Abt 12 (60th Anniversary Special Edition)
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

Abt 12 (60th Anniversary Special Edition)Abt 12 (60th Anniversary Special Edition)
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From:
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
 
Belgium
Style:
Quadrupel (Quad)
ABV:
11%
Score:
97
Avg:
4.38 | pDev: 8.22%
Reviews:
235
Ratings:
299
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 07, 2022
Added:
May 08, 2006
Wants:
  52
Gots:
  30
From the brewer: The St.Bernardus Abt 12 is recognized as one of the best ales in the World. For the occassion of our 60th Anniversary our Brewmaster Bert Van Hecke created a unique and special variety of the St. Bernardus Abt 12. This 'Special Edition' contains hops from Poperinge: Challenger and Golding, and has been brewed with black, amber, Munich and pale ale malts. Alc. 11% Vol.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by roblowther:
Photo of roblowther
Reviewed by roblowther from Texas

4.45/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours reddish-black with a persistant head of medium-sized bubbles and leaves good lacing. Smells of plums and cinnamon. Tastes mirror the smell, raisins and plums with strong cinnamon aftertaste...from the hops? and a note of cloves. The alcohol is fairly well masked by the strong flavors but comes on in the end. Mouthfeel is actually a bit thinner than I would have expected. Very drinkable, which is dangerous with an 11% abv beer. All in all very good, although I'm not sure its worth the extra price over the regular Abt 12. This one lives up to the great reputation this brewery has & deserves.
Aug 22, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.8 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Jul 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by t2grogan from Arizona

Mar 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Mar 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.54 by cknoch from Canada (AB)

Mar 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Sep 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.3 by samEBC from Belgium

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 09, 2015
Photo of Budlum
Reviewed by Budlum from Maryland

4.63/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I've toted this around for 9 years and kept it stored at cellaring temperatures. The cork fought a bit, but I was presently surprised to see carbon dioxide vapor after the bottle was opened. It worked! This beer pours a deep ruby red brown and was topped with a fluffy tan head - impressive after 9 years in the bottle. The nose is a bit muted, but still presents tons of sugary sweet smells from prunes, dates, molasses, rum, and raisins. Alcohol is non-detect, but as mentioned the smell isn't very powerful. The flavor profile matches all of the deep fruit notes blended with lighter flavors of apricot danishes and a faint allspice note; big bold flavors. This is so smooth and everything a big quad should be. The mouth feel is nicely viscous, but actually finishes slightly dry which is my only perception of alcohol content.
Sep 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Eziel from Ohio

May 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Feb 12, 2015
Photo of Boto
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut

4.62/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
750ml bottle: Finally popped the cork on this one. Got a fairly loud "pop", but it didn’t foam over. It pours a fairly opaque mahogany brown color. There was just a bit of a tan head that settles into a thin film and leaves some lacing. It has a good nose. Some dark fruits in there, as well a some faint cherries. Lots of malts, maybe some vanilla, toffee, there is lots going on here. Very smooth tasting. Absolutely no taste of alcohol, even though it is 11%. Malty, dark fruits, with a very subdued sweetness. Very complex. This is just excellent. I wish I had a few more of these!
Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Nov 01, 2014
 
 
Rated: 4.5 by Satchboogie from Belgium

Aug 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by bsuedekum from Missouri

Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by zestar from California

Jul 01, 2014
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
this is something very special. i think it came out in 2006, so it has been carefully cellared for some time, and while some say may be past its prime, i think its drinking absolutely beautifully. price tag on the canister says $12.99. i find that remarkable because if that came out today it would be 30 bucks. the value and illusion of value in beer has never been higher, and for an item like this, it would fetch higher returns now. a cool slice of recent beer history. the beer itself is just wonderful. delicate and elaborate and absolutely a special version of the abt 12 we all know and love. the color is reddish hued rust to molasses, its fizzy for its age, and has an elegant cream colored head over an inch tall and never relaxing at all, its already relaxed at that height. the aroma is divine, well matured big caramel malts and that ramadan dried fruit element, dates and figs and raisins, all expertly balanced together. the label says they used some new hops for this recipe, but i get very little from that in nose or taste, i can assume its faded some, but my guess it this was never a very hoppy brew, instead a demonstration of grain forward flavor unrivaled in quality and depth. the mouthfeel makes a huge impression here. its so soft and delicate on the palate, barely medium bodied at this point, but still well carbonated. not punchy aggressive carbonation, but subtle, consistent, and expressive. the tiny bubbles carry tobacco and dried plum notes to the tongue, and that bernardus belgian yeast with its spice and blooming floral uniqueness to the forefront with the grain. down easy, the alcohol is invisible, but this is a beer to savor with friends. it felt right to drink it in a dark cellar on a rainy night. not sure how much of this is still around, but i cant see it improving any from here. if youve got one squirreled, blow the dust off, find some mates, and pour it up. a very special beer, lucky to be a part of this one.
Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by afsdan from Colorado

May 22, 2014
Abt 12 (60th Anniversary Special Edition) from Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 299 ratings