Westvleteren Extra 8

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

Appearance: dark amber to brown color. Huge head, beige, dense and lasting. Aroma: semi-roasted, a lots of ripe-read fruits like raisins, figs and berries. A woody hit and vanilla. Vinous nose. Flavor: complex-multivariate start flavors, but all of them very balanced and harmonious. Toasted malts in an exact quantity, reminiscences of chocolate, caramel, dark raisins, figs and dried peaches. Nice mature and vinous touches, also, oporto. A bit of wood, tobaco and dried fruits. Lasting and semi-resinous hoppy note. Palate: medium body and velvety texture. Low carbonation. Remark: Great beer, complex, harmonious and wonderfully balanced.

Complex and great like it’s big brother. Maybe not the most beautiful looking brew but aroma and taste makes up for that by far. Allot of dark, dried fruits, raisins, lighter fresh fruits and cocoa.

I had the opertunity to try this at my beer tasting last weekend. Bottle is small, i believe 8 ounces, with no label. This one pours dark brown with a nice fluffy head. Flavor of fruit. This one is very smooth. Too bad it comes in such a small bottle, this stuff is great.

A: It pours a rich deep dark brown color with tons of carbonation. A head builds and recedes. There is no lacing, but some yummy sediment in the bottom of my Westvleteren Chalice. (Compliments of Regine) S: Wonderful aromas waft from the glass. Tons of deep dark fruits. Plum, raison and figs stand out front. They are matched with a wonderful sweetness. I detect brown sugar, caramel, and buttered toffee. The last time I smelled such wonderful aromas was a child at the county fair. T: It’s Westvleteren, and despite the detractors, this one is heavenly. This beer is so rich and creamy. The flavors are bold yet married wonderfully. The dark fruits are noted in the taste as is the buttered toffee. I also pick up hints of vanilla and a touch of dark cocoa. This beer is as good as advertised and worth every dollar I spend on it. M: Bold, Rich, and Creamy. A true Masterpiece. D: So drinkable. The cost prohibits drinking too many of these at a time, but I have been known to drink two in a sitting.

Thanks to dra19 for splitting that bottle last night. I believe it was an 03 bottle. Lots of fizz and fluffy head to the pour instantly. A lot of light fruits in the taste, but no alcohol. This would be THE summer beer if i could get it. Taste dissipates so quickly towards the end of the sample, leaving you wanting more. Very refreshing, light, and great.

One year old bottle. Lovely, mysterious glowing orange color goes through the glass. Head never fades no matter how slow you drink it, and you go slow. Amazingly smooth, with a very mellow, complex aroma of grains. Multi-layered flavor of grains, dark fruits, wines, and a perfect bitter finish. I’ll take this over the 12.

Pre 2000 Bottle from alexsdad06. Poured reddish/brown color with an average light brown head that lasted with good lacing. Very complex dark fruit, toffee and alcohol aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Full complex dark fruiit sweet flavor with solid fruity sweet finish and a very small bite of alcohol. Very good standout brew.

Bottle thanks to Cletus. Hot damn, this is a tasty beer. Pours deep muddy brown with a one-finger light tan head. Aromas are mild at first, but increasingly seductive and complex. Fruity malts and mild but unique bready yeast notes. Mild fruity caramel, apples, raisins, brown sugar, cereals, and very slight banana notes. Very sweet but never cloying. Just got better as I drank it. Palate was lovely. Soft and delicate but with a tangy bite. I want more.