Achel 8 Bruin

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

poured beautifully into a trappist glass from the bottle. brown in color with a big rocky head. aroma was moderate, with rich malty elements, alcohol, and spices. flavor was much like the aroma. Malty with a nice alcohol bites. notes of of pepper, yeast, toffee, and clove. Very active and bubbly mouthfeel that just tickles the tongue. solid brew

Bottled(330ml). -Much better than Blonde. Reddish brown coloured, medium beige head, fruity nose. Nice malty and fruity aroma with notes of toffee and quite spicy. Slight pleasant cherry finish.

Tap at Abbey. Pours with a brownish r color and a small brown head. The flavor was something I could not put my finger on: it starts with that note that is perhaps some kind of spice(cloves), or even pine, a bit unusual. This gives way to more easily defined nuances such as burnt malts.

Bottle. Pours hazy copper color with a thick beige head. Great head retention. Nice fruity aroma, lots of dark fruit and some spice. Interesting taste, fruity, but not what I would’ve thought. Taste is over ripe fruit with some caramel. Body is thin and a little creamy.

Amber. Tall beige head. Somewhat fruity aroma. Yeast. Wheat? Muscovado sugar. Uncomplex flavour dominated by malty sweetness (muscovado again), notes of rosted malts. Bananas? Hides the ABV very well.

(33cl bottle) Large beige head atop clear copper body, lots of dead yeast clumps out on the second pour. And the second pour is worth noting, because this really came across as two different beers. Initially, aroma is moderately sweet, plum/raisin, some anise, caramel, alcohol. On the second pour, the aroma is similar, but fuller. First time, taste is medium sweet, raisin/plum, caramel, light anise, seltzer. Second pour, the taste is much richer, some milk chocolate appears, and the seltzer quality vanishes. From the top, medium body, some effervescence, but seems a bit thin. Later, much richer, medium-full body with grainy texture from the yeasties. The difference between them is significant -- (7/3/6/3/12) vs. (8/3/8/4/16) -- and my rating splits the difference.

Lucious, huge dark fruit and sweet malt aroma, hints of mushmellon and pear, beautiful mahagoney color,with generous head, sweet malty,mapley dark fruit taste, just a smidget of alcohol, wonderfully tastey, just a touch thin to be ranked among the all time greatest

Bottle at ’T efde Gebod, Antwerp, Belgium, 04-10-06. Dark brown in colour with a tan creamy in texture head. Aroma a bit spicey and malty, taste continued in this vein very full flavoured but with dark fruits and caramel also swishing around. Very good beer.