Westvleteren 12

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

Not only is this an amazing beer, but I have had the pleasure of having samples in Belgium, New York and San Francisco, and I have to say that it’s both phenominal and extremely resilient to travel and heat. A little murky, though that doesn’t bother me personally, it’s got a great caramel flavor, deep yeast complexity and fruity aftertastes that linger well after the last sip passes through your lips...

Proof of the existence of God. The yard stick by which all other Belgian Trappist beers (indeed, beers in general) should be measured. Head: the ultimate rocky Belgian foam. I would not be surprised if they pack the pillows of the monks at the abbey with this heavenly mousse. Thick, long lasting, creamy, dense. Aroma: mysterious, deepening with increasing temperature. Chocolate, layers of malt, Viennese coffee, caramel, notes of port. Flavor: the Everest of complexity. Sweet treacle and toffee but not cloying, because a well balanced bitterness, alcohol and spice mixture immediately tempers the first impression. Roasted malt, chocolate chip cookies, caramel sundae topping, hot buttered rum. Let it warm up a bit and discover why people become monks at the abbey breweries. Palate: creamy without being thick. Delightful. Immediately brings up perfect moments: sitting by a fire in a ski lodge after a perfect day on the slopes, reading a book in a European cafe on a rainy night, playing traditional music with friends in a dimly lit pub.

me and my dad have been saving some W12 for a couple of years (>5) in his wine-cellar. the bear’s now way past its sell-by-date and it becomes softer, richer, more complex.

First of all, props to Slikwily for the 1999 bottle of this beer for the Secret Santa. I was surprised that is had a very small light beigish head, but I'm guessing it was knocked down by the alcohol; the body is a nice even coppery brown color. Wow! What a plethora of aromas to be taken in all at once. "Do you know what a plethora is?" Malty, bready, yeasty, apple juice, raisins, a light malt whiskey, hints of buttery oak and caramel. Plums and raisiny malt flavor start things off, then caramel and dates! It's very well balanced with a malty finish; the aftertaste is malty smooth with a light roastiness. A little woody flavor and light hop flavor makes their way into the finish as well, as well as a hint of vanilla. I'm still waiting for the alcohol to show up! Very smooth mouthfeel, so smooth it's only lightly warming and has a full body with low carbonation. Also probably another reason for no head. Merry Christmas to me!!!!! Again, thank you Slikwily for this phenomenal beer! I think someone forgot to tell those monks to put alcohol in this because it is barely noticeable making this a very dangerously drinkable beer. In the immortal words of Ferris Beuhler, "if you have the means, I highly recommend it, it is so choice!"

You wanted the best, you've got the best...well this was the introduction of a great rock n' roll band, but it's perfect for this beer. Brown colour, thin head, but really lasting. Incredibly creamy texture. Raisins, strawberries and raspberries in the aroma, with some vanilla hints. The flavour is delicate, complex, really pleasant, it's difficult to describe all the sensations that this beers gives in your mouth: fruity (raspberries, apricots, peach, strawbeery, raisin), sweet (caramel and vanilla) with a touch of sourness. The finish is balanced between sweet and bitter flavours, with good coffee notes, very persistent in your mouth. This beer is perfectly balanced and you can't even fell the high ABV percentage. Westvleteren 12 is simply the best beer I've ever drunk in my life. I'd have never thought to give a "5 out of 5" percentage, but this beer really deserves this rating. An unforgettable beer (and I dont' really care if I had to pay 8 euro!).

[3 - 7 year old bottle rating] This immaculate elixir poured a beautiful cloudy brown color with a medium tan head. Roma was that of dark fruits such as grapes and plums. It had a creamy mouthfeel and a sweet vanilla, fruity but at the same time nutty and slightly chocolately taste. Slight alcohol burn as the beer warmed up. Calling this a beer is an understatement, more like heaven!
15 - 20 yrs of age puts this beer past it’s peak.

The beer gods have smiled down upon this brewery. Absolutely the most satisfying beer that I have ever tasted. It pours a dark and murky brown with hints of red and an impressively large head that dies down quickly. The aroma reminded me of a barley wine with a lot of fruity scents and a hint of alcohol (I'm not a fan of Barley Wines, so I was hesitant). The flavor was incredibly complex. The flavor is so incredibly smooth that I was in shock (considering the aroma) I think I notice a hint of chocolate in the taste as well as some different fruits and a couple spices. The mouthfeel of this beer is extremely smooth and satisfying. I could drink this beer all night long - although I'd probably not last more than three because of the alcohol. Again, this is THE best beer I've ever had and I would recommend it to anyone regardless of the $8 per bottle price.

I've had the pleasure to savor this one a few times. It definitely lives up to it's reputation. Has a strong pallette of many different flavors. If your able to get your hands on one, it's definitely worth trying.