Brouwerij St. Bernardus St. Bernardus Prior 8

**Aroma:** “High phenolics with notes of pepper and floral notes. Lemon, orange, black pepper, hints of fruit, some spicy Saaz-like hops notes and faint graininess.” **Flavor:** “Crisp! This beer exhibits a lovely crispness that sticks with you as it goes down. Nice blend of banana and citrus esters balanced by carbonation and sharp hops bitterness. The aromatic promises are fully delivered: lemon on the back of the tongue and spices near the front. A dark rich sweetness reminis- cent of a dark honey. A touch more fully bodied than expected, but the beer is so crisp that it works.” **Overall:** “Light and fruity. The brewer displays a subtle hand with yeast man- agement. Though the initial appearance could have been clearer, the aroma gives way to a generous palate of flavors that, while simple, create a wonderful drinking experience. A classic tripel that departs from the norm and does it well.”

**Aroma:** “A pleasant, light aroma that doesn’t overpower in any one area. Yeast aromatics are a touch more saison-like (some nice pepper and spice notes) than classically dubbel. Light spicy hops aroma complements yeast phenolics. As it starts to warm more esters (cherry or peach) start to come out and less spice.” **Flavor:** “A rounded malt foundation of toffee and raisins gives way to an unusual, but pleasantly different suit of fruit (bananas, cherries, plums) and spice (cloves). Some crisp hops bitterness to balance. Finishes dry.” **Overall:** “Spicy with a low malt complexity and a good balance of sweetness. Very drinkable. This could easily fly under the radar in a sea of competitors, but this pleasant little dubbel-esque saison quenches one’s thirst as readily as it quenches the need for something from the abbey. Perhaps this is what the monks drink when they mow the lawn?”

**Aroma:** “Toasty caramel malt sweetness with low spicy phenolics, similar to a saison. Subtle fruity ester profile of dates, cherries, and plums. Low green pepper note. A bit of the mild/earthy/ spicy Noble hops aroma.” **Flavor:** “High fruitiness with rich dark fruits of plum, cherry, and raisins. Slight phenolics balance well with the fruit. Aftertaste is fruity with slight alcohol note. Toasty and biscuit malt sweetness. Nice smoothness in this beer. Some slight Noble hops bitterness and earth- iness help to cut the sweet. Subtle malt sweetness and light fruity character are overtaken by a rather strong spicy Noble hops flavor and bitterness.” **Overall:** “High carbonation, fruit, and a great warming all in balance. Well- centered in the style. Has all the makings of a great quad, but hops are a bit too forward—almost as much Noble hops character as malt and fruit.”