Kapittel Prior
Leroy Breweries

Kapittel PriorKapittel Prior
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From:
Leroy Breweries
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #144
ABV:
9%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,770
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 12.13%
Reviews:
112
Ratings:
185
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 11, 2022
Added:
Sep 20, 2003
Wants:
  12
Gots:
  17
No description / notes.
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Ratings by uberabr:
Photo of uberabr
Reviewed by uberabr from California

3.23/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Great appearance- Thick layer of fluffy head that lasts, lots of lace. Dark turbid brown with hints of red. A little murky for my taste.

Strong musky caramel and fruity aroma with hints of banana. The alcohol is masked delicately at first but it doesn't quite do the trick all the way through. Crisp,sweet bite that rounds out into a kind of bland malty aftertaste, my only real complaint for an otherwise good Belgain.
Oct 05, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Oct. 2008: 330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9%. Mahogany coloured beer with a nice beige head, no haziness. Malty aroma and flavour with notes of brown sugar, dried dark fruits and caramel, hints of spices. The aftertaste is spicy with a moderate hoppy bitterness. Not quite in the league of the trappists, but certainly a good beer.
Sep 11, 2022
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Good enough on a bitter, wicked cold day on April 18; but on a relative basis, Prior will never be great.
Particularly so since the side-by-side competition today was one of the world's top-rated quads, Rochefort 10.

I'm not giving a full review because this copy is not a young BSDA; somewhat mystifying to me because I really like the importer. I got this copy direct from the importer (Global Beer Network in Massachsetts via their marketing deal with CraftShack in San Diego. But don't get me wrong: cross-continent is good and may help break-down the methods that rig distribution... but this is a far larger matter than one bottle.)

Anyhow... if you are a Belgo-phile (like me) and want to get Prior (and can't find it through your normal sources), then go to Craft Shack's website. (But expect a high price for shipping... and don't expect to stand up and cheer while drinking Prior.)

I hate to leave a review in such a jumbled condition, but I'm still trying to figure out what the brewing chain has done to age this copy the wrong way.
Apr 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.52 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 14, 2022
Photo of The_Bujon
Reviewed by The_Bujon from Ireland

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a very hazy copper/amber body, awesome foamy Ng head, dissipation moderate. Lacing excellent.

Aroma is full of fruit, plums and figs backed with malt. Very nice.

Taste is a touch disappointing with a sour vinegary upfront hit. The aftertaste is lovely following suit with the aroma, just can not get past that first sip.

Feel is reasonable, fairly smooth, a touch tart, but eases away quickly. Much aligned to the taste.

Overall, almost a world class beer, shame on that vinegary up front punch. Still that said 4/5 all day long.
Jun 28, 2020
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L- Pretty deep chestnut, slightly hazy, pours with 1Cm fine-bubble off-white head (holds well). ps. still 1Cm 10 minutes later; most unusual.
S- Caramel notes.
T- Boof, that's more like it! The Smell^ was so light I was curious. But now there's no doubt. Good deep malts, balancing hops plus a small liquor-ish brush on the palate from the 9% ABV.
F- Firmly in winter warmer territory. Going down a treat.
O- Very nice, zero out of place here though curiously subtle Smell for a beer as punchy as this one. No wonder the monks pictured on the lable looked so happy, I would too if I'd a large supply of barrels of this in my workplace - hehe... Very nice and I'd happily buy this again.

Bought from BelgiumInABox (Antwerp/BE) for home delivery to me in London/UK. 330ml bottle. BB: 24/04/2021.
Apr 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Sep 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by steverx8 from England

Aug 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Mattias from Sweden

Oct 05, 2018
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Brown caramel color with a huge thick beige head with great retention and leaving laces.
Aroma with notes of prunes, caramel, herbs, apple puree, roses and raisins.
Flavor with notes of caramel, prunes, raisins, cocoa, oak, molasses, cinnamon, earth, dried fruits and noble hops. Dry aftertaste with a mild to medium bitterness.
Medium body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 9% abv almost disappeared completely.
Decent Belgian Dark Strong Ale. It is more lay back with less depth than the stronger versions of the style. I was expecting a bit more. Have it warmer.
Jul 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.76 by worldkrysis from Massachusetts

Jul 07, 2018
Photo of browner
Reviewed by browner from Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
After a week in Watou area discovered Kappittel Prior on tap in Milwaukee, WI. As close to the profile of Trappiste Rochefort 8 I have found, not quite to the Westvleteren 12 level but an excellent beer. Spot on with the Belgian Dark Ale category with a candy and malt forward.Really nice complexity
Mar 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Nov 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.68 by igl from Russian Federation

May 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by ShepardCommander from Virginia

Apr 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.57 by Jerseyislandbeer from Jersey

Apr 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.49 by MrDell from Switzerland

Dec 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Oct 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by thatsmyspot from Italy

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.11 by Moretta from Italy

Dec 28, 2015
Kapittel Prior from Leroy Breweries
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 185 ratings