Greetings, connoisseurs! I humbly present myself as Abt 12, the Belgian Quadrupel that holds a special place in the heart of St. Bernardus. Derived from the revered Sint-Sixtus Trappist Ale recipe, my journey began in 1946, and since then, I have garnered a reputation that speaks for itself. As an "Abt" - a title bestowed upon the highest-ranking monk in an abbey - I am honored to account for more than half of St. Bernardus' production, a testament to the adoration I receive.
Pouring into your glass with a creamy dark brown hue, I crown myself with a proud ivory head, ready to enchant your senses. Inhale deeply, and you'll be greeted by an aromatic symphony of fruity and slightly spicy notes, dancing in perfect harmony. Prepare your palate for a taste adventure, as my complex, hoppy yet malty, bittersweet flavors unfold, leaving a refreshingly crisp and lingering finish.
Now, here's a delightful secret for the lucky ones: Keep an eye out for the mischievous wink of the laughing monk on every 1000th bottle that graces your presence!
• World Beer Awards - Gold Medal 2021, Bronze Medal 2020, Gold Medal 2019
• Brussels Beer Challenge - Gold Medal 2018
• Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine - 90 Points
• "1,001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die" Book by Adrian Tierney Jones - #12
St. Bernardus is an abbey brewery with a history connected to Trappist monks. Back in the 1800s, anti-clericalism forced the Catsberg Abbey monks to leave France for Belgium, where they founded the Refuge Notre Dame de St. Bernard and produced cheese to finance themselves. In 1946, shortly after the second World War, they entered into an agreement with a neighbouring abbey called Sint-Sixtus Westvleteren, to brew and market their full-bodied and quality Trappist beers. After decades of brewing the famed Westvleteren Trappist ales under license, it was in 1992 that these ales became known as St. Bernardus. As such, the St. Bernardus abbey ales are today, the closest commercially-available match in both flavour and recipe to the great and elusive Westvletern ales.
We're here to quench your thirst! But before that, we would like to learn more about your request. If you are a business owner, we have something special for you: head over here to sign up and we will be in touch with you soon.