 Fin (2164), Merton, Oxfordshire, England
Oct 16, 2006
Bottle at The Kulminator, Antwerp, Belgium, 05-10-06. I scoured the beer list, well it was’nt so much a list more like a copy of War and Peace, could I find this mythical beer?The heart rate started to climb, fingers getting twitchy, the other three had decided on their beers "come on Fin what are you having", I started running my hands through my hair and getting more irritable by the minute, it must be here. The lady came over, I asked nervously "Do you have any Westvleteren" without answering she brought a laminated small sheet with a selection of Westvleteren beer back, I gave the others a knowing look and picked the 12. She slowly walked towards me with bottle and glass in hand, I licked my lips, this must have been how Bobby Moore felt when the queen presented him with the Jules Rimet Trophy, and like Bobby Moore I wiped my hands, though on my trousers not shorts and more through sweat than mud. the glass and beer were laid before me and it was expertly poured. I lifted it up and ’hark’ was that the voices of angels belting out ’Jerusalem’? I cradled the glass whilst the others watched intently, slowly I lifted it up, the group on the other table were huddled like a group of Hyena’s staring silently waiting for scaps, I fixed them a steely glance and they cowered back. A delicated nutty aroma, backed up with dried fruits and spices slowly started to fill my nose. The taste was sublime, incredibly full flavoured and complex with some silky chocolate and soft maltiness, some burnt sugar, superb. The place was silent and then I gave them a little nod and a wry smile a triumphant cheer rose to a crescendo. Fantastic, I felt waves of elation course through me, now for the Westvletern 12 1998.
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.
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