St. Bernardus Prior 8 750ML

St. Bernardus Prior 8 750ML is a traditional Belgian dubbel abbey ale brewed in Watou, Belgium, at 8% ABV. Named World's Best Dark Belgian Style Dubbel at the World Beer Awards, it holds a near-perfect 98 on RateBeer and a 93 on BeerAdvocate — credentials that place it among the most respected dubbels in the world.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Watou, West Flanders, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Dubbel  |  Brewery: St. Bernardus Brewery

Production & Heritage

St. Bernardus Brewery traces its roots to 1946, when the monks of the Westvleteren Abbey granted the brewery a license to produce and distribute Trappist beers using the monastery's own recipes. The brew master from Westvleteren brought the original recipes and production know-how, and the Prior 8 is brewed from one of those post-WWII-era formulas. The license arrangement lasted until 1992, but the brewing tradition endures. Prior 8 is top-fermented and refermented in the bottle, a hallmark technique that contributes to its complexity and living character in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sourdough bread and toffee-like toasted malt lead the nose, followed by layers of dried dark fruit — figs, dates, and raisins. A subtle Belgian yeast spice and a gentle leathery quality round out a deeply inviting bouquet.

Taste: The entry is malty and full-bodied, with caramel sweetness giving way to a mid-palate rich in fruit esters — ripe red apple, banana, and light raisin. Clove-like spice from the yeast emerges as the flavors develop, and moderate hop bitterness arrives to balance the sweetness. The interplay between malt depth and fruity brightness is remarkably even-handed.

Finish: Medium-long and satisfying, with roasted malt and dried fruit lingering alongside a gentle warmth from the 8% ABV. A faint tartness from the Belgian yeast keeps the close clean rather than cloying.

How to Drink Prior 8

Pour into a goblet or chalice at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to allow the full aromatic range to open. Prior 8 drinks best on its own, but its structure also lends itself to creative applications. A Belgian Dubbel Float — a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass of Prior 8 — plays the caramel and dark fruit notes against cold cream. It also works in a Beer Flip, where the malty body and bottle-conditioned richness stand up to egg and sugar. For a simple long drink, try a Prior Shandy with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, which cuts through the sweetness and highlights the spice.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian brewing tradition
• Pairing with a multi-course Belgian or French dinner
• Cellaring — bottle-conditioned ales develop complexity over time
• Introducing someone to the Belgian dubbel style with a benchmark example

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Prior 8 taste like? Prior 8 delivers a rich, malty sweetness balanced by dark fruit flavors — raisin, fig, and date — with Belgian yeast spice notes of clove and banana. Moderate hop bitterness and a subtle tartness keep it from becoming overly sweet.

How does Prior 8 compare to Chimay Red? Both are classic Belgian dubbels at similar ABV levels, but Prior 8 tends to be denser and more malt-forward with a deeper dried-fruit character, while Chimay Red (Première) leans slightly lighter and more overtly fruity with a drier finish. Prior 8 also carries the distinction of being brewed from original Westvleteren-era recipes, giving it a historical pedigree that Chimay does not share.

Is Prior 8 good for sipping neat? Prior 8 is ideal for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature from a goblet, where its complex layers of malt, fruit, and yeast character reveal themselves gradually over the course of a glass.

Where is Prior 8 made? Prior 8 is brewed at the St. Bernardus Brewery in Watou, a small town in the West Flanders province of Belgium, near the French border. The brewery has operated at this site since 1946.

What foods pair well with Prior 8? Braised short ribs or carbonnade flamande, where the beer's caramel-malt sweetness mirrors the sauce. Aged Gouda or Gruyère, whose nutty richness complements the toasted malt. Duck confit, balanced by the beer's fruit and spice. Dark chocolate truffles, which echo the dried-fruit and toffee notes. Roasted root vegetables with a brown butter glaze also work well alongside the malty body.

What sizes does Prior 8 come in? St. Bernardus Prior 8 is commonly available in 750ml and 330ml bottles, with the larger format especially suited to sharing or cellaring.

Is Prior 8 worth the price? Prior 8 positions as a premium Belgian dubbel, priced in line with other top-tier abbey and Trappist-style ales. Given its World Beer Award recognition, near-perfect RateBeer score, and direct lineage to Westvleteren brewing traditions, it represents strong value within the category's upper tier.

Why Prior 8?

Very few beers in production today can claim a direct recipe lineage to the Westvleteren Trappist monks — widely regarded as producing the most sought-after ales on earth. Prior 8 carries that DNA, brewed from formulas brought to St. Bernardus by Westvleteren's own brew master in 1946. The World Beer Awards panel confirmed what dedicated Belgian-ale drinkers already knew, naming it the world's best in its category. With a 98 on RateBeer and a 93 on BeerAdvocate across thousands of ratings, this is not a beer buoyed by hype alone — it is a benchmark dubbel that delivers the full spectrum of caramel malt, dark fruit, and yeast-driven complexity the style demands.