Westvleteren XII (12)

Belgium — Trappist & Lambic, Belgium

The world's most celebrated and scarce Trappist beer — available only by advance reservation from Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren. A quadrupel of extraordinary complexity: dark plum, dried fig, dark chocolate, brown sugar, banana, clove, and Christmas spice, with the warming alcohol (10.2% ABV) seamlessly integrated. Bottle-conditioned; improves for years. The benchmark for dark Belgian abbey beer and one of the world's great fermented beverages. Consistently rated the world's best beer since 2005.

Pairing intelligence

• main: Westvleteren XII belongs in the carbonnade; braising with Belgium's greatest beer creates a flavour loop at the abbey
• cheese: Westvleteren XII's abbey dark ale complexity bridges the aged abbey cheese; the monastery makes both
• dessert: Westvleteren XII's dried fruit and dark malt bridges the chocolate fondant; Belgium's rarest beer for Belgium's finest dessert
• casual: Westvleteren XII's spice and dark sugar bridges the speculoos; both come from Belgium's monastic spice tradition
• main: Westvleteren XII's dark fruit character bridges the braised hare; Belgian abbey ale for Belgian game tradition
• dessert: Westvleteren XII's extraordinary complexity — dark fruit, chocolate, spice — finds its dessert partner in chocolate fondant. The salted caramel bridges the beer's sweetness and depth; the 10.2% ABV warmth is the ideal digestif-dessert bridge experience.
• dessert: Westvleteren XII's malt sweetness bridges the tarte au sucre; Belgium's classic bake for Belgium's rarest beer