Achel 8 Blond

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

Pours hazy golden into the glass, with yeasty floatations through and through. Good head and decent lacing. Doughy spice aromas. Honey and slight alcohol notes to the flavor, with spice afterthoughts. Thicker consistency to the palate, and extremely satiating. Some astringent alcohol latent in the pull, and as the beer warms, the bouquet opens and more notes of citrus and vegetable compliment by shining through.

Hazy honey gold with a massive chunky head that lasts forever and leaves generous lace. Aromas of baked bread, honey, and vague stonefruit. Very smooth and heavy, sweet malt with subtle spicy vanilla and fruity yeast. Alcohol is well integrated and unobtrusive. I admit that I’m not the biggest fan of this style, but this was excellent.

Very nice golden yellow colour. Nice white head also. Spices and fruits. Un très bon goût.

spicy yeast, ripe fruit aroma. Pours a very nice golden yellow, white head, carbonated. Very smooth. Fruit undertones. Dry lingering finish. Refined in its presentation.

cloudy yellow with white head. spices & fruits. Has a lively carbonation. Bitter hoppiness and quite dry taste. Long great finish!

Such a great beer hidden such a plain bottle and across the sea. Head starts out an inch of thick foam and then subsides to an eternal half inch of thick cream floating on the golden beer. Texture is silky smooth. Strong scent from the bottle, the pour and the sitting beer; the soft spiciness reminds me of Hoegaarden. the soft palate is rich in pepper, and I can find the peach and yeast that Oakes mentions as well. In my mind one of the most enjoyable Belgians.

bottle. This is one enticing beer in the glass. A really frothy light golden head that leaves mounds along the glass. Nice straw colored beer. Nose is apricots and cardamon, that carries over to the flavor. Very dry. This bottle was well within its date range, but had some off-putting metallic notes. Overall very good, and I would love to try it on draught.

Cloudy yellow body with a moderate head. Wonderful lacing on the glass as usual. Aroma is spices, sugars, peppers, their yeast, and various fruits. Smooth drinking with light alcohol in the throat. Reminded me quite a bit of a Tripel but this is definitely a Belgian strong ale.