Red, yellow and blue. Those three colours have been on the labels in Watou since the brewery was young, and in 2026 they finally get the stage to themselves. Eighty years of the same recipe, the same yeast, and now a full magnum of it.
Expert description of St. Bernardus Abt 12 Magnum Edition 2026 Quadrupel Beer
Abt 12 is the flagship of St. Bernardus and the brewery's take on a classic Belgian Quadrupel, still brewed to the original 1946 recipe. The story begins just outside the abbey walls. From 1946, the brewery in Watou brewed beer under licence for the Trappist monks of Sint-Sixtus, and brewmaster Mathieu Szafranski brought both the recipes and the yeast over from Westvleteren. The deal ended in 1992. The yeast stayed, and it is the reason Abt 12 smells so wonderfully fruity.
This is a top-fermented dark ale with serious weight behind it: 19.7 degrees Plato, a colour of 70 EBC and a restrained 20 IBU of bitterness. The label lists water, barley malt, sugar, hops and yeast, and the hops are Belgian. No tricks. The magnums are always refermented in the bottle, so the beer keeps evolving for years, much like a good red wine. The brewery actively encourages lining up several vintages and tasting them side by side.
Since 2012, St. Bernardus has released a limited run of 1.5 litre magnums every year. Dark brown glass with the logo in relief, a Bière Belge neck, a branded cork and its own muselet, and a new artist on the label each time. Every artwork ends up in the brewery's own collection. 2026 marks the 80th anniversary, and the 80 Years of Heritage label comes from the brewery's creative lead Pieter Verdonck. He took the yellow, red and blue that Pater 6, Prior 8 and Abt 12 have carried from day one and arranged them into an abstract composition with a very knowing nod to Piet Mondrian.
Tasting notes
Nose
Beneath an ivory head, dark fruit comes pouring out. Plums, raisins and dried figs, with cherry and warm bread crust underneath. Caramel settles over the lot like a blanket, and as the beer warms in the glass, cloves and a hint of banana drift up from the yeast.
Palate
Full and round. Plum compote and cherry lead, then toasted caramel, dried fig and a quiet note of coffee through the middle. The sweetness is there, but it never tips over, because the bitterness keeps it on a short leash.
Finish
Long and bittersweet. Dried fruit and caramel linger while the alcohol warms slowly without making a fuss. The kind of finish that has you reaching for the glass a little too soon.
Specifications
Name: St. Bernardus Abt 12 Magnum Edition 2026
Brewery: St. Bernardus
Country/Region: Belgium, Watou, West Flanders
Beer style: Quadrupel
ABV: 10%
IBU: 20
Size: 150 CL
Hops: Belgian hops
Malt: Barley malt
Fermentation: Top-fermented, bottle refermented
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, sugar, hops, yeast
Allergens: Barley, contains gluten
Best before: 31.12.2036
EAN no.: 5411911007357
Serving suggestion: At 8 to 12 degrees in a chalice or tulip glass, ideally with game, beef stew, blue cheese or dark chocolate
Flavour profile
Fruity · Malty · Caramel · Spicy · Full-bodied · Bittersweet
Did you know?
The artwork behind the 2024 Magnum edition is a sculpture. The artist Kalbut built Full Metal Bernard entirely from recycled metal, and it now stands at the entrance to the brewery tour. It is 220 centimetres tall and weighs 600 kilos, so it probably won't fit in the gift box.
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