 kepano (239), Meudon, France
Jul 8, 2006 Updated: Oct 24, 2008
There’s nothing supernatural about beer. You might say the monks of St. Sixtus harbor a metaphysical relationship through this beer, yet in itself it is but the sum of a very tangible - though nonetheless complex - brewing process. I suppose that may seem obvious, but I only fully understood the implications after drinking the Westvleteren 12. In some way I have always believed that one day I would drink a beer that couldn’t be described in comparative terms, a beer that in the words of Hegel would aufheben. The reverie can never be utterly anulled, but certainly dimmed as it has by the disillusion of drinking such a strong candidate. Don’t get me wrong, the Westvleteren Abt is an exceptional brew, but the fact that I can pinpoint its shifting nuances with precision leaves me with a sense of control that could not exist in my utopian nectar.
Westvleteren is no epigone and their Abt warrants careful scrutiny, beginning with its beautiful black velvet robe that radiates a clear crimson hue in the light. The praline pillow-like head evolves gracefully and slips through the lips with a delicate creamy touch. Wondrous scents of banana and dark sugars are immediately apparent. Rich caramel and molasses develop and with each sniff appears a refining shade: chocolate, coffee, fig, plum, red wine, licorice. The complexity is ever increasing and builds a rustic profile highlighted by hints of dust, soil, wood and apple that evolve with warming to reveal buttery raspberries, cinnamon, honey and progressively sweeter and fruitier tonalities. The first sip is equally enticing and coats the tongue in a slightly burnt chocolate bitterness that slowly unveils a sweet pear flavor, not unlike a bite of Poire Belle-Hélène. A soupçon of black pepper enhances the nutty coffee and dark malts which gradually smoothen to reveal raisins and cherries. The finish is surprisingly hoppy, far more than most Belgian brewers allow, but this touch is not unwelcome and adds a certain identity to an almost excessively well balanced beer. My specimen was just a few weeks old, but I’ll be aging the rest of my bottles to observe this beer’s evolution. Perhaps its maturation will yield what I so deeply pursue.
Re-rate: As my bottles age I am beginning to understand the mystique behind Westvleteren’s Abt. Between three and five years of age this is a beer that truly radiates perfection. I had to increase my rating.
jrallen34 (67), Illinois, USA
Jul 2, 2009 I drank this from a bottle in brussels.
This is a great beer very similar to R10, but I would say its a notch below Rochefort 10.
Great deep amber appearance with a nice head.
The flavor of coffee and alochol.
This is a great beer, but probably given more props because of lack of availability.
cyrenaica (400), Milton, Ontario, Canada
Jun 30, 2009 330ml bottle
10.2% ABV
This is my 400th review. I tried this beer on June 25, 2009 at ’Cafe Volo’ in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Several Toronto beer bars have banded together to get several cases and sell it - and I grabbed the chance. The beer poured an opaque dark brown with an off white head...not near as dark as the St. Bernardus or Rochefort quads. The aroma knocked my socks off....fresh figs and plums, with warm yeast and sweet malt. More than satisfying. The mouthfeel was full-bodied, with mild carbonation - yet a bit thinner than other quads. The flavour again was quite complex and full of flavours when compared to St. Bernardus, and didn’t have the alcohol taste and feel I get with the Rochefort. The bitter aftertaste was even pleasant after the sweet malt and fruit tones. On aroma and taste alone, this is the best beer I have ever had. I’m knocking off points for appearance and mouthfeel as the beer was ’lighter’ than I was expecting.
BrewDad (2142), Olympia, Washington, USA
Jun 29, 2009 Liquid Sunshine VII Tasting – Kirkland, WA
Aroma: Belgian yeast aroma was sweet like molasses.
Appearance: Brown in color, Hazy with a thin head.
Flavor: Sweet Belgian yeast flavor with a dried fruit. This was very sweet in flavor.
Palate: Dry Sweet finish, with a Good Mouthfeel.
Overall: A Totally awesome Belgian Quad.
Frovigalning (156), , Sweden
Jun 28, 2009 It poured a dark liquid with some tones of red and brown. The foam was small and left no lacing. After a closer inspection I also noticed that there where some yeast in the liquid.
It had an aroma of chocolate and something fruity, some red berries and something else which I couldn’t distinguish. It was also spicey with some alcohol that was fairly well hidden.
The first sip was very fizzy. So fizzy in fact that I didn’t sense any flavor at all. After waiting a bit and let the fizzyness reside a bit I started to get a better grasp of the beer and it improved allot. The flavor had nuts, chocolate and red berries. It was not as intence as Westvleteren 8 a bit smoother but I actually prefered the roughness and spices in the 8. It was all very round and well balanced with a warm alcoholic finish.
Vas19 (280), Maryland, USA
Jun 28, 2009 Pours hazy brown amber with a thick off white head. Aroma is very malty with notes of bread, spices, and fruit. Very intriguing aroma. Flavor is more maltiness, with hints of chocolate and molasses. Complex with a good mouthfeel. Lives up to the hype.
towerjac (8), Lansing, Michigan, USA
does not count  Jun 28, 2009 Another bottle from Ryan’s trip to Belgium, thanks. Pours dark golden brown with a thick cream colored head. Sweet apple aroma. Tastes like a blend of fruit and spice. It’s one of the best beers I’ve ever had.
Vertical Bacon Strips (581), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jun 27, 2009 ***review posted July 1, 2008***
Just found this review. Dated late June ’07.
Thx Brad for coughing up the dough for this... part of the Rochefort 10, Westy 12, St. B 12, Chimay Blue cellared blind tasting night.
In 2007 this bottle was aged apx 1.25 years in the Beerium as I had a purchace date of May 26, 2006.
Poured out a thick, cloudy dark brown with an incredible amount of fine and blobby sediment and a one finger thick tan cap. Excellent wide ropy lacing (it does disappear after awhile), retention at a thin surface cover. The aroma is awesome and never weakens throughout the tasting. A bit sweet, nice mild spice (main characteristic), slight caramel and dark fruit. Extremely well balanced but not overly complex. Touch of earth? The flavour is very well blended which has made it hard to distinguish standout tastes. Very soft yeast, absolutely no alcohol, mild mild plum, slight chocolate?, minor pepper, notable malt taste, slight peppermint / spearmint ??? I’ll correct myself as I’ve now noticed the alcohol. Man, this stuff is softer than fresh, supple kittens that have just learned to walk. A perfect amount of super soft carbonation, medium bodied. There is a back of the mouth bitterness that is very mild. The after taste is slight spice and a hint of alcohol. Excellence in a bottle.
Bosskie (85), Netherlands
Jun 24, 2009 No head at all. Wooden brown opaque beer. Creamy chocolate aroma with a fruity subtly alcoholic touch. Some hops and yeast and a creamy peachiness. Cherries too.
A bitter malty taste with subtle sweetness. Quite refreshing with a mellow, warm subtly alcoholic aftertaste. There are hints of all kinds of things in the beer, but it’s less subtle and well balanced than the Westvleteren 8
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