St Bernardus...difference between Christmas Ale/Abt 12?

The Prior 8 is my favorite.

 

One is seasonal?

 

I was going to crack a 75cl SBCA after a dinner party this week but I may just have to throw some Abt in there. Think it matters whether it's same vintage? I have a few years on a well-hidden case of Abt in the cellar. I guess I will have to get a recent example for a fair comparison.

 

I can't say for sure with this particular combination of beers that same vintage matters, but I've held a couple of tastings of other beers where we had 3 years each of the regular base beer and the Bourbon barrel aged version, all from the same brewery. In those tastings it was clear that vintage mattered.

 

Had the Christmas yesterday on tap at Hunger&Thirst, tasted pretty good!

 

In progress will report back

 

Alright, what a session.

The Christmas ale as many have noted has a spice to it from nutmeg to ginger and a balance of brown sugar and toasted malts. There are also prevalent dark fruit and marzipan flavors that dance around the yeast and alcohol. The body is creamy and rich.

The 12 focuses heavily on yeast, fig and date characteristics but i'm picking up apple, grape and honey as well. The body on the 12 is much lighter and crisp and hides the alcohol much more than the christmas does.

 

Call me crazy but the Christmas tastes like Christmas to me. I do have one bottle that I've been aging. Been getting the itch to drink it. Need to stock up on some fresh now that it's back.

 

I felt the same way, it just wasn't as rich as the Abt 12. Still a tasty beer, and I'd rate it above the 6 and the Tripel, but few beers can touch the 12.