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Beer specs

High alcohol
Beer details
Rating: 87

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Brewery: St. Bernard Brouwerij · Watou, West Flanders, Belgium
Variety: Ale · Belgian / French Ales · Quadrupel
Alcohol: ABV 10.50% / ABW 8.40%
Preferred vessel: Snifter
Color: Nut Brown (English Brown Ale) (20 SRM)
Added by Phil Dokas
Last updated by Keith

The absolute top quality in the hierarchy of the St. Bernardus beers. It is also the beer with the highest alcohol content (10.5%).

A dark ivory coloured beer with a high fermentation. The show piece of the brewery. Thanks to its soft and unconditionally genuine aroma, the beer can be smoothly tasted. The Abt has a very fruity flavour.

Dark, Sweet, Rich, Molasses, Brown

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Reviews

  1. Review by Phil Dokas
    Rating: 97

    Phil Dokas

    drank this beer from a Tulip in Ann Arbor, MI
    Jan. 13th, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.
    Comment:

    One of the most delicious beers I’ve ever had. Astoundingly rich, huge head, huge flavor, tastes that evolve noticeably in the mouth. Pours a rich dark brown with a large fine tan head, tastes initially strongly of toffee and molasses but quickly this recedes into a sweet dark fruit taste like raisins and plums with hints of alcohol. The mouthfeel is rich and smooth yet complicated and engaging with its sweetness and diversity. This is the beer that really taught me that beers can be complicated and rich and eye-opening and it’s not just because I had three the first time I tried it, though that certainly helped.

    Characteristics: alcohol caramel fruit molasses nut raisin sweet toffee
  2. Review by Matt Todd
    Rating: 77

    Matt Todd

    drank this beer from a Snifter in Atlanta, GA
    Jan. 13th, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.
    Comment:

    Characteristics:
  3. Review by mikegee
    Rating: 95

    mikegee

    drank this beer from a Snifter
    Jan. 15th, 2009 at 9:18 a.m.
    Comment:

    This is one of my absolute favorites. It’ll knock you on your butt, but its worth it. Fairly easy to come by as well. This is the beer that started it all for me :)

    Characteristics:
  4. Review by salamander
    Rating: 92

    salamander

    drank this beer from a Goblet in Baton Rouge, LA
    Feb. 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 p.m.
    Comment:

    Absolutely delicious imo. It shares that strange nitrous after taste that i get from Delirium Tremens, but in a brown suit with black shoes. On top of all that, the label makes me smile.

    Characteristics: brown full sweet
  5. Review by kevsmachine
    Rating: 95

    kevsmachine

    drank this beer from a Snifter in Corpus Christi, TX
    March 9th, 2009 at 2:01 p.m.
    Comment:

    Drank it from a snifter on tap and it was wonderful. Had it by the bottle and it had the same effects but the taste was a little more tart. I love it. Would bathe in it.

    Characteristics: brown nutty
  6. Review by hey_phatalbert
    Rating: 91

    hey_phatalbert

    drank this beer from a Tulip
    March 12th, 2009 at 9:53 a.m.
    Comment:

    Genuine Belgium at its near best. Rich nose and beautiful color only add to the well balanced richness and good hop character

    Characteristics: strong sweetness
  7. Review by Gavin
    Rating: 91

    Gavin

    drank this beer from a Goblet in Prairie Village, KS
    March 13th, 2009 at 1:34 p.m.
    Comment:

    Characteristics:
  8. Review by Wren
    Rating: 75

    Wren

    drank this beer from a Snifter in Santa Monica, CA
    March 25th, 2009 at 5:43 p.m.
    Comment:

    alcohol aftertaste

    Characteristics:
  9. Review by Slack
    Rating: 81

    Slack

    drank this beer from a Goblet in Holland, MI
    April 11th, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
    Comment:

    Characteristics:
  10. Review by lafrefre2000
    Rating: 86

    lafrefre2000

    drank this beer from a Stein (Mug) in Sterling, VA
    May 18th, 2009 at 9:08 p.m.
    Comment:

    I didn’t even know what an abt was until i tried this beer. My local beer salesman, who noted my fondness for Chimay Cinq Cents, recommended this “quadrupel” (the father, the son, the holy ghost…and the hombrew?) and I was stunned to say the least. I’m not used to this level of aggression coming from the Abbey order. Caught me of guard and while I am always searching high and low for ales as bold and complex as this one is, it was not as balanced as I had expected considering the source. I may need to return to this and adjust my rating in the future.

    Characteristics: bittersweet dark molasses
  11. Review by Eric Nance
    Rating: 97

    Eric Nance

    drank this beer from a Goblet in Denver, CO
    June 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.
    Comment:

    This is possibly my favorite beer. The alcohol content is intense, and so is the flavor! Color is deep and solid, the nose lingers and the taste is divine.

    Characteristics: dark intense rich
  12. Review by Jonathan Stegall
    Rating: 86

    Jonathan Stegall

    drank this beer from a Pint glass in Atlanta, GA
    July 28th, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.
    Comment:

    Great Belgian ale. For me, it is the best of the Abbey beers and compares really nicely to the Trappists, but it’s a lot easier to find it on tap.

    Characteristics: belgian dark rich
  13. Review by flexdaddy
    Rating: 72

    flexdaddy

    drank this beer from a Snifter
    Aug. 30th, 2009 at 10:23 a.m.
    Comment:

    Characteristics:
  14. Review by Lobsterman
    Rating: 95

    Lobsterman

    drank this beer from a Pint glass in Portland, ME
    Oct. 31st, 2009 at 1:17 p.m.
    Comment:

    Wow! Excellent! The description is all stated perfectly above in the first review by Phil. I am impessed with the complex aroma & balanced flavors. This is not only one of the best Belgian Ales I’ve ever tasted, but one of the best ales period!

    Characteristics: awesome!!!

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