Trappist Westvleteren 12 (XII) | Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)
Belgium
sintsixtus.be
Style: Belgian Quadrupel (Quad)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
(Yellow Cap)
Added by BeerAdvocate on 11-12-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 6,592 | Reviews: 1,924
4.69/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.64/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
5/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Heaven in a bottle.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Heaven in a bottle.
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4.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.23/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Good quad but not only is it not the best beer in the world, its not even the best quad. Does not taste much different than Rochefort 10 and still I'd rather have a Blue Chimmay.
The pour is a murky caramel brown with flavors of brown sugar, dates, figs, caramel, chocolate, and spice. If you know to go to Au Bron Vieux Temps in Brussels this beer is not that rare. It is super smooth for 10% but so much better brews in today's world yet glad to have gotten to finally try it. Good for what it is but would never pay more than $8 for a second round.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Good quad but not only is it not the best beer in the world, its not even the best quad. Does not taste much different than Rochefort 10 and still I'd rather have a Blue Chimmay.
The pour is a murky caramel brown with flavors of brown sugar, dates, figs, caramel, chocolate, and spice. If you know to go to Au Bron Vieux Temps in Brussels this beer is not that rare. It is super smooth for 10% but so much better brews in today's world yet glad to have gotten to finally try it. Good for what it is but would never pay more than $8 for a second round.
556 characters
4.71/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.49/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.04/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Best beer in the world? Hundo please
36 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Best beer in the world? Hundo please
36 characters
4.58/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Aroma of fresh bread, raisins, hints of clove and allspice. Noticeable alcohol, and the faintest scent of something resembling soy sauce.
Largely opaque caramel colour, deep ruddy brown, luxurious lacing and a fantastic and persistent white head. Looks almost perfect for what I'd expect from a beer like this one, honestly.
Ample carbonation, sharp but not harsh bitterness, complex assortment of flavours -- starting out spicy, then noticeably bitter (without much if any hop flavour), lightly phenolic, drying finish with caramel-like/slight toffee aftertaste.
It's like eating a warm piece of well-spiced, bready fruitcake with a little caramel sauce -- and taking a quick sip of clovey wheat beer afterwards.
Definitely one of the best Belgian strong ales I've had. For me, definitely not the "best beer in the world" (which seems a meaningless statement anyway), but I'd say it's one of the best brews made in Belgium for sure.
(For my money, the Westvleteren blonde (6?) is outstanding, if I had to choose between them, I'd take a fresh bottle of that in a flat second. The 8 is not very interesting compared to either, in my opinion.)
1,148 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Aroma of fresh bread, raisins, hints of clove and allspice. Noticeable alcohol, and the faintest scent of something resembling soy sauce.
Largely opaque caramel colour, deep ruddy brown, luxurious lacing and a fantastic and persistent white head. Looks almost perfect for what I'd expect from a beer like this one, honestly.
Ample carbonation, sharp but not harsh bitterness, complex assortment of flavours -- starting out spicy, then noticeably bitter (without much if any hop flavour), lightly phenolic, drying finish with caramel-like/slight toffee aftertaste.
It's like eating a warm piece of well-spiced, bready fruitcake with a little caramel sauce -- and taking a quick sip of clovey wheat beer afterwards.
Definitely one of the best Belgian strong ales I've had. For me, definitely not the "best beer in the world" (which seems a meaningless statement anyway), but I'd say it's one of the best brews made in Belgium for sure.
(For my money, the Westvleteren blonde (6?) is outstanding, if I had to choose between them, I'd take a fresh bottle of that in a flat second. The 8 is not very interesting compared to either, in my opinion.)
1,148 characters
4.87/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
So after ordering this from the Monks by email, I waited a long time for it to be shipped to the states. It was worth the wait, but obviously an extravagance that most can not afford. Simply put abt $20 a 12 oz bottle is steep. That said, it was totally worth it an one of the most complex beers I have ever had. I did a side by side with two other Belgium styles Rochefort 10 and Jeffe. After doing so, I can say that West’s was the best with Rochefort 10 very close behind. With Rochefort being 40% cheaper and more readily available, I can recommend that as well. Should you be in a position to order some westy, do so. Make sure you only share with people who truly appreciate beer. If a persons favorite beer is a mass marketer beer, leave them out because they will ruin your experience. Also, there is nothing bad about keeping them all to yourself. After all, you’ve certainly earned it.
910 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
So after ordering this from the Monks by email, I waited a long time for it to be shipped to the states. It was worth the wait, but obviously an extravagance that most can not afford. Simply put abt $20 a 12 oz bottle is steep. That said, it was totally worth it an one of the most complex beers I have ever had. I did a side by side with two other Belgium styles Rochefort 10 and Jeffe. After doing so, I can say that West’s was the best with Rochefort 10 very close behind. With Rochefort being 40% cheaper and more readily available, I can recommend that as well. Should you be in a position to order some westy, do so. Make sure you only share with people who truly appreciate beer. If a persons favorite beer is a mass marketer beer, leave them out because they will ruin your experience. Also, there is nothing bad about keeping them all to yourself. After all, you’ve certainly earned it.
910 characters
4.61/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.7/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Finally got to have one while visiting a friend in Germany. The bottle was about a year old, dated 07.12.19.
Yeah it's just a really nice Belgian quad, but its rarity boosts the score for many. Great deep caramel malts and fruit sugars. Excellent.
I can't say for sure that there's no better beer in the world but this one is certainly up there.
347 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Finally got to have one while visiting a friend in Germany. The bottle was about a year old, dated 07.12.19.
Yeah it's just a really nice Belgian quad, but its rarity boosts the score for many. Great deep caramel malts and fruit sugars. Excellent.
I can't say for sure that there's no better beer in the world but this one is certainly up there.
347 characters
4.68/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Finally got my hands on this legendary Trappist beer. Cap reads “Trappist Westvleteren 12, bevat / bier, gerstemout 10,2% VOL, ABDIJ ST. SIXTUS 8640 WESTVLETEREN TENMINSTE HOUDBAAR TOT : ZIE TOP 33Cl e”. Date on cap is 06.04.19.
This beer pours a beautiful burnt sienna brown, completely opaque with some noticeable sediment and continually rising carb. The head bubbles away quickly, beginning around two fingers and settling at one finger of ivory foam.
The nose is bursting with vibrant aromas of caramel, subtle molasses, and a wonderful combination of spices . Dark fruits are all over the backbone of this beer, full of dates and raisins.
Bready, fruity, caramel, and dark fruits all balance the amazing flavors in this beer. A subtle spiciness rings true throughout; I pick out anise in particular. More of those dates and raisins settle on the tongue. A boozy warmth is felt all the way down, paving the way for that undoubtedly certain next sip.
A great weight to this beer. Full mouthfeel, with a high carb that hits sharply but not unpleasantly. Slight stickiness, great warmth.
1,097 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Finally got my hands on this legendary Trappist beer. Cap reads “Trappist Westvleteren 12, bevat / bier, gerstemout 10,2% VOL, ABDIJ ST. SIXTUS 8640 WESTVLETEREN TENMINSTE HOUDBAAR TOT : ZIE TOP 33Cl e”. Date on cap is 06.04.19.
This beer pours a beautiful burnt sienna brown, completely opaque with some noticeable sediment and continually rising carb. The head bubbles away quickly, beginning around two fingers and settling at one finger of ivory foam.
The nose is bursting with vibrant aromas of caramel, subtle molasses, and a wonderful combination of spices . Dark fruits are all over the backbone of this beer, full of dates and raisins.
Bready, fruity, caramel, and dark fruits all balance the amazing flavors in this beer. A subtle spiciness rings true throughout; I pick out anise in particular. More of those dates and raisins settle on the tongue. A boozy warmth is felt all the way down, paving the way for that undoubtedly certain next sip.
A great weight to this beer. Full mouthfeel, with a high carb that hits sharply but not unpleasantly. Slight stickiness, great warmth.
1,097 characters
4.6/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
5/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
the holy grail indeed. Fresh in the cafe or aged for 3-4 years, both same standard setting experience to measure all other beers by.
133 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
the holy grail indeed. Fresh in the cafe or aged for 3-4 years, both same standard setting experience to measure all other beers by.
133 characters
Trappist Westvleteren 12 (XII) from Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)
Beer rating:
4.6 out of
5 with
6,592 ratings
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