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Abt 12
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV


- From:
- Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
- Belgium
- Style:
- Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #244 - Avg:
- 4.47 | pDev: 9.17%
- Reviews:
- 3,002
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 25, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 14, 2001
- Wants:
- 899
- Gots:
- 2,919
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 Hephaistos from Netherlands
3.48/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
One of the highest rated beers here,
Poured at around 6 degrees celsius in Tongeren glass.
Coffee like black brown colour, 2 finger creamy head, quite fast disolving.
Smell, wet dog, chlore and some brownies.
Taste, dark burned wheat, biscuitty, bit of choclate,
Reminds me of some dunkel Weissens.
But this is way stronger stuff at 10% abv.
Pretty good beer, but not sure if this can compete with a dunkel weissen.
There are less heavy in alcohol and way more refreshing to drink.
It is not a bad beer, but compared to dunkel and bock weissen, it has not market.
The tripple of St Bernardus is a different thing. There you have a quality Belgium beer.
Nov 18, 2023Poured at around 6 degrees celsius in Tongeren glass.
Coffee like black brown colour, 2 finger creamy head, quite fast disolving.
Smell, wet dog, chlore and some brownies.
Taste, dark burned wheat, biscuitty, bit of choclate,
Reminds me of some dunkel Weissens.
But this is way stronger stuff at 10% abv.
Pretty good beer, but not sure if this can compete with a dunkel weissen.
There are less heavy in alcohol and way more refreshing to drink.
It is not a bad beer, but compared to dunkel and bock weissen, it has not market.
The tripple of St Bernardus is a different thing. There you have a quality Belgium beer.
Rated by jb_4226 from Texas
4.9/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
4.9/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
#192, solid!
Nov 13, 2023Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.6/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
11.2 oz bottle enjoy by 08/05/26 into a Watu chalice.
L: SRM 24 Pours an earthy yeasty dark brown color with lighter edging, a thin soapy off-white head, steady fine carbonation, head recedes quickly to edge foam, no lacing. Carbo is long-lived.
S: Light tannins, dark fruits, lightly woody, a hint of banana.
T: Gently sweet, plum, toasted caramel malts & grains, background cocoa, dates, raisins, a touch of brown bread, distant apple, lightly spicy clove notes, gentle hidden booze, dark honey, brown sugar, yeast.
F: Lightly brisk and bright medium to med-heavy bodied feel with a hearty center and a medium-length drying finish. Very good carbonation. It is warming in the chest.
O: Absolutely divine tastes and feel. It is quite warming, masterfully brewed and has distinct fruit, cocoa, and lightly boozy malt notes. A sipping beer that tastes as strong as it feels. It is world-class in its style.
Nov 11, 2023L: SRM 24 Pours an earthy yeasty dark brown color with lighter edging, a thin soapy off-white head, steady fine carbonation, head recedes quickly to edge foam, no lacing. Carbo is long-lived.
S: Light tannins, dark fruits, lightly woody, a hint of banana.
T: Gently sweet, plum, toasted caramel malts & grains, background cocoa, dates, raisins, a touch of brown bread, distant apple, lightly spicy clove notes, gentle hidden booze, dark honey, brown sugar, yeast.
F: Lightly brisk and bright medium to med-heavy bodied feel with a hearty center and a medium-length drying finish. Very good carbonation. It is warming in the chest.
O: Absolutely divine tastes and feel. It is quite warming, masterfully brewed and has distinct fruit, cocoa, and lightly boozy malt notes. A sipping beer that tastes as strong as it feels. It is world-class in its style.
Reviewed by BrandonD325 from Missouri
4.93/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.93/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Smooth, yet intense. At 10% abv, this beer packs a punch, and a full-bodied and complex punch at that. Notes of dried fruits, toasted bread, and caramel. Remarkable beer, and worth the high price tag.
Nov 08, 2023Rated by Greymane from France
4.95/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.95/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Absolutely the best Belgian classic quadruple style!
Nov 02, 2023Rated by RamonaBeer from California
4.9/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.9/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very tasty and full flavored. A wee bit smoother that the Westvleteren 12 nearby, but not as intense in flavor - hence easier to drink more!
Oct 05, 2023Rated by eatsluggs 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
A bier to remember. Those who drink Budweiser, stay away. This is no water you're drinking.
Oct 03, 2023Reviewed by Saluki from Florida
4.83/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.83/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Trying this next to a Founders KBS, this one first of course. Poured in a frozen stemless wine glass, very nice color and head, but who cares about that. Overall very delicious, makes one want to drink all four at once beer, which would be a waste. Only complaint is it has a little cream ale (silky) tinge, but in a very good way. Worth the money? Compared to a good beer at the tap room versus this one on the porch, this wins the value taste comparison for sure.
Oct 01, 2023Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania
4.18/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Growler into pint glass. Pours a medium brown with ruby highlights. Brief off-white head. No lacing. Initial impression is dark fruits, bready malts, and vanilla. Mouthfeel is solid. Finish is sweet but not cloying. Overall, an excellent Quad.
Sep 26, 2023Reviewed by EVH5150
4.6/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
One of my personal favorites. Easy to find and absolutely worth buying. I've always gotten raison, fig, and toffee flavors in this beer. Great mouthfeel and i recommend serving at cellar temp. Not too cold. Pickup this legend any chance you get.
Sep 18, 2023Reviewed by aeranu from Florida
4.96/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.96/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
One of my favorite beers ever! Crisp, dark and strong. Earthy flavors with some sweet tropical notes. Will make you want another — but only if you can handle it .
Sep 16, 2023Reviewed by Weizenmensch from Japan
4.26/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.26/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Served a little cool, best before 12-2026. Nut-brown with a dense tan head that isn't going anywhere. Textbook presentation. Toffee, sucre candi, herbal and spice elements noticeable even at fridge temperature, it wasn't quite what I was expecting - has been years since I've had this before. Absolutely a quality beer, well-presented. Warms the cockles, excellent mouthfeel, will get this again to review properly. Suspect its rating is slightly hagiographic on this site but it's definitely a wonderful beer. God bless those Belgian monks!
Sep 08, 2023
Abt 12 from Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
10322 ratings
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