, its that deep in color. The aroma is sweet and fruity with a the wonderfull smell of fresh baked bread. The smell of alcohol is very present but it’s not at all overbearing. On the palate is has quite a bit of fiz and a deep malty flavor thats reminicent of bitter unsweetened chocolate and molassass with just a hint of alcohol. A wonderful hearty brew thats not overly sweet and thick and surpirsingly very refreshing for a dark brew. I plan to enjoy many more bottles of this fine beer.
Ported (55), Ontario, Canada
Aug 18, 2008 Dark brownish red with a nice off white head. Cloudy with some floaters. Lots of fruits, raisin, caramel, spices, and alchohol. Moderate carbonation and slighty syrupy texture. Delicious.
bembelembe (46), Zagreb, Croatia
Aug 18, 2008 Fruity and alcoholy smell. Quite high in carbonation and alcohol. Very complex and full taste, primarily fruity - raisins, banana, cherry, carob; other dark dried fruit. Other spices - cinnamon, nuts... Roasted malt; caramel-brown sugary sweet (in combination with high carbonation one part of taste reminds of Coca cola). Long and strong aftertaste alcoholy & fruity. Very dark brown in color. Yeasty sediment on bottom.
Angeloregon (1823), Portland, Oregon, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Poured a rich chestnut brown body with a thick frothy beige-tan head. Sweet, nutty, roasty, brown sugar, candy nose withfruity spicy esters. Prickly carbonic creamy mouthfeel. Hints of raisins, figs, bananas, cloce, pepper, and brown sugar. Super awesome complex one-of-a kind beer that rivals West Vleterin 12.
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