 frankenkitty (1789), Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA
Jun 29, 2005
Rating #300
Well, the waiting is over and I finally allowed myself to drink one. Looked beautiful, with a rusty, caramel-red body under a rocky, large-bubbled, khaki head. A lot of character-adding, chunky particulates as well. Aroma was potent and spicily malted, with dark fruits and apple amongst a myriad of others. Flavor was rich and explosively fruity with cherry and pear coming through after a highly sweet-malted start. Full-bodied with a great deal of alcohol to warm the stomach, throat and nose. Very good, but I’d rather have a La Trappe Quad or a St. Bernardus 12... mainly due to Westy’s high cost and limited availabilty, but also because I feel that St. Bernardus is more flavorful & complex, and La Trappe is more user-friendly. To each their own.
<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=3776>Binny’s Beverage Depot, Orland Park, IL<font size=-1>
Rogueone (311), I F&ckin’ hate those guys from, Ohio, USA
Jul 22, 2008 Mad props to Tony at Oldsmar Tap House for the Westy 8, 12, and Blonde side-by-side. Judging by appearance alone, one would have no idea that this is the highly-regarded nectar of God Himself, as it is quite an unattractive brown liquid just sitting in a snifter. Aroma and corresponding flavors are as complex as a Thanksgiving feast -- spicy figs, dates, brown sugar, touches of honey and molasses, rich malts, nutmeg all over top subtle warm alcohol. Definitely a complexity of flavor that is unrivaled to date for me personally. It’s an absolutely stunning beer that lives up to its reputation.
arepeejee (2), , South Yorkshire, England
does not count  Jul 20, 2008 Quite simply the best beer I have ever tasted.
The initial petrol/diesel waft melts quickly into an excellent palate taste of spice and warmth.
Just edges St Bernadus for me, but only due to rarity making drinking a bottle a special occasion (as opposed to the St Bern’ which I can get in my local pub)
ahalloin (40), Arlington, Virginia, USA
Jul 19, 2008 A 12 oz. bottle split courtesy of a dude who doesn’t have a screen name or account on here. I was very thankful for getting to try this famous brew! Pours a dark brown nondescript looking fluid with great whitish tan head with adequate lacing. The aroma is of trappist yeast, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and slight alcohol. The mouthfeel is smooth but adequately carbonated. The flavor is classic trappist with spicy cinnamon and sugar with hints of dried fruits. All bow to the great Westy 12!
MuttyD (41), Cambridge, USA
Jul 19, 2008 Lived up to the hype. Huge dark fruits and slight roastiness aroma. Figs, brown sugar, bread, plums, other dark fruits and cookie flavor. Finish is long and sweet. Syrupy mouth feel. Amazing beer. I bought 6 of them and I’m going to age 2 of them. Can’t wait to try them in a few years.
MrChopin (119), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Jul 18, 2008 So this is THE big one... ahem. Pours dark ruby/brown with billowy off-white head. I don’t normally mention lacing, but this leaves loads of it all over the glass, kind of like abstract art that draws in yet another sense. I’m trying to find something consistent in the nose, but there isn’t one single element: loads of raisins and raspberries, then peaches, then smoky Rodenbach-esque fruit sour refreshment, then malts that remind of bread and brown sugar, then a warm alcohol that gives it an incredible depth and weight. Moving on before it evaporates... The flavor is very similar to the nose, a little more bread and dark fruit. The alcohol is really minor but begins to emerge with warmth, as do some sticky bitterness and salt. The beer is effortless in it’s glide and soooo smooth given the weight. The Rochefort 10 is a messy sledgehammer by comparison, but it seems unfair to place Rochefort up against this giant... are they really the same style? The outstanding complexity here is matched by an incredible delicacy, something I haven’t seen in any other Abt/Quad. Yeah, this one’s worth all the hype.
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