Rochefort Trappistes 8

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

It seems as though all the Rochefort brews hold their head up high and its very impressive. The aroma is of sweet fruits, coffee, chocolate, and brown sugar. The taste instantly reminds me of the 10, but only weaker, it tastes of bitter sweet fruit, brown sugar, and roasted malts. This brew finishes very smoothly, which is to be expected, and leaves a nice alcohol/fruit taste in the palate.

Bottle from Mr Lawrence Wine Merchant, Brockley. Pours dark brown with a beige head which leaves some good lacing around the glass. Aromas of chocolate, raisins, plum pudding, slightly nuttly. Flavours of raisins, dark fruits, bitter chocolate, demerara sugar, vanilla. Finsihes sweet, smooth with a gentle hoppiness.

Bottle for personal rating #1100. Pours a chunky opaque light brown with a huge beige head. Nose of raisin, brown sugar, belgian yeast, toffee and tart black cherry. Yeasty flavor with brown sugar, dark fruits and booze with a semi-sweet finish. Not quite as good as the 10, but pretty solid.

Dark Amber/Copper in coloring with a dense, thick head on the pour. Coloring is even, a bit murky. In the mouth, something of a refreshing carbonation with caramelized sugar, maltiness, and hint of molasses and toffee. Possibly fig. Not as raisiny as the 10, which is a positive point, to me. Very well balanced.

Simply put, Wow! A lot of reviewers say it tastes like raisins or plums, to me it tastes like Concord white grape juice with beer added.Left me feeling euphoric for hours....

Pours cloudy chocolate brown, with a one-finger cream-colored head, very good lasting lacing. Yeasty, funky, barnyard aroma, some leather, bread and banana in the background. Medium body, velvety. Flavor isn’t as bad as the aroma, toast, toffee, banana, sour cherry, a grassy and earthy finish, fairly well balanced. I like a little brett, but this is very disappointing. The second bottle I’ve had that smells like dirty gym socks, purchased several months apart and different stock from the store. It’s surprising that a beer this strong would spoil, maybe there’s a problem with this batch or the distributor in this area. I may re-rate this... maybe next year.

Poured into a trappist glass. Aromas of raisins and plums. Initial flavor of plums, malt and yeast. Ends with a bittersweet and heavy taste. Not a bad beer. Better that the 6.

Bottle. 11.2 oz. Split with Sean and Dave. Pours slightly hazy amber with a creamy, off-white head. Aroma of hops, raisins, vanilla, figs, chocolate, and hints of coffee. Medium body with a clean, smooth finish. Excellent Belgian strong.