Achel 8 Bruin

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

Pours a dark brown with a SUBSTANTIAL off-white head. Mellow sweetness with aromas of dark fruits, hops and a hint of pear. Nice fullness. Dry finish. Hides alcohol well. Very good.

2004 bottle aged for 2 years. Very strong alcohol aroma but very sweet as well. Got hint of red grapes and malt. No noticable head, red appearance. Flavor is potent and only sippable. Strong taste of malt. Would make a great dessert beer.

Dark brown with an off-white head. Some floaties. Malty and rummy aroma. Dark fruit, malt, caramel and rum flavor. Alcohol was evident. Not my favorite trappist, but pretty good.

33 cL bottle. Pours hazy brown-red with large, creamy, off-white head. The aroma is slightly offputting; way more hay than I was expecting. But there are some redeeming spicy scents and a faint maltiness as well. It has a very sharp mouthfeel. The flavor is a bit rough around the edges, almost tannic bitterness. The alcohol is not too well hidden, either. Flavors of caramel and mild sourness come through, with a chalky, roasty finish. Not really what I was expecting.... not awful, but I have come to expect higher quality from the Trappists.

In the 750 mL bottle at the 2006 Huber Haus Belgian Trappist Ale Tasting. Reddish brown beer with a boisterous flocculent fluffy off white head of medium sized bubbles. Mild aroma of prunes, raisins and berries. Flavor is a berry sweetness, not a sugar sweetness. Has a bit of roasty bitterness as well. Much smoother than the Achel Blonde. Thinner body, but has a strong alcohol presence.

11.2 bottle from Premier in Buffalo. Overly sweet, fizzy headed brown lacking the balance and finesse of the other Trappist beers. I bought it to check something off my list, and with that done, so are my purchases of this beer.

11.2oz bottle, notched at 7/06, which I think is a best by date. Pours a hazy orange copper with some chunks and a large light yellow beige head. Aroma of nutmeg, clove, musty attic, yeast, and caramel malts. Some sourness coming from the yeast, the aforementioned spices, and the other aromas. Light bodied, highly carbonated. Alcohol is a little hot, though not terribly noticeable. Much better than the other Achel (blonde) I had, though I think the other one was about two years past it’s date.

bottle. dark brown amber color. large carpy head. sweet carpy and sweet. nothing special.