From the humid tropics, I am now in Watou, Belgium, at the Brouwerij (brow-er-RAY) St. Bernardus NV, to sample the Quadruple style “Abt 12”.  This was given a perfect “world class” score of 100 by Beer Advocate.  Actually, the Belgian style triple was the very first craft beer I ever tasted, Unibroue’s “La Fin Du Monde.”  I had it in a little coffee shop ten years ago when I was attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Appearance: the cover art depicts a grinning monk holding an overflowing chalice.  Unfortunately I do not have a chalice (anyone want to donate one? :D) so I am going to serve this in my trusty Duvel tulip.  I am enjoying it barely chilled to get its full flavor; it has been in the refrigerator about fifteen minutes.  It pours a rich, lively cacao color.  Even a steady, tilted glass pour yields a nice healthy head.

Smell: candied raisins, roasted honey, cloves, and ripe dates.  The aroma screams complexity.  A lot of these smells are typical to good Trappist monk-brewed Quadruples but they are hard to truly recreate.

Taste: earthy, thick, chewy.  Flavors of dried apricots dusted with brown sugar, melted carob chips, and dark fruits.  The elevated alcohol presence shines through with each sip warming my belly. 

Pair this gem with soft cheeses like Brie, Bierkase, or Havarti or some game or smoked meat.  A truly wonderful brew!

Adam Shugan

beer blogger Adam Shugan is the manager of our Silver Spring Road, Ocala store.