Extra 4
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

Extra 4Extra 4
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From:
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
Ranked #13
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,508
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 9.39%
Reviews:
108
Ratings:
416
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 20, 2024
Added:
Feb 05, 2014
Wants:
  32
Gots:
  59
Belgian Abbey Ale

Extra 4 is the latest scion of the notable St. Bernardus family. A refreshing blond beer that is brewed in the classic single style. Every year, our Extra 4 can be enjoyed in spring and summer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ThisWangsChung:
Photo of ThisWangsChung
Reviewed by ThisWangsChung from Maryland

4.21/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
11.2 oz into a teku.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color. The head is two fingers high and white in shade. Retention is good, if not quite great, and the texture is foamy yet soft. Plenty of lacing is left on the glass. (3.5)

Smell: So, so, so bready. The Belgian character in general, though subtle (perhaps due to its low strength), is wonderful. Letting it open up will reveal delicate nuances of apples, pears, and white grapes. Want proof that a regular Belgian pale ale (err, patersbier) can stun like the best 10% quads? Look no further. (4.25)

Taste: An initial bready flavor slowly transforms into a gentle fruit flavor around the middle. It finishes with notes of lemon and pepper. Even a bit of grass-laden hops appear in spurts. Adding the dregs give it a stronger vanilla cream flavor; while nice, it's best to leave them in the bottle. This is a killer offering, with a level of complexity that would make some 10% beers jealous. (4.25)

Mouthfeel: Borderline intense carbonation envelops the mouth, making this an extremely crisp, endlessly dry brew. Yet the finish is long, and loaded with flavor. One could chug this beer - granted, they would miss the wonderful, complex flavor profile... (4.25)

Overall: Hot damn, this is fucking gorgeous. It's terribly priced (over $15 for a 4-pack) for little ol' blue collar me, but it does EVERYTHING a smaller beer should. It has the complex intensity of a bigger beer, with the gentle nuances of a smaller beer. Shame about the aforementioned prices, because I'd drink this all day and night. If I had a million dollars... (4.25)

4.21/5: Everything a patersbier should be
Feb 18, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.35 by _Adam_ from Maryland

Feb 20, 2024
 
Rated: 4.12 by MGibbons from Maryland

Dec 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by jak from North Carolina

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 4.8%. Nearly clear pale blonde colour, large white head. Aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white peaches, pear drops, mild spices, hints of sweat. Flavour of ale yeast and mild spices, hints of stewed white fruits, moderate herbal hops.
Dec 10, 2023
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got this in Asheville, NC at World Market Aug 14th, 2023. All round unique and flavourful brew especially for the low abv. Love this brewery and wha they have to offer.
Aug 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.52 by beerrat from Virginia

Jun 11, 2023
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
330ml bottle from Beers of Europe online shop (£2.19):
A peach tinged amber with a clear body & a huge, 4cm head that's foamy white with a dome on top & great retention. Floral smelling with Belgian yeast, coriander, pepper & herbal touches; fresh & quite lively with faint banana, cloves & citrus. The taste is a slightly weakened version of the nose, lots of citrus & herbs with some banana, cloves & pepper but it's definitely not as pronounced here. The body is light & very strongly carbonated, quite dry & tangy too with a little spice at the end; this one starts well then fades sadly.
May 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by archero from Texas

May 12, 2023
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Mostly clear gold, big white head, excellent retention and rings of lace
honey, green banana, and slight spice aroma. Spice opens up as it warms
Underripe banana, quatre epices, bready, honeyed malt
Medium-light bodied with appropriate carbonation
Nice easy drinker, good representation of a Belgian single, but not as good as say, Chimay gold
Apr 15, 2023
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.21/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This one pours a light golden yellow color, slightly hazy, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like pale biscuity malt, clovey yeast, pear, earthiness, and grassiness.

This is a nice little table beer, with a slight but tasty grassy hop character, a general earthy and clovey yeast note, and a crisp biscuity and clean malt backbone.

This is light bodied, clean, crisp, and really drinkable.

This is a nice new update to the St. Bernardus line – I could drink a few of these quite easily.
Nov 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by te99912_123 from Switzerland

Oct 27, 2022
 
Rated: 2.98 by stephenlee93 from England

Apr 30, 2022
 
Rated: 3.55 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.18 by dansmcd from Australia

Dec 05, 2021
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.09/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
never had this one before, amazing to discover it on tap. pale orange with a little cloudiness and an active white head very airy and classically belgian, if a little shorter than it could be on my pour. aroma is belgian yeast forward but quite distinct, even from other beers these guys make, its white pepper, light clove, and a prickle of ginger, anise, and lemongrass to me, subtle but almost infinitely nuanced, hard to believe this beer is not spiced. the grain is simple to me, maybe wheat based, with a distinctive earthiness, its not at all irrelevant here, and its quite dry. there are even some lightly bitter hops on the back end of this that dance between lightly spicy and herbaceous, dried and subtle, but present. the yeast is really the defining element, a touch soapy in a neat way up front, then more white pepper and banana later as it warms, candied lemon rind, jasmine, and white tea also come to mind here. its clean to drink, light bodied but not overly so, and effervescent as i wanted it to be, very alive, just what i look for in these. maybe not quite packing the wow factor of some of their others, but for an all day belgian this is right up there, the low alcohol is awesome, the fermentation profile a winner, and the overall quality right there with the rest of their lineup. a treat to be able to have this on tap!
Nov 24, 2021
Photo of OlaB
Reviewed by OlaB from Norway

3.99/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Cloudy golden color with a big top of white head that dissolves slowly.
Aroma is light bread,apples, pears, lemon zeest, yeast, sugar and floral hops.
The taste is fruity and dry with some light malt tones in the background. Slightly spicy notes as well allong with a quite bitter finish with herbal and floral hop notes. The ballance is quite nice for the low abv. Decent lenght in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is soft and creamy with a medium carbonation and a medium body.
A really pleasant and nice tasting belgian pale ale.
Dec 25, 2020
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Straw with a tower of sticky, rocky, snow white froth; mango Bubblicious, flowers, and soap; crackery grain, sandalwood hum, slight orchard fruit, some lemon zest and white pepper, and a hit of Noble spice; lively, dry and clean.

4.25 4.25 4 4 4.25

Handsome pour and potpourri nose promises great things, and it delivers.
All the esters and phenols you want from a Belgian, but toned down to match the ABV. The carb is maybe a bit high, but it keeps it quenching and moreish.
Pretty much the ideal Belgian sessioner.
Jul 04, 2020
Extra 4 from Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 416 ratings