St. Bernardus Prior 8

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

Dark, rich flavor but very well balanced. I can’t say much about the appearance as the table in the corner of the bar was pretty dark. Excellent aftertaste, not super bitter like American beers.

Pours a darker, rich amber from the 750ml. bottle with tiny sediments dancing around the carbonation in my pint glass. Amazing head retention. Ripe prunes, dates, and figs swirl around a mild alcoholic presence (bourbon). Mildly tart, sweet (molasses) and yeasty. So wonderfully balaced. Drinkability: BombMer. Rebuy: Sure. 25102009, DG.

Well, after swirling in the ton of sediment at the bottom of the bottle all I have in my glass now is a awful looking concoction that resembles globby swamp water eggs. Brown muck, a small brown cap that returns on swirl, some spotty lacing and ok retention. Just a shitload of sediment. Sweet spice on the nose, candied orange rind, chewed gum with half the flavour gone, toffee, mellow, maybe a soft version of nutmeg. Instant spice flavour hits first, strange cocoa, bitter spice, minor alcohol on the nose, easy to drink but I think I am suffering through the immense sediment that will not settle one bit. A disappointing brew.

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 11.2oz bottle into a chalice. The bottle has a best before date of 28 06 12 and it was consumed on 6-23-09. Appearance: The body has a dark burgundy color with lighter reddish high lights. On top the head was about one finger thick and hangs on well but slowly fades to a ring of foam around the edge of the glass. It is light tan in color and makes some spotty and slippery lacing. Smell: Dark fruity and estery notes mix with a mild sweet alcohol presence. Taste/Mouth: Its flavor has a pleasant sweet and malty complexity. There are hints of dates and figs sweetened by Belgian sugar, warmed by a mellow brandy like alcohol presence and tempered by some mild bitterness of hops. The palate has a smooth but lively texture with active carbonation. Notes: This beer is another solid brew from St. Bernardus.

Clear brown of color with a beige head. An aroma of spice, caramel and dark fruits. A flavor of spice and dark fruits.

11.2 oz. bottle. Nice opaque brown color. Aroma of fruit with hints caramel. Nice flavor, very good creamy texture. I liked this beer a lot.

Bottle. Pours a clear, dark brown with an off-white head. Aroma is sweet with malt and dark fruits. Flavour is malty and fruity; plums. Same finish. Too much carbonation. 26-09-09.

330 ml bottle - pours clear, dark brown with thin off-white head; aromas of figs, sugar, dank fruit, yeast and bread; candy malt, thick, dry and fruity; strong, but smooth and tasty; super rich and malty, great stuff