St. Bernardus Prior 8

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

330ml bottle (Belgianshop)
Slightly hazy dark brown, tiny head. Raspberry and other dark berries aroma. Slightly alcoholic, but only in a good way that helps lift the aromas up the nose. Pleasant carbonation, quite lively, but still soft. A few swirls mellows it down nicely. Soft full malty body, richly roasted malt. Sweet dark fruits too. Decent malty finish, but as a very late finish there’s also a glorious nuttiness. Superb beer. Belgian ale at it’s finest.

Bottle. The aroma is sweet, fruity with notes of plums - a pretty complex aroma. The color is a deep red and it has a small beige head though fast disappearing. The flavor is sweet and rich in fruit; plums, raisins, and prunes. The alcohol tickles the tongue which combines with the bitterness into a dry end. It has a good palate which in combination with the alcohol makes it rather vinous.

Since St. Bernardus calls this a dubbel, that’s what my head is comparing it to. I’ve never been overwhelmed by any dubbels but this is at the top of its class. Complex flavor, just the right carbonation. I want more and that’s the bottom line. Perhaps I’ll try the Westmalle Dubbel in my fridge just to be sure.

sweet malt aroma ... molasses, figs, fruit, yeast, raisin bread ... tingly carbonation ... clean finish with a hint of alcohol .... found another one

Pours a muddy brown with a small head. Sweet malt on the nose with a bit of fruit. Taste is fantastic with malt, fruit and, carmel; something you’d expect in a heavier beer but the body is light for the style. Finishes fruity and dry. Very nice beer, better than I expected.

Bottle. Poured a dark brownish color with slim head, nice lacing. Aroma of malts fruit and yeasts. Flavor of a creamy sweet begian yeasts, fruits and malts. Medium mouth feel, smooth palate. Nice finish, started tasting the flavors more as the beer warmed off a bit. Liked it, but not a top tier beer.

Pours a dark rich amber/brown color that is cloudy with a bad pour getting some sediment in the glass. Great rocky off white head leaving great lacing throughout the tasting. The smell has hints of malt sweetness and a presence of alcohol. Some lighter bready and noticeable sugary sweetness. Limited yeast esters but some white pepper and fruity esters, pear and cherries. The taste is sweet with stronger alcohol bit to it. Some malty aroma with a light chocolate and bready flavors. Some raisins, prunes, and red wines characteristics. Finishes warm with some yeasty remnants. The body is bigger than typical for style with some sweet and light carbonation bite at the end.

Pours hazy dark amber with an off white head with nice lacing. Flavors of belgian yeast, caramel, sugar. Flavors are fruity, sweetness and yeast. Medium mouthfeel with lively carbonation. An excellent brew. I will definately be drinking more of these.