Achel 8 Blond

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij De Achelse Kluis
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Hamont-Achel, Belgium

Pours a deep, cloudy, yellow/gold with a thick, almost-white head that consists of very tiny bubbles that lace the glass heavily. The aroma is very fruity with some alcohol and a bold malt and yeast undertone. Fruit aromas remind one of banana, peaches, and a hint of sour apples. The malty/yeasty aromas smell a lot like wheat. The flavor starts off dry and sweet with hints of tartness. Very yeasty, a little bit musty, and malty - but a subdued malty sweetness. The interplay of fruit, yeast, and carbonation bubbles tease the top and back of the tongue. The middle of the flavor has lots of dusty wheat, hints of hops, and lots of yeast. The finish is long, dry, and dusty. The aftertaste is a mix of yeast, wheat, and some hops. The fruit theme continues throughout. The mouthfeel is unexpectedly dry all over the tongue - and unexpectedly light. Overall, very nice.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a tulip glass, murky yellow with a lot of floaters. Aroma was of yeast and fruit. Taste was sweet with notes of citrus, apricot, butterscotch and honey. There was a touch of dryness as it warmed.

Bottle at home. Pours an opaque honey-y yellow with an impressively thick head. Fresh aroma of citrus and yeast. Full body with flavours of spice and citrus, but the finish is the best. Creamy and sour with a nice sting of alcohol, turns sweet. Grows on you.

This stuff pours out a hazy yellow with rediculous head! The aroma is very nice with sweet bananas and spices hitting the nostrils and perhaps a zesty lemony flavor? Taste is typical belgian thick yeasty bready taste with the spices comming in at the end, fairly sweet beer but nice and fairly refreshing.

Pours like honey, though not in the sense that it pours slowly and thick, but that the color is amber blond, looks like solidified fat - no impurities. Huge frothy white head, aroma of light fruits and grasses. Flavor is biting, long, and smooth. Very very nice!

Golden color with a heavy white head.Fruity, herbal and malty notes. Some sweetness combined with yeast. Full bodied. A very nice strong ale !

Bottle at Cafe Zotte. Orange colour Ale with a fast-rising head. Taste of wheat, sweet, bubblegum even. Tangy, pinches the tongue. Alcohol taste a bit too pronounced. Harsh but also very good.

From a 330mL Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy, honeydew golden color with a thin layer of quickly dissipating, sudsy, brilliant white head. Lightly sweet aromas of caramel, cardomom seed, and a hint of mango. Lots of sticky light fruity esters with some spicy, cumin-like qualities. Medium bodied, lightly carbonated mouthfeel with an effervescent prickle. A light, sugar glazed breadiness starts out on a palate that reminds me of some freshly baked nisu. As the sweetness fades, more spicy yeast esters come out, and the cheeks begin to warm. The final smack leaves a pleasant herbal hop bitterness lingering on the dry palate. Pleasing, but not overly contemplative.