Westvleteren 12 (XII)

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

Serve in Trappist glass

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Re-Rate 08/30/02: I’ve had this bottle for about 18 months, and decided, I could not wait to re-rate it. The pour is a cloudy cherry like color, minial head, minimal lace. Nose is ’plummish’, sweet, malts, earthy, ’Heavenly’, is a term that comes to mind. Start sweet, the top light, the finish is ’wineish, lightly acidic, dry, abv warms the tummy, nice light hop bite. Ranks #1 on my current 1000 beer master list.

Thanks to Belgianshop.com I finally got may hands on some of this (8 of them to be exact). It's hard to add anything else to what's been said, except it is about the closest thing to an orgasm in a bottle. Absolutely wonderful!

What can I say, the absolute best Trappist product I’ve tried, and I’ve tried six so far. This beer is incredible, only wish I could have more. Unfortunately, cost too much to consume in large quantities. I feel I can still taste this beer. I recommend it to anyone who can get ahold of one.

My personal choice for best beer in the world. Hugely flavorful, particularly a nutty, malty, burnt fruit flavor that is married perfectly to a soft but full body. The taste lingers in your mouth for a many minutes after you take a sip. Elegant, sophisticated, powerful, and down-right awesome. The true king of beers.

This is it. Beer in heaven or any after life shuld taste liker this. It is everything I want from a glass. The texture is as unique as the flavor. Pay whatever, but drink one, you cannot be sorry. You can get one at The Map Room in Chicago, too.

Sampled at the greatest bar in the whole world, Le Bier Circus in Brussles. I’ve seen the Notre Dame in Paris, David in Florence, and the Roman Ruins but nothing convinces me more of the power of man to create art more than this beer. The flavors of rum raisin, plums, figs, chocolate, banana, and many more than I could possibly identify wash over you while the smoothnes of the beer calms your soul. Perfect!

It is almost sacrilegious to call this beer. It transcends the category, with its deliciously enticing fruity-wine aroma and magnificent, malty raspberry/plum taste. Strong yet delicate, imagine biting into a perfectly ripe pear to get an idea of the texture and heartiness exhibited by ’12’. With such a high alcohol content, one would expect an overwhelming alcohol flavor, but it was masked as well as any ’beer’ I’ve had. With its rich, delectable taste, beautiful dark color, frothy head, and luscious aroma, this IS the perfect ’beer.’ An orgiastic feast for the senses.

UPDATED: JUN 20, 2005 Head is initially large, frothy, off-white, fully lasting. Body is murky medium reddish brown, dense particles of all sizes, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (milk chocolate, cookie, caramel, nutty), lightly yeasty (cobwebs), with notes of raisin, plum, orange, brown sugar, toffee, cask wood, and vanilla, hint of alcohol. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly bitter, lightly acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, creamy texture, soft carbonation, lightly alcoholic. It’s been almost three years since my last confession, father. Goddamn, is this delicious! You can see all the 4.9’s from people who don’t believe in perfect 5.0’s...those are 5.0’s for all intents and purposes, you can be sure. And it’s easy to see why this beer has remained #1 here for so long. It is elegance and balance, decadence and hedonism. Yin and yang. Lustful sin and chaste innocence. It is matter and anti-matter. It is the alpha and omega of beer.

This is amazing. Rich, complex, full-bodied, all in all one of the greatest achievements of European civilization. There’s a wonderful sort of vinous flavor, not unlike port, but better.

The most magnificent beer on the earth. It is costly. But it is well worth the price. This beer contains so many positive characteristics. If you are lucky enough to find this decadent liquid, buy all of it that you can! It is supernatural.