Westvleteren 12

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

Serve in Trappist glass

Review #500. Received from Raznug for as a BA Secret Santa Gift! Thought it would be appropriate to review the #1 rated beer in the world with this landmark review. Poured into my Chimay Chalice. A- Body is a very hazy dark brown color. Pours with a minimally creamy off white head. Head subsides to a thick half-moon collar with no collar around half of it and an eggshell creamy remnants of the head in the center. When held up to the light one can see the thick, dynamic cloudiness of this brew. S- The overall impression of the nose is slightly sweet. Raisins, figs, root beer, cola, grapes, plums are mostly upfront and have a background of slightly spicy Belgian yeast and a very subtle, sneaky alcohol background. T-The initial flavors are exquisite and balanced. A perfect bland of spicy Belgian yeast, fig, malt, and and dark fruits such as sweet raisins and slightly tart plum mix perfectly and give off a root beer and cola-like flavor. The spicy yeast comes through a little more for the finish as well as a slight bitter alcohol bite. The flavor then turns around and ends with a sweet fruity note. A slight essence of spicy Belgian yeast lingers. Flavor is wonderful and complex. P-Medium carbonation and wonderfully smooth and creamy body. Yeasty and smooth but with a touch of alcohol astringency. O-This is a wonderful quadruple and it was truly and honor to try it. As far as pure drinkability is concerned; it is definitely a slow sipper. This, and other good examples of the style, IMO,are meant to be slipped slowly as you contemplate the complexity of what was produced. The ABV is quite noticeable and if you don’t take your time with this brew you surely won’t get a chance to appreciate it. Due to its $ and availability, its a beer that was definitely worth it for the first try/review but I will reserve obtaining it again for a VERY special occasion. A bit overrated (Its hard to be a perfect beer across the board)-but still an excellent, stand-out, well put together brew. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 12-16-2008 22:01:00

When I rated the brother Westy8 a couple of weeks ago I wrote "Surely my best beer ’till now. (not tried Westy 12..)". Well, now that I’ve tried Westy12 I can confirm Westy8 as my best beer ever. Westy12 is, again awesome, big and delicious, but lacks something in the flavor compared to it’s younger brother. Anyway, long life St.Sixtus Abbey!

Superb beer. i love the fine caramel taste. Went with my brother to Westvleteren half a year ago.

UPDATED: MAR 30, 2011 So I drank this beer after a nice bike ride through the Belgian countryside about a year ago. It’s absolutely perfect. I know I’m not giving any characteristics, but imagine everything good from any beer you’ve ever tasted. It’s dark, sweet but not too sweet, the perfect amount of carbonation, the perfect amount of hops, the alcohol is there but not overpowering. It’s sad to know no beer will ever taste this good again. Upon further tasting, it’s still the best beer I’ve ever had. Actual rating: pours brown with a thick, lacy, beige head. Aroma of dark fruit, floral hops, roasted malts, Belgian spicy yeast, and amazingness. Flavor very complex, and the texture is really thick. Phenomenal.

Pours a nice dark brown with amber tints with a one inch off-white head that fades at a moderate rate. Smells heavily of deep fruits like prunes and raisins, deep, dark, sweet malt and caramel with some chocolate and a bit of a rum character. In the mouth is initially malt leading into deep, sweet fruit and some chocolate with sweet caramel on the back end and some alcohol on the swallow. After adding the yeast sediment the fruit character is more pronounced with a bit more sweetness. The yeast gives an earthy character in the back of the mouth throughout. Medium mouthfeel, quite carbonated. This bottle was about four months old, and was not as harsh or sweet as previous tastings from the same batch. I will definitely have to keep some to age.... A well rounded, perfectly balanced brew. Excellent, but best in the world? Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva still has my vote.

I see why the monks get annoyed at this leaving the brewery. The one fresh on tap was as close to the perfect beer as I’ve ever had. This review is the bottled product, consumed around two years after purchase from In De Vrede. It’s still a great beer, no doubt about it. The amazing raisin notes have dropped off a bit though to be replaced by a deep woody note - still interesting, just not superlative. The body seems thinner, and yet the overall balance has moved towards the sweet. I miss the on tap beer, that was a 20. Roll on next year when we go back!

33 cl bottle. Simply the best beer ever had. I love you Westy Monks! Speechless.

The best Trappist Ale I’ve had. Totally lives up to the hype. Had a bottle in Amsterdam, room temp. Blissful.