2 bottles in your cellar have entered their drink window.

BELGIAN DARK ALE

St. Bernardus Prior 8

Brouwerij St. BernardusWest Flanders Belgium

Top Fermentation Bottle Conditioned 8% ABV

The middle of the St. Bernardus abbey range, a strong dark ale richer than the Pater 6. Layered fig, dark fruit, caramel and warming spice, a step toward the Abt 12.

PERFECT FOR
☾ Quiet Reflection☾ Cozy Evenings🍂 Autumn Evenings
Ask the Monk
FLAVOR PROFILE
FigDark FruitCaramelSpiceRaisin

Dark, malty and warming, with notes of fig, dark fruit, caramel, with a balanced, moreish finish.

SERVING

Serve at 10-14°C in a chalice to maintain a generous head and let the aromas bloom.

10-14°C

CHARACTER
DryMaltySweet
LightFullFull
SoftBalancedBitter

Style-based profile from ABV, style & tasting notes.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance
Dark chestnut, with a lasting tan head
Aroma
Dark Fruit, Caramel, Spice
Taste
Malty, medium-bodied, fig, dark fruit, caramel, spice
Finish
Clean.
BEER DETAILS
Style:
Belgian Dark Ale
ABV:
8%
IBU:
18-28
Origin:
West Flanders, Belgium
Glassware:
Chalice
CELLAR3 to 8 years

Cellars well. Strong and bottle-conditioned, it rounds into sherry and dried-fruit notes.

PERFECT PAIRING

"Pairs with braised beef, game, and blue cheeses."

Cook this: aged Gouda with dark bread, carbonnade flamande, or steak-frites.

AVAILABILITY

Specialty shops & better bottle stores

PRICE GUIDE
$$$$

Premium

A considered, special pour.

II

Flavor & Aroma

IOn the nose
  • Fig
IIOn the palate
  • Fig
  • Dark Fruit
  • Caramel
  • Spice
  • Raisin
IIIThe finish
  • Warm, balanced

The middle of the St. Bernardus abbey range, a strong dark ale richer than the Pater 6. Layered fig, dark fruit, caramel and warming spice, a step toward the Abt 12.

III

Story & Heritage

ABOUT THIS BEER

The middle of the St. Bernardus abbey range, a strong dark ale richer than the Pater 6. Layered fig, dark fruit, caramel and warming spice, a step toward the Abt 12.

On the Belgian Dark Ale style, A broad category of dark, malty top-fermented beers. Sweetness from caramel malts is balanced by yeast character. Rich but not overly heavy.

Explore the Belgian Dark Ale guide Source: RateBeer
COUNTRY

Belgium

STYLE

Belgian Dark Ale

IV

Glassware & Ritual

The Chalice
THE CHALICE

For Trappist & abbey ales

The broad, open bowl releases the deep malt aromatics of strong abbey ales and supports a thick, protective head, built for slow, contemplative sips.

01

Cellar-cool the glass

Clean and dry, never frosted

02

Pour straight & bold

Down the centre to raise a head

03

Build a rocky crown

A full head locks in the aroma

04

Let it warm

Malt complexity blooms as it opens

V

Reviews

No reviews yet

Community ratings will appear here. In the meantime, see what drinkers say on:

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY

View All Recommendations
BELGIAN DARK ALE

Gouden Carolus Classic

Brouwerij Het Anker

8.5% ABV 4.4

AniseToffeeCaramel
BELGIAN DARK ALE

Delirium Nocturnum

Huyghe

8.5% ABV 4.6

ChocolateMochaLicorice
BELGIAN DARK ALE

Kasteel Donker

Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck

11% ABV 4.7

Dark FruitChocolateCaramel
THE MONK'S NOTE

Pour it into a chalice, served around 10-14°C, and let its aromatics open before the first sip. Patience rewards this one: a few years in the cellar will round it into something deeper.

Brother Anselm, cellarmaster

ADD TO YOUR JOURNEY

    Belgian Beer Wisdom

    Did you know?

    Many Belgian beers refermenent in the bottle, creating natural carbonation and complex flavors.

    Why it tastes different

    The Monk's Dispatch

    One letter a month from our cellar: a beer worth seeking, a brewery worth knowing, a small lesson in the art. What is this?