Westvleteren 12

Acquired this legendary beer on eBay. I cannot go into detail on just how great this brew is, as words do not seem to do it proper justice. In my opinion it was simply awesome - in the original, undiluted sense of the word. It left me pondering which little details would refine a beer to this level, the myriads of processes behind its making, and its journey from the abbey to my apartment in Bergen, Norway. The Westvleteren 12 is so balanced and fine-tuned that a traditional dissecting analysis of its contents seems only to disenchant the entirety of the tasting experience. Thus, I can only describe it in the ways of an entity, a combination of flavor, aroma and palate so tightly interwoven that it seemed to represent a different tactile sense altogether. The only keyword that has stuck in my mind in hindsight is: honey. And I like honey a lot. Particularly when it seems to have been gathered on clouds by angelic bees, sifted with stardust and filtered through the Pearly Gates themselves. Am I going over the top here? Indeed. But it feel sooo goood to find a beer worth doing it for. Much praise goes out to the monks of Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus; you do seem to have attained a closeness to the Divine after all.

I am eternally indebted to Bhops for getting this one to me for my 1,000th rating! Clouded brown pour with a SHITload of sediment. Actually some large chunks in this one. Poured this glass while watching Craig Ferguson to add to the awesomeness. Smells of the most perfect grapes. A nice thick scent that is fruity and sweet. Nice! Tastes of about the greatest Welch’s grape juice I have ever had. Not bitter but beautiful. Fair amount of raisins with a finish of satisfaction. There is not much more that can be better about this. Better than the Optimator and Bernardus 12, it’s fantastic! Life is worth living again.

A friend of mine gave me this beer when I visited him in France. As good as it was, I was not as enamored as most reviewers. First, the appearance was pedestrian--little head, no lace. Cloudy, brown color. The smell is brown sugar, similar to candy. The flavor matches this except that there is notable hop. Not surprisingly, very strong warm alcohol flavor and feel. This is a thick beer with a low level of carbonation.

(bottle) pours a murky dark brown colour with a small off-white head. aroma of bread dough, light chocolate and caramel, brown sugar and some mellow spice, not sweet at all. flavour is all of the above, quite sweet but never cloying, alcohol carries all the flavours and coats the mouth like icing. velvety mouthfeel, with a strong, full body and smooth carbonation.

pretty interesting beer, quite dark and strong, but really easy to drink. It’s certainly one of the best.

Pours darker brown color with a tan head. Aroma is of caramel malts, dark fruits, slight chocolate, and some acohol. Flavor was pretty much the same with more alcohol then I was expecting. Nice blend of flavors that aren’t overwhelming. Nice warming on the finish.

Bottle @ Volo, Toronto, ON: So excited to try this one - I’d planned on it being #1,000 but Volo made it much easier to obtain. Aroma of boozy black cherry, dark chocolate, lemon, caramel. Flavour is cognac, black pepper, grass, chocolate, stone fruits, black cherries and lots of subtle hopping that comes out strong after the swallow. Mellows so nicely, and amazingly smooth to drink. I can’t find anything wrong with it, just an exceptional beer.

Bottle, one month old, straight from the cellar. Pours a nice brown beer. Nose is not overwhelming, although nice and sweet aromas come trough. Rather small head. Taste is sweet with notes of caramel and chocolate and a nice warming after taste, yet not too overpowering.