Westmalle Extra

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Style: Belgian Ale
Malle, Belgium

A hazy light orange or dark yellow (can't decide) beer with an enormous head. The aroma is fantastic and fresh of apples, yeast, coriander, and grass like notes of hops. The flavor is dominated by coriander, apples, lemongrass, and hops on a background I've problems to describe. The background is not sweet because of the, for a Belgian Ale, low ABV, but it's not sour either as You find in low alcohol beers and beers where all sugars have been fermented - the background is closer to being dry - without that word really hiting what I experience. In the end the beer really turns dry from the rather high content of bitter hops. A great beer to sample, but I must admit that I like Chimay Doree better, so Westmalle is not going to be my monestary - but I still have to sample Petit Orval to decide my destiny. I must send a great thank You to Jeppe (Bierkönig) for trading me this bottle - after all Jeppe's hardship to get it, he made it quite easy for me. Thanks, Jeppe.

(Bottle 33 cl) Pours a clear golden with a handsome and frothy off-white head leaving a broad curtain of lacework. Lightly spicy aroma. Light and somewhat watery body with spicy accents - white pepper perhaps. Dry - very dry - with a touch of yeast and diacetyl, perhaps a slightly chemical tang. Dry and lightly hoppy finish. Almost as a watered down Orval, but a pleasant session beer indeed. 131206

Bottled. Hazy blonde with rich, firm head. Fruity appley aroma with some malt and hay-like hops. Light bodied, but quite hoppy. Dryish and restrained with notes of grass and mashed apples. Despite it's light body, it is firm and it's striking dryness along with the resiny hoppiness and relatively low alcohol contents makes this a highly interesting session ale. And most certainly this is much superior than the low alcohol "monk only" versions of Chimay and Orval.

33 cL bottle, from trade with fonefan. Pours slight hazy yellow with a dense white head. Slight citrus fruity, light grassy/hoppy. Flavour is light hoppy, mild yeast note with a slight spice angle. Quite fresh hoppy with a light spice note into the finish. Solid bitterness and dry in the far finish.

Bottle. Light unclear medium to dark yellow color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate hoppy, grapefruit, moderate yeasty. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is watery, carbonation is soft. Very nice beer like a mix of a light tripel and a light orval, complex and easy to drink. ;o)) (190907)

Bottle. Weak teaish hop aroma. Clear golden colour. Big stable white head. The flavour is hoppy, grassy flavour hops. There is a hint of yeast as well. High carbonation.

Bottled. Hazy yellowish orange colour, small creamy beige head. Apricot in aroma along with malty hints. Dry apricot and some berries in flavour. Quite dry finish, weak berries in aftertaste.

Bottled. Hazy yellow coloured with a huge white head. Aroma of hops, pine needles and spices. Spicy flavour of ginger and coriande with notes of pine needles. Hoppy finish.