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BEER FEST ALERT: Don't miss FUNK Boston: A Wild & Sour Beer Fest on June 14-15!
Trappist Achel 8° Blond | Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Brewed by:
Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Belgium
achelsekluis.org
Style: Belgian Tripel
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
None provided.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 781 | Reviews: 431
4.14/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Reviewed as part of BJCP training, 26C Belgian Tripel. Bottled July 16, 2017
Pours a large fizzy bubbly rocky head with good retention, and mild lacing, semi hazy deep orange gold almost tan color
Nose candied orange out front, mild dried fruit esters in general, with a bit of sweet grainy blond malt, mild perfumey alcohol and hint of spicy phenols, mild sweet candied apple and also a touch of vanilla icing, a light papery winy oxidation
Taste plenty of citrus, candied orange and vanilla icing on orange cake, some grainy-sweet malts with a little candi sugar like sweetness, a bit of perfumey spicy alcohol, mild peppery phenols but also light on overall phenols, hops bring a little spicy bitterness, medium overall bitterness that lingers into the finish, drier finish a little sticky, more citrus lingering with the spicy bitter hops
Mouth is medium bodied, bright effervescent carb, mild warming alcohol
Overall another interesting take on tripel, much lighter than the last two I had which could be due to the age, but still good
1,045 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Reviewed as part of BJCP training, 26C Belgian Tripel. Bottled July 16, 2017
Pours a large fizzy bubbly rocky head with good retention, and mild lacing, semi hazy deep orange gold almost tan color
Nose candied orange out front, mild dried fruit esters in general, with a bit of sweet grainy blond malt, mild perfumey alcohol and hint of spicy phenols, mild sweet candied apple and also a touch of vanilla icing, a light papery winy oxidation
Taste plenty of citrus, candied orange and vanilla icing on orange cake, some grainy-sweet malts with a little candi sugar like sweetness, a bit of perfumey spicy alcohol, mild peppery phenols but also light on overall phenols, hops bring a little spicy bitterness, medium overall bitterness that lingers into the finish, drier finish a little sticky, more citrus lingering with the spicy bitter hops
Mouth is medium bodied, bright effervescent carb, mild warming alcohol
Overall another interesting take on tripel, much lighter than the last two I had which could be due to the age, but still good
1,045 characters
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.17/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle into a fluted glass.
Golden yellow color with a nice white head and great lacing. Fruity smell and taste. Nice sweet apple and pear. Warming spice flavors come out as it warms, flavor becomes more complex. I have had it several times but did not review it. A classic beer.
295 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle into a fluted glass.
Golden yellow color with a nice white head and great lacing. Fruity smell and taste. Nice sweet apple and pear. Warming spice flavors come out as it warms, flavor becomes more complex. I have had it several times but did not review it. A classic beer.
295 characters
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.23/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L- Pours with off-white head, holds well. Body mid-amber with slight haze. [Very small amount of residue left in bottle].
S- Fruit [apricot and cherry, for me] and spice.
T- Ooh, it has a pungent fruitiness, into a rich meaty finish with a tinge of sour in it. Very idiosyncratic indeed. If this was a regular/fav I've no doubt you'd have zero problem IDing this blind-folded, it's very distinctive.
M- It's puddingy, and full-bodied, but it has lovely balance.
O- A good example of a Belgian monastic tripel. My wife is a fan of such beers too and she also gives it two thumbs up. Just a shame I've yet to find it from a cheaper source than perhaps one of the most supermarkets in the UK.
33Cl bottle, bought from Wholefoods London [£2.99) BB 18/4/20
-- Note also the simplest of simple lables, just about the opposite of the typical hipster lable these days!
861 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L- Pours with off-white head, holds well. Body mid-amber with slight haze. [Very small amount of residue left in bottle].
S- Fruit [apricot and cherry, for me] and spice.
T- Ooh, it has a pungent fruitiness, into a rich meaty finish with a tinge of sour in it. Very idiosyncratic indeed. If this was a regular/fav I've no doubt you'd have zero problem IDing this blind-folded, it's very distinctive.
M- It's puddingy, and full-bodied, but it has lovely balance.
O- A good example of a Belgian monastic tripel. My wife is a fan of such beers too and she also gives it two thumbs up. Just a shame I've yet to find it from a cheaper source than perhaps one of the most supermarkets in the UK.
33Cl bottle, bought from Wholefoods London [£2.99) BB 18/4/20
-- Note also the simplest of simple lables, just about the opposite of the typical hipster lable these days!
861 characters
3.66/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sniffing this brew, poured from a bottle into a standard glass, I actually do get hints of toffee or caramel. It's a nice fragrance.
The look, I guess, is solid, meaning that it looks "right." Dark amber, small head, lots of lacing.
I'm not as wild about the flavor, though. I'm not sure why. If it followed the nose, as they say, I think I would like it quite a bit more. As it is, it's not unpleasant, but.... I guess I've been spoiled by the several times I've had Chimay and La Fin Du Monde, both of which just have a crisper, cleaner flavor.
Carbonation is fine. I guess I was expecting more from the flavor.
616 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sniffing this brew, poured from a bottle into a standard glass, I actually do get hints of toffee or caramel. It's a nice fragrance.
The look, I guess, is solid, meaning that it looks "right." Dark amber, small head, lots of lacing.
I'm not as wild about the flavor, though. I'm not sure why. If it followed the nose, as they say, I think I would like it quite a bit more. As it is, it's not unpleasant, but.... I guess I've been spoiled by the several times I've had Chimay and La Fin Du Monde, both of which just have a crisper, cleaner flavor.
Carbonation is fine. I guess I was expecting more from the flavor.
616 characters
3.95/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The Monk’s did an outstanding job!
36 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The Monk’s did an outstanding job!
36 characters
4.31/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep gold with a foamy white head that quickly dissipates.
Smell: Raisins, citrus, hops, figs, and a bit of spiciness.
Taste: A wine-like herbal fruitiness backed by hops and a bit of malt.
Mouthfeel: Average thickness and sharp carbonation.
Overall: A beer that can truly be called "deliciously different".
317 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep gold with a foamy white head that quickly dissipates.
Smell: Raisins, citrus, hops, figs, and a bit of spiciness.
Taste: A wine-like herbal fruitiness backed by hops and a bit of malt.
Mouthfeel: Average thickness and sharp carbonation.
Overall: A beer that can truly be called "deliciously different".
317 characters
3.96/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I don't know how I haven't had this by now! A classic tripel, and in my opinion, holds up even though the years have passed it by. Light and peppery compared to other tripels I have had, but still has nice fruit bouquet and malt biscuit finish. More balanced on the smell. The body is a very nice consistency for the style
326 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I don't know how I haven't had this by now! A classic tripel, and in my opinion, holds up even though the years have passed it by. Light and peppery compared to other tripels I have had, but still has nice fruit bouquet and malt biscuit finish. More balanced on the smell. The body is a very nice consistency for the style
326 characters
4.18/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a deep gold color with slightly off-white head, which dissipates quickly. Has a nose of sweet malts and banana. Taste is bright and warm with more banana and a hint of toffee. Mouthfeel is light and on style with a refreshing level of carbonation.
253 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a deep gold color with slightly off-white head, which dissipates quickly. Has a nose of sweet malts and banana. Taste is bright and warm with more banana and a hint of toffee. Mouthfeel is light and on style with a refreshing level of carbonation.
253 characters
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.35/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours hazy blonde in color with 1/3 inch head. Taste is pear, apple, apricot, and Belgian spice. Medium bodied, high carbonation and slightly sweet. Very clean and tasty. Good for the style.
191 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours hazy blonde in color with 1/3 inch head. Taste is pear, apple, apricot, and Belgian spice. Medium bodied, high carbonation and slightly sweet. Very clean and tasty. Good for the style.
191 characters
3.79/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.19/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Very good color, slightly hazy. Sweet fruity nose of tangerine. A slightly malty and moderately sweet taste with crisp and sweet aftertaste.
142 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Very good color, slightly hazy. Sweet fruity nose of tangerine. A slightly malty and moderately sweet taste with crisp and sweet aftertaste.
142 characters
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.86/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
11.2 ounce bottle, best before August 17th, 2018. Pours a fairly clear gold, initially large head of foam, shrinking slowly, not much lacing. Smells spicy, hoppy, notes of coriander, pepper, light grass, picking up some fruit, sweet malt Spicy taste up front, from the hops and yeast. Coriander and very much the pepper. Malt is semi sweet, earthy, adding much delicious flavour. A spicier Tripel than say, the Chimay but equally acceptable and enjoyable.
455 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
11.2 ounce bottle, best before August 17th, 2018. Pours a fairly clear gold, initially large head of foam, shrinking slowly, not much lacing. Smells spicy, hoppy, notes of coriander, pepper, light grass, picking up some fruit, sweet malt Spicy taste up front, from the hops and yeast. Coriander and very much the pepper. Malt is semi sweet, earthy, adding much delicious flavour. A spicier Tripel than say, the Chimay but equally acceptable and enjoyable.
455 characters
3.91/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle to a goblet
A - Hazy pale gold with a quickly disappearing white head
S - Herbal and spicy hops
T - Corresponding to the smell with some light metallic aftertaste
M - Well carbonated
O - A tasteful tripel
225 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle to a goblet
A - Hazy pale gold with a quickly disappearing white head
S - Herbal and spicy hops
T - Corresponding to the smell with some light metallic aftertaste
M - Well carbonated
O - A tasteful tripel
225 characters
4.49/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
08/06/19 date on the bottle
A: Pours a clear gold. Tall wispy white head. Quite good head retention and nice little tufts of lacing.
S: Spicy and peppery right at the first whiff. Light citrusy hops and maybe some grass too?
T: A little citrus and a lot of grass. Sharp, grainy malt with a bunch of white pepper. Lots of spices in the finish, even for a tripel. Spiced, grassy aftertaste that lingers.
M: Heavy-ish, crisp and clean.
O: A very nice tripel. On the crisp, spiced side of tripels in my opinion.
514 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
08/06/19 date on the bottle
A: Pours a clear gold. Tall wispy white head. Quite good head retention and nice little tufts of lacing.
S: Spicy and peppery right at the first whiff. Light citrusy hops and maybe some grass too?
T: A little citrus and a lot of grass. Sharp, grainy malt with a bunch of white pepper. Lots of spices in the finish, even for a tripel. Spiced, grassy aftertaste that lingers.
M: Heavy-ish, crisp and clean.
O: A very nice tripel. On the crisp, spiced side of tripels in my opinion.
514 characters
Trappist Achel 8° Blond from Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Beer rating:
4.06 out of
5 with
781 ratings
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