Westvleteren Extra 8

Brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Westvleteren, Belgium

It poured a dark liquid with some tones of red and brown and a small foam that left a little lacing. There was also some yeast in the liquid. The aroma was strong with chocolate, red berries, coffey and spices. Complex and very nice. The first sip was very fizzy. So fizzy in fact that I didn’t sense any flavor at all. After waiting a bit and let the fizzyness reside a bit I started to get a better grasp of the beer and it improved allot. It had a spicey flavor with some chocolate, red berries, nuts, orange peels and dried fruit. It also had a bite to it that I actually enjoyed, normally that would have been a bad thing but in this beer it really worked.

Bottle. Ap: Nice mahogny color with a long lasting off white head. Ar: Date, chocolate, appe (fruity + sour alcohol thing, maybe cognac?) Fla: Vinous. Some kind of british hop bitterness. Lots of fruit and chocolate. Complex but yet easy to drink. Ov: As good as Westvleteren 12.

I was actually really disappointed here, I was hoping for a more drinkable version of the 12, and the aroma matched well with the nutty sweetness, however the flavor had a lot of breadiness to it, which isn’t bad, but just doesn’t match the same caramely sweet raisin notes that I get from the 12.

Sampled at the café across the abbey, served assumably at the "correct" temperature. Great taste and aroma, maybe a little too chilled to really bring out the right smells. Tastes great, smooth and good mouthfeel.

Dark nut brown with white head. Very filling and complex. Dark fruits- a bit sweetness. The finish is long lasting and pleasant. Compared to the 12, this needs the "last punch". Almost as good

First thing that popped into my mind when I smelled this: Bubble Yum...grape flavour. Had tasting notes of grape gum also. Hints of candied fruit, apples peel and raisins, Christmas cake, spiced figs, and...more grape. The mouthfeel was so balanced and quite smooth. I could not detect any alcohol on my tongue but could feel it’s fuzzy presence in my head once I had finished this. A truly complex brew that begged for me to drink it again so I could continue to dissect it and take it apart in my head. Lots of things happening here. Did I mention the finish? Too much to really get into but let’s just say that the finish alone was a bit of a metaphysical experience. Monkdom beckons me.

2008 bottle via trade with ygtbsm94. Pours a murky dark brown color with a huge rocky khali head that had good retention and lacing. The aroma was moderate in strength with cola, apples, nuts and a bit of bread. The flavor is similar to the aroma with dark fruits and caramel taking center stage, followed by nuts and yeast. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. The finish is long with lingering raisins. Overall: The palate is awesome, only the good brothers at st sixtus can concoct this type of palate and I love it. The taste of the 8 is a bit milder than the 12, but otherwise quite nice. Thanks brad, this rocks.

2008 Bottle - Thanks Sam! - Pours organy brown with a nice off white head...aroma is sweet fruity malt, some dough, grape must...flavour is similar, a little bit spicy, a little bitter, nice balance with a boozy finish, very nice!