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Achel Trappist Extra
Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
- From:
- Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 95
- Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 9.3%
- Reviews:
- 234
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 10, 2023
- Added:
- Jan 22, 2008
- Wants:
- 155
- Gots:
- 87
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cdrogers:
Reviewed by cdrogers from Illinois
5/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured from 75cl bottle to Rochefort chalice.
A: Strong dark tea and raisin color. Head was a nice off white, about 1/4 inch; seemed very thin. I generally hand wash all glasses because the dishwasher leaves a residue that seems to mess with the head. May have been too cold when poured. Second glass had a much better head.
S: Subtle hints of sweet caramel and molasses. Nothing harsh on the nose though. Balanced.
T: Has a "dark" flavor, maybe a coffee. Very smooth and has a nice tingle in the mouth and on the tongue. Get the alcohol at the end, but not without some sweetness. Maybe some brown sugar for the sweetness and that is where the "dark" comes in as well. Quite complex, but very good.
M: Just gets everything involved. In amazing experience. As mentioned above there is a nice tingle on the tongue. Nothing overpowering, it all works well together.
D: I could drink one of these every night, but at $18.99 a pop and somewhat rare in the southern Illinois region, it would be a bit impossible. It's an exceptional trappist yet again. I am somewhat biased because anything trappist I absolutely love, the monks know how to brew. Would recommend this to anyone at least once, but because of the price only. If it were cheaper and offered in a smaller size that would be even better.
Oct 17, 2010A: Strong dark tea and raisin color. Head was a nice off white, about 1/4 inch; seemed very thin. I generally hand wash all glasses because the dishwasher leaves a residue that seems to mess with the head. May have been too cold when poured. Second glass had a much better head.
S: Subtle hints of sweet caramel and molasses. Nothing harsh on the nose though. Balanced.
T: Has a "dark" flavor, maybe a coffee. Very smooth and has a nice tingle in the mouth and on the tongue. Get the alcohol at the end, but not without some sweetness. Maybe some brown sugar for the sweetness and that is where the "dark" comes in as well. Quite complex, but very good.
M: Just gets everything involved. In amazing experience. As mentioned above there is a nice tingle on the tongue. Nothing overpowering, it all works well together.
D: I could drink one of these every night, but at $18.99 a pop and somewhat rare in the southern Illinois region, it would be a bit impossible. It's an exceptional trappist yet again. I am somewhat biased because anything trappist I absolutely love, the monks know how to brew. Would recommend this to anyone at least once, but because of the price only. If it were cheaper and offered in a smaller size that would be even better.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into a tulip, best by October 2020, so a bit late. Will it matter? (Spoiler alert, it didn't).
Looks great, dark reddish brown body with a persistent off white head. The nose promises bags of dark fruit, but the taste doesn't quite deliver. Very smooth, and certainly enjoyable.
May 02, 2023Looks great, dark reddish brown body with a persistent off white head. The nose promises bags of dark fruit, but the taste doesn't quite deliver. Very smooth, and certainly enjoyable.
Reviewed by Herbabee from Pennsylvania
5/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
bottling date still fairly fresh as cellar ales go (autumn 2022, i believe). an uneventful pry of the cap, am greeted with welcoming sweet, bready bakery smells. pour (into globular 15 cl snifter) issues a bubbly pinky-finger tan cap which recedes rather quickly but lingers with a dormant-but-gurgling surface activity, and the obligatorily persistent flank of dense microbubbles surrounding the fill line. color an enchanting semi-translucent ruby-brown, with no noticeable particles having a swim. nose after pour validates those first impressions of the newly-opened bottle - bready yeasts, raisins, a certain dankness, other complexities that i don't wish to overstudy. into the mouth, feels rather effervescent, telegraphing those first-perceived scents to the palate, maybe a slightly bitter and sour character is ascertained. for nuanced complexity and balance/synergy, this delivers. swallow brings it on home smoothly, tangy, delicious as it descends.
in summary, i don't know if i could even tell this apart from a revered ol' St B 12 (or eek, a... Westie?) if conducting a blind comparison. which hey, that gives me an idea...
Mar 07, 2023in summary, i don't know if i could even tell this apart from a revered ol' St B 12 (or eek, a... Westie?) if conducting a blind comparison. which hey, that gives me an idea...
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Rerate, 750 ml green bottle, as Trappist Achel Bruin Bier Extra, probably from Vinmonopolet. Brown colour, huge off-white to beige head. Vinous aroma, notes of dark dried fruits, brown kandij sugar, oak, old dry sherry. Oaky and medium sweet flavour with a dry finish. Again notes of dried figs, brown kandij sugar and old and medium dry sherry. A hoppy and oaky "bite" in the finish.
Original rating: Bottle, at Den Tatoverede Enke, Copenhagen. Brown colour. Vinous and oaky aroma and flavour of old dry sherry, even cognac / armagnac. A top notch beer!
Sep 30, 2022Original rating: Bottle, at Den Tatoverede Enke, Copenhagen. Brown colour. Vinous and oaky aroma and flavour of old dry sherry, even cognac / armagnac. A top notch beer!
Reviewed by te99912_123 from Switzerland
4.66/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.66/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
dark brown with some red, not too much foam.
lots of raisins and figs, vanilla, sweet aroma.
Tastes reasonably sweet with flavors following the nose.
Some creamy, thick mouthfeel, though drinks smoothly.
Extremely pleasant.
Lovely quad (I'm treating this as a quad, if you want to open the BJCP pandora's box and belgian dark strong ale vs quad discussion). It certainly does not have to hide itself against the likes of st bernardus / rochefort / westvleteren, though misses their complexity by a tiny bit.
Sep 30, 2022lots of raisins and figs, vanilla, sweet aroma.
Tastes reasonably sweet with flavors following the nose.
Some creamy, thick mouthfeel, though drinks smoothly.
Extremely pleasant.
Lovely quad (I'm treating this as a quad, if you want to open the BJCP pandora's box and belgian dark strong ale vs quad discussion). It certainly does not have to hide itself against the likes of st bernardus / rochefort / westvleteren, though misses their complexity by a tiny bit.
Reviewed by REDAMI from Ohio
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 750ml bottle into Chimay goblet.
L - Dark golden brown pour, sandy taupe head which dissipates quickly.
S - Malt, slight metallic note, buttery brown bread.
T - Syrupy treacle sweetness, dark bready grains. Sweetness is cut by a vegetal (fennel) bitterness.
F - Not over thin, fine carbonation with a dry finish.
An excellent example of the style. Do wish the taste was a slightly better match to the smell.
Oct 03, 2021L - Dark golden brown pour, sandy taupe head which dissipates quickly.
S - Malt, slight metallic note, buttery brown bread.
T - Syrupy treacle sweetness, dark bready grains. Sweetness is cut by a vegetal (fennel) bitterness.
F - Not over thin, fine carbonation with a dry finish.
An excellent example of the style. Do wish the taste was a slightly better match to the smell.
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York
4.6/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Actually thought this was their tripel, so I was was surprised by the dark brown pour - very creamy tan head with a nicely fuzzy persistence... It's almost like a quad, but not as sweet and thick - has a fluffy carbonation and a lot of quad-like elements of spice and fruit, but dried out and toned down to something almost umami... There's some wood and bitter char and smoke amid the dates and dark fruited bread impressions... Lots of complexity and depth... Smooth and dangerously drinkable - this 750 mL bottle isn't going to last long - very impressed - highly recommended for fans of quads, strong Belgian darks, Belgian and fine ales in general - as well as all true BAs...
Trappist monks: This is how you do this...
Feb 26, 2021Trappist monks: This is how you do this...
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.6/5 rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is very good. It is clear for the most part.
Smell: Strong rich malty aroma with raisins. There are some dried cherry notes a very low spice and and very light vanilla.
Taste: It is malty rich with bread and raisin flavors. There are dried cherries at moderate levels with a light spice and perfume.
Feel: It has a full body and is quite dry in the finish. There is alcohol warming at pleasant levels.
Overall, a great blend of flavors and aromas.
Feb 19, 2021Smell: Strong rich malty aroma with raisins. There are some dried cherry notes a very low spice and and very light vanilla.
Taste: It is malty rich with bread and raisin flavors. There are dried cherries at moderate levels with a light spice and perfume.
Feel: It has a full body and is quite dry in the finish. There is alcohol warming at pleasant levels.
Overall, a great blend of flavors and aromas.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.28/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle. No dating found. Green bottle, imported by Shelton Bros.
Body color is a plum brown, with cloudiness. Minimal head. No lacing.
Aroma is dark fruit raisin, molasses, dark bread, and candi sugar.
Taste is dark fruit raisin, prune, and fig, chocolate and vanilla, molasses and toffee. The dark fruit rules supreme in the aftertaste, but expresses slightly sweet.
Heavier mouth feel, with some syrup. Very little carbonation from this bottle.
Beguiling beer that tastes rich and dense with flavors. I bought this at a bottle shop that stocks very few Belgian beers, so it would be helpful to know the age of the beer, considering the lack of carbonation.
Feb 18, 2021Body color is a plum brown, with cloudiness. Minimal head. No lacing.
Aroma is dark fruit raisin, molasses, dark bread, and candi sugar.
Taste is dark fruit raisin, prune, and fig, chocolate and vanilla, molasses and toffee. The dark fruit rules supreme in the aftertaste, but expresses slightly sweet.
Heavier mouth feel, with some syrup. Very little carbonation from this bottle.
Beguiling beer that tastes rich and dense with flavors. I bought this at a bottle shop that stocks very few Belgian beers, so it would be helpful to know the age of the beer, considering the lack of carbonation.
Achel Trappist Extra from Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
524 ratings
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