Rochefort Trappistes 10

Brewed by Brasserie Rochefort
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Rochefort, Belgium

For some reason I haven’t had this beer in a couple of years even though it is probably my current favorite beer. Pours dark chocolate brown with greenish amber highlights and a 2 finger foamy tan head that has fair retention and regenerates hugely when swirled. Aroma is of caramel, dark sugar, cherries, dried plums, raspberry, straw, white tea, lots of raisin, juicy fruit gum, grass, a little citrus, straw, funky grain, melon, earth... You could go on forever finding new aroma notes in this beer. Flavor is just as complex and fantastically good. Toasted grain, dark caramel, earthy dried leaves, plum, apple, tons of floral hops, citrus potpourri, molasses, walnuts, old burlap, straw, very light cinamon, rye bread, candi sugar, wet late season hay fields, earthy and herbal hops toward the finish, again I could go on but am reaching the end of the bottle. Palate is like drinking sweet cream, if my mouth were made of silk, a dryish slightly spicy finish, alcohol warmth is present but alcohol bite is never apparent, which at 11.3%abv is quite a feat. A really fantastic beer that has never let me down.

I HAVE REACHED RATING 500. Thank you, Ratebeer. This has been a very enjoyable experience. I have learned so much about good beer in the last year and a half, that it is hard to picture the beer drinker that I used to be. I decided to choose this Top 20 brew for this milestone rating, and it comes courtesy of Adrian - thanks again to Adrian. He says this stuff is better than almighty Westvleteren, so let us see. Dark brown pour with a head that seems to generate more and more foam. Tangy and sweet aroma, with some coffee and herbs too. Great mouthfeel that is velvet with some fizz and tingle in the finish. Tastes sweet and fruity up front, with prune, pear, and cherry fading to a hoppy molasses tingle. A lot of different flavors, but they all seem to blend together into one. This is definitely a treat, but it is a tad too sugary to be in my top 10. Thanks again, Ratebeer.

courtesy of retorp. Pours deep ruby amber with tan head. Aroma of strong dark fruits - plum, cherry -. candi sugar. Taste of dark fruits -raisins cherry plums - , light yeast, good sugar notes, grainy and malty. Velvety palate. At 11.3abv, it drinks so smoothly. The way a quad should be. Only missing was a good piece of Rocherfort cheese.

Dark brown with fizzy lasting tan head. Smell of sweet raisins, dark fruits and burnt sugar. Taste was an awesome bouquet of over ripe fruits, toffe, and burnt surgar again with a roast finish. Alcohol present as well. Palate had an excellent fill and a great long finish, but I thought it a bit too fizzy.

Poured deep earthy garnet with a creamy chocolate-nutmeg colored head that laced beautifully. Redolent of yeast, black currant, sweet cinnamon, port, and chocolate covered craisins; complex and amazing, I’ve never smelled anything close. Flavor was chocolate-butterscotch-caramel, vanilla oak, yeasty-citric, raisin-prune, and yes vinous in the end. The carbonation and incredible alcohol conspire to almost burn the back of the throat. Masterful, robust, savory, and exceeded even my highest expectations.

Pours a rich dark brown with a darker, lacing head that is just teasing me to drink! The smell from the glass is strong yeast, raisins, and spices. The taste is intensely quad. An alcoholic "bite" reminds you to drink slowly. This stuff is GREAT, so much complexity. Best in moderation.

Dark, dark brown and intensely fizzy but with no head. Rich, dark and boozy aroma hints of raisins and dates. Intense vanilla with deep oakey aromas. Sweet and delicious, hides its alcohol content perfectly. A wintery brew, rich dried fruit and brandy flavours. So many layers to this. Smooth and thick, slipping velvetty over the tongue. Fantastic. Great flavours, perfect balanced. Robust and rosy. Drink this beer!