Rochefort Trappistes 8

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

Review of a 1975 Rochefort at Kulminator in Antwerp. This changed my opinion about how long a beer can be safely aged; at 26 years old, it had completely transcended beer and had an almost Sherry-like quality, very complex with prune/plum/chocolate undertones and wasn’t overly alcohol tasting. Very little head (to be expected) and lots of chunks meant drinking this through my clenched teeth chunky bits filter. Was almost a religious experience tot he very end, so if you have the opportunity to enjoy a well-aged beer, I highly recommend it.

Pours an opaque bronze with a dense creamy looking head. It has the familiar Belgian smell, hinting at sweetness and raisins. A bold feeling of carbonation runs down the center of the tongue while a dry, almost white wine feeling slides down the edges of your tongue. As it warms up the oils come out and bring the flavor with it.

And another update: I tasted this side by side with St. Bernardus Prior 8. Rochefort is a lot less viscous in comparison, but I think this actually helps me identify the complex flavors a bit more easily. This sample had a lot of cigar-tobacco flavors which I liked quite a bit. Update: Elegant and restrained banana, clove, wood and grape aromas and flavors in the perfect smooth, creamy body. I rather like how nicely the esters are restained (banana can become too much). Hugely complex with an astonishingly long finish. Old: I have zero interest in being an iconoclast, but I simply could not find enough flavor in this beer to give it very high marks. It is rather nice and well balanced with acidic tartness providing a nice finish. Head lasts throughout. I fear that I am simply blind to the charms of the Belgians. Used to love them.

Rich brown belgian ale. Cloudy and supporting a tremondously rocky head. Rich sweet wonderful esters dominate the aroma with a background of chocolate and raisin notes. The flavour is big and full bodied and provides no hint of the dangerously high ABV. Dense esters and malt character lasts forever with just enough hops to keep the beer from being too sweet. Malt keeps going and going. Almost as good as the 10.

Pours a deep brown with a hint of red. Aroma reminiscent of fine cheese and stuffed mushrooms. Billowy white head. This beer fills the mouth and caresses it lovingly with a touch of alcohol and a ton of dark fruit notes. Inverted sugar that was carefully heated without scorching comes through too. This stuff is so smooth I could fall off my chair if only I had another. Cinnamon, apple, cherry, and a lot more...

It’s there with the 10 among the best beers in the world.

This Trappist beer is the best I have ever tasted. The dark colour is nice, nice head and a very good flavor.

Dark brown colour going a little bit on the red. Nice head when pourred that does not disapear too quickly. Roasted malts and higher alcohols are first impression. Very hearthy beer with a caramalized aftertaste. As usual with Trapist, a very fine beer. Re-rate 2004: I had to re-rate this beer when I had it at the Greenwich in Brussels. This beer was served at room temperature and the aroma and taste had more complexity to it as well as one of the most beautiful apricot/peachy feels to a beer that I had the chance to taste. Wow!!!