Trappist Westvleteren 8 (VIII) - Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.7/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Auburn colour, bergundy in some light. Vanilla, fruit, yeast and malts. Mouthwarming sizzling carbonation with light-medium texture. Spice and dried fruit, bannana with raisin, carmel . Bit acidic. Great by itself and as appetizer, but beware that the alcohol is there. Deserves its rich reputation.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2004 21:49:54 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.9/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It's time once again to add a little beer to this mug of mine. Since the first addition to the glass was Westvleteren 12, I've decided to keep it in the family and go with Westvleteren 8, the best dubbel on the planet according to those whom I respect and admire.

Pecan shell brown that takes on more of an auburn hue with orange highlights when backlit. The voluminous toast brown head appears frothysoft, but is deceptively firm with a supernatural persistence. This beer is simply beautiful in the glass. Lovely aroma of heavily toasted caramel, dried fruit (apples, figs) steeped in brandy, and spice (cinnamon, allspice). The nose is complex to be sure, although it could be a mite stronger.

Wonderful flavor; delicious. My first impression is that, although there are many flavors to be had in this bottle, the beer is unquestionably a seamless, individual entity. As I drink, I actually have a mental image of a sphere that has multiple and varied components, but is first and foremost a perfectly smooth whole. My first bottle of exceptional wine was an eye opening experience because it introduced me to the concept of what I like to call 'volume'. This beer has an superabundance of volume.

When a beer is this well-crafted, this flavorful, this complex and this nuanced, when it has a body that is at once full and silky smooth, each mouthful seems to completely fill the mouth, to have such a depth and breadth of flavor and body that it expands into three dimensions and push the boundaries of sensation. That, my friends, is the best way that I can devise to describe the loveliness that is Westvleteren 8.

The flavor profile is amazingly similar to the nose, but much more satisfying ('tis the taste, the actual imbibing that I crave). Sweet, dark caramel-toffee, brandy-soaked cherries, leather, good bourbon... combined with a grace and a lightness of touch that will make your very soul weep with pleasure.

Is Westvleteren 8 better than Westvleteren 12? My vote is an unqualified 'yes'. I could drink this every day for the rest of my life and not tire of its myriad charms. This is as soul satisfying and as life affirming as beer gets.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2004 21:29:32 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into my Aventinus goblet.

Very nice dark amber brown with, dare I say the biggest head I have ever seen on a beer! Good gawd, half the bottle and this thing was almost out of the goblet! Huge lively carbonation and streams of bubbles ripped through the glass, this looks like it has teeth!

The smell was very spicey at first, tingled the nose. Hints of dark fruit, pears, apples, cinnamon, figs, I could go on. The smel was tremendous and very inviting. A kind of candy sweetness almost to it as well. This is complex, am I ready, I don't know but I have to take a chance...down we gooo....

The taste cannot really be described. Pick your favorite belgian, and its not quite good enough t compare. Rich complex flavors( have I mentioned the word complex?) Spices and fruits are all over the spectrum and I don't even know where to begin. Pears, figs, cinnamon again are al over this. Cherry maybe, definatly apple. Sugars that I have nver tasted before. Yummy as hell. The taste is like nothing I have ever tasted in a beer before.

The feel on this is extrodinary. So alive, it literally is popping in your mouth as you sip. So smooth and the taste just lingers for what seems like an eternity. Simply wonderful. I am glad I picked this up, just at the least to see if it lived upto the hype, and it does! I cannot begin to imagine what the 12 must be like, the one in my fridge will let me know soon enough!

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2007 02:44:39 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to tendermorsel for sending me this bottle. My first Westvleteren beer and review #600.

A: The crack of the cap let loose a gusher all over my lap. Once I managed to get the beer into my goblet, the pour is a dark mahogany color with a fluffy tan head that sticks to the glass.

S: The nose is rich and fruity with notes of plums and raisins. There is plenty of malty and sugary sweetness and some Belgian yeast esters and a faints spice.

T: The flavor is chocolatey and sweet with hints of molasses and caramel. The raisins, plums, and figs provide fruitiness and along with the alcohol, a rum-like flavor.

M: The body is smooth and medium to full bodied with a creamy and smooth carbonation.

D: My first Westy didn't disappoint. I'm not always the biggest fan of dubbels, but this was quite complex and flavorful. I understand why it's so highly regarded.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 08:33:26 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark, chestnut brown with a very nice head and lacing throughout.

S: Lots going on here. Dark fruits are there, but the dominant scent seems to be that of fresh, sweet red/black grapes. Very nice and interesting. Quite a bit of Belgian yeast coming through.

T: Lots of red grapes, slightly-roasted doughy malt, yeast, dark fruits, a bit of earth, and some very nice all-around sweetness.

M: Complex and creamy, not too alcoholic. Perhaps a tad bit thin.

D: Amazing. Such a complex and wonderful beer. I actually think I like this better than the 12, at least while they are relatively fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 15:46:03 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a murky, dark brown body with a thin, creamy, beige-colored head.

Smell: Malty, fruit nose smelling of molasses blended with homemade caramel sauce, dark fruits, apple slices, and French vanilla.

Taste: Rich, sweet maltiness tasting of chocolate, caramel, and molasses. Maybe a sprinkle of brown sugar and dark candi sugar, too. Splash of fruity Beaujolais. Flavors of figs and golden raisins and Red Delicious apples. Pass the Baked Alaska!! A touch bready. Slight yeastiness. Rather warming alcohol presence, particularly on the finish. Finishes sweet and resoundingly fruity with a lingering red wine taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-high carbonation. Smooth, velvety mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Rich, punchy and packed with a fruitastic estery character, although it lacks the depth of the yellow-capped twelve or the drinkability of the green-capped blonde. Still recommended, though.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2008 03:17:25 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a dark amber color with a pancake batter head that drapes sheets of lace

Smell: Very different aromatics from this one - phenolic scent of caramelized apple, rum-soaked raisins, french toast with vanilla sugar, honey and almonds

Taste: Opens with a rum-soaked raisin and caramel flavor with budding vanilla flavors by mid-palate; Amaretto, as well; after the swallow, the caramel, creme brulee takes over and additional alcohol appears on the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; very smooth

Drinkability: While very similar to its boozy cousin, this one is less sweet and less alcoholic and, in my opinion, much more drinkable

Thanks, UncleJimbo, for the long-awaited experience

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2007 03:33:30 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.24/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to wethorseblanket for sharing this one at jmgrub's tasting.

Cap is dated 02.12.07.

Pours a murky dark brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down either. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, grape juice, and lots of dark fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with a fruity flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with a great smell and some really tasty flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:09:35 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a dark brown beer with a huge head with excellent retention. Aroma is quite sweet with some great mix of spice and malts. Taste is sweet with what seems like a mix between candi sugar and plum with some added roastiness. Great carbonation and alcohol is very subtle. Overall, this is way better Westmalle Dubbel and probably one of the Belgian Ale I appreciated the most.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2004 14:51:49 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.8/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The pleasure to enjoy this magical beer at the Cambrinus Restaurant in Brugge in complement to a fine late lunch is as welcome in my memory bank as profound as any I have had in all my beer drinking days.

As the beer pours into the challice, the carbonation errupts and threatens to overtak the rim. But alas, it settles into a creamy and rocky set of tightly and loosely knit foam with tremendous staying power and intricate lace to boot. The beer underneath is a dark garnet with lavender highlights carrying a modest yeasty haze. The beer just exudes prowessness.

Delicate and succulent aromas provide a candied fruit scent of powdered sugar, ripe grape, light sherry wines, cahsews, honey, mild chocolate and toast. A mild spicy note that seems somewhat of wine, wood, dried orange peel, and peppercorn come to life just as the first sip is taken.

The taste envelops the mouth, coating it with the taste of powdered sugar, dry malt, red wine, candied grapes, nuts, berries, and the background note of dried pitted fruits like dates and figs. Very well balanced with dry malt tannin, spicy peppercorn, and slight citrus- this beer captures wave after wave of flavor combination with exquisit balance and finesse.

Soft and expansive textures seem to explode in the mouth giving an airy robustness that's somewhat firm and whimsical at the same time. But the beer's ultimate dry and powdery warmth causes it to disolve on the tongue just like cotton candy, and when the beer finishes there's nothing there to swallow- only an impression of dry fruit and spice that lingers softly in aftertaste but easy on the palate and stomach.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 19:12:24 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Finally a chance to get my hands on a Westy and well not as awed as many others by this beer.Pours a deep brown almost black color with a fizzy head that didnt stick around to long,aroma of spiced apples and quite yeasty.Very raisiny and somewhat spicey up front, with a light medicinal note as it warms along with some alcohol tones.I highly anticipated this beer and was left a little dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2004 00:57:28 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The Westvleteren 8 pours from the bottle a beautiful stream of crystal-clear orange-amber. In the glass it appears darker as the volume of liquid increases, and it's mounting head of creamy, yellowed-paper foam rises. The head retention is excellent and it leaves a fortress of creamy lace about the glass. Carefully poured it remains clear, and it's a beautiful glass of beer with a dark-crimson-accented copper/chestnut body that reveals plumes of streaming bubbles within, and gleaming crimson, orange, and gold highlights towards the base of the goblet.

The nose is sweet and caramelish, with undercurrents of dark-skinned fruits (some dried, some fresh) and delicate spice; as well as the occassional waft of light alcohol.

In the mouth, it's light bodied with a lively zest due to it's effervescent, natural carbonation. As it warms, however, it becomes cottony soft and smooth across the palate; accentuating its maltiness and rounding it greatly.

Spice and caramel appear first on the palate, and leave last... but in between there's a wide variety of sugary sweet, spicy, and fruity flavors that appear. Sweet sugar-cookie dough that's been drizzled with caramel comes to mind first. Additionally, dark fruit skins quickly appear upfront and become more fruity and juicy (and even slightly vinous towards the end...) as it progresses across the palate, joined by a rising spiciness and balancing bitterness. A splash of alcohol is right on the tail (but not until you've had half a glass), and it finishes dry but with lingering doughy-caramel malt and sublime, peppery spice that fades to a muddy-spicy-dark fruit linger.

Superb!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2005 22:26:56 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Body is a perfect ruddy brown, eggplantish, edging on violet, lovely, rich and full color, and the head is large, slowly to simmer down, off-whitish.

Aroma : good Lord, it's perfect, rich and raisiny, strong, spicy, very lively, ...what are they mixing in those monasteries? It's a magical bouquet, is what I say!Oh,to sniff it anew is another pleasure, and now, I can't hold back, it's time to drink the damned thing!

OHMYGOD!!!
I've raved about the works of the brothers of St. Sixtus before, but GOOD GOD JESUS!!! This is mystifying, uplifting, magical, amazing! Can I be more specific? No...Energizing is the best adjective, the beer is so lively it makes everything it comes in contact with livelier!

This apparently belongs to the style "Belgian Abbey Dubbel", but on consuming 1/2 of one small bottle, I know now that this beer puts all the others to shame! There is fruit, and dazzling hops, and malt, and tantalizing texture, but the thing that sets this apart, if there is such a thing, is unknowable.
I had a Belgian Abbey Dubbel tonight from a very reputable source, and it was nice, but not magical.
This ..this ...it transports ones senses to new realms, higher planes of appreciation! If I'm getting lofty, forgive me, please, but know that every word is true..I don't know how they do what they do, but they do! This is the ultimate!
I'm joining the cloister, too, if means getting close to beer this fine and lovely!
Here's to all the monks, toiling for our sins, and crafting this exceptional, gorgeous, transcendental work!

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2003 01:04:50 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got a Westy 8. Served in a Chimay goblet (at least its a Trappist glass). Thick fine brown head. The head was great when I poured it and has lasted as I drink. The head leaves a nice lacing on the glass. The aroma is amazing. That great smell of Belgian yeast, like on the air. The carbonation is steady with tiny bubbles all over the outside of the glass. The mouthfeel is smooth, I could drink 10 of these in no time at all. The flavor is sweet and yeasty. It is a great example of a style that I am not usually thrilled with, dubbels. I really like this beer a lot. Its truly one of the great beers of the world.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 02:24:07 | More by drabmuh

MasterSki

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review #100 - to celebrate I opened a Westy 8 that has a best before date of August 28th, 1999 - meaning it was likely bottled in 1996. I've kept in mind the ridiculous age on this brew (it's the oldest thing I've ever had) and I'll likely append to the review after I drink a fresh one. Served in a goblet.

A - Good foam for such an old brew! One-finger of light tan head that dissipates fairly quickly and leaves a tiny bit of lace. The beer itself is a murky brown color with a tinge of orange. Surprisingly free of solids.

S - Wow! This is so complex that I don't even know where to start. Apples, cherries, grapes, plums, raisins - very fruity, but also vinous with a white wine element to it. There's still a good malt backbone with caramel flavors in it. It is unbelievable that a Dubbel smells this good after so long.

T - The malt and caramel flavors come out more in the taste, but there's still a lot of fruit juice characteristics present - grapes, plums, and raisins to be specific. There's also a smoky/woody tinge to the taste that wasn't present in the smell.

M - Very smooth, with a good medium-bodied viscosity. Surprisingly there is still a little carbonation tingle present after all these years. Leaves a slightly sticky feeling after swallowing.

D - This beer was very, very, sweet and the flavor was extremely intense. While it otherwise didn't have anything to detract from its drinkability (carbonation was fine, not too boozy, etc.) the experience was so exhausting that I think having more than one of these would be utterly ridiculous. I'd also have incredible guilt over consuming more than one bottle.

I was quite worried when I decided to open this - it could easily have been utterly foul - but this beer has aged remarkably well. I suspect it'd score a little better earlier in its life (particularly in the appearance and mouthfeel categories), but I'm very glad to have been lucky enough to score such an ancient bottle - gives me hope for the 1980s Westy ABT and Westy 6 I have kicking around.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 01:55:43 | More by MasterSki

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.38/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampled March 2004
A bready, yeasty aroma emanates from my glass as I pour this murky dark brown beer. It is topped by a thin light brown head. The aroma has a typically Belgian spicy (pepper), aroma with a hint of alcohol, and dark fruit (raisin being dominant). There is a hint of rum in the nose as well. The taste is dry, dusty and spicy. The fruit character is almost non-existant. As the beer warms up, a bit of sweetness becomes apparent. This beer seems very musty and dusty, for some reason. Quite complex, with some interesting spiciness that is all over the place; notes of pepper, clove, cummin, cardamom, and all spice. I actually like this quite a bit, though it really needs to be served on the warm side of cool to really shined.

Sampled Spring 2001
The offering smelled of dark candied malt accompanied by an appropriately dark brown color. It tasted quite good, sweetish with complex notes of malt and caramel. There was an intricate aftertaste that was complemented by a bitterness that was not from hops, but coated all 360° of the back of my mouth. The bottle, in a tasteful way that ran counter to modern commercial methods, was completely bare except for the bottle cap, which designated the brewery and the title 8°.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2003 17:33:37 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this one from tpd975, Cheers Greg!

Pours chestnut with 3+ fingers of tan head. Very good lacing & good head retention

S: Apple skins & orchard fruits

T: Apple skins, dryness, cinnamon, a touch of leather & green apples up front. This becomes very warming once this approaches warmer temperature, along slight charred grains, more leather & dryness & some pears as well. Finishes dry with fruittyness

MF: Light. spritzy (maybe this is fairly young bottle?) & very warming

Drinks easy enough, this must be a younger, bottle. I personally was too paranoid to sit on this bottle for too long, if you have a safe cellar. (me, I have 2 kids under 9) then age this to your hearts content. This is not close to my favorite dubbel, feel very fortunate to get to try it though

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2008 04:02:22 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Blue 8 cap dated "19.11.13", if this is the best by date, 3 years from bottling, it's a little over a year old. Fond memories drinking this many years ago at Delilahs. Thanks Denise for this bottle straight from Belgium!

Into a Moinette chalice, it pours a tawny dark amber, crystal clear with rapid carbonation visible at first. Lasting veil of velvety foam, that remains for the duration of the glass.

Vinous aroma, dried fruit sweetness, yeasty doughiness.

Extremely creamy feel, medium bodied, fine carbonation. Some oxidation notes, rather bitter and oddly metallic. Some nutty malt flavors linger, bitter walnut and grassy herbs. Taste seems a bit of a letdown from what I remember years ago. Very dry and attenuated, with an overt alcohol presence. Probably won't seek out again unless it's known to be very fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 01:25:33 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours hazy brown with a thin tan head.

The smell is powerful - I could smell it at some distance away. Fruity (peaches?) and brandy-like. Caramel/toffee comes through strongly.

The taste is complex - mix of fruits - from peaches to dark fruits. Caramel/toffee, leaning towards chocolatey maltiness. Some spicy/woody/nutty notes blend in well. Brandy-ish. Finishes with a spicy, woody dryness. Nicely textured.

Easy to drink, esp. for abv level. Quite a bit to savor and contemplate with each sip. A great brew (though I'm not sure that it hits third highest, IMO).

Thanks to nacir69 for ascertaining this classic, hard-to-find brew for me!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2007 16:15:13 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Westvleteren chalice. It appears brown with red highlights and an off-white head.

Smells a bit like chocolate graham cracker and malted milk balls (a possible hint of oxidation maybe as it's not far from cardboard) with a touch of funk. Very biscuity and nutty like a brown ale at times, interesting. Not what I expected, but not out of line for the style.

The initial flavor is of smooth Belgian chocolate with candied dates. There seems to be a sprtiz of sweet cherry and herbal hops at the end, while the finish is slightly sweet with notes of caramel and toffee.The flavors are subtle like a great English bitter and while the flavor is sweet, it's well balanced and never cloying.

The body is medium and the carbonation is light, but just enough. Overall, it's very drinkable. It just strikes me as a very well made beer. If it weren't so damned rare it'd be easy to sit down and drain a few of these bottles. I think I can settle for Rochefort 8, however. I'd like to taste those head to head.

Hype factor: Doesn't live up to it in my book, but for me, hyped beers rarely do. Maybe one of the most drinkable Belgian's I've had, and easily the best dubbels I've had. I just had the Allagash dubbel a few days ago, and while a very nice beer, I found it a bit lighter and not quite as pleasing. I must say, however, I don't think with is worthy of being considered a top 10 in the world beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 02:55:59 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First review, so here goes...

Serving: Clean Three Philosopher's chalice. Bottle comes from a case of Westy (6, 8 and 12) purchased for Father's Day. Bottle was refrigerated prior to opening and allowed to warm to room temperature prior to enjoying.

Appearance: Robust dark brown ale with visible yeast and sediment throughout.

Smell: Incredible smell, so many different flavors mixing together.

Taste: Powerful taste, the alcohol is just under the surface but evident.

Mouthfeel: Clearly there is a party in my mouth and everyone's invited.

Drinkability: High alcohol inhibits session drinkability, but the brew is delicious (not as good as the 12, but close).

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2005 01:51:18 | More by akorsak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On to the 8.

Pours a dark clear brown with a thin creme head. Nose is Chalky malts. Flavor is malty thick. Sugar tones are there as well. Feel is fairly vibrant on carbonation (much more than the 12) and the liquid is smooth. This is a nice beer, but I think I have come to the decision that the Westy brews are a class of their own. Unique and unlike anything else around. I am glad to have been able to try them, but they are a bit too unusual...even for my palate.

P.S. I appreciated this one more than the 12.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2009 22:54:40 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.47/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a dark, hazy chestnut color with a nice fluffy head.

S: Very fruity, mix of dark and lighter fruits, sugary sweet

T: Fresh fruits such as apple, pears, grapes, figs. Also has a feel light overripe fruits. Caramel and sugary sweetness

M: Well carbonated and nice body

O: Complex and delicious beer all the wy around. World class and phenom dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 17:10:07 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Impressive head that lasts a very long time. Chunky lace on the glass. Dark, dark brown color. Very cloudy.

Strong malty presence without any sweetness.

Sweet with an excellent light hop balance. Very easy to drink. Deceptive on the alcohol--it's well hidden. Rich body but it also has a very high level of carbonation.

This is a very easy-to-drink Trappist beer. I prefer it to the 12.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 03:16:53 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.85/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My 500th review, so I thought I would make it special.

Thanks goes to BitterBill on this one, for a Merry Christmas.

Used a chalice for this one, as it deserves. Pours a very dark clear amber color, nice carbonation, nice off-white almost 2 finger head which lasts quite awhile, leaves some nice islands and sticky lacing. The nose is of sweet malts, yeast, grapes, figs, raisins, slight caramel. The taste is absolutely delicious of malts/yeast, and grapes. Very tangy, a nice touch of fizzy on the tongue as it goes down, pretty carbonated. Medium body, a very complex brew. Very drinkable, ABV hidden very well, not noticeable in the nose or taste for that matter. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2007 02:53:27 | More by Wasatch