Trappist Achel 8° Blond - Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse

kaseydad

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Duvel glass pour and I am met with foam plus a little beer at the bottom. HUGE foamy head that looks like a french vanilla float. Had to try three times to get all the beer into the glass at once. Underneath all that foam is a cloudy amber colored ale. The aroma is grassy, lemon smell with some apple and other fruits. Some minor malt as well. Great tasting with some spicy pepper like qualities up front followed by a yeast-grainy feel and some very light fruit (lemon peel) at the end of the sip. Slightly sour. Big carbonation and dries very quickly in the mouth. Overall I feel this is a very nice Tripel and obviously as authentic as it can get. Not as fruity or sweet as other Tripels which is a nice change. Not sure I could do more than a small bottle though as it does numb the tastebuds after a while.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 20:21:12 | More by kaseydad

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear pale yellow color with a HUGE 4 inch stark white head. The head overflowed when I poured the beer and there are super aggressive carbonation bubbles in this one. The head settles down into a mountainous pillow of foam on the top of the beer. Random spotting of lacing on the glass as the head settles too. Smells of Belgian yeast, spices, mild fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is very yeast forward with spices, lemongrass/citrus, and some malt on the finish. Slightly bitter citrus zest flavors on the palate after each sip. Feel is extremely carbonated to the point where is detracts from the overall experience in my opinion. Overall, this is a good tripel from this Trappist brewery and I am glad I got a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 03:03:39 | More by UCLABrewN84

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Most impressive peak of white head I've ever seen, four fingers, but it keeps growing. This all sits atop a beautiful yellow grain nectar shooting furious bubbles skyward through the haze...

Smells of buttery, bready yeast, and citrus

Bitter hops in the head foam, sweet, citrus and, strawberry on the tongue with a little aftertaste of ripe apricot. Alcohol burn is present as well.

The carbonation is ferocious, and the brew yields a medium body, a tad chewy with straying capabilities

Overall quite the treat, one of the most intense blonds I've ever tasted, and probably one of the tastiest as well. Wish it were cheaper, but at the same time, I wish they all were.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 22:41:24 | More by JoeAmerican77

Meerkey

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: thick, foamy white head. lots of bubbles. bright, rich copper.

S: fruit and citrus. spices. grain.

T: Strong spices. Creamy, lots of fruit, not as much citrus as in the smell. Delicious.

M: Creamy and carbonated. Smooth and clean. Lingering taste.

O: Not my favorite tripel, but a very good one. Definitely recommend.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 22:25:52 | More by Meerkey

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle at Gollem Proeflokaal in Amsterdam. From notes.

A - Pours with a mountainous head of white. Hazy blonde colour. Insanely fluffy white head leaves rediculous and probably best lacing I've ever seen all the way around the glass.

S - Hops, yeast, and a slight sugary note. Different from the average tripel due to the hop character, whose oils mix well with the yeast and candi sugar I assume they use.

T - Not too hoppy but obvious it's there. Lovely fruity blonde ale with huge flavours. Lot's of honey and floral notes with the sweetness and sugar notes. Yeasty notes, a little bit of spice, and more hops.

M - Mild carbonation. Medium body. Hoppy, but not bitter finish. Slightly dry.

O/D - Lovely beer. Probably underrated blonde ale. No alcohol noticable, flavourful, refreshing, and hoppy. Alot of characteristics I like and they've presented it flawlessly.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 10:52:44 | More by tbeckett

TheJollyHop

California

3.55/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured at 60-65F into a goblet.

Very large white, fluffy head is produced with a very gentle pour; clear, copper/yellow body. Head lasts a couple of minutes while leaving behind copious amounts of sticky foam on the glass.

Sweet and fragrant herbal aroma emanates; yeasty phenols. candi sugar, lemon citrus/lemongrass, buttered brioche, and a hint of pepper.

Taste is lemon citrus upfront, Belgian biscuits in the mid palate, cloves, well integrated alcohol, slightly astringent (tea bag) finish.

The mouth feel is highly carbonated, and relatively light bodied. Lively bubbles and slightly tongue coating. The excessive carbonation amplifies the bitterness more than it should.

Balance is slanted towards an astringent, unpleasant bitterness. Flavors are somewhat muted and thus slightly lackluster; some additional sweetness or a less astringent finish would help this Tripel incarnation considerably.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 02:18:56 | More by TheJollyHop

trappistlover

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(11.2oz bottle). Pours clear golden color with massive white head. Active carbonation and nice lacing. Aroma is grass, light grape or melon, some hops. Taste is sweet malt with some hop bitterness. Light bodied with creamy texture. Dry, slightly bitter finish. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 17:17:51 | More by trappistlover

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear, golden body is highly effervescent, literally boiling from the streams of upraising bubbles, topped by ever-lasting rocky white head that gets dimply and clumpy as it slowly retreats, leaving thick patches of lace hanging on the walls. The head never fades off completely and sets to a thick, firm cover instead. Aroma is prominent orange-like esters and clove-like, mildly spicy phenols, light pils-malt sweetness and a tinge of alcohol. The medium-light bodied beer is airy on the palate although the high alcohol content adds creamy sensation. Flavor is an interplay of spicy, peppery phenols with esters of orange. High carbonation, attenuation and bitterness that seems more phenol rather than hop-derived lend dry finish with lingering yeasty, spicy aftertaste. A nearly flawless triple without any alcohol warmth, as it should be. (330 ml, BB date reads 20. May 2011 indicating full maturity at the time of the review, into Achel chalice)

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 23:16:34 | More by crnipeter

bark

Sweden

3.73/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer builds a gigantic white compact head when poured into the glass. The colour is gold with a tint of orange; the liquid is clear. When the firm head slowly sinks, it leaves massive amounts of lacing.

The sweet smell got some yeasty notes, but the fruity esters dominate: Green and ripe bananas, apples, pears. Some alcohol and a light bitterness. As clean as it should be.

The taste is sweet and clean with a dry fruity flavour. Some mild yeast, quite a lot of bananas and pineapples. Clean and elegant flavours with some warming alcohol. The aftertaste is quite mild with hints of tea and sandal wood.

The carbonation is strong with lots of sharp short-lasting bubbles. The liquid is a bit dry.

A very clean tripel. Perhaps a bit too reserved for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 18:06:13 | More by bark

medic25

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Duvel tulip; clean golden color with a huge, cloud-like head lingered throughout the whole beer. Aroma is a little spicy, ,but primarily slightly hoppy. Taste is a nice combination of the sweet Belgian spiciness I'd expect, along with a little more bitterness than I'm used to in a tripel. The flavor lingers a little after finishing a swig; overall a very tasty tripel.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 02:12:20 | More by medic25

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle. A bit heavy on the 'Trappist' advertising, I'd say.

This beer pours a cloudy medium straw colour, with a teeming, overflowing, counter-wiping amount of thin foamy, rocky off-white head, which settles slowly, leaving a mess of scattered lace detritus around the glass. It smells of mild spicy yeast, pale malt, and citrus bitterness. The taste is sweet, almost syrupy, bready malt, followed by some bittersweet orchard fruitiness - lemon, mostly, and floral, bitter hops. The carbonation is quite petered out, the body medium weight, and decently smooth. It finishes clean, with well-balanced fruit malt tinged by a slight booziness.

A more than decent tripel, the expected alcohol edge dulled to a mere echo. Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 00:40:50 | More by biboergosum

atlason

New York

4.45/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Out of control head with extravagant light foam turning into suggestive and sensual lacing. Pours a pale amber with slight haze.

Very fresh smell with hints of fresh hay and very weak citrus.

Creamy and doughy belgian malt character. More on malty side compared to Orval. Orange peel.

Aftertaste of bitter hops. Slightly cloying.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 02:54:38 | More by atlason

VMWhelan

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle into a Stella Artois chalice.

Huge head on this one: it foamed out of the bottle a bit before I poured it and filled up half the glass at first, slowly going down, leaving an airy froth on top for a while. The ale itself is a nice hazy orange.

Smell is mostly sweet and malty with some spice to it; honey, apple, banana, clove, pepper.

Taste is fruity at first, getting a lot of apple and pear, then yeast/bread, followed by the clove and pepper. Not getting as much banana as expected but it is there.

Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Coats the mouth and leaves it a little dry. Alcohol presence is barely noticeable, but moreso than other tripels I've had.

Drinkability is good. I'm pretty partial to tripels and this one was a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 02:07:22 | More by VMWhelan

Nesued

South Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The 11.2oz Achel has been quietly sitting in my beer closet for going on over 4 years now. Let's see if this blond has matured nicely, or if she's the same hottie that I remember. Either way, I see this as a win-win situation.

Appearance - Big head on this tripel. Creamy and dense. I've come to see this as a strong character trait on every Trappist offering I've enjoyed. The head slowly recedes down to a very noticeable half-finger head. The lacing is impressive. The color is a rich amber golden with a yeast haze present. Gotta love those bottle-conditioned offerings.

Smell - As I was pouring it the aroma of this blond caressed my nose. Inviting malts, some sweetness. The typical profile of a Trappist ale yeast used in the creation of this heavenly brew. Some clove notes along with a nice bready aroma.

Taste - Fruits and malt mixed with a bready backbone. This is not an overbearing Tripel. The flavors are muted and you have to find them, rather than they finding you. Lovely.

Mouthfeel - medium to full on the tongue. The carbonation remains a prime mover for this offering and does it well.

Overall - This is no St. Bernardous or Goulden Carolus. This is very mild and surprisingly drinkable. Nice legs on this blond, but I've had better.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 00:31:37 | More by Nesued

dasenebler

Maine

3.8/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl, best before 11/15/2012.

Pours a lightly hazy, rich gold with a huge, large-bubbled white head. Dissipates to a nice, creamy layer.

The aroma is yeasty and fruity, though there's a slightly off, possibly oxidized character, reminiscent of minerals and cardboard.

The flavor is excellent and reminds me a lot of Duvel. The alcohol makes it's presence felt, but there's a lot of delicious spiciness and golden candy-caramel flavors, and also a wine-like, white grapeskin component that is unique. Finishes very swift and clean, with moderate bitterness. Touch sweet overall though. Mouthfeel is fluffy and highly carbonated.

Nice Belgian blonde here. Clean up the aroma, and this would be excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 23:13:31 | More by dasenebler

rarbring

Sweden

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A slightly hazy brass colored brew, lively bubbles and a high white head that settles slowly leaving good lacing. Some curtains.

The smell is fruity, pears, mango, pineapple, sour milk, some faint earth tones and yeast.

Initially sweet, syrup, then ripe apples and lemons, spicy, pepper, cardamom, cloves, sour cream, bitter grape-fruit zest.

Medium high carbonation, lively very small bubbles, foamy and soft, a good body, a dry almost coarse finish.

A good tripel, well balanced, nice with strong cheese.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 13:47:46 | More by rarbring

cpmichael

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Stone snifter. Bottle said 19/06/10 on it.

A: Pours a light peach-like color, with a medium white foamy head on the glass.

S: Has a very strong fruity complexity to it. Lemon and pear seem most apparent to me, with some spices and the belgian yeast smell rounding out the end.

T: The front end of this beer has a mild malty characteristic, which eventually leads its way to the fruity backend of the beer. Notes of lemon and pear, which were apparent in the nose show themselves here.

M/D This is a pretty balanced beer, with a more mild carbonation. The beer itself is really easy to drink and has a dry finish to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 15:18:29 | More by cpmichael

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into tulip; 1-finger ecru-white head, creamy in appearance, body is goldenrod, transparent in one glass and translucent in another (pouring technique?). Clings in elegant lacing.

Nose is pungent, yeast and some booze, (faint urine?).

Flavor is quite pleasant, peach, but with a nice dry finish and the faintest trace of hops for balance.

Mouthfeel is nice; carbonation stops just short of creamy, slightly coarse.

A proper Belgian tripel, easily drinkable; limited only by ABV and price.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 03:45:24 | More by zaphodchak

hardy008

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy gold with a large foamy white head with nice lacing and retention. The aroma is phenolic, with spice, Belgian yeast, and pale malt.

The taste is just like the aroma. Phenolic flavor with spice, Belgian yeast, and pale malt. The beer has a nice sweet flavor, is a little bit peppery, and the finish is sweet.

Medium bodied, well carbonated, and smooth. This is a nice, easy drinking Tripel, which I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 04:11:25 | More by hardy008

Mjoepp

Sweden

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy golden liquid, huge white head which dissolved quickly.

S: Honey, berries, notes of yeast, warm feeling from alcohol.

T: Sweet. Honey and some spices are dominating. Aftertaste is somewhat bitter, nice hop character. Esters can also be noted.

Overall: Nice trappist. One of the easiest to drink among the trappist beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 20:15:27 | More by Mjoepp

dgilks

Australia

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Relatively clear golden colour with a thick, long lasting white head.

Nice, sweet, spicy aroma with notes of pear and clove.

Sweet malt plays against a prominent peppery, clove spice note. Moderate bitterness is interesting.

Medium body with moderate carbonation settling to a silky smooth mouthfeel.

A delicious Trappist ale. Much nicer than the Bruin.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 07:36:45 | More by dgilks

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Clear sparkling orangy golden in colour this has a large billowing pillow-like head and an enticing candy sugar smell.

Some slight carbonation and medium bodied it tastes of honey spiced pear with an ever so slight sappy quality. Maybe a trace of banana too.

Easy to drink but more potent than expected. Great balance. Very fine. Very much underrated here. One of the best tripels I can remember.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 21:31:56 | More by Zimbo

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 Oz. bottle. Poured into my Duvel Tulip.

Appearance: Cloudy golden yellow with an amazing, big, billowy head that last all the way through the beer, incredible lacing too which sticks all over the glass. This is the only beer I've ever had which could rival Duvel in appearance. The best looking Tripel I've ever seen.

Smell: As expected for the style. Citrus, spice, and a little sweetness.

Taste: The sweetness is very soft on the front end for a tripel; the bitter hoppy finish is excellent. The bitter notes are more dominant that the sweet ones in this beer, but it remains flavorful with a nice level of spiciness.

Drinkability: Even at 8% ABV, this is a very smooth and drinkable beer.

Achel does an incredible job crafting their beers, yet another solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 16:58:19 | More by BobZ

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This rounds out the list of Trappist breweries for me. Took a surprisingly long time, mostly due to a lack of effort.

Clear light golden orange with a dense, white head with excellent retention and lacing, this looks really good. The head isn't the densest I've seen.

The nose is rather excellent. Moderate phenols are noticeable right away, but this is a classic tripel. Saaz hops, moderately grassy and lemony, play off a delicate malt base, one that has a touch of sugar, pilsner and doughy malts and a little honey. Wisps of cotton candy are also present. Alcohol is pretty well hidden, and despite my description, this smells rather dry. Yeast character is moderate, present mostly as a delicate spiciness with white pepper and a little clove. Wonderful stuff.

The palate opens mildly sweet, almost in an artificial, aspartame kind of way. Sharp but also light, there's some candy sugar and a little bit of dough to go with it. Hops are reserved, there's a moderate flavor hop character here with some grassy and lemony character and a firm but gentle bitterness on the finish. Spice and yeast esters are present on the mid-palate and linger into the finish, working quite well with the bitterness. The initial sweetness, while distracting, is something I get used to quite easily. Drying on the finish, this beer is medium-light in body with plenty of carbonation. The bubbles feel fine and creamy, rather than big and scrubbing. Very good stuff, I'll drink this again.

In the interest of science, I split the beer between two glasses: my Duvel glass, and my beautiful (and new) Goose Island wide-mouthed glass. This glass accentuates the malt, especially the doughy, mildly dusty character. The carbonation is also firmer and more scrubbing, the palate tastes sweeter and not as complex. If I were to review that pour, I'd give it a B+ instead of the A- it's gotten here. I guess my Duvel tulip will have to be my go-to reviewing glass here on out.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 20:40:25 | More by DefenCorps

itsfreeasinbeer

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

Achel Blond 2010, split with Gdrydenc.
Review of the 2008 achel blond coming soon, courtesy of GdrydenC.

Appearance: Four or so inches of head. Golden in color.

Smell: Flowery aroma. Smells a like a Duvel but the taste is very different from one.

Taste: Very floral in taste. More sweet than duvel. The yeast is prominent and has a very agreeable estery flavor characteristic. Very nice balance between hops and malt. The alcohol is imperceptible.

Mouthfeel: highly carbonated for the style.

Drinkability: too expensive for an every day. However it is one of the more delicious representations of the tripel style.

2008 Achel:

Appearance: Gold, with a finger of head.

Smell: floral. Could be my imagination, but this one seems slightly more subdued than the 2010.

Taste: Considerably less bitter than the 2010. Flowery estery yeasts dominate. The balance between hops and malt in the 2010 is not as present. Alcohol is nonexistent.

Mouthfeel: Highly carbonated

Drinkability: I prefer this one to the 2010. While it is not as balanced, it is overall a more tasty tripel.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 00:17:31 | More by itsfreeasinbeer