Trappist Westvleteren 12 (yellow cap)

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Westvleteren 12
The Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren
Donkerstraat 12
8640 Westvleteren, Flanders, Belgium  
Est. 1838
www.sintsixtus.be
and
www.westvleteren12.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 3.0 (sample)

Postmortem Brew Review
Root beer color.
Aromas of berry, nut and brown sugar.
Super foamy; large bubbles in the caramel colored head.
Three-finger head with spiderweb lacing on glass.
Tastes of sweet candy with ripe fruit and chocolate flavors.
Alcohol warmth with sweetness on finish.
Absolutely delicious. Complex flavors. Syrupy sweet finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Ohuhmmmm! Ohuhmmmm! We are saying it again.  We are so not worthy of such delicious nectar.

My good friend Dean also got a hold of the 12, formerly known as 'Abt'.  This 'quad' exceeded my expectations. The smells, the taste, the easy smoothness with the slightest sting of alcohol in the body.  Similar to the '8', this ale is also bottle conditioned and will keep for a long time if properly stored.  I suppose we are drinking these quite young, gauging by the storage dates on the caps, but if they were this good young, it stands that they would hold up to some aging and come out even better.

The Trappist monks do not waste much on flashy labeling, only going as far as to embellish their bottle caps with any branding.  The bottle is void of a label.  It has only a raised neck ring, near the top of the glass, to set it apart from any other brown bottle of ale.  The ring says, "TRAPPIST EN BIER" in block letters.  They have been doing it this way since 1945, keeping all the pertinent information on the bottle cap.  It makes them the only Trappist brewery that does not sport the Trappist logo.

Once again, it bears repeating.....equally lucky to have sampled this ale.  Very rare you mortals.

Ommegang - Three Philosophers

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Brewery Ommegang
656 County Highway 33

Cooperstown, NY USA 
Est. 1997
www.omegang.com  

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.8 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark red/copper color.
Cherry and chocolate aromas.
Full caramel head that lasts and leaves good lacing.

RIch tasting cherry and other dark fruits; figs or raisins?
Full bodied.  Complex flavors under the cherry. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Cooperstown, NY is famous for two things. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and the author James Fennimore Cooper, after which the town was named.  Actually, after his father.  We now need to make it three things.

Ommegang is crafting a reputation in the Belgian style of ales, in that sleepy little neck of the woods.  This Quadrupel  is as far out as the location. If you have ever driven to Cooperstown, you'll know what I mean.  First off, there is no getting around the fact that you'll be driving to the town.  Local airports are way more than a hoot and a holler from here.  Secondly, after you've driven for miles, you'll find that you can't go the last mile or so into town.  You have to park and ride public transportation to arrive.  But once you have arrived, it is evident that the trip was worth every sacrifice.  Don't believe me?  Ask any 'hall-of-famer' who has made the journey, literally and metaphorically.

The idyllic setting by Otsego Lake, the pastoral ball field and baseball museum/shrine, are worth driving to see.  Thank goodness the brewery doesn't make us come all the way to them to enjoy their craft.  Although, the ale is similar to the burb's park-like setting and the 'Hall', so it too would be worth the trip.  And at a mighty 9.8% ABV, the Quad can knock one outta' the park.

In conclusion we find, in one small out of the way town, you can ponder:

• classic American literature 
• the art of throwing a curveball 
• and crafted Belgian Style brews

Perhaps those are the things Ommegang's 'Three Philosopers' discuss at great lengths in Cooperstown.

St. Bernardus - Abt 12 Abbey Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Bernardus Abt 12 Abbey Ale
Brouwerij St. Bernard NV
Trappisenweg, Watou, Belgium
Est.1985

www.sintbernardus.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 11.2  

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown in color.
Pleasing berry aroma.
Creamy, tall, frothy head the color of toffee.
Distinct wild-berry start but a definite alcohol finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
See that fat & happy monk on the label? Wanna' know why he's smiling? He's had an Abdijbier! This ale is 21 proof ! The expiration date is 2011; must be due to the alcohol content.