Rochefort Trappistes 8

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

This beer has one of the best aromas I have found. It is unusually complex and pleasant. The first aroma is port. Next is malt with dark fruit sweetness with some pear. The alcohol is there as well, but compliments rather than overwhelms the other aromas. I also perceive light wheat and coriander. The beer is very dark brown and cloudy; thick with sediment. The foam lasts a long time in a quarter-inch layer on top of the beer. Flavor is dominated by sweet malt. Hop presence is minor. There is also fruit and some wine, as well as wild game. The only negative about this beer is the alcohol level. It is completely hidden in the flavor and aroma, but so strong that it has a desensitizing effect on my tongue. Excellent.

(sampled at Akkurat, Stockholm, Sweden) Dark brown and hazy with a small white head. Aroma of pears, toffee and alcohol. Very malty, clean, smooth flavour with sweet notes of toffee and coffee. Notes of spices and tropical fruit. Long spicy and sweet finish. World-class.

Huge, rocky, beige head atop a cloudy, reddish brown body with excellent lacing. Yeasty, dark fruit aroma followed by caramel malt and mild spiciness. Continually evolving taste; from the soft, chocolatey malt to the fruity, vinous, toffeeish flavors. Full bodied, well carbonated mouthfeel leading to a prolonged finish with an alcohol punch that creeps up on the unsuspecting.

A lovely Belgian Strong. Pours nicely with a thick, bubbly off-white head. The scent is excellent with plums and other fruits. The alcohol is well-hidden and the beer flows nicely over the tongue, tickling it with it's perfect carbonation. Oh, this beer simply defines the genre. Try it with some good belgian chocolate, it will amaze you! God, I love this beer, I've got to get some more.

Second update, 3rd tasting, with a 13/10/04 date on it (a 1999 bottle). Very murky brown. Cherries! 9.2% abv on the lable. Smooth. The alcohol is noticeable, yet is very smooth, not sharp. And it tastes and smells like a refined 3 Philosophers! Wanted to update on a second tasting of this brew. This is a 2000 vintage, so well aged. Same pour as below. Raisiny aroma, with yeasty undertones. Notes of carmel as well. Bold malty carmel-raisin flavor. I like this much more a second time around, and didn't notice any alcohol properties, which is impressive @ 9.3%. Totally awesome! Pours carmel brown with floaties and a perfect head. Wonderful aroma, dried friut, raisin, but gentle with an earthy note. Flavor is fruity, but a little too alcoholic to be perfiect. Notes of raisin and carmel Nicely finishes dry, yet fruity and pleasant. Overall, very good, but the alcohol detracts slightly. I may actually think the 6 is a bit more enjoyable.

Wow -- hugely surprised by this beer. Seemed to have a bit more hop presence than the 10, and therefore almost strangely refreshing for a dark, 9.2, beer. Would have many of these if I could afford to.

cloudy,murky rusty brown brew.Nose is not far off from the 10.A plethera of exotic fruits: dates, bananas,figs and pure heaven.Put all that in a blender add some alcohol and wow.Great body and a lucsious aftertaste that lingers.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with a tall frothy tan head and some lined lacing. Aroma is fragrant, floral, fruity hops, dark fruit (prune, raisin) and dark chocolate, caramel malt, tawny port, yeast (earth) and wood. Medium bitter port flavor, moderate acidity that dries, low sweetness, malty, earthy and wood notes. Dark bodied, warm and fizzy palate.