Trappist Achel 8° Blond | Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Brewed by:
Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
Belgium | website
Style: Tripel
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 03-06-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 408 | Ratings: 720
4.16/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an oversized wine glass. A very solid offering all around, I would not say there is anything world-class about it but from all 5 aspects listed to rate a beer, all to me are are satisfying....I'm glad I tried this one.
★ 231 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an oversized wine glass. A very solid offering all around, I would not say there is anything world-class about it but from all 5 aspects listed to rate a beer, all to me are are satisfying....I'm glad I tried this one.
★ 231 characters
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy opaque orange tinged gold color with a frothy white head. Thin white head sticks around with some nice sticky lacing.
Smell has aromas of apricots, raisins, prunes, pear, with a strong yeast aroma.
Taste is an array of flavors including apricots, raisins, prunes, pears and honey. A strong yeast presence that has peppery notes with some clove undertones. Solid backbones of freshly baked bread malts. Very gentle and complimentary. Overall a very balanced array of flavors. Dry finish coats the mouth in a very pleasant way and balances out the sweetness from the honey like flavor.
Feel was really exceptional. Smooth. Nice gentle carbonation providing a slight tingle but not distracting.
Overall a very nice tripel. Great flavor profile.
★ 762 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy opaque orange tinged gold color with a frothy white head. Thin white head sticks around with some nice sticky lacing.
Smell has aromas of apricots, raisins, prunes, pear, with a strong yeast aroma.
Taste is an array of flavors including apricots, raisins, prunes, pears and honey. A strong yeast presence that has peppery notes with some clove undertones. Solid backbones of freshly baked bread malts. Very gentle and complimentary. Overall a very balanced array of flavors. Dry finish coats the mouth in a very pleasant way and balances out the sweetness from the honey like flavor.
Feel was really exceptional. Smooth. Nice gentle carbonation providing a slight tingle but not distracting.
Overall a very nice tripel. Great flavor profile.
★ 762 characters
4.27/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11.2 ounce bottle poured into a goblet
A: Pours a golden orange with a white fluffy head, big clumps of lacing, beer is clear with a good amount of carbonation.
A: Light fruit aromas like pears, bananas, roses, touch of Belgian yeast, very nice aroma balanced and complex, alcohol not coming through at all.
T: Like the nose, light fruits bananas, pears, touch of spice and clove, finish is dry with light fruit notes lingering in the aftertaste, very well balanced, smooth and easy drinking.
M: Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation and a dry finish.
O: Another beer from Achel that I've enjoyed, very deceptive at 8%, lots of flavor, complexity and depth, definitely worth picking up if you like Belgian style beers.
★ 736 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11.2 ounce bottle poured into a goblet
A: Pours a golden orange with a white fluffy head, big clumps of lacing, beer is clear with a good amount of carbonation.
A: Light fruit aromas like pears, bananas, roses, touch of Belgian yeast, very nice aroma balanced and complex, alcohol not coming through at all.
T: Like the nose, light fruits bananas, pears, touch of spice and clove, finish is dry with light fruit notes lingering in the aftertaste, very well balanced, smooth and easy drinking.
M: Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation and a dry finish.
O: Another beer from Achel that I've enjoyed, very deceptive at 8%, lots of flavor, complexity and depth, definitely worth picking up if you like Belgian style beers.
★ 736 characters
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Achel...I always see you on the shelves in Belgium looking sad and lonely next to the powerhouse Rocheforts, Chimays, Orvals, and St Bernadus. Never ever, l'll drink you.
Pours a golden straw with a fluffy white head that leaves some lacing. Nose is soft fruity esters and yeast. Mellow...not in your face. Taste is similar...like a laid back strong and tripel hybrid. Fruity with a surprisingly firm bitterness, especially at the end. Some bread and pepper notes. Overall, this is a really solid beer. Might not blow you away, but would be easy to drink more than one.
★ 577 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Achel...I always see you on the shelves in Belgium looking sad and lonely next to the powerhouse Rocheforts, Chimays, Orvals, and St Bernadus. Never ever, l'll drink you.
Pours a golden straw with a fluffy white head that leaves some lacing. Nose is soft fruity esters and yeast. Mellow...not in your face. Taste is similar...like a laid back strong and tripel hybrid. Fruity with a surprisingly firm bitterness, especially at the end. Some bread and pepper notes. Overall, this is a really solid beer. Might not blow you away, but would be easy to drink more than one.
★ 577 characters
4.05/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Big head, this pretty blonde is close to amber.
Mostly fruity in the nose, the scent of hops comes through stronger in the mouth which ends dry and crisp. Overall, typical of the tripel but just a little better.
This is reviewed in the "1001 Beers To Taste Before You Die." I'm glad I did... and hope to again.
★ 311 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Big head, this pretty blonde is close to amber.
Mostly fruity in the nose, the scent of hops comes through stronger in the mouth which ends dry and crisp. Overall, typical of the tripel but just a little better.
This is reviewed in the "1001 Beers To Taste Before You Die." I'm glad I did... and hope to again.
★ 311 characters
3.61/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
11.2 ounce bottle, 13/06/15 printed on the back label, not sure if that's the bottling date, best by date or what exactly. Served in a Prairie Teku, the beer pours a hazy golden/orange color with a couple inch frothy off-white head that stuck around for a really long time. There's also a lot of lacing. Aroma is OK, the brew smells like candy sugar, pear, banana, bubblegum, yeast and breadiness. The brew tastes like clove, banana, pear, candy sugar, bready malt, and peppery spice. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth and creamy with a lot of carbonation. By no means is this a bad beer at all, but it really didn't do anything for me. Glad I got to try it, but it's not my favorite. With that being said, it's worth trying if you've never had it before.
★ 767 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
11.2 ounce bottle, 13/06/15 printed on the back label, not sure if that's the bottling date, best by date or what exactly. Served in a Prairie Teku, the beer pours a hazy golden/orange color with a couple inch frothy off-white head that stuck around for a really long time. There's also a lot of lacing. Aroma is OK, the brew smells like candy sugar, pear, banana, bubblegum, yeast and breadiness. The brew tastes like clove, banana, pear, candy sugar, bready malt, and peppery spice. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth and creamy with a lot of carbonation. By no means is this a bad beer at all, but it really didn't do anything for me. Glad I got to try it, but it's not my favorite. With that being said, it's worth trying if you've never had it before.
★ 767 characters
3.73/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a slightly hazy deep copper color. The white head is fairly large, leaving a lot of lacing on the sides of the glass as it dissipates.
Smelling a lot of Belgian funk here. There is a bit of citrus as well.
Quite a bit of Belgian funk up front, not surprising due to the smell. Picking up some citrus and honey in it, Finishes with a bit of pepper and alcohol warming.
Feel is a bit harsh, burns a bit going down.
This might be better if the funk was toned down a bit, but it really dominated the flavor. I don't mind a small amount of it, but this was a bit much. Normally Trappist beers are really complex and the flavors work well together, but the word that comes to mind here is harsh. Worth trying once, but not one I'll be adding to my rotation.
★ 762 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a slightly hazy deep copper color. The white head is fairly large, leaving a lot of lacing on the sides of the glass as it dissipates.
Smelling a lot of Belgian funk here. There is a bit of citrus as well.
Quite a bit of Belgian funk up front, not surprising due to the smell. Picking up some citrus and honey in it, Finishes with a bit of pepper and alcohol warming.
Feel is a bit harsh, burns a bit going down.
This might be better if the funk was toned down a bit, but it really dominated the flavor. I don't mind a small amount of it, but this was a bit much. Normally Trappist beers are really complex and the flavors work well together, but the word that comes to mind here is harsh. Worth trying once, but not one I'll be adding to my rotation.
★ 762 characters
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From bottle, pours a hazey blonde with a good two finger head that slowly disapates and laces glass. Aroma Apple, pear, banana, clove. Taste pretty much follows the nose. Nice very nice.
★ 186 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From bottle, pours a hazey blonde with a good two finger head that slowly disapates and laces glass. Aroma Apple, pear, banana, clove. Taste pretty much follows the nose. Nice very nice.
★ 186 characters
3.89/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Hazy golden straw. Very thin white head. Moderate activity.
Smell: Belgian funk and sugar is sticky on the nose. Followed by ripe banana, a pinch of cloves, pear, honey, sweet bread, and a hint of booze.
Taste: Belgian sugar, candied ginger, honey covered pear slices, ripe banana, orange zest, and sweet whole wheat bread. The finish is grassy hops with just a hint of funk.
Feel: Medium body. Sticky sweet fades to white wine dry finish. Alcohol is slight warming on the throat.
Overall: A very nice Belgian blonde. A bit too far on the sweet side of the style for me but would be a beautiful entry into the world of Belgians. A bit more funk would make it perfect for me but it's good stuff.
★ 708 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Hazy golden straw. Very thin white head. Moderate activity.
Smell: Belgian funk and sugar is sticky on the nose. Followed by ripe banana, a pinch of cloves, pear, honey, sweet bread, and a hint of booze.
Taste: Belgian sugar, candied ginger, honey covered pear slices, ripe banana, orange zest, and sweet whole wheat bread. The finish is grassy hops with just a hint of funk.
Feel: Medium body. Sticky sweet fades to white wine dry finish. Alcohol is slight warming on the throat.
Overall: A very nice Belgian blonde. A bit too far on the sweet side of the style for me but would be a beautiful entry into the world of Belgians. A bit more funk would make it perfect for me but it's good stuff.
★ 708 characters
4.77/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
L: Poured into a Chimay chalice. Body is a hazy golden orange hue. Two finger white head slowly reduced to a half finger film covering the body.
S: Bready malts, Belgian esters of pear, apple, and mild banana. There is a bit of funk in the background.
T: Same as the nose. The flavor is dry with a slight bitter finish.
F: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and foamy, with a slight warmth.
★ 397 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
L: Poured into a Chimay chalice. Body is a hazy golden orange hue. Two finger white head slowly reduced to a half finger film covering the body.
S: Bready malts, Belgian esters of pear, apple, and mild banana. There is a bit of funk in the background.
T: Same as the nose. The flavor is dry with a slight bitter finish.
F: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and foamy, with a slight warmth.
★ 397 characters
4.78/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Very cloudy when poured. The head was off white and medium thick the smell was stronger than I thought it would be. 1st taste was a hint of honeysuckle with still quite a bit of carbonation. Second best Trappist beer so far.
★ 224 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Very cloudy when poured. The head was off white and medium thick the smell was stronger than I thought it would be. 1st taste was a hint of honeysuckle with still quite a bit of carbonation. Second best Trappist beer so far.
★ 224 characters
4.39/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Preeti would love this. The head is ridiculous, so silky. A wit-like smell with classic clove and banana aroma. The taste is rich with malt, hops are lemony and bright. In addition to clove and banana, nutmeg, bread, and grapefruit flavors dominate.
★ 249 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Preeti would love this. The head is ridiculous, so silky. A wit-like smell with classic clove and banana aroma. The taste is rich with malt, hops are lemony and bright. In addition to clove and banana, nutmeg, bread, and grapefruit flavors dominate.
★ 249 characters
4.31/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a cloudy amber with an ample creamy, dense white head and lots of carbonation. Plenty of lacing.
The aroma is excellent: some funky farmhouse fun from the yeast, candy sugar and maybe a hint of lemon.
So tasty: The Belgian funk is strong in this one! Farmyard and cheese with nice spicy notes followed by a very pleasing bitterness. As it warms, a bit more pepper and even a little lemongrass comes through as well as some ripe fruit notes. A very refreshing finish.
Mouthfeel is medium with plenty of carbonation in my bottle.
Just excellent.
★ 549 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a cloudy amber with an ample creamy, dense white head and lots of carbonation. Plenty of lacing.
The aroma is excellent: some funky farmhouse fun from the yeast, candy sugar and maybe a hint of lemon.
So tasty: The Belgian funk is strong in this one! Farmyard and cheese with nice spicy notes followed by a very pleasing bitterness. As it warms, a bit more pepper and even a little lemongrass comes through as well as some ripe fruit notes. A very refreshing finish.
Mouthfeel is medium with plenty of carbonation in my bottle.
Just excellent.
★ 549 characters
3.67/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
33cl bottle purchased at grocery store in Brussels.
BB: 29/05/2017
Served chilled and poured in a Delirium tulip.
Pours super clear blond yellow. Very active carbonation, modest white head.
No lacing on glass.
Taste is light, crisp and very dry...a lot like a sparkling wine. Really dry aftertaste is unpleasant. Right up to this point, there were some definite, even eerie similarities to Delirium Tremens -- a beer I like a lot. But it's on the aftertaste phase that Achel loses it completely...much too sweet and dry.
A disappointment, not a 'great' beer, and not on my buy again list.
★ 603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
33cl bottle purchased at grocery store in Brussels.
BB: 29/05/2017
Served chilled and poured in a Delirium tulip.
Pours super clear blond yellow. Very active carbonation, modest white head.
No lacing on glass.
Taste is light, crisp and very dry...a lot like a sparkling wine. Really dry aftertaste is unpleasant. Right up to this point, there were some definite, even eerie similarities to Delirium Tremens -- a beer I like a lot. But it's on the aftertaste phase that Achel loses it completely...much too sweet and dry.
A disappointment, not a 'great' beer, and not on my buy again list.
★ 603 characters
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle at home from Whole Food, Giffnock (£2.69):
Appearance wise this beer was okay and the smell wasn't particularly interesting but the taste of this one was exceptional and the balance was excellent as well. Despite coming in at 8% abv. the alcohol content was remarkably well hidden and the beer went down very easily with a light, sweet and fruity taste that was distinctly Belgian with some yeast and plenty of spices coming through from the start.
★ 462 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle at home from Whole Food, Giffnock (£2.69):
Appearance wise this beer was okay and the smell wasn't particularly interesting but the taste of this one was exceptional and the balance was excellent as well. Despite coming in at 8% abv. the alcohol content was remarkably well hidden and the beer went down very easily with a light, sweet and fruity taste that was distinctly Belgian with some yeast and plenty of spices coming through from the start.
★ 462 characters
4.43/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Well I do believe Achel is one of the last Trappist brewers to cross off my list, apart from Westvleteren - aka ‘The Grail That Is Holy’ and the new ones; Engelszell, St. Joseph's and Zundert - but we pay little heed to them. Here’s a fact for ya: In 1917 during their occupation the German army dismantled Achel brewery to salvage approximately 700 kg of copper for the war effort, i.e. their First World War effort. Bit of a waste of time in hindsight. True story.
Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Chimay chalice.
A: Slight hazed golden yellow body with a snow white 1cm head that sticks around well for an 8% ABV brew. Frankly this looks like a great Blond Tripel. There, I said it. 9/10.
S: Dry white wine grape upfront, quite a Champagne aroma, with hints of grassy hops, candi sugar and bread yeast in the background. Glad that Achel have differentiated their Blond from the other Trappist Tripels. 8/10.
T: Reminds me of a denser Duvel with a hint of Diacetyl (i.e. butterscotch) thrown in. I love Duvel - it’s still my highest rated beer - and Diacetyl has a time and a place, and this time and place is fine by me. The vinous grape notes mingle well with the green grassy “turf-like” quality of this Tripel, and the finish is a slight herbal bitterness that balances it out. Also with a brew at this percentage it doesn’t throw truckloads of sugar at you, it’s all rather well balanced. 10/10.
M: Medium bodied with a light but dense carbonation, this is where it’s at. 8/10.
D: This is definitely a tasty drop for a Duvel-lover, though lacking the brash-handed intensity of its non-Trappist cousin, Achel does manage to stand on its own two feet in the grand pantheon of Trappist beers. Overall how would I rate it in comparison to other Trappist Blonds? Well this to me is the winner over the next nearest Trappist Blond - Westmalle Tripel - albeit a slight winner, due to the Westmalle being overtly dry compared to this. Does that make sense, or am I slowly descending into madness? That is the Achel Effect. 8/10.
Food match: Chargrilled salmon with asparagus in lime vinaigrette and grated parmesan cheese (if you will) - see there is a time and place for parmesan cheese and it isn’t on a tiramisu Schneider Weisse!
★ 2,259 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Well I do believe Achel is one of the last Trappist brewers to cross off my list, apart from Westvleteren - aka ‘The Grail That Is Holy’ and the new ones; Engelszell, St. Joseph's and Zundert - but we pay little heed to them. Here’s a fact for ya: In 1917 during their occupation the German army dismantled Achel brewery to salvage approximately 700 kg of copper for the war effort, i.e. their First World War effort. Bit of a waste of time in hindsight. True story.
Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Chimay chalice.
A: Slight hazed golden yellow body with a snow white 1cm head that sticks around well for an 8% ABV brew. Frankly this looks like a great Blond Tripel. There, I said it. 9/10.
S: Dry white wine grape upfront, quite a Champagne aroma, with hints of grassy hops, candi sugar and bread yeast in the background. Glad that Achel have differentiated their Blond from the other Trappist Tripels. 8/10.
T: Reminds me of a denser Duvel with a hint of Diacetyl (i.e. butterscotch) thrown in. I love Duvel - it’s still my highest rated beer - and Diacetyl has a time and a place, and this time and place is fine by me. The vinous grape notes mingle well with the green grassy “turf-like” quality of this Tripel, and the finish is a slight herbal bitterness that balances it out. Also with a brew at this percentage it doesn’t throw truckloads of sugar at you, it’s all rather well balanced. 10/10.
M: Medium bodied with a light but dense carbonation, this is where it’s at. 8/10.
D: This is definitely a tasty drop for a Duvel-lover, though lacking the brash-handed intensity of its non-Trappist cousin, Achel does manage to stand on its own two feet in the grand pantheon of Trappist beers. Overall how would I rate it in comparison to other Trappist Blonds? Well this to me is the winner over the next nearest Trappist Blond - Westmalle Tripel - albeit a slight winner, due to the Westmalle being overtly dry compared to this. Does that make sense, or am I slowly descending into madness? That is the Achel Effect. 8/10.
Food match: Chargrilled salmon with asparagus in lime vinaigrette and grated parmesan cheese (if you will) - see there is a time and place for parmesan cheese and it isn’t on a tiramisu Schneider Weisse!
★ 2,259 characters
4.15/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance- Golden hazy yellow in color with a slight orange hue. Pours a bubbly three finger width head.
Aroma- Spicy/pepper notes, sweet dry grains, and tangy lemons.
Taste- The taste follows the nose very closely with peppery yeast providing a mild bitterness at first. The yeast settles down to a mellow lemon hops and sweet grainy malts into the finish.
Feel- High carbonation, medium bodied, hides the alcohol very well, and finishes with a dry/sweet finish.
Overall- Not the most flavorful or complex tripel, but still great and incredibly easy to drink. Certainly a must try when looking for a tripel, especially if you're looking to avoid the strong pepper/spice yeast some carry.
★ 699 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance- Golden hazy yellow in color with a slight orange hue. Pours a bubbly three finger width head.
Aroma- Spicy/pepper notes, sweet dry grains, and tangy lemons.
Taste- The taste follows the nose very closely with peppery yeast providing a mild bitterness at first. The yeast settles down to a mellow lemon hops and sweet grainy malts into the finish.
Feel- High carbonation, medium bodied, hides the alcohol very well, and finishes with a dry/sweet finish.
Overall- Not the most flavorful or complex tripel, but still great and incredibly easy to drink. Certainly a must try when looking for a tripel, especially if you're looking to avoid the strong pepper/spice yeast some carry.
★ 699 characters
2.71/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Drank out of the bottle like the barbarian that I am.
Look - It has a label. A cheesy label.
Smell - Skunky.
Taste - unimpressive and very pilsner-ish.
Feel - nothing notable here.
Overall - not worth the money and not on par with other Belgium offerings.
★ 260 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Drank out of the bottle like the barbarian that I am.
Look - It has a label. A cheesy label.
Smell - Skunky.
Taste - unimpressive and very pilsner-ish.
Feel - nothing notable here.
Overall - not worth the money and not on par with other Belgium offerings.
★ 260 characters
3.68/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - A nice hazy golden body with loads of streaming CO2 a nice foamy head that has pretty low retention in an over sized wine glass for the style.
S - A light whiff of orange and some sourness so it is like the orange is on the turn. Light spice and sweetness. Around average.
T - Boozy and strong the citrus is light and orangey with some sourness like the nose. This is cut by the sweet edge in the malts and it has the right amount of spice in here to make it slightly above average in terms of taste.
MF - Good linger and body with both being medium towards full but not quite there. Boozy and warming.
O - Looks and smeel of this one are only slightly above average for the style low head retention is a slight problem but the taste and Mouth feel help to keep it up there. Overall the balance is good.
★ 812 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - A nice hazy golden body with loads of streaming CO2 a nice foamy head that has pretty low retention in an over sized wine glass for the style.
S - A light whiff of orange and some sourness so it is like the orange is on the turn. Light spice and sweetness. Around average.
T - Boozy and strong the citrus is light and orangey with some sourness like the nose. This is cut by the sweet edge in the malts and it has the right amount of spice in here to make it slightly above average in terms of taste.
MF - Good linger and body with both being medium towards full but not quite there. Boozy and warming.
O - Looks and smeel of this one are only slightly above average for the style low head retention is a slight problem but the taste and Mouth feel help to keep it up there. Overall the balance is good.
★ 812 characters
4.2/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A great Tripel. Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into my Chimay goblet. Medium size delicately bubbly white head with better than average retention. Filmy bands of lacing on the glass.
Aroma is good as well. Strong yeast presence, light fruit (apples and pears), peppery spicing and no hint of alcohol.
Taste is fantastic. My favorite part of a great Tripel is an almost cheese like flavor from the yeast. This one has it. The yeast, fruit, and spicing are just right. Goes down very easily like most good Tripels.
Mouthfeel is rich, spicy, a little sweet and great!!! A must have for Tripel lovers.
★ 604 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A great Tripel. Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into my Chimay goblet. Medium size delicately bubbly white head with better than average retention. Filmy bands of lacing on the glass.
Aroma is good as well. Strong yeast presence, light fruit (apples and pears), peppery spicing and no hint of alcohol.
Taste is fantastic. My favorite part of a great Tripel is an almost cheese like flavor from the yeast. This one has it. The yeast, fruit, and spicing are just right. Goes down very easily like most good Tripels.
Mouthfeel is rich, spicy, a little sweet and great!!! A must have for Tripel lovers.
★ 604 characters
4.27/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
33 cl bottle (bb 15/05/15) into a tulip glass. Slightly hazy golden body, ample foamy head with good retention, heavy chunky lacing, slightly bubbly. Smells of lemon, pale biscuit malt and belgian yeast with pear and melon.
Taste is dry and begins with pale malt, followed by citrus and melon with belgian yeast and white pepper. Dry finish with spice and a light hop bitterness. Citric and peppery dry crisp aftertaste. Well balanced and pretty dry for a tripel.
Medium body, high stingy carbonation, creamy mouthfeel. Overall a fresh and crisp sipping beer, hiding its strength well.
★ 587 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
33 cl bottle (bb 15/05/15) into a tulip glass. Slightly hazy golden body, ample foamy head with good retention, heavy chunky lacing, slightly bubbly. Smells of lemon, pale biscuit malt and belgian yeast with pear and melon.
Taste is dry and begins with pale malt, followed by citrus and melon with belgian yeast and white pepper. Dry finish with spice and a light hop bitterness. Citric and peppery dry crisp aftertaste. Well balanced and pretty dry for a tripel.
Medium body, high stingy carbonation, creamy mouthfeel. Overall a fresh and crisp sipping beer, hiding its strength well.
★ 587 characters
3.62/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
330ml bottle poured into a tulip glass
Look: Slightly hazy without being sediment-y, and a glorious deep golden orange colour. Slightly off-white head, and plenty of it, with big retention and a lot of lacing.
Smell: Slightly sour oranges, spice and more than a hint of alcohol. Apart from the obvious alcohol, there's not much to set it apart from a lot of other tripels - the spices tend more towards the peppery. Overall, the impression is one of citrus fruit that has spent a little bit too much time in the fruit bowl..
Taste: The alcohol certainly comes through in the taste, although it's not what you'd call overpowering. There's an interesting trade off between the slightly sour citrus flavours and the sweeter malts with the spices acting as a sort of buffer zone between them. Overall, they come together pretty well with no one flavour type dominating.
Feel: Medium to full, with a suitable amount of fizz. The alcohol makes it feel a bit heavier than it actually is.
Overall: Pretty decent for a tripel and a good enough entry point if you're not familiar with the style. There are better examples out there, for sure, but there's also a hell of a lot worse. Worth trying, regardless.
★ 1,204 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
330ml bottle poured into a tulip glass
Look: Slightly hazy without being sediment-y, and a glorious deep golden orange colour. Slightly off-white head, and plenty of it, with big retention and a lot of lacing.
Smell: Slightly sour oranges, spice and more than a hint of alcohol. Apart from the obvious alcohol, there's not much to set it apart from a lot of other tripels - the spices tend more towards the peppery. Overall, the impression is one of citrus fruit that has spent a little bit too much time in the fruit bowl..
Taste: The alcohol certainly comes through in the taste, although it's not what you'd call overpowering. There's an interesting trade off between the slightly sour citrus flavours and the sweeter malts with the spices acting as a sort of buffer zone between them. Overall, they come together pretty well with no one flavour type dominating.
Feel: Medium to full, with a suitable amount of fizz. The alcohol makes it feel a bit heavier than it actually is.
Overall: Pretty decent for a tripel and a good enough entry point if you're not familiar with the style. There are better examples out there, for sure, but there's also a hell of a lot worse. Worth trying, regardless.
★ 1,204 characters
3.97/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly hazy gold with two fingers of dense white foam, thick sheet of lace for a couple of inches down. Smell: some "import grain" character which faded quickly, then... pilsy, floral, white grapes, candied lemon peel note. Taste: sugar cookie, overripe pear, sugared dried apricot blip, lemon-pepper and some citric bite. Really fine, velvety feel, finishing drying with grassy hopping punching through a sugary base. Best by 12/15. Pretty good.
★ 456 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly hazy gold with two fingers of dense white foam, thick sheet of lace for a couple of inches down. Smell: some "import grain" character which faded quickly, then... pilsy, floral, white grapes, candied lemon peel note. Taste: sugar cookie, overripe pear, sugared dried apricot blip, lemon-pepper and some citric bite. Really fine, velvety feel, finishing drying with grassy hopping punching through a sugary base. Best by 12/15. Pretty good.
★ 456 characters
3.94/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Had this on 2014-10-18 in Columbia, PA
A - Mildly-hazy golden-yellow with a big 3-finger white head and mild lace.
S - Melon, pale malt, flowery yeast. Sweet and appealing.
T - Follows the smell with melon and malt sweetness, herbal with a hint of white pepper, touch of lemon and grass and a reasonable amount of bitterness in the finish, which dissipates quickly.
M - Medium body and excessive carbonation. Perhaps there were enough residual sugars in the beer when bottled that additional fermenting happened. In any case, the excessive carbonation scrubbed the flavors away too quickly and was distracting.
O - I like the flavor and aroma, which are appealing and well balanced. Definitely a flavor profile I enjoy. I'll definitely try this again and hope for less carbonation.
★ 792 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Had this on 2014-10-18 in Columbia, PA
A - Mildly-hazy golden-yellow with a big 3-finger white head and mild lace.
S - Melon, pale malt, flowery yeast. Sweet and appealing.
T - Follows the smell with melon and malt sweetness, herbal with a hint of white pepper, touch of lemon and grass and a reasonable amount of bitterness in the finish, which dissipates quickly.
M - Medium body and excessive carbonation. Perhaps there were enough residual sugars in the beer when bottled that additional fermenting happened. In any case, the excessive carbonation scrubbed the flavors away too quickly and was distracting.
O - I like the flavor and aroma, which are appealing and well balanced. Definitely a flavor profile I enjoy. I'll definitely try this again and hope for less carbonation.
★ 792 characters
Trappist Achel 8° Blond from Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse
4.04
out of 5
based on 720 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: gives of a clear deep orange color. Gives a 2 fingertip high top of head that is staying there for a good time. Great lacings on the glass.
S: fruity with light fruits like apples,pears,apricot and banana. Yeast,candied sugar and peppercorn.
T&F: starts of with much the same as the aroma. Light fruits is dominant in the flavour with that sweet belgian yeast in the background. In the middle and the finish the spices get noticeable in the flavour. It finish of both sweet and bitter and is noticeable in the aftertaste for a good time.
O: a great and delicious trappist ale. I have never tried anything from achel so I was a pleasant suprise. If you fond of belgian beers you will not be disappointed of this one
★ 721 characters