Rochefort Trappistes 8

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

Getting notebook online. Bottle. Lots of yeast, fruit, and spice flavors. Very warming mouth.

Aroma is sweet fruit - raisins and plums. Pours a thin, dark brown with little head. High carbonation, very bubbly and lively on the tongue. Taste is the same sweet fruit plus a cereal malt note,bread, yeast, and a touch of stout-like roastiness. Almost tastes like cherry cola. There are so many layers of flavor in this beer and all are subtle. Alcohol is well-hidden. Little to no hoppy bitterness. Very short finish with no aftertaste. Thin body. Good, and remarkably drinkable for its ABV.

I have seen and heard a lot about this beer but was somewhat skeptical. Usually the highly rated Belgians are flat beers full of alcohol, thin and cola tasting. This was definitely not the case with this beer. There was a good amount of carbonation, a healthy head and an opaque cherry wood hue. The smell was a spicy carrot cake and the initial flavor was sweet molasses and ginger. The aftertaste wasn’t lingering or alcohol laden for a beer of over 9% ABV. Caramel and syrup gradually became more apparent, almost the palate of malt extract, very delicious. This is one of the most complex, varied beers I’ve tried. Looking forward to the 10.

Dark brown color with a foamy off-white head. Rich and complex aroma with brown sugar, caramel, raisin, vanilla and a finishing touch of sweet liquor alcohol. Fresh spicy and very interesting flavor with combinations of vanilla, liquorice, herbs and a sweetness from dried fruit finishing with a alcohol warmth. Mouthfeel is full, thick and quite strongly carbonated. Didn´t want the bottle to finish that fast...

Probably the best brew I’ve had. Pours a dark reddish color with a really big head which dissappears quickly. Lots of lacing afterwards. Scents of malts, hops, and fruits. 8 has an awesome taste the alcohol content is hidden very well. Mouthfeel is a medium body with a great after taste. This trappist brew is very drinkable. I will buy more of the 8 and get some 10’s as well.

330ml from Forest City in CT. Settles a dark brown chestnut with a pearly beige head. Aroma of barley, grapes, dry wine, and bread. Palate has a nice substantial thickness to it, complemented by prickly carbonation. Upon sipping, I immediately recognize this is a beer about subtlety: unlike most other beers of this ABV, Rochefort’s flavors are content to simmer, hint, and layer. Consequently, it is hard for me to put my finger on what I am tasting. OK, so there is definitely bread, brown sugar, and dried fruit. But there is much more. I can see where people are getting cherry and vanilla notes from the body. By half way through the bottle, I had begun treating this beer more like an Old Ale or Barley Wine. It is earthy, old, and mellow. Notably, if you give Rochefort time to sit, it responds by revealing all of its character. My opinion: tasty, but not on par with the RB rating.

330m Bottle: Sweet aroma of fruit, berries, caramel, malts, dried fruit, light alcohol, and light chocolate. Poured brown in color with a medium-sized, tan head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Many particles. Sparkling. Medium sweet flavor. Tastes of malts, dried fruit, beef, sesame, spices, and a hint of yeast. Medium body. Average texture. Soft to average carbonation. Sweet, malty finish.

It opens with an aroma with hints of dried berries and humid cellar. The flavor is suprisingly fresh considering the high alcohol percentage - although the aftertaste is a tad too sweet for my taste. I truid it along with chocolate, but I prefer it on its own.