Beers of Belgium | Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore)

Rating: 6/5 *Like Trois Pistoles, this is a very common beer. Since my seek for the Holy grail of Westvleteren 12, I realized, that this beer is the closest but because of its commonality and its availability, it has become my favorite beer in the world right next to Trois Pistoles. Forget all the worldly hypes because this beer is truly from God!!

St. Bernardus Abt 12 by Brouwerij St. Bernardus is a 10%ABV World Class Belgian Abbey Quadrupel.

Label:
Brewery St. Bernardus was founded in 1946 in Watou, Province of West Flanders in Belgium. These exceptional quality ales are brewed by using only the finest malts, local grown hops, yeast and artesian water pumped from a depth of 500 feet. After the brewing process these traditional ales are matured in tanks for three months, before being bottle conditioned. The results is a naturally carbonated ’living ale,’ which can be aged for up to 15 years and will satisfy the taste of even the most discriminating connoisseurs.

“Bringing heavenly nectar within reach”

Abt 12 – abbey ale brewed in the classic “Dubbel” Style of Belgium’s best Abbey Ales. Serve this noble and wonderfully balanced brown ale at 52-56 degrees Farenheit in a goblet glass to best enjoy its delicate bouquet
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Here is some history from the Abbey and why it is very close to Westvleteren even without the “Trappist name”:http://belgianbeerspecialist.blogspot.com/2010/09/westvleteren-and-st-bernardus-real.html

I can give several reasons and do many more reviews of this beer’s grandeur. However, it would be nothing short of what I haven’t already covered in the past. I will be doing another review, in 15 years 😉

Past Reviews: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/st-bernardus-abt-12-by-brouwerij-st-bernardus/

UPDATE:
I changed my mind, lets have at it. I still have some left over but also I still have one cellaring for the next 15 years. More than likely, as the earthy hops go down, this is gonna literally be a complete caramel sticky mess but so good I might give it a 7/5 ;). I realize my previous review may not do this enough justice. Fragrances are of raisin bread pudding, very rich dulce de leche caramel, earthy mild hops, apples, slight apricot, slight chocolate, more dark fruits like figs, grapes, slight cherries, banana, cloves, sweet bread, candi sugar, slight peppercorn notes and spices. The flavors are of rich liquid dulce de leche caramel, apples, banana, raisins, cherries, figs, raisin bread pudding, slight Leche Nestle (Sweetened Condensed milk) sugary notes, candi sugar, raisin bread pudding, pecan pie, brown sugar, clove, bubble gum, slight earthy hop notes, stone fruits, fruit cake, currants and slight wood oak like the dulce de leche they sell in Mexico that comes in wooden boxes. So there you have it. Now go get this one. Every craft brew place has this, it is hard to miss 🙂

Rating: 4.8/5

Noir De Dottignies by Brouwerij De Ranke is a 9% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale. A pretty rare beer made in a Belgian Brewery that is in West Flanders known of some of the many that do not export or hardly export their products. This beer is known to be heavily hopped.

Label:
Bottle: Unfiltered.
Ingredients: Water; Barley malt; Hops; Candi-sugar; Yeast.
The heaviest ale on our menu with a very rich taste, coming from the six different kinds of malt we use. These malts also give it that rich, dark, nearly black colour. The royal doses of Challenger and Saaz hops bring the typical balance between sweet and bitter.

The De Rank brewery was founded by two good friends; Nino Bacelle & Guido Devose. Their story is a classic in Belgium, where the very best craft brewing usually begins as a passionately pursued hobby, not an occupation. For Nino and Guido, brewing is literally a weekend obsession. For a few hours on Friday and Saturday, every week, the marvelous turn-of-the-century Deca Brewery in West Flanders is turned over to the De Ranke brewers, who make small batches of what many consider the best specialty beers of Belgium. Their beers are robust and flavorful, and famous for their massive hoppiness.
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The aromas are of raisins, cherries, figs, slight chocolate and coffee, slight rum, bread pudding, caramel, molasses, anise and spices. The flavors are of mocha, dulce de leche caramel, candi sugar, raisins, cherries, raspberry pomegranate , earthy notes, slight grassy and grapefruit hops, molasses, anise, raisin bread pudding, walnuts, baker’s chocolate and rum. This beer almost reminds me of the Decadence quad but with more earthy hop bitterness. It is an awesome and must try beer. Although the hops may come overwhelmingly at times yet it still does not detract how interesting it is.