Achel 8 Blond

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

Hazy yellow with lots of sediments in it. Thick creamy white head, looks almost like shavefoam. Yeasty, fruity, citric aroma with some cellary and vinous notes. Flavour is peachy and sweet, with small scents of alcohol and apricots. Finish is slight wheaty.

In the 750 mL bottle at the 2006 Huber Haus Belgian Trappist Ale Tasting. Pours a flocculent urine gold with huge white head bubbles. Poofs up with swirling. Aroma of pears and green grassy hops. Flavor has a strong pronounced honey taste. Very sweet. The finish is a bit tart. Hops linger quite a while. Licorice perhaps? Palate isa bit burning. Thicker in body than Chimay. Strong carbonation to the mouthfeel.

bottle. light cloudy orange with a huge and long lasting off white head.Near the end of the bottle some yeast particles. Heavy carbonation. Aroma is tart citrus, woody, and earthy yeast. Taste is very slightly tart citrus, bready and earthy.....slightly acidic and bitter finish.

Bottle, notched @ 01/04. Pours a cloudy orange golden with a medium white head. Aroma of musty basement, sour bread dough, yeast, some oranges, and an off-flavor I can’t quite figure out. I’m assuming the 01/04 is the best by date, as this tastes a little too old. Flavor is much the same as the aroma, with some funky sourness becoming the dominant flavor. Considering this was five bucks, I am not happy. Quite fizzy carbonation, light-medium bodied. Not that great, I’ll have to wait until John’s gets some fresher bottles.

Bottled 1/04 Nose was yeasty/citrusy; color was hazy yellow tinged with orange; flavor was malty and citrusy with a little hoppiness in the bacground. Alcohol was well covered, I just barely could notice it under the other flavors.

Ah, not my cup of tea on a twist of the finer Belgian beers, no less a trappist. This one poured with a nice orange color and a very pillowy fluffy head that just stayed fluffy for the entire drink. Lots and lots of carbonation rising in the clear beer as it set there in my Chimay chalice. Aroma was yeasty and hoppy, most interestingly grassy hoppy (get that grass out of my Belgian, and put it in a pilsner or something, yikes!). Flavor was citrus-like with honey, grassiness, and very light candi-sugaring. Finished with the grassy hoppy bitterness, a little too much for the style (probably because I generally don’t like grass in my beers). Apples and grapes came out in the aftertaste as the beer warmed. Mouthfeel was acidic and moderate, not as thick as most tripels, though. Not bad, not great. More beautiful than anything else, but it improved in flavor as it warmed.

Appears a hazy, light gold with a foamy white head that slowly fades out. Carbonation pumping to the top. Lots of yeasty chunks floating around the glass that is a bit less than appealing. Smell is of light citrus, bubble gum notes, and a doughy, yeasty, breadiness. Taste is of the same aromas with an apricot and bready yeast like taste. There is a touch of a mild sour lemon in there. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a crisp, effervescent bite that hits you after the yeasty notes.

A pale amber colour with a fruity citrus aroma poured a nice white head and has good carbonation. Had a good maltiness and tastes of Belgian ale yeast. A fine trappist ale, a joy for anyone who likes this style to try.