Achel 8 Blond

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

Pours darker golden and clumpy w/ a gigantic semi creamy froth that hangs around an reduces to a heavy cream. Aromas of dusty rock candyfruit and flowers. Flavors are very bright and forthright then turns dry on a dime. Big candy fruit w/ banana, citrus rind and spice. Finish is bittered yet fruity. Very tasty, well balanced, alcohol is well hidden. Overall: it’s a blind date with a blonde that goes round all the bases, a few times =). Leaves nothing to be desired. Highly recommended.

Bottle, 33 cl. Taste again for rating. Golden color, with a large white head. Aroma, yeasty, sweet, fruity . Medium body. Hoppy tatse, good balance with the bitterness. My favorite.

330ml bottle, bought in Belgium and closeted for 7 months. Explosively carbonated and lively. Saltwatery bitter farmhouse aroma. Big head which added a nice creamy mouthfeel. Dry with a wonderful hoppy sweet finish. Completely classic Belgian beer.

Full foamy head. Spicy bite to the scent and immediate to the mouth. Bright golden near opaque hue. Complex flavor changes constantly with different tastes coming to a head. Wonderful aftertaste. Some alcohol taste but not at all overpowering.

This is an amazing beer. It is a pleasure to look at and exceptionally complex. This beer is orange and cloudy. The huge, thick, firm, and long lasting white head takes up far more space than the beer in my Kapittel trappist glass, and leaves a thick and sticky lacing. Aroma starts off fruity and spicy suggesting a tripel; alcohol and malt follows. This is a very sweet beer, with coriander and other spices, sweet fruit and light malt as well as a hint of bitter hops. Aftertaste is a little sweet but has salt as well, with a hint of alcohol lingering. Flawless and outstanding.

Bottle, 33 cl. Golden color, with a large white head. Aroma, yeasty, sweet, fruity . Medium bodied. Taste is very hoopy, i like it very much, nice bitterness. A really good trappist !

Whenever I find a beer I instantly fall in love with, it’s sure to have less than a 4 average rating here. This champagne-like belgian has a cloudy, golden-yellow, witbier like appearance and exudes a malty pear, plum, and cherry aroma with a hint of yeast that knows its manners. Slightly fizzy and refreshing without the acidity of champagne, the flavor is lush with ripe pear (especially) and is supported by apple, berries, and heady malt. Rather light bodied, it packs a surprising density of flavor and character, and is one of the most enjoyable drinking experiences I’ve had this year.

Best before Jan., 2004: Foggy saffron. Thin, resilient, rocky lathery froth leaves behind gorgeous lacework. Elegant aroma of shortcake, lemon, rose petals, and soft notes of banana. Peppery yeast undertones with fresh noble hop blossoms, frosting, peach tart, and soil. Soft, expansive carbonation. Very light and fluffy at the same time. Lavishly yeasty and flavorful with copious levels of flowers and esters right away. Slightly woody with some pale malt funk underneath. Simultaneously rich and elegant. Hints of cork and hay make a late appearance before a beautiful round finish of glazed peach, doughy yeast, and banana. Lightly dry and spritzy with peppery yeast flashes. The faint leathery noble hop textures deflect the pale malts and fruity elements with just enough girth, adding a whole new layer of depth. It doesn't get much more artisinal and elegant than this.