St. Bernardus Prior 8

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

Serve in Trappist glass

Pours very dark with hints of brownish orange shining through. It pours with a medium sized tan head that fades relatively quickly, but not completely. The aroma has caramel and malts along with some soft fruits (apricot, banana). The aroma has also hints of toffee and distinct smell of alcohol. The flavor at the beginning follows the aroma, but with much more malt and caramel than fruit. Flavors of raisin bread, bitter hops, and dark fruit (plums) reveal themselves on the middle of the tongue. The beer finishes somewhat dry and bittersweet (some roasted grain flavors showing through in the end) with virtually no after-taste. The finish also has some alcohol warming the throat as you swallow. The mouthfeel is splendid - quite creamy and light - particularly light for such a strong beer.

Bottle. Aroma has notes of black licorice, raisin, dust, roasted cereal malts and grassy hops. Dark hazy brown hue with an average off-white foamy head that mostly diminished and left little lace. Flavor is very sweet and a little bit bitter. Palate is full bodied and oily lively. Overall a big and intense brew. Good representation of the style.

Bottled. Cloudy dark brown, thin tan head. Aroma is dark fruit and some caramel malts. Taste is like the aroma (raisins, figs, plums). mouthfeel is quite spicy and dry...

Bottle at 30/01/12 Appellation tasting. Pours an amber brown colour with a decent, light tan head. Aroma is very malty with Weetabix, candy sugar and orange zest. Flavours of honey, ginger, alcohol, Weetabix and yeast. Alcohol lingers. Moderate carbonation and CO2 prickle with a foamy mouth-feel.

Pours clear brown with a high head. Aroma is sweet malts, yeast and alcohol. Flavor is pretty much the same. Pretty nice.

Great nose...very complex. Amber, clear and nice head. Light bitter? Medium body. Great dubbel.

Excellent, of course. It pours a dark amber brown with nice off white head. Very well balanced beer. It is malty sweet with clove and dark fruits.

In bottle; aroma of caramel and sugar. Poured a deep hazy brown with solid head. Taste was medium/full bodied with great caramel and toffee notes. very good beer (better than I expected). I must buy more ....