St. Bernardus Pater 6

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Watou, Belgium

Pours deep amber into the glass, with a nice eggshell head that keeps 1/4-inch retention and foamy lace. The nose is of dark fruity esters and spices. The flavors are reminiscent of a porter, with bready notes, dark dried fruits, yeast and deep malts. The finish is of a nice red (Cab or Port) wine, round and conclusive, somewhat vinous.... a lingering close without crispy bitterness. Mouthfeel is whole and substantiating, nicely complex. Great blend of yeasty bread and dark fruits in this offering. Nice trappist Belgian.

Malty aroma with fruity notes, some citrus, slight mustiness, perhaps some bread crust. Color is a muddy orange with foamy off white head. Flavor is dried fruits and rich malt, light chocolate and woody notes, some orange peel, perhaps a little dried fruit and licorice. Crisp palate, decently carbonated, light bitter roasty duration. Pretty good.

Bottle conditioned, 330 ml, aged 4.2 years. Red chestnut colour with large white, lacy, head. Vinous aroma, full of plum and prune, the body is medium depth, again vinous, porty with a rich fruity, sultana flavour and a yeasty, bready note, a bit like christmas cake. No spicing that I can detect, which is in its favour. A really pleasant Belgian Ale.

Bottle as shown. Pours a cloudy dark amber color with a medium frothy light tan head that lasts awhile. The aroma is very fruity with raisin and plums and cherries. Good sticky lacing on the glass. The taste is a light malt with a faint fruit in the finish. Easy to drink, a good belgian ale from St. Bernardus.

Style and Glass: Belgian Ale, Trappist ABV, Volume & Calories: 6% in 11.2 fl oz. estimated at 150 C Purchased at: Joe Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ as part of a $17.00 gift pack with glass. Aroma: beautiful scent, flowery, cherries, peach, cloves, spicy, fruity, oak. Visuals: simple, beautiful packaging, cloudy iced tea, deep reddish brown, nearly opaque, staying white head, intricate fresh lace. Taste: deep and balanced, hearty fruity malt, some fleeting hops, lighter body than expected. Palate: crisp, clean, but obviously unfiltered, longer fruit based finish. Overall: A wonderful brew. A bit expensive for what it is, understandably so, but a very nice experience. http://beercritic.wordpress.com/200

St. Bernardus certainly knows how to make a good beer. This one’s not as good as the Abt 12 but it’s still pretty darn good. LOTS of different flavors in this one. It blends nicely and goes down easy.

Bottle. Pours cloudy, medium-brown, with a puffy 2.5 finger beige head, good and lasting lacing. Smells of figs, caramel, pears, and hay. Medium, velvety, crisp body. Fruit flavor, much like the aroma, with some lemon. Very mild bitterness that balances all of the sweet malt about midway through, even less bitterness in the aftertaste. Well balanced.

Clovey date nose. Brown color with hints of amber, big head, nice lacing. Flavor was sweet pepper raisins, slight bitterness of orange pith. Medium bodied, big carbonation, finishes smooth. A solid beer, almost seems like a "light" version of Prior 8.