Rochefort Trappistes 8

Brewed by Brasserie Rochefort
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Rochefort, Belgium

Brought back a bottle from Belgium. Pours with a thick white head that disolves quickly. Looks chololate brown, almost like a dark iced-tea. Has a rich caramel / alcholo smell about it. I can taste caramel flavors, hints of chololate, has an addition hint of musty or something old, but in a good way. Perhaps not too unlike an ESB?? Good beer, but I don’t think it’s a 100 rating.

Weak but nice aroma of malt, wood, lemon, pine, and thistle. Well balanced and complex. Muddy brown, with a thick firm tan head. Musty old flavor of candied pears, toffee at midpalate, perfect balance. Chestnuts appear when warmer. Nice transitions. Alcohol noticeable, but feels much less than it is. Faint thistle finish playfully comes and goes. Remarkably well conceived and made. It would probably pair well with strong cheeses. Who could not like this one?

11.2 oz. bottle at TJ’s. Poured chocolate brown with a skim of fizzy tan head. Flavor absolutely dominated by sweet, dark fruits. Lots of plum, fig, and raisins evident. A very good beer, nowhere near the 10 though.

Enjoyed this much more than the 6. complex aroma with caramel, sugars, yeast, and some fruit. Taste is OK (aroma better). Notes of caramel, some fruits and a little booze. Enjoyable overall.

Have been saving this one for a special occasion - completion of an 18 month project. Pours a dark chestnut brown with lots of carbonation. Tan head, lots of yeast sediment. Nose is dark fruit, alcohol, yeast, and light hint of licorice. Taste is sticky, with caramel malt and some spice, slightly bitter, also some smoky characteristics - very subtle cigar taste. Chest warming alcohol. A very complex and excellent beer.

Pours murky brown with a big, foamy beige head. Lots of carbonation. Aroma is of malt, caramel, yeast, sugar, and fruit. Taste starts off with a big malt flavor with lots of caramel evening it out. Big notes of banana and sugar. Lingering taste of banana and slight spice. Warming alcohol presence that doesn’t take away from the other flavors at all. Body is very light due to the carbonation. Mouthfeel is very fizzy and overly malty. I was definitely dissapointed after both the 10 and the 6, but it was decent.

Huge amount of carbonation in this bottle. Cloudy moderately dark brown. Sweet aroma with a hint of alcohol. Flavor is smooth with a bit of coffee/chocolate.

Short, tan head with no lacing, dark orange/amber color. Green grasses aroma. Mild flavor of sour, very little sweetness to this one, but tastes very mild and hides the liquor in it well.