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

4.06/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really enjoy this style of beer and have been trying find (and drink) all of the Trappist ales. This one I finally got a hold of and am drinking it as I write this review. My favorite Tripel is probably Chimay and I would put this Achel Blonde neck-and-neck with it, though I would still prefer the Chimay by a nose. The taste is warm and welcoming, not a strong aftertaste, and the feel is medium-complex with a nice aroma. I recommend it!

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4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a foggy copper with two fingers of white foam even after an easy-going half pour from an 11.2oz bottle. Head retention is good. Aroma is dark and stone fruits, stone floor, strong yeast spice and esters, banana, clove, bready malts and very light spicy hops. Nice spice and smoothness thanks to the yeast. Flavor profile is dark fruits, stone, banana, clove, spicy yeast ester, spicy hops and bready malts. It's round and soft, working the palate through each note without pushing anything aggressively. Mouth feel is medium-thick with a fuzzy, velvety, linen texture. Overall, smooth, with the light show coming from the spicy vs. sweet, delivering a balanced experience.

Served in a 15.5oz Spiegalau tulip from a 11.2oz bottle.

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4.14/5  rDev +1.5%
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

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4.17/5  rDev +2.2%
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.

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4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
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!

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3.66/5  rDev -10.3%
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.

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4.31/5  rDev +5.6%
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".

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3.96/5  rDev -2.9%
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

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4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
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.

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4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
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.

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3.86/5  rDev -5.4%
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.

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3.91/5  rDev -4.2%
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

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4/5  rDev -2%
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.

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3.81/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

330ml bottle poured into a chalice.

Cloudy amber gold in color with very thick creamy white head, it stays with excellent retention before slowly subsiding to an everlasting fluffy layer on the surface and leaving tight lacing all around.

Bread from malt, herbal hop, floral, honey, and Belgian yeast character of mild fruitiness in kind of pear, peach, and apricot as well as some peppery spice.

The taste is built upon the foundation of bready malt that provides moderate sweetness. Yeast decorates and fulfills with notes of apricot, pear, peach, sourness like an orange peel, and some peppery spice. Hop is there too with its subtle bitter bite and herbal.

Medium body with silky smooth mouthfeel and low to moderate carbonation through the palate, the feeling is well-rounded with a pleasantly dry finish.

Considering not much complex comparing to the other Trappists, still pretty much to enjoy with.

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4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a lovely light hazy body and medium foaming head.

Aroma is on the hoppy side, difficult to pick much else up beyond the alcohol.

Taste is good, malty and a nice warming burn down the throat.

Feel is pretty good too for this type of brew, packs a nice punch.

Overall very good, well worth a try

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4.77/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 33cl bottle (Best By Date: 05 November 2019) into a Affligem, short-stemmed chalice glass. Assuming a Best By Date of two-and-a-half years, this was bottled 05 May, 2017...(but this is just a guess since I purchased it in Brussels at a grocery store where all there beer is fresh)

A - Pours a light gold color with (thanks to bottle refermentation) a 1-2 finger of a white, fluffy head. A quintessential appearance for a strong Blond Trappist beer. (5.0)

S - Flowers, Honeysuckle, Pear, Peach, a hint of citrus and Cotton Candy all infiltrate the the nose. (4.75)

T - Bready malt sweetness followed by mild bitterness that is a collection of flowers and stone fruit. There is also the added not of Spearmint once the beer warms. (4.75)

M - The body is Medium-Minus, elevating the drinkability of an 8% ABV Blond to new heights. (4.75)

O - The Trappist's know how to brew a strong Blond! Honestly, Achel Blond reminds me of a lighter version of Westmalle Triple. Being that Westmalle Triple is my favorite Trappist (golden) beer, that makes Achel a very, VERY close second! I hope to learn more of Achel's brewing process...but until now, I will enjoy. (4.75)

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3.81/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Lively bubbles in a golden haze with a good steady head of soapy foam. Strong smell of malt, grass and citrus. Same flavours in the taste. Mildly sweet with a modest bitter aftertaste. Medium-bodied, crispy and easy to drink. Balance and intensity of this beer are fine, and it's a beer that does deliver, but it's also a bit boring in my opinion.

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4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle
8.0% ABV
Bar Hop (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
January 23, 2014
Trappist Number 21
The beer pours a hazed medium gold colour with a quarter inch snow white head and plenty of effervescence. The aroma is yeast, grass, some citrus, and a touch of honey. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with above average carbonation. Flavour is sweet, grainy with notes of honey and yeast. Quite enjoyable.

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4.14/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had Achel 8° Blond poured from 11.2-oz. bottle, stamped "21/11/15," imported from Indiana, into snifter.

Classic Tripel, from a harder-to-find Trappist brewery.

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4.04/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a wonderful mixture of gold orange, and brown with classic cloudy haze. Excellent fluffy head, that quickly dissipates and gives way to classic lacing. A very nice-looking beer.

The nose is inundated immediately by classic Belgian yeasts and phenols, providing a fresh fruity (think raisins and other dark fruits) aroma.

The taste starts out much like the nose--the Belgian yeast is fantastic and very "in your face" with plenty of fruity notes as well. All seems well, but the finish is pretty bitter for this style, and seems a little off. Just a little too rough.

The mouthfeel is crisp without being overly dry. Perhaps a little "thin" for the style.

Overall, a solid trappist, just a little "hoppy" for my taste.

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4.56/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one pours a murky golden brown...with a nice fluffy head and massive sticky lacing. The smell is of Belgian yeasts, bread and fruits....The star of the show here is the Belgian yeast...Its a classic old school trappist strain that is immediately noticeable. Fruity, a little sweetness, some malty richness....But still, its the apples-hints, yeast and breadiness that stands out. It finishes quite peppery and spicy with a smidge of bitterness. The carbonation here is medium and allows the ale to finish creamy instead of simply dry. Pretty good. Potable.

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4.27/5  rDev +4.7%
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

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4.16/5  rDev +2%
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.

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4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
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.

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4.27/5  rDev +4.7%
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.

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