Achel 8 Blond

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij De Achelse Kluis
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Hamont-Achel, Belgium

Bottle. A - Hazy, brownish gold with a large beige foamy head. Moderate retention and decent lacing. S - Some fruitiness (peach, apricot, some citrus). Also some dark sugar. T - Good amount of malts and breadiness along with the fruitiness described in the smell and some dark sugar. Also a bit of clove and pepper present. A bit of medicinal taste as well. M - Medium to light body and a good amount of carbonation. Fairly crisp and slightly creamy. Also has a bit of a drying effect. D - Good balance of sweet and spice makes it fairly easy to drink. Notes: Good beer, but not as intense and flavorful as other Trappists beers.

Pours a slightly cloudy yellow orange with a thick white head. Aroma is citrus, bread, Belgian yeast spiciness. Flavor was similar. This was a realy tasty beer.

Pours yellow with a white head. Subtle aroma of yeast and some citrus. Flavors of malt, citrus, spice and bread. Yummy!

Thanks to the wife for bringing this back to the States last year. Fizzy upon opening. Blond yellow pour. Corny, farmhouse funk with touch of lemon. Flavor is rich and spicy. Good malt. Sweet finish.

bottle bb 6/19/2010 consumed 10/18/2009. hazy golden yellow pour with a big ol’ whitish head which continues to grow out of the top of the glass making it look a lot like a mushroom. when it decides to start falling, clingy spots of foamy poofs stick to the glass. it smells a lot like dried peaches... along with some old stale hops, wheaty grain, yeast, some spices, lemon and honey-like maltiness/sweetness. there is something blood-like or iron-y in the flavor... which mixes with notes of skunky/dusty grains, some bruised apples (galas) which were sent through the juicer and a bitter metallic character which never disappears. it tastes a little stale if that is at all possible to comprehend. alcohol is well disguised amidst the confounding goings on... the medium body is crisp and highly (overly) carbonated. something is just off in this... 6/3/6/3/13/3.1

Slight dry, sweet aroma. Light gold/orange-clear with a small white head. Its a fairly dry beer still cara-malt sweet and belgian yeast spiciness with a kick. A bit of an earthy hop and fruity undertones (pear). Still very blonde.

Poured a cloudy yellowish orange with a big head that stays some time. Aroma was citrus, sweet malts and a hint of flowers. The taste was much the same as the aroma but more mild... with a light bitter aftertaste. Overall I liked it but it did not hold up to the other Trappist blonds I have had. It was not as complex and lacked the layers that Orval and Westmalle have. I think I would have liked it more if the taste was more bold. However, I would try another as I think the Trappist beers have some variation each batch.

Bottle. Almost clear orange, fluffy white head that is extremely well retained. Nose has citrus zest, earth, leather and flowers. Some alcohol and acid, too. Quite active carbonation on the tongue. Fruity and sharp when at 11C with cloves and coriander seed. Now at 14C - this appears to be one of those warmer-than-you’d think Belgians - it’s opening up into something quite complex with a real sweet/ bitter/ sour balance. The finish changes too, from just dry to dry with some sweetness followed by bitterness. Shame I wasted the first half of this.