On this day, 178 years ago, Belgium inaugurated Leopold of Saxe-Coburg as King and became an independent nation. What better way to commemorate the beginning of such an important brewing country than by drinking hefty quantities of their beers?

Well it’s certainly as much fun as fireworks.

The History
St. Bernardus ABT 12 has a long and storied history… and one that - for a change - is actually well documented. Originally brewed by the Trappist Brouwerij Westvleteren, the St. Bernardus brewery in the nearby Belgian town of Watou was given permission to brew Abt. 12 (along with some of Wesvleteren’s other beers) under the name ‘St. Sixtus beginning in 1946.

[Quick Plug: Brouwerij Westvleteren still brews Trappist ales, and currently the only Trappist brewery where all of the brewing is done by monks. The beer is all but impossible to buy outside of the abbey. If you're ever in Belgium, I'd highly recommed a trip. Until then, St. Bernardus provides a similar quality alternative that's actually available in stores]

Moving along, the St. Sixtus agreement expired in 1992 (due to a ruling among the Trappist abbeys stating that official Trappist beers can only be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery), and St. Bernardus ventured forth alone. Fortunately, they succeeded, and today St. Bernardus offers seven varieties of Belgian-style ales: Tripel, Pater 6, Prior 8, Witbier, Grottenbier, Watou Tripel, and Abt 12. Basically, this is the closest you can get to a Trappist ale without officially being Trappist.
…Trappist.

The Style
Abt - short for “abbot”, the head of a Monastery - is a Belgian Quadrupel by style. Quadrupels are characteristically dark in color and high in alcohol. They tend to have a high malt profile and a low bitterness. As far as Belgian styles go, the main difference between a Dubbel, Tripel and Quadrupel is the alcohol content. Beyond that, there isn’t really any official distinction. That said, Abt 12 clocks in at an impressive 10.5% ABV.
(I promise I’ll review some normal strength beers soon. I’m just going through what I have in my fridge)

The Tasting
Poured into my Sam Adams Perfect Pint (I thought I’d give the snifter a rest tonight), the beer yields a big, thick eggshell-colored head that just won’t quit. Even when the two-fingered foam deflates, a thin film hangs around until the last drop. A quick swirl leaves a bubbly lace on the side of the glass and a fresh burst of carbonation.

30 minutes in, look at that foamy goodness.

Not overly aromatic, which is surprising for the amount of carbonation. What aroma there is is mostly sweet and malty.
The taste up front is that characteristic sugary sweetness so often found in Belgian Trappists, but Abt 12 is much more balanced. Obvious crystal malts initially, but they quickly give way to a strong black cherry flavor. A dark rye-bread quality follows. Finally, a brief smack of bitter hops at the back and a dry earthiness lingers. As the beer warms and the head fades, the alcohol becomes much more apparent.
Mouthfeel is thick & creamy, mostly a result of the heavy carbonation. The high alcohol brings a welcome warmth all the way down to my belly and up to my head.

The Verdict
A great faux-Trappist. Not the best, but a good one nontheless. This particular 750mL bottle was a gift from a friend who spent the weekend last month (major thanks, Justin). If you’re thinking of picking this up, I highly recommend getting the variety six-pack over the big individual bottles. St. Bernardus is a great brewery all around, and Abt 12 is just a great example of their catalog.

8.75/10

Tags: 8/10, abt 12, beer, belgium, quadrupel, st. bernardus
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