Achel Extra Bruin (de 3 Wijzen)

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij De Achelse Kluis
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Hamont-Achel, Belgium

purs a deep ruby color. very carbonated with large bubbles. alcohol is immediately present an dcontinues to mid palate. finish is very dry and peppery. a slightly bitter mouthfeel - may be from too much carbonation. not a lot of complex flavors - lacks typical sugar taste and dried fruits. Nothing spectacular in my opinion

750ml bottle, 2004 vintage. Foam began oozing out of the bottle before I could even fully remove the cap; apparently the initial carbonation is frequently substantial with this beer, though. Fruity, sweet aroma, malty and liberally dosed with yeast, displaying hints of milky, creamy chocolate, red grape, earth, coriander, hazelnut, spice, faint berry and some dusty cobwebs in the background. Dark brown in color, quite hazy and sedimented, with a lasting, pale tan head and a fine pattern of lace behind it. Flavor is abundantly sugary and sweet, dark caramel and toffee can be found throughout, along with the less forceful characters of red wine, clove and cocoa, finishing with a blend of peppery alcohol, fruity tartness, mild bitterness, old wood, licorice and tobacco. Smooth yet active and lightly acidic and warming on the palate, body is richly full. Aged a bit longer than intended, perhaps, but retains plenty of intrigue and depth, it appears. Absolutely recommended, and I look forward to comparing to a somewhat younger version.

Dark brown beer with a thick brown head which last for long. The aroma is malty with notes of cherrys. The flavor is sweet with notes of berries and nuts. The alcohol is hidden by the sweetness but in the finale I taste the bitternes

Sommerhus. Pours a clear brown with with a small off-white head. Sweet with a yeasty dryness. Some malty aromas. Mellow aromas of prunes and raisins. Dry finish with hints of alcohol. OK

0,75 l bottle from Bierkoning, Amsterdam. Deep brown body with a brief and stable beige head. Complex, spicy aroma of roasted malts, dried and wild fruits, some esters. Smooth mouthfeel with a delicious texture, flavor of spices, dried fruits (plum, raisins and wild fruits), rosated grains, a bit of alcohol. Nice, strong personality.

330 ml bottle - spotty white head and glowing amber-brown; mostly clear; aromas of dates, fruit soap and slight spice; very tart, funky and sweet; up to par with Westy 12 in terms of flavor, but texture is not quite there; sweet, resin and raisin aromas; a little too sweet for me too; very nice, but not that impressed at the same time

75cl Bottle @ KBF in Geel. Darkbrown beer, tan head. Aroma was not quite what I expected, a bit faint, malts, some dark fruits and something off. Flavour was a whole lot better, lots of caramel/brown sugar, dark fruits (plums), alcohol and malty sweetness. Lots of carbonation. In flavour by far the best Achel, but the aroma needs a little extra work.

750ml bottle (Kaisla, Helsinki) - shared with mjs.
Deep brown, brief head. Dark bruney aroma - it’s got the roasted malts, some plums, a general sweetness, a touch of yeast, but also some gluey esters which spoilt the aroma for me. Fairly pleasant mouthfeel, but a little alcoholic. Again, the brune components are all there in the taste, but the alcohol sticks out just a little too much. The sweet plum in the aroma wasn’t reflected in the taste, which was a shame. Felt a little disappointed, but perhaps I had ’Belgian fatigue’ at the end of the evening.