St. Bernardus Pater 6

This blue labeled beer says ’St. Sixtus’ with ’Pater 6’ on the cap. Could this beer be as much as 10 years old? Nearly black in color with huge chunks of yeast sediment floating about. Thick sludge covers the bottom of the bottle. Somewhat dense off-white head. Aroma like a port wine, dried fruits, candi sugar and some slight alcohol notes. Flavors of port, chocolate, prunes and an overall sweetness that finishes dry and quiet. Hop bitterness is restrained but noticeable on the sides of the tongue. I have one more of these in the cellar that I now consider the prized jewel of my growing collection!

Mid-brown colour with a dense head; plum, cream, spice and chocolate aroma; sweet/bitter taste with black chocolate, pepper, toffee, roast and fruit aromas; bitter finish with black chocolate, burnt, liquorice, toffee and chicory aromas. Now Westvleteren Red has gone, this will have to do. A beer packed with flavour and character. It drinks like a beer 2 or 3% stronger. Has some very pleasant dark malt flavours.

One of my favourite beers yet. Very foamy head, but next to no carbonation once the head dies down. The head is unusually tasty. Very aromatic: extremely fruity, and never in an unpleasant way. Tastes much like wine. Sweet, but in a completely acceptable way. Oddly, I taste a lot of alcohol, but it’s not unpleasant. Sort of caramelly, but in a subtle way. Very enjoyable, and although pricey, not unreasonably so. In my opinion, this beer beats out a number of more expensive and rarer competitors. It’s also my favorite among the St. Bernardus brews.

Semi-hazed, rusty and ruby brown in color with widespread tan cotton foam that’s one-inch tall for the head. Aroma revels in glory. Dates, whole wheat bread, brown sugar, caramelized prunes, golden raisins, nutmeg, maple fudge, anise and chocolate-dusted banana chips. Devine. Certainly a flavorful array. Pepper and flower petals introduce a sweet visage with a silhouette of chocolate butter, cloves and brown bread. Spiced intoxicating enclave. Chocolate dipped licorice sticks, pumpernickel, golden raisins and a plum flavored, milky cheesecake character. Creamy, palatable and an absolute enjoyment wherever the tongue tosses it. Everything melds so well. Brown sugar and seven-grain muffins help with the encore, along with cloves, bananas dipped in peppered cocoa butter and sweet recognition that lasts long into the night.

I really like this beer. For a belgian, it is very easy to drink. Has a rich deep malt flavor with a spicy sweet backbone. Very well balanced.