Westvleteren 12 (XII)

Brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Westvleteren, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass

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This isn’t really cracked up to all the hype. It is good, but seemed almost too complex and alcoholic. I would prefer Rochefort 10 or Chimay Blue.

UPDATED: APR 20, 2006 of course it’s very good. it is a little prejudicial tasting a beer and knowing your peers consider it the best in the world. but that’s understandable, it is not at all offensive, none of the little nasties that creep into a lot of strong belgian beers. i figure most people who like this will probably still like another trappist beer more. i guess it’s the most mainstream and people who aren’t too sure if they like it will be swayed by the weight of opinion of those they respect. and it is very tasty. lots of caramel pears floating in creme caramel. alcohol almost too well disguised. little wonder it is so popular had it again the other day, an ’04 bottle, and i have to give in and follow the herd and bump this up a few points. flawless. roasted almonds all over the place

A very good beer; however, still has a strong taste of alcohol. Nice fruity aroma but very heavy.

Too strong tasting of alcohol. But still is something i would reccommend to someone because of its rarity here in the states. If i wanted a good belgian stroin ale i ould go for a Chimay Grande Reserve or even a Maudite from canada.

UPDATED: SEP 21, 2004 Wonderful aroma--sweet and perfumey, with notes like fruit-cake, including hazlenuts, peaches, and chocolate. The flavor however was not terribly distinct, interrupted badly by a profusion of carbonation. There were some nice vinous notes in there, some sweet chocolate, an appreciable bitterness, but nothing that made me stand up and say "Goddamn that's good."

(Best before 25/01/03) I was at my brother’s place for my 25th birthday tonight when he offered me a beer. "I’ve got a couple of trappist beers if you want, Rochefort 8 and Westmalle tripel. What do you say?" "Don’t you have any Westvleteren 12 instead" I reply just to kid him. "Mmmmmm, let me see" he goes. That’s when I saw his face come out of the fridge with a big smile on it. "I just found one. I was keeping it for a special occasion and forgot about it. I guess a quarter of a century is good enough." After letting the beer warm for a while, he poured me a nice glass of this muddy reddish amber liquid. Unfortunately, it had almost no head. During my outer body experience I met nuts, plums, alcohol, wood, chocolate, caramel, honey and so much more I couldn’t describe. For a moment, I thought I had picked up some hemp notes in the aroma but that was just the neighbour. This beer sure knows how to warm a man’s heart. Cheers to the best brother in the world. Eric, you rock!

Very well made beer. The hype caused for a bit of a let down. I do love this beer, but I do not know if it the greatest beer in the world. I think I like v-10 as much

I don’t think I’m going to say anything new here so I’ll keep it brief - this is a great beer.

Sometimes the hype is right on, such is the case here. I finished my half of the bottle (split with my wife) before I could discover most of the complexities here. Aroma is not strong but very unique, earthy, fresh, after a spring rain. Tiny bubbles in a tan head, lasting, lacing. Golden orange color with floaties that make it look like a fishtank. Wants to be sweet then stops. Spicy earthiness. Burns the back of the throat for an instant. Alcohol gets stronger as it warms. Also is in the finish. I need another couple of them! Thanks to alcfron for picking this up in Kentucky, along with a couple of others.