 Ernest (4197), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Oct 28, 2002 Updated: Jun 20, 2005
Bottle, Brussels, May 2005. Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is hazy medium brown, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (cookie, burnt caramel, chocolate), lightly yeasty (cobwebs), with notes of raisin, plum, toffee, vanilla, candy sugar. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, creamy/velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Elegant, clean, balanced, and just plain incomparable. Not as bold as the 12, but just as refined. Yeah, I’m raising this to a 5.0...this has been as high as 4.8 before, and this last time, frankly, I fell deeply in love with it...it matched the Westy 12 (which I sampled in the same sitting) in sheer enjoyment even though it’s a bit more easy-going. The 8 and the 12 are both jaw-dropping for me, and wherever their scores fall, whether it’s 4.6, 4.8, or 5.0, I think they’re both equal in quality.
uhre (231), Denmark
Aug 18, 2008 Dark brown with a nice head, but also a lot of yeast (the transport must have been a bit too shaky). Aroma of caramel, prunes and perhaps a bit of nuts. Flavor is first of dark fruit, then there is a bitterness and then again the dark fruit such as prunes and raisens - a sweet finish.
Jonte (365), Gothenburg, Sweden
Aug 14, 2008 Bottle. Stored for about one year. Brown color with hints of red. Beige shrinking head that leaves some fine lacing. Aroma: Sweet and toasted malt, yeast, spices, raisins, plums, apples, and brown sugar. Taste: Sweet and a bit toasted, tea, spices, coffee, licorice, plums, raisins, apples, toffee, honey, chocolate, light alcohol. A bit of hop bitterness towards the end makes a fine balance. Medium bodied, but very creamy. Complex.
dmtroyer (331), Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA
Aug 14, 2008 1 year old bottle. A pleasant surprise from a good friend. Poured dark copper with a wonderful creamy head. Nose was bread pudding with a bit of dirt, sand, raisins and caramel. Body followed with similar flavors adding a pleasant minerality that was well tamed. Mouthfeel was slightly viscous but still fresh and lively with carbonation. Overall an extremely well balanced, very well executed effort. I will remember this one.
fata2683 (17), APO, New York, USA
Aug 13, 2008 This beer is often overshadowed by it’s big brother the 12 but I believe this one is the shining star of the Sint Sixtus abbey. I still give the 12 a 5 because I think it is perfection of it’s style, But this one is the best beer I have had to date. It’s creamy and slightly sweet and everything that I love in a beer.
nhorween (502), New York, New York, USA
Aug 12, 2008 Thanks cmubeerman, 2+ year old bottle. Creamy head, ruddy chestnut color. Aroma of figs, dates, caramel and toffee. Smooth and round, lightly tart. Had side-by-side with Westy 12; this is much drier. Less fruit, less boozy, and a dusty finish. Nutty. World class without a doubt.
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