 JMFG (1086), Florida, USA
Jan 4, 2007 Updated: Apr 26, 2007
Courtesy boboski. Bottle from 2002. Poured thickly into a trappist glass with an amalgam of various dark ruby-brown colors topped with a slow moving thin off-white head. Aroma is apricot, plum, and a variety of spice notes that change by the minute. A wonderful malt base aroma compliments along with the yeast. The mouthfeel is absolutely perfect - medium in body with enough carbonation to further enhance the sensory intake of aroma and taste. The taste is spicy and warm, has clove and fruit tastes that develop as it warms and the finish has a slight tart suggestion that lingers along with the warmth. The alcohol presence is detectable only a bit after you sip. Once I had a Rochefort 10, I somehow doubted that a Westy 12 could be better, but it is. As a rater, you don’t really know what the limits of aroma, taste, etc. are unitl they’re surpassed, and this one did for me in a couple categories. Much thanks to boboski and his borderline warped sense of generosity.
Beerman6686 (654), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Poured a hazy brown color with a tiny off white head. Aroma was of a lot of dark fruits, caramel, nuts and some alcohol. Flavor was lots of caramel, and some fig and dates, and some grass with a nice alcohol warmth and thickness in the swallow. Pretty good, but I would prefer a Rochefort 10
uhre (231), Denmark
Aug 18, 2008 The beer is dark brown with a tone of red, and a huge head. Aroma of caramel, alcohol, prunes and cherries perhaps - sweet. The flavor is of dark fruit, cherries, caramel and a bit of burn from the alcohol to balance the sweetness.
nbutler11 (108), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Aug 14, 2008 Sincere thanks to ajm for leaving this in my fridge. It would have been better shared, but there’s no way I could keep staring at this one. Poured a robust/murky brown from the bottle with a thick tan head of foam. Notes of lemon zest, almost like a pilsner, in the nose as well as some hazlenut. Very unsuspecting until the molasess, caramel, apple, hazenut, and smoke slam your palette. Aggressive, yet sweet, with mild carbonation. Distinctly German. Plenty of sediment. Certainly a treat, but not quite the Holy Grail of Beers.
nhorween (502), New York, New York, USA
Aug 12, 2008 Thanks cmubeerman, side-by-side with Westy 8. 2+ years old. Creamy head with a mahogany-chestnut body. Almost minty aroma, cherries, dark fruit, anise, cloves, coriander, cardamom. Much more complex, fruity, and boozy than the 8. Flavor is malty, smooth, and complex. Round, bitter, and boozy finish.
badlizard (1430), San Diego, California, USA
Aug 10, 2008 Bottle from ebay. Dark brown with a garnet tint and no head. Raisin, fig, and brown sugar and grain aroma. Initial taste has some wine like character with raisin and dark fruit flavors, mild spice, brown sugar, and subtle vanilla followed by a sweet oat and cereal grain taste with some perceptible alcohol in the finish. Quite complex, subtle and delicately balanced flavors. It’s quite good, but it’s not an over the top aggressive beer, which is what I prefer. Nevertheless, it probably deserves it place at the top.
|
