Booze Reviews Platinum: St. Bernardus Abt. 12
For the last installment of Booze Reviews Platinum, I have saved the best (and most expensive) of my beers–the St. Bernardus Abt. 12. This is a Trappist abbey ale brewed in the small monastery town of Watou, Belgium. This is a dark, rich beer that has a full flavor (and clocks in at over 10% ABV) without the overbearing molasses taste of something like the SBC Russian Imperial Stout. It’s much smoother and easier to drink than most beers in its class. In fact, I enjoyed it even more than Spaten Optimator, my previous favorite high-alcohol beer. It should be poured into a goblet-style glass and consumed slowly (especially if you’re planning on driving anywhere for a while). Also, it comes in a bitchin’ 750ml bottle with a champagne-style cork and cage and a smiling monk on the front.
The only problem with this beer is its price. At $11 for the 750ml bottle, it is for most of us a rare splurge. But if you happen to have an extra few bucks, and a liquor store where this is available, give the St. Bernardus Abt. 12 a try. It’s one of the best beers I’ve ever tasted, and worth the money.
Sorry, but you can’t call this a “Trappist” beer. That title is strictly controlled and limited only to the 6 Belgian (and 1 Dutch) Trappist beers.
I live in Belgium now, but I have never actually seen anyone buy this beer. It’s on the shelf of the grocery store, but I haven’t seen it in a pub or anywhere else really.
However, you can definitely find 5 of the 6 Trappists out and about. Be on the lookout for:
Achel
Chimay
Orval
Rochefort
Westmalle
You will (almost) never find the best one though … Westvleteren. The monks make you swear in front of them that you will not resell it and you’re restricted to one case per month.
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