According to Wikipedia: Brouwerij Westvleteren was founded in 1838 inside the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in the Belgian municipality of Vleteren. Trappist monks from the Catsberg monastery, located in France, founded the St Sixtus monastery in 1831 and began brewing in 1838. The brewery was the only Trappist one to retain the copper vessels throughout the wars—the other breweries had the copper salvaged by the Germans for their war efforts. In WWI this was primarily due to the abbey not being occupied by the Germans, but instead was caring for wounded allied troops. In 1931, the abbey began selling beer to the general public, having only served beer to guests and visitors up until that time. In 1946, the St. Bernardus brewery in nearby Watou was granted a license to brew beer under the St Sixtus name. This agreement ended in 1992; St. Bernardus still brews beers of similar styles, but under their own name. The brewery currently employs three secular workers for various manual labor tasks, however the primary brewing is done by the monks only. It is the only Trappist brewery where the monks still do all of the brewing. Of the 26 Cistercians who reside at the abbey, five monks run the brewery, with an additional five who assist during bottling.

Thanks to a friend traveling in Amsterdam, I got the rare opportunity to try the #1 Beer in the World, Westvleteren 12.

Murky brown/purple pour with noticeable sediment. Very much like the 8, a thick off white to light brown head forms a nice cap atop the brew. Huge hit of dark fruits on the smell, more plums and the like than the caramel malts and raisins present on the 8. Boozy and malty. My word this is good. The flavor of the dark fruits is nothing short of spectacular. Robust, bold, big flavors. Malts, booze, fruits, all balanced together absolutely perfectly. Full body. Nicely carbonated. Dry finish. The mouthfeel really keeps you sipping on this one. No doubt one of the best beers I’ve ever had. I just can’t put the glass down. So drinkable, so delicious, basically perfect.

This has been an interesting week in the nation’s capital (earthquake, aftershocks, hurricane). A group of friends and I decided to enjoy the weather with a few great brews. Here are the pictures and what reviews I did!

Founders Blushing Monk (My Favorite)

This beer pours crazily red with a beautiful pink head. It basically smells like raspberries. Everyone at this tasting compares this to wine, grape soda, or raspberry jam. The taste is so fruity. The most raspberries I have ever tasted in a beer. No alcohol, nothing else, only raspberries. And man do they taste good. Really surprised me. Medium body, tinge of carbonation, warming alcohol feeling. Crisp and clean finish. Phenomenal beer. I can see why this is only a limited release though, they had to use every raspberry in the midwest!

Cigar City Jai Alai Cedar Aged IPA – Humidor Series

Yellow-brown clear pour with a wispy white head. Very bubbly. Malts, cedar, oak all prominent on the smell. Hoppiness in the background. Doesn’t specifically smell like an IPA. The taste of the malts blend nicely with the cedar and oak flavors. The hops are there, and add a bit of fruit, but the hit of hops is small. Light body, carbonation is low. Alcohol is not noted at all. This was a big strange. Not bad, certainly an interesting taste. Don’t think I’d have it again.

Bruery Saison de Lente

Clear yellow pour, noticeable sediment. Head explodes out of the beer, as do bubbles from the bottom of the glass. The smell is very faint. Spicy, hints of brett. The taste follows the smell, sort of faint. Spicy, light fruits to starts, followed by Brett. Dry finish. Light, bubbly, well carbonated. Great drinking beer. This was forgettable. But needed in amongst a couple big beers.

Sly Fox Christmas Ale 2009

This beer exploded out of the bottles. Head foaming out all over the counter. Clearer brown pour, hints of red and a big white head. The winter warmer spices have remained and seems to have mellowed nicely. Cinnamon and booze are most noted. A bit medicinal.  I was worried this had turned for the worse, but I don’t think it has now that I try it. Cinnamon, booze, caramel malts. Not as over the top as most winter warmers I’ve had, much more mellow and developed.  The carbonation is honestly a bit high, which surprised me. The alcohol is surprisingly noticed for it only being 6.5%. Not terribly drinkable. I’m glad I got to try this. It was very interesting, on to the 2010 version next!

Sly Fox Christmas Ale 2010

This beer flowed out of the bottle much like 2009 did, but not as intense. Bubbly off white head, nice lacing, brown pour. The smell is much more strong than the 2009. Winter Warmer spices, caramel malts, and hints of booze. The taste, while not as developed as the 2009, is better. The spices start the beer off, followed by a maltiness before the taste just falls off. Light, carbonated much better than the 2009. Less boozy. Better in every faucet compared to the 2009. Don’t think I’d get a 2011 version though.

Ommegang Adoration

Brown pour, relatively see through. White head, not a lot of lacing. Smells of spice, cinnamon, coriander, caramel malts. A bit too strong. Light, typical winter warmer tasting notes. I really don’t like how this whole style essentially tastes the same. I don’t really like it, so read these reviews with that in your mind. Spicy, hot on the backend. Light, carbonated well. A bit tart. Just another beer to remind me to not buy beers in this style anymore. It was good, and I can see why other people would like them, but I just don’t.

Breury Trade Winds Tripel

Ithaca TWELVE

Deep brownish red pour with an off white head. Hardly any retention or lacing. Dark fruits, plums, grapes on the smell. Tons of candied sugar and perhaps some grain, all built on a backbone of booze. The taste starts with the dark fruits and involves into candied sugar and booze. Leaves a strange taste on the back of the mouth. The beer coats the mouth, is medium bodied, and full of alcohol. Not all that balanced.  Only average. Considering I just got to try a bunch of De Struise quads, this falls short.

Blue Moon Grand Cru (Overall Worst)

Infected. Awful. Mess.

Otto’s Jolly Roger Imperial Stout (Best Surprise)

Pitch black pour with a very nicely sized brown head. Hardly any lacing, retention is good. Full of coffee smells, molasses, roasted malts. Really good smell, deep and balanced. The taste is sweet. Molasses, light roasted malts then a big hit of coffee. Cocoa throughout the taste, with a slight smokey hint. Nicely balanced, no singular big flavor. Heavy body, carbonated well. Dry finish, hardly any hint of the booze. Love this beer. Otto’s is a solid brewery, and this is a solid beer. Can’t wait to see how this ages, maybe they’ll drop some into bourbon barrels?

Hoppin’ Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S. (Overall Favorite)

This was viewed as the overall best beer, I didn’t think so, and don’t rate it as high as it probably should be because I think it’s going to improve greatly with some age on it. The alcohol and bourbon are just too hot fresh. Pitch black pour with a really dark brown head. I only wish the head stuck around longer. A very thin ring remains after a few minutes. A pretty sweet smell overall. Bourbon and whiskey mixed in with chocolate. Smells like a heavy beer for sure. Perhaps some vanilla and definitely some alcohol underneath. My very first reaction from the taste is: Wow this is hot right now, needs some time. The chocolate comes out first and is obliterated by huge hits of bourbon, oak, vanilla, and a ton of booze. The finish is dark chocolate mixed with booze that last well into the next sip. Heavy body and a nice amount of carbonation. The drinkability, however, isn’t terribly high. Sweet and hot, not a great combination. Disappointed here. Would love to have one with a year or so on it, have to head back to the store!

Bruery Cuir

Light brown pour without much head. Bourbon, malts, raisins, sugar, and dark fruits all mix together on the smell. Leather, tobacco, dark malts, bourbon. Really interesting taste. I HATED Papier, this is better. A little more balanced. Still not anything great though. Medium heavy body. Nice amount of carbonation. Lots of booze. Good beer. 14.5% is not noticed on that level, but it is noticed. Wouldn’t pay the money again for this beer.

“The Aftermath”