Westvleteren 6
Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus in Westvleteren, West Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪
Belgian Style - Dubbel Regular Out of Production|
Score
7.58
|
|
Brewed until 1999. Red bottle cap. The brewery also produced a 6.2% ABV dark beer and a lighter 4° which served as the monks' table beer, but these were replaced by the Blonde.
Sign up to add a tick or review
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 8.5
The original Westvleteren 6, nicknamed ’Special’, bottled with red cap. It was the counterpart of Sint-Bernardus Pater 6°, like the heavier versions still have their Sint-Bernardus counterparts too, but was replaced by Westvleteren Blond in 1998. Tasted at some eight years of age at Kulminator, this had the same basic character as Westvleteren 8, with flavours of raisins, dried plums, caramel, orange peel, some spiciness, but oxidation was evident and the mouthfeel on the thin side; hop bitterness had faded as well. Not a beer to be aged for a long time I assume, and it probably wasn’t intended as such in the first place. Nevertheless, it had held its own quite well and I was happy to take home a red Westvleteren cap to keep alongside the yellow, blue and green ones. I have no choice but to rate this as an old beer - and regrettably, I’ll never have the chance to taste it young.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Nov 2014
at 12:11
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 6
16.06.2012, 0,33l bottle sampled @ BBGTC summer tasting:
Lett sødmerik fruktig oksidert lukt med preg av karamellmalt, humle, smørkaramell, rosin, toffee, mørkt rørsukker, honning. Oksidert lett tynn og sødmerik smak med preg av smørkaramell, beiskt gras, våt papp, mørkt rørsukker, honning. Middels bitterhet og lengde. God, for å vere det den er.
Lett sødmerik fruktig oksidert lukt med preg av karamellmalt, humle, smørkaramell, rosin, toffee, mørkt rørsukker, honning. Oksidert lett tynn og sødmerik smak med preg av smørkaramell, beiskt gras, våt papp, mørkt rørsukker, honning. Middels bitterhet og lengde. God, for å vere det den er.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Dec 2013
at 11:58
8.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle @ Amundsen Bryggeri, Oslo. Vintage 1997. Clear dark brown with a small off-white head. Aroma is sweet, malty, caramel, oxidized and dried fruit. Flavor is quite sweet and moderate bitter. Sweet and moderate bitter finish. Soft. This has aged beautifully. 280713
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Jul 2013
at 04:59
8.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
From Apr 2009.
1996 vintage purchased from the Cracked Kettle in Amsterdam online.
Red cap, says 26 6 98
A big whaff of yeast hits my nosebuds when I popped the cap. It pours a hazy to cloudy rust colour with about a 1 finger head of foam. Tilting my glass, the lacing is superb!
The smell has a strong yeasty nose with also strong notes of candy sugar, spice(pepper), and an overall earthy nose. Some tartness here as well.
The taste starts off very yeasty and tart with a mild flavour of white pepper, and when I say tart, I don't mean in your face sourness, no, it's much more subtle than that and goes superbly with the yeasty tones that dominate this brew. The candy sugar sweetness is also subtle but at just the right level for my palate. Wow. There's a lot of fruitiness here as well with some flavours of grapes and plums.
I just poured the rest of the bottle and it turns a dark cloudy brown. Usually, the best to be found in a Belgian Ale shows up in that final pour. I can't say that anything improved with that last pour...it tastes the same...brilliant! And..I'm not just saying that because of its rarity or the cost to me getting it. It's just bloody amazing.
Btw, head retention=first class. Lacing dropped off a bit after the first pour. Taste and drinkability=off the charts. Mouthfeel=on the light side but worked extremely well.
Bottom line: Would I seek this out again? It's expensive as hell and isn't always available, even from the Cracked Kettle, but the answer is...yes!
1996 vintage purchased from the Cracked Kettle in Amsterdam online.
Red cap, says 26 6 98
A big whaff of yeast hits my nosebuds when I popped the cap. It pours a hazy to cloudy rust colour with about a 1 finger head of foam. Tilting my glass, the lacing is superb!
The smell has a strong yeasty nose with also strong notes of candy sugar, spice(pepper), and an overall earthy nose. Some tartness here as well.
The taste starts off very yeasty and tart with a mild flavour of white pepper, and when I say tart, I don't mean in your face sourness, no, it's much more subtle than that and goes superbly with the yeasty tones that dominate this brew. The candy sugar sweetness is also subtle but at just the right level for my palate. Wow. There's a lot of fruitiness here as well with some flavours of grapes and plums.
I just poured the rest of the bottle and it turns a dark cloudy brown. Usually, the best to be found in a Belgian Ale shows up in that final pour. I can't say that anything improved with that last pour...it tastes the same...brilliant! And..I'm not just saying that because of its rarity or the cost to me getting it. It's just bloody amazing.
Btw, head retention=first class. Lacing dropped off a bit after the first pour. Taste and drinkability=off the charts. Mouthfeel=on the light side but worked extremely well.
Bottom line: Would I seek this out again? It's expensive as hell and isn't always available, even from the Cracked Kettle, but the answer is...yes!
Tried
from Can
on 12 Jun 2013
at 10:18
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 9
got a sample by some awsome italians, at the kulminator! epic thanx , dudes ! 98 vintage pours very dark, small white foam. smalls aged, caramel. taste is likewise, very subtile carbo , nice to try , but not realy unique. aged realy nice, though !
Tried
on 30 Apr 2013
at 16:52
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
330 mL bottle @ De Heeren van Liedekercke. The illusive red cap bottle I finally found at De Heeren. Thanks to Joost for sharing one of his last bottles! Dark reddish orange appearance with a cream colored head. Rich candy sugar, dark caramel, plum, date aroma. Seems to may have thinned out a bit though I have no point of reference. Delicious mild chocolate, caramel, rich fruity estery, somewhat dusty, rich bready yeasty, smooth flavor. Really still tastes quite tasty. 1996 vintage.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Jul 2012
at 15:13
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
33cl Bottle at AHBS. Slightly hazy amber colour, off white head. Aroma is light tart, almost Brett-like, dark fruits/berries, light caramel, prunes. Flavour is medium sweet, caramel, light tart tingle, sweet rosebuds, light tart finish with some pepper. Light bodied. This one held up pretty well. Nice to have tried this one, thanks brabander!
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 May 2012
at 09:41
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
33 cl. bottle sampled @ RBWG 2012 – thx to Pallieter85 – apparently a “different from the regular Westy 6” late 90’s version that never made it to the market – fell asleep to find the remains / bottom of this bottle / probably not “correct” to drink & rate it but since this is not a beer I will be seeing any time soon – just interpret this as a more sediment heavy sample which is basically what this was – murky, hazy dark brown with not much in the way of head – sweet milk chocolate, soft beady malts, lots of yeast (obviously), muting the still present soft dark fruits, plenty of raisins, small hint of liquorish, touch cake, slight caramel, touch lemony sourness in the finish – carb is good with body going towards full, this has held up quite well, nice beer but like all westy not worth exactly worth the prices that this is going for in many places
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Feb 2012
at 15:33
7.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Sampled @ RBBWG. Courtesy of Pallieter85. Cloudy hazy brownish color, small off-white head. Smell sweetness, alcohol, bread. Taste lightly sweet, raisin, bread, slightly sour hints. Slightly bitter finish. Still a nice mouthfeel, good body.
Tried
on 19 Jan 2012
at 01:08
7.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Imported from my RateBeer account as Westvleteren 6 (by Abdij St. Sixtus - Westvleteren):
Aroma: 8/10, Appearance: 3/5, Taste: 8/10, Palate: 4/5, Overall: 17/20, MyTotalScore: 4/5
14/I/2012 - 33cl bottle @ RBBWG 2012 - BB: n/a - last botteling ever of the beer, not intended for sale, estimated late 90ies (2012-56) Thanks to pallieter85 for bringing the bottle!
Gusher (nooooooo!!!!), very cloudy dark red brown beer, no head. The head was on the floor, effin shizzlesticks. Aroma: raisin bread, yeast, bread, some milk chocolate. MF: good carbon, full body. Taste: milk chocolate, raisins, some rhum, caramel, bread yeast, bit cheesy, citrus and sour notes, some liquorish. Aftertaste: little citrus, mocha, bitter hoppy touch, more dried fruits goodness. Amazing how little this beer has portorized over time. Note: Finally, tasted all of the Westvleterens, great thanks to pallieter85!
Aroma: 8/10, Appearance: 3/5, Taste: 8/10, Palate: 4/5, Overall: 17/20, MyTotalScore: 4/5
14/I/2012 - 33cl bottle @ RBBWG 2012 - BB: n/a - last botteling ever of the beer, not intended for sale, estimated late 90ies (2012-56) Thanks to pallieter85 for bringing the bottle!
Gusher (nooooooo!!!!), very cloudy dark red brown beer, no head. The head was on the floor, effin shizzlesticks. Aroma: raisin bread, yeast, bread, some milk chocolate. MF: good carbon, full body. Taste: milk chocolate, raisins, some rhum, caramel, bread yeast, bit cheesy, citrus and sour notes, some liquorish. Aftertaste: little citrus, mocha, bitter hoppy touch, more dried fruits goodness. Amazing how little this beer has portorized over time. Note: Finally, tasted all of the Westvleterens, great thanks to pallieter85!
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Jan 2012
at 09:06