Westvleteren Extra 8

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

BB: 05-12-11 Ap - Rosey-brown with burgundy highlights, splotchy pattern in the head which was also noted in the Blond, small bead, persisitant head, fine lace. Ar - dried fruits - fig, plum, raisin, some warming alcohol notes and esters with an overall perceived smoothness. More vinous notes evident as the beer warms. T - subtle and well balanced flavours of sweeter fruits, soft malt, caramel, with a warming finish and a noticeable but smooth bitterness. M - Creamy, slightly prickley (ethanol), with a pleasant smoothness from start to finish. D - Very smooth and well balanced beer, a delight to drink, but not quite as overwhelming as I was expecting. Reminds me of a lot of the St Bernardus brunes, or a fresh Westmalle Dubbel.

330ml Bottle: Subdued aroma of malts, chocolate, raisins, light dark ripe fruit, caramel, and a hint of alcohol. Poured dark, milk-chocolaty brown in color with a medium-sized, dense, tan/light brown head that diminished but lasted throughout. Opaque. Sparkling. Flavor is very complex, and medium sweet. Tastes of wood, nuts, caramel, malt, slight spices (cinnamon?), dried ripe fruits, slight chocolate, slight hops, slight raisin, and some yeast. Light to medium body. Thin, chalky texture. Soft carbonation. Nutty, woody, chalky, lightly dry finish.

tried alongside the 12 and blonde dark brown pour, looked just like the 12 aroma is sweet, with dry white wine, serious alcohol, some thick malt, green apples, caramel, dark fruits flavor is very sweet in front, with strong alcohol in the back and some dark cherries in the finish, vinous and fruity fairly thick texture, super dry

Pours a cloudy deep reddish-brown with a creamy tan head that lasts and laces nicely. Lots of yeast chunks floating throughout. Aroma of toasty malt, ripe fruit,caramel, yeast and alcohol. Flavor of ripe plums and figs, toffee, yeast and a bit of alcohol. Nice slightly sour finish. Nicely carbonated, full, and smooth on the palate. Great brew!

Bottle courtesy of Monger. Thanks, James! I think Rochefort 8 whips this beer to a bleeding standstill. I was hoping for way more fruit, way more unique maltiness and maybe even that Rodenbach grapeiness that the 12 boasts. Instead, I got a beer that has the floury, subdued notes of a Rochefort 10 but without any of the alcohol burn to spice it up. I won’t say I was disappointed, because I am grateful to James for trading this and was very glad to finally drink it. However, I will have to re-taste it for sure... just to be certain.

Bottle from Pineypower, thanks Dean. Pours a deep dark mahogany brown that despite being very dark is light enough to view some floating yeast, and a huge white head that is tight bubbles on the outer edges and lots of large frothy bubbles on the inside. Intense and complex aroma starting off with lots of dark fruits, figs..black cherry..plum..prunes..figs, dates and nuts, biscut, candi sugar, burnt toffee, slight alcohol. Full mouthfeel with lots of lively carbonation and a lingering aftertaste. Flavor isn’t quite as intense as the aroma but all the components are there. Dark fruits(figs..prunes..plum), nuts, biscut, candi sugar, yeast, slight vanilla. Wow good stuff. I think the monks should teach the priests how to brew because there sure are a lot more priests in my area then monks.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown colour with tan head. Aroma is sweet of chocolate, malts, dark fruits. Flavor is rich of malts, spices, vanilla, chocolate, caramel. AN amazing beer.

A slightly less awesome version of Westvleteren 12, which makes it only really ridiculously awesome. Hazy brown color with a tan head. Aroma of dark fruits, sweet malt, and Belgian yeast. Flavor is sweet malt, candi sugar, dark fruits, Belgian yeast, and spices. Full-bodied and smooth on the palate. Similar warming sensation as the 12 but a little less pronounced. Incredible beer overall.