Trappistes Rochefort 10 - Brasserie de Rochefort

weizenbob

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This 330 ml bottle was purchased at Pere Marquette Expeditions in Ludington, MI for $7.19. The best by date of August 18, 2015 indicates that this is a fairly fresh bottle (at just over a year old). Don’t these monks know that the world is ending in 2012? The bottle was poured into a Duvel tulip glass and served at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A careful pour yielded two fingers of khaki-tinted head. Retention is moderate. Lacing clings to the glass with each sip. The color of the brew is dark brown, closing in on black.

The aroma blasts forth with loud decrees of raisin and licorice. It smells alcoholic, but nowhere close to what I’d expect for 11.3% ABV. It is rich for sure.

The flavor is pure decadence. Intense sweetness leads the charge with literal impressions of maple syrup. The aforementioned raisin and licorice manifest behind the sappy goodness, providing some nice depth to the proceedings. A mild vinegar sensation is detected but is not a detraction from the whole. Yes, it is alcoholic, but again, not nearly what you’d expect from 11.3% ABV. The alcohol also doesn’t have that candy sugar impression that I get from a lot of Belgian and Belgian-style ales. It is really quite a marvel.

The mouthfeel is full bodied, yet the viscosity is not terribly thick. The carbonation level is low to moderate. Though this is the easiest drinking beer of its strength that I’ve sampled, the alcohol does warm a lot on the way down the throat. That makes it a sure fire sipper, as a large swig would surely induce a gag reflex.

Overall this beer is a very positive experience. It is expensive and it’s not the easiest drinking brew at the bottle shop. But let’s face it; this isn’t the kind of beer that is going to be a daily driver. This isn’t even a dessert beer. It deserves to be enjoyed all by itself with a fresh palate to appreciate its subtle nuances. Dare I say that 330 ml (approximately 11.2 ounces) is even plenty big to split with a friend.

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The Two-Schlitz Scale: (reference my profile for an explanation)
This bottle cost roughly the same as eight bottles of Schlitz, and it was worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 23:55:39 | More by weizenbob

In_Control_Mike

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 22:29:43 | More by In_Control_Mike

sjanowiak

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -11.7%

05-23-2013 19:55:14 | More by sjanowiak

AaronBricking

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 05:01:20 | More by AaronBricking

bf7

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-23-2013 04:26:10 | More by bf7

Isotope

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 02:44:32 | More by Isotope

odms

West Virginia

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 03:23:54 | More by odms

dbrelsfo

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-22-2013 01:33:27 | More by dbrelsfo

schwemjw

Ohio

4.98/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: A lot of sediment floating in a dark murky brown beer. no head but a nice lacing on is left of the glass.

S: HUGE. sour dark fruit. yogurt, yeast and sourdough bread. There is a touch of fig, plum, raisins, tart cherry and banana in here. WOW this is awesome.

T: Tastes similar to how it smells. brown sugar, rum raisins, yogurt with a hint of alcohol on the end. Sweet fig, sourdough bread, under ripe cherry. A little tannin quality and has a bit of a port characteristic to it.

M:Dry long finish. medium bodied.

O: Refrshing, complex. There is so much going on here. There is no more i need to say, drink one! / 98

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 21:08:14 | More by schwemjw

VirginiaJeff1

Virginia

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-21-2013 19:16:51 | More by VirginiaJeff1

PlinyBeMiney

California

2.5/5  rDev -44.8%

05-21-2013 06:47:59 | More by PlinyBeMiney

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.65/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance – A super dark amber brown color, with a nice very light brown head that sticks around for a long time, and lots of lacing. A little sediment at the bottom.

Smell – A wonderful sweet scent, unlike anything I can describe. Maybe brown sugar, toffee, malt, and cherry with a touch of chocolate. But it’s very unique, and that description may not do it justice.

Taste – The taste is just as unique as the smell. Malty, with brown sugar, port, and a taste I find difficult to describe.

Mouthfeel – Perfectly carbonated, incredibly smooth, and the 11.3% abv is exceptionally well hidden.

Drinkability – Highly drinkable. I tried this alongside all the top quadruples (except the Westvleteren, which I’m saving for a head to head competition with the winner of the comparison), and found this one to be the best.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 04:30:27 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

Localdrinklax

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-21-2013 04:08:30 | More by Localdrinklax

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-21-2013 04:04:18 | More by CosmoHopHead

bobbyr5

Michigan

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-21-2013 01:58:27 | More by bobbyr5

ericwa1154

Texas

4/5  rDev -11.7%

05-20-2013 21:52:34 | More by ericwa1154

tipfortap

New York

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-20-2013 17:17:33 | More by tipfortap

kwkdmk

Louisiana

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-20-2013 12:04:31 | More by kwkdmk

ACY73

California

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-20-2013 05:10:34 | More by ACY73

megamass

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-20-2013 04:47:06 | More by megamass

jarrett123

New York

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-20-2013 04:18:33 | More by jarrett123

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-20-2013 03:23:48 | More by Kmat10

educorgan

Portugal

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-19-2013 23:19:28 | More by educorgan

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-19-2013 23:17:19 | More by drgonzo2k2

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-19-2013 23:09:47 | More by AOShabaz