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

AdmiralDiaz

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a medium brown color with a huge off-white head with good retention and a bit of lacing. Smells very malty with a dry with some fruitiness. Tastes fruity with dry nuts, malts and a small hop profile. Mouthfeel is pretty standard, which is very enjoyable. Drinkability is great for this beer, the alcohol stay quiet and it's fairly mild.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 18:17:19 | More by AdmiralDiaz

pkenkman

Estonia

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-04-2013 22:01:28 | More by pkenkman

spoony

Colorado

4.46/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

From a 330 ml bottle (best by April 22, 2015) into a chalice.

A-The brew is dark cola colored and mostly opaque. The carbonation is visible and it supports a one and one-half finger head of dense, light tan foam. The head has good retention.

S-This is a sweet-smelling dubbel with scents of overripe banana and bubble gum underneath dark fruit (prunes) and light spices. The alcohol is also sweet and fruity smelling.

T-The taste tracks the smell at first with sweet, dark fruits and a big mushy banana flavor. Towards the middle and finish, however, there is a bit of nutty chocolate and hoppy bitterness that creep in to balance things out.

M-The feel is medium to full body with soft, creamy, perfectly-executed Belgian carbonation that sort-of rolls around in your mouth.

O-I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this beer. I like my dubbels on the sweeter side and this brew delivers that sweetness I enjoy, but it also provides just enough balance in the finish to keep things interesting and prevent that syrupy/cloying feeling. I also think the feel is close to perfect and the alcohol, while noticeable in the smell, is concealed well on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 15:46:31 | More by spoony

Rohkey

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +15%

05-25-2013 01:13:08 | More by Rohkey

RaphaelSC

Brazil

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: dark brown caramel with a 2 fingers cream color head with good rentention.

S: Sweet banana and caramel scents with a dry woody wine sensation.

T: Follow the smell with a dry wine flavour with some banana and caramel. Not a bitter beer nor so dry as other Belgian Dark Ales or Dubbels use to be.

M: sweet and spicy with a not so dry aftertaste, low bitterness than other of the same style, wich makes this beer mor drinkable than others in some sort of way.

O: A great example of Belgian trappist, with a quite complex flavor and still a smooth beer despite it's 8,0% ABV which can make this a tasteful trap if you drink too much! Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 16:06:08 | More by RaphaelSC

cosmonick

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-20-2013 00:16:07 | More by cosmonick

JackOfAll

United Kingdom (Wales)

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-16-2013 20:38:44 | More by JackOfAll

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Soft brown, reddish hues with a bubbly soda like tan head the quickly fades to a thin layer of foam on top.

S - Clove, yeast, lots of dark fruits, fig, plum, raisin, earthy, caramel and toasted bread.

T - Rich malt, brown sugar, candi sugar, toasted bread, figs and plums but a little more muted than aroma, earthy with yeasty esters.

M - Sweet but dry finish with plenty of carbonation.

D - Lacks a little complexity compared to other top notch dubbels but still very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 02:10:38 | More by brewcrew76

JakerLou

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-14-2013 19:12:59 | More by JakerLou

justforrazors

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

05-10-2013 01:46:32 | More by justforrazors

SStein

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-09-2013 09:49:03 | More by SStein

wer3w01f

Russian Federation

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-06-2013 20:54:00 | More by wer3w01f

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +15%

04-23-2013 14:30:03 | More by pcsnyder

Roman5150

Michigan

4.31/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

bottle poured into tulip, purchased from Total Beverages in Murfreesboro, TN

Appearance: dark caramel brown with the slightest amber hue, very complex color. huge off white head, very carbonated, head retains well. Lots of lacing.

Smell: dark figs, dark fruits, bread, caramel, sweetness, apple, grape, raisins

Taste: off the bat it's sweet, bready, biscuity with sweet notes of cherry, dark figs, raisins and a prominent malt backbone. Very smooth quick to finish taste, not overwhelming but decently complex. Flavors come out more when it warms. Slight taste of alcohol, not as disguised as other trappist beers, but still decently balanced and not too prominent.

Mouthfeel: high amount of carbonation, goes well with the sweetness however and helps disguise alcohol bite.

Overall: I would pick other trappist beers first, but for $2.99 this is a weekly buy. Amazing trappist taste and craftsmanship for a great price, and my bottle says 8% abv however. It has also the bready, dark fruity notes of other trappist, most similar to a Westmalle Dubbel or Rochefort 6 (or even an 8). For the price you can't beat it.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 06:28:38 | More by Roman5150

artdob

California

4.48/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Continuing my tour of beers brewed by monks.

Picturesque pour with a phenomenal tan meringue head that doesn't quit.

Careful not to stick your nose into the high foam when nosing. Yeast tones and stewed fruits emerge out of the head.

Great taste. Fruit basket with layers of bread. The foundation leans much more toward sweet tones versus bitterness. Stewed raisins.

Mouthfeel initially creamy as the beer mixes with the meringue head. Supported with ample carbonation.

...and that head is still there!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:25:51 | More by artdob

Ciocanelu

Romania

4/5  rDev -3.1%

04-07-2013 11:35:44 | More by Ciocanelu

FLima

Brazil

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brown amber color with a thick head with an eternal retention and leaving laces. Visible carbonation.
Light aroma of prunes, earthy hops, yeast and barley. I was expecting more intensity.
Mild sweet level (perfect) with flavor of malt, orange, apple juice, bananas, earth, light on condiments, some caramel and Belgian yeast. Dry aftertaste and mildly bitter.
Medium body with good carbonation. Alcohol of 8% ABV is almost non-noticeable, nice feature.
As its blond sister, it is a trappist with high drinkability, not overly sweet and still rich in flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:26:57 | More by FLima

BAsbill

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%

03-30-2013 04:09:15 | More by BAsbill

sekk

Belgium

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Drank this one two years and two months after bottling. Stored in a dark room at room temperature.

Served in Corsendonck Tulip glassware

Appearance: Milky chocolate color, pours beautifully with two and a half fingers of foam. Medium retention.

Smell: Smells peppery and of roasted spices and hops. Small hints of caramel and even some banana.

Taste: Dried fruits and malt, semi-smokey with a hint of licorice. Bitter chocolate on the finish.

Mouth: Smooth and creamy feel. Slightly overcarbonated at first, but normalizes quickly.

Overall: A great trappist that tastes even better after 2-year storage. Smooth smokey taste and a nice warm feeling afterwards

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 23:38:18 | More by sekk

Sparky44

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

03-26-2013 02:25:36 | More by Sparky44

Anze

Slovenia

4.5/5  rDev +9%

03-24-2013 11:31:41 | More by Anze

Chrysostom

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9%

03-23-2013 03:31:12 | More by Chrysostom

weerezboy

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

03-14-2013 02:12:31 | More by weerezboy

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.1%

03-11-2013 22:17:21 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

spycow

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9%

03-11-2013 05:05:31 | More by spycow