Achel 8 Blond

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

33cl bottle. Date stamp is 04/04. not sure if that is bottle date or BB date.
hazy golden with lots of yeast in the glass despite careful pouring
Fruity aroma with peaches and apricots a hint of melon and yeast.
flavor is fruity, a little spice, some yeast and a slight bitter tingle. tasty

Another wonderful beer from this small Trappist monastery located near the Dutch border. Surprised to find this hasn’t fared too well, as I honestly found it to be an extraordinarily balanced and unique ale that was in-step with the greater of Abbey ales and indeed other Trappist offerings. Tasted from a bottle well over 16 months old (missing BB stamp) and poured into a chalice glass, quite cool. Poured quite clear; a summery hue of sparkling orange similar to a glass of lucozade, with very, very fine carbonation raising up an immensely creamy, dense white head that lasted and left trails of lace in its wake. Very clean, tart and spicy, ripe fruit on the nose, hinting at a Brettanomyces strain similar to Orval (?), with an underpinning bouquet of floral and earthy hops, palest grains and soft melonous esters. Fresh, clean and delicate on the tongue with a lot of the qualities of the wonderful aroma shining through. Biting peppery spices and a sprightly, prickly carbonation keep it lively on the tongue whilst flavours of ripe, tart and juicy fruits blend with clean palest malts and fresh bitter herbs in the back giving it little length past the swallow bar a hint of the peppery hops and alcohol. Medium bodied and balanced to perfection, this worked a wonderful spell on my taste buds with its artisanal simplicity. At 8%, it showed incredible control and went down with alarming ease making me wish I had of stored a dozen more for the time. This was a lovely beer and like its Bruin brother, it is worthy of praise. Delicious!!! (33cL, Int’l Beer Shop, W. Leederville)

Bottle: Hazy, orangey coloured; huge rocky, creamy head; strong fruity nose (lemon, bananas, cloves); slightly sweetish, moderate fruity flavour, a bit yeasty; a bit tart, fruity sweetish finish with the acidity and the flavour of green apples. A well rounded and warming brew.........................

Pours translucent pale yellow with a good white head. Nose is apricot, allspice, honey, butter. Initial taste is very wheat/yeast oriented (like drinking whole wheat bread). This segues into a peppery spiciness with maybe some clove and banana, but overwhelmed by alcohol and carbonation. Mouthfeel very good - oily and interesting. OK.

Pours cloudy gold/orange, with a large, white head. Aromas are spice, yeast, and lemon. Flavors are spice, yeast, citrus and malt, with a dry finish.

Cloudy orange, with a huge white head. Aroma is grape and a hint of dishwater, but in a good way. Has a dry is flavor, with notes of white wine and figs and grapes. Pretty for easy to drink for an 8% brew.

Bottle. Golden color pour. I didn’t have any chunks floating too much. Sweet fruity aroma and flavor. It was pretty good.

Blond ale, average head, white foam. Nice aroma, sweet. Good, not fantastic.