Westvleteren 12

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

#100. Bottle courtesy of ’The Dork’ to commemorate this special occasion. Pours a murky dark brown with tons of particles floating in the beer and gathering at the bottom. There was a small, thin quickly dissipating cream coloured head. It disappeared so quickly that I barely had time to note the quality of it. Sweet aroma of dark fruits, caramel, and alcohol. Flavour of black grapes, figs, raisins, cherries, plums and Sugar In The Raw. Flavour is warming and it has a thick yet smooth palate. The high alcohol content is well hidden. Quite good but I don’t think the flavour and overall quality warrant it’s top rating.

Rating #1000, 25th Current Beer God of Illinois: Nothing flashy, barrel aged, or over the top.. just a Classic. Bottle courtesy of BelgianBeerGal. Pours a very dark brown, opaque, some reddish auburn notes on the edges, but largely dark, with a fairly big tannish head that stays at a moderate level, laces pretty well. Aromas are a nice warming sweetness, caramel and toffee, a touch of toastiness, nuts, dried fruits, raisins, a touch of marmalade and candied fruit that contribute to the sweetness, Belgian yeasty spice, candy sugars, a touch of anise hidden underneath, a warming alcohol feel, biscuits, maybe a faint touch of cough syrup. Initial is lighter on the palate than expected, nothing overbearing or cloying, a nice sweetness and warming alcohol lightly dance on the back of the throat, caramel and toffee, Belgian candy sugars, raisins, prunes, cherry cough syrup, a touch of chocolate lingers underneath with a touch of anise and Nyquil. The yeasty spice is lighter than anticipated, instead taking on a more dominant fruitiness, medicinal quaiities. Warming, a touch of vanilla, this beer is more subtle as you move on, and the strength lies in the fact that there is nothing cloying about it, despite possibly being led to believe it would be so on aroma. I had a bit higher hopes for this, but it is still a top shelf beer, winning points for me for not being a cloying mess. Cheers.

A very complex and wonderful nose of dough, plums, chocolate and alcohol. Taste is of nuts, raisins, dried fruit, yeast, sugars and marzipan. Finish is pretty alcoholic. Maybe I should have aged this a bit longer - sampled young this is a good abt, reminicent of the 8, but the alcohol and the marzipan takes over too much (much like the young quad from La Trappe). For now, I have to say that the 8 is better.

Strong notes of biscuit, dates, prunes, and candied concord grapes ... there is also a strange spiciness that I cannot place. Deep golden brown body with slight, eggshell head. Nose is unveiled in the taste, but also brings fruity esters and that ephemeral phantom spiciness that is so intriguing. Sublimely smooth and perfect for savoring. Surely a fantastic brew, and undoubtedly one of the best quads out there. Although the ’ghost-spice’ entices unequivocally, and in the understanding that I may induce grief amongst my brew-brethren ... I do believe I might have to prefer a St. Bernardus 12 for my ’go to’ quad. True brew enthusiasts must try this one, it is a gem of the brewing art!

I have bin to cafe in den vrede i have tasted them al i found this on the best of the 3

Aroma of fermented fruits, yeast, dhow and alcohol. Appearance is dark brown with medium white head. Flavor of fermented fruits, raisins, prunes, nuts and warming alcohol. Overall an amazing beer. However I don’t really thinks it lives up to the hype.

300th rating for me, 1600th for Westy 12! Bottle shared by DuffmanSW. Pours a cola brown color with a short light tan head. Aroma is dark fruits, dates and figs, with some very nice buttered toast and all kinds of sugars like honey, caramel, and brown sugar. Flavor is initially buttery fresh croissants...you must be joking, right??? Also caramelized fruits and a nice slight spiciness. Full bodied and smooth with soft carbonation, it melts in your mouth. Didin’t think it would be as good as everybody says, I was wrong.

Beer pours a deep brown with hues of ruddy character coming through. Aroma is incredible with raisin, plums, dates, biscuits, and rich malts. The flavor is much the same. This beer is rather soft, not harsh in any way. Its so dangerously easy to drink. This is a very special beer indeed. I definitely hope to have this one again!