Rochefort Trappistes 8

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

Bottle at Café Gollem, Amsterdam, 14th March 09. Cloudy reddish amber. Rich, warm malts and a lovely finish.

330ml bottle, dated L230512. Pours a robust and dense dark brown, with a thick and creamy two finger head with plenty of carbonation. Has a strong, sweet smell of raisins, dates, and dark sugars with a hint of molasses. A slightly acidic smell with little alcohol and a nice spice factor, as well. Tastes of dark fruits and rich spices. Has a malty sweetness with a slightly bitter smooth finish. The alchohol is well hidden for its higher content. An all around wonderful beer.

Bottled 11.2oz. Malty, sweet, aroma with notes of raisins and dark fruits in general, and some hints of citrus fruits. Malty, sweet taste with notes of plums, raisins and citrus fruits. Ends Medium- to full bodied. nice ballance but it hits hard with the alcohol at the end.

Pours darkish brown, large foamy head. I’m a bit sick at the moment, so my nose is not functioning optimally. What I could detect was sweetish with perhaps a little dark fruit appearing around the edges. Taste is fairly standard for Belgians similar to this, which is always a good thing. Delicious beer, which I’ll have to try again when I’m fully able to appreciate it.

I’ll quantify this description by being open about my "beer novice" status. However, when my novitiate introductions to "good beer" are limited to Belgians (i.e. Chimay Blue) and the like, I think I’m doing okay. I excitedly imbibed Rochefort 8’s in Cleveland (at Melt Bar and Grilled, where they also have 10’s available) this past St. Patrick’s Day, having heard legends and tales about these beers from Ratebeer, Beeradvocate, and elsewhere. I wasn’t disappointed. Served in its intended glass, the 8’s aroma instantly whispered of rich darkness, fruit undertones, and a syrupy alcohol burn (all of which were enhanced when I took my first sip of the dark, reddish-brown elixir). An initial burst of effervessence, quickly tapering off into a smooth, lasting alcohol burn that, while present, didn’t distract or delay the other flavors - dark fruits, dark sugars, caramels, and an overall sense of depth and complexity. A head that lingered without being overly frothy. While I enjoy my Chimay, this took the experience of that beer and amplified its awesomeness to a further degree. A truly delicious beer, which I understand to be a weakling in wonder next to its older, 10 brother. I can’t wait to venture forth into further Rochefort experiences.

Bottle. Pours a cloudy brown with a big beige/light brown head. Aroma is hops with a bitterness which doesn’t feel like it’s coming from the hops. Hay. Candy-like notes as it warms as well as a more distinct hop notes. Flavour is bitter citrus hops with malty/fruity notes. The hops and malt seems to have a small battle for supremacy going on, but it makes for a nice effect. Spicy and liquorice notes.. Finish is bitter liquorice. Remotely grainy, dry and a bit fruity. Feels a bit cloying. Creamy/milky notes as it warms. A bit too much carbonation. A nice beer, but I think it lacks something. Could be more potent in the flavour maybe. Also, should be less cloying. 16-03-09.

Nice pour! Brown Tea color, with a nice big head and good lace. Aroma of tobacco, raisons, licorice, tea leaf, and hints of chocolate and coffee. Subtle flavor compared to the nose. Definite licorice spice, almost mint! Starts off with subtle dark fruits, raisons, moving to licorice and sarsaparilla root! This melds into a hint of peppermint leaves finishing with white tea and candy sugar! What a journey!

33cl bottle @home Bought @ systembolaget, Örebro, Sweden Cloudy, nice head, a lot of taste.