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Abt 12
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
- Belgium
- Style:
- Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #4 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #241 - Avg:
- 4.47 | pDev: 9.17%
- Reviews:
- 2,986
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Thursday at 03:59 AM
- Added:
- Oct 14, 2001
- Wants:
- 894
- Gots:
- 2,911
SCORE
99
World-Class
99
World-Class
Notes:
St. Bernardus Abt 12 is widely regarded as one of the best beers in the world. It is therefore no surprise that it is our brewery’s flagship beer, ranked at the very top of the St. Bernardus beer hierarchy. It is brewed in the classic quadrupel style and adheres to the original 1946 recipe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by DanO1066 from Maryland
4.25/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Draught 10oz snifter at The Brass Tap here in Baltimore: Dark-brown body, whatever there may have been didn't survive the server's turning around just across the bar from me; aroma of sweet malts & raisins?; more of the same to taste; alcohol is well hidden, smooth, perhaps thinner than expected. A nice dessert quad - probably pairs well with an actual dessert.
May 14, 2023
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.88/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
330 ml bottle poured into a snulip.
Best by 4/13/26
I found this , to my surprise, to be a bit of a let down. It was less malty sweet and more tangy sharp than I expected, thinner too. I still found it enjoyable but have found other Quads more to my liking (perhaps they were overly sweet for style). Maybe it was just an off day for my palate so I will revisit and compare notes.
May 06, 2023Best by 4/13/26
I found this , to my surprise, to be a bit of a let down. It was less malty sweet and more tangy sharp than I expected, thinner too. I still found it enjoyable but have found other Quads more to my liking (perhaps they were overly sweet for style). Maybe it was just an off day for my palate so I will revisit and compare notes.
Rated by Gimmesomebeer from Canada (BC)
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is the best beer I have ever tasted. The flavors change as you drink it. There isn't much else to say about it.
May 05, 2023
Reviewed by MrOH from Malta
4.79/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.79/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Deep chestnut brown, thick tan head, excellent retention, bands of lacing
Rum, figs, prunes, quatre epices, light banana, brown sugar, earthy aromas
Rum cake with dried fruit, brown sugar, quatre epices flavors
Medium bodied and well carbonated
Love this beer.
Apr 16, 2023Rum, figs, prunes, quatre epices, light banana, brown sugar, earthy aromas
Rum cake with dried fruit, brown sugar, quatre epices flavors
Medium bodied and well carbonated
Love this beer.
Reviewed by KleinSchwein
4.35/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
4.35/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Look - Dark red when help to the light , huge light brown head with a lot of lacing.
Smell- Yeasty and light banana.
Mouth feel - Thick and smooth, light carbonation.
Taste - Mellow , smooth, slight banana, treacle and some fairly funky yeast . Alcohol present. Excellent bitterness of the finish .
Overall - Very moreish. A little too strong for me but feels as if it would be a good celebratory beer on a very special occasion.
Apr 13, 2023Smell- Yeasty and light banana.
Mouth feel - Thick and smooth, light carbonation.
Taste - Mellow , smooth, slight banana, treacle and some fairly funky yeast . Alcohol present. Excellent bitterness of the finish .
Overall - Very moreish. A little too strong for me but feels as if it would be a good celebratory beer on a very special occasion.
Rated by lackard-b from Tennessee
4.8/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Might very well be the Platonic form of beer.
Mar 20, 2023
Rated by TommyG22 from Wisconsin
4.35/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
First time trying this classic. Everything has already been said. This is a really nice Abbey Ale. Cheers.
Mar 17, 2023
Reviewed by UWDAWG from Washington
4.33/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 11.2 ounce bottle dated enjoy by 10/2/23 into a tulip glass.
Look- Deep amber brown, plentiful visible particulate, sudsy medium tan head, opaque, average head retention, below average lacing.
Smell- Banana, fig, chocolate, between weak and medium strength of scent.
Taste- Fig, bready, apple, banana, earthy, slightly boozy, slightly sweet, medium strength of flavor.
Feel- Between thin and medium body, highly creamy, low bitterness, slightly below average carbonation, mildly mouth warming.
Overall- Deep amber brown with plentiful visible particulate and average head retention. Bouquet was delicate with between weak and medium strength, but very appealing. Flavor was medium in strength with a nice mix of fruitiness and notes of malt. This beer was highly creamy with between thin and medium body. Overall this was a very pleasant experience with a style I’m not overly familiar with.
Mar 06, 2023Look- Deep amber brown, plentiful visible particulate, sudsy medium tan head, opaque, average head retention, below average lacing.
Smell- Banana, fig, chocolate, between weak and medium strength of scent.
Taste- Fig, bready, apple, banana, earthy, slightly boozy, slightly sweet, medium strength of flavor.
Feel- Between thin and medium body, highly creamy, low bitterness, slightly below average carbonation, mildly mouth warming.
Overall- Deep amber brown with plentiful visible particulate and average head retention. Bouquet was delicate with between weak and medium strength, but very appealing. Flavor was medium in strength with a nice mix of fruitiness and notes of malt. This beer was highly creamy with between thin and medium body. Overall this was a very pleasant experience with a style I’m not overly familiar with.
Rated by DFred from California
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Exceptional Belgian quad--as good as everyone says!
Feb 23, 2023
Reviewed by cwm51662 from Indiana
4.07/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.07/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I don't think I can add a lot to what was said by those who actually reviewed and didn't just say it was best ever: Surprisingly dark and hazy, big head at the pour- be careful! Not much smell, less alcohol than I've ever had in a 10+abv. Raisin/prune flavor. Gotta love the Monks!
Jan 15, 2023Reviewed by NanookinTexas from Texas
4.87/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.87/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Just finished a 750ml bottle of ABT12. And one that's been in my collection for at minimum 2 years. I haven't had an ABT12 in God only knows how long, 5 years, 6 years? What a SPECTACULAR brew. Wish I had a few other bottles of the same vintage to consume during this New Year's Holiday weekend in a more focused way. Even so, this much I will say : Definitely not for the faint of heart. It's FANTASTIC in color and complex in flavor and, super rich, thick and frothy (be extra careful when you pour it). It's been a LONG time since I last posted a review on BA. Finishing this bottle tonight, I simply had to add some thoughts. A PERFECT brew for this time of year. CHEERS to all. And may all of you have a joyous 2023!
Dec 31, 2022Rated by frozen_heat from Illinois
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfection in a bottle. Best beer I have ever had, full of taste and complexity.
Dec 10, 2022
Rated by ivanbrew
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tried it out of the bottle perfect quad I have ever tried probably made this brewery famous because of this brew definitely 5/5 perfect!
Dec 05, 2022
Reviewed by Sandys_Shack from Florida
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Ok.... we did taste the "best beer of the world" with a 99 overall on beer advocate.... We were like "yeah right f**k it"
Here is our review ...
It is the best beer of the world.... ... sadly . :(
100 for us !
Sandra and Alex
-Owner of Sandy's Shack
Dec 02, 2022Here is our review ...
It is the best beer of the world.... ... sadly . :(
100 for us !
Sandra and Alex
-Owner of Sandy's Shack
Abt 12 from Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
10287 ratings
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