Belgian Quadrupel / Strong Dark Ale Tasting

Trappist Westvleteren 12 has been the #1 beer on Beeradvocate and ratebeer for as long as I have been into beer, and longer. At the moment, it is tough to buy it anywhere except at the abbey, or at least that's what the monks prefer, "Westvleteren Trappist is sold only to individual customers. Every customer agrees not to re-sell the beer to any third party." Although it is still available easily on eBay etc., but

• It is costlier than it should be. The monks sell 24 bottles for €38; it sells in excess of $25+Shipping on eBay.
• You don't know the conditions under which it was kept.
• What if it's just the Westvleteren cap?
• What if the shipment got damaged? If you trade beer, it's the sender's responsibility until the package arrives fine at your address; on eBay, not so much!
• I don't feel like buying stuff, off of eBay.

Because of some of my friends and folks from BeerAdvocate, I was able to acquire two 11.2 oz bottles recently, one of which I drank in a state of irritation and impatience. Seeing as I was left with mere 11.2 oz to share with friends, we planned a side by side tasting of Belgian Quadrupel and Belgian Strong Dark Ales, that are similar, and perhaps overlapping styles. Some of the top rated beers from these styles are (BeerAdvocate top-100 ranking in brackets):

1. Trappist Westvleteren 12 [1]
2. Trappistes Rochefort 10 [6]
3. St. Bernardus Abt 12 [10]
4. Trappistes Rochefort 8 [38]
5. Chimay Grande Reserve (Blue) [43]
6. Pannepot - Old Fisherman's Ale [50]
7. Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw (Blue) [64]
8. Trois Pistoles [93]

Out of the above, all are easily available in stores in MN except Westvleteren 12, and Pannepot (distribution issues). So we left Pannepot out for the moment, which still left us with 7 beers that are best examples of their style and make the BA Top 100.

Got the beers,

poured them,

Left to right: Trois Pistoles, Chimay Blue, Rochefort 10, Westvleteren 12, Rochefort 8, St. Bernardus 12, Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw.

and drank them! Notice the Tums at the bottom left corner ;)

Here are our rankings:

	Friend 1	Friend 2	Friend 3	Friend 4	Overall	Score
Cuvee De K	1	2	3	2	Westy 12	1.5
Westy 12	2	1	2	1	Cuvee De K	2
Roch 10	3	3	1		Roch 10	2.33
Roch 8	3	3	4	3	Roch 8	3.25
Trois P	4	4	6		St. B 12	4.33
St. B 12	4	5	4		Trois P	4.67
Chimay B	5	6	5		Chimay B	5.33