Westvleteren Extra 8

Brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Westvleteren, Belgium

A classic trappist beer to celebratae my 28th. Poured from bottle into the goblet Westvleteren glass. Lovely foamed head. Very creamy on the texture. The beer is dark brown. redding out at the bottom. The beer is prominent of caramel; rich dark malts, dried fruits, brown sugar and a touch leathery. A lovely beer. Drinkability is good for the abv. The mouth feel is well balanced and the finish is moderate with notes of caramel and spices. This is aged a little. I haven’t rated it yet so thought it would be an appropriate beer to continue with after Pannepot. Some good beers to go through today and this is just the start. A classic beer.

Rating #1700. The cap is hard to read but I believe it is 23.3.10. Pours a murky orangish brown with a thin tan head. The nose is plums, dates, a touch of tobacco, cola and nuts. The taste is dark fruits, brown sugar, chocolate, spice, bready yeast and spiked raisins in the finish. Medium mouthfeel with prickly carbonation on the tip of the tongue. Good beer. Not the mind blowing experience I was hoping for, but then again what beer actually could live up to the hype this one and the 12 gets.

Bottle @ In de Vrede, served too cold. Deep brown pour with a thick tanned head. Aroma of citrus, yeast and spices. Flavour is bittersweet fruit and yeast. Very good beer but no rave. Coldness brought it down a bit I think.

Pours dark brown. Fantastically smooth malt, dark fruit and spice. Delicious and remarkably easy to drink.

Careful my friends it foam like a volcano. Softer than the Westy 12 it smells nature flower honey and malt. Almost creamy, full of sweet sugar. I am an atheist but I almost want to believe in God after having tasted this wonder

Pours a reddish brown with a thick off white head. Aroma is dark fruit and some spice. Similar to the 12 but with a little less alcohol kick. Some woody notes and a good malt kick. A bit tart/funky, but really nice. Excellent beer.

Bottle. Pours medium brown with smallish tan coloured rocky head. Minimal lacing as the head falls away. Aromas initially show plenty of bread, this changes however with caramel taking over as the beer warms. Some vanilla, a little alcohol and some darkish furit also. Amazing aromas.Flavours are not quite as complex as the nose, but bloody amazing all the same. Some malt sweetness, more caramel, some toasted nuttiness and just a little alcohol. Mouthfeel is very creamy and sets off this beer amazingly. Superb

Driving 800 kilometers I was able to get two cases of Westvleteren 8 and I am already 3 bottles down. I know I make people jealous when I say that I still have 45 to go. The beer was bottled on January 13, so it has aged for only a month. But it’s already very good. It’s hard not to try a bottle every other day. Has a beautiful dark brown color and fruity aroma. Next effort will be getting the 12.