The '12' is a dark ebony colour with a thick, sticky tan head leaving very impressive lacing on the glass. The aroma is full of dark fruits, gentle spice, bready yeast and sweet malts.
The first sip delivers a complexity of flavour that could be explored for days. There is sweetness from the malts and dried sweet fruits, and hints of gentle spice in the background which aid the dry yet deep aftertaste. There is a little tingle of alcohol warmth on the long, smooth finish which adds another layer to the experience.
This is an amazingly well-crafted beer which fully deserves the accolades and comparisons to its famous 'cousin'.
Did you know: This small brewery in Watou, one of three in the 'brewer's town', was licensed by the St Sixtus Trappist Monastery to produce beers under the 'St Sixtus' name. This agreement lasted from 1946 until 1992. The St Bernardus brewery continued to make similar beers under their own name, with the ABT brewed to the recipe of the elusive Westvleteren 12.
Availability : 330ml bottles included in August 2013 beer pack. Small quantity still available.
A bold, strong dark ale edging toward a quadrupel style beer
by L’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont
The classic strong dark Trappist ale from the Chimay Trappist Monastery
De Molen's 'Beautiful & Ruthless' is part quadruple part imperial stout
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
The winter seasonal from Emelisse is an ABT/quadrupel. Each year they add a different ingredient - for 2015 they've added English liquorice
The quadrupel/ABT beer from the newest Trappist Monastery from Austria.
The new addition to the Gulden Draak label - a rich and boozy quadruple
An award winning quad that kick-started the commercial brewing careers of two twin brothers
A rich and boozy quadrupel, featuring Alvinne's Morpheus house yeast
by Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven
The top of the tree from Dutch Trappist Monastery La Trappe
by Brasserie Artisinale Millevertus
A big, rich and smooth Belgian quadrupel style, just the thing for a cool night by the fireplace
More like a traditional quadrupel than the Pannepot; brewed for the Dutch market.
One of the best Belgian beers you'll ever taste - so much flavour it's impossible to describe.
Voted Belgium's 'Best Hobby Beer 2011', no in full-blown production
The grandfather of Trappist strong dark ales - does it get any better than this?
The newest addition to the beer portfolio from the only active brewery still inside the city walls of Bruges.
A delicious dark quadruple aged for three years in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels
A big mouthful of flavour with this fiery quadruple, brewed in the La Trappe Monastery by one of Belgium's leading female brewers.
A premium dubbel style beer, packed full of deep rich flavours and aromas.
An Abbey Ale in the classic Trappist tripel style - a perfect balance between bitter and sweet.
This traditional Witbier has been developed in cooperation with Master Brewer Pierre Celis, the Godfather of Hoegaarden.
