Achel 5 Blond

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

This rating marks my completion of having a beer from every trappist brewery. Could have done this long ago, just never bothered to buy an Achel bottle. Clear golden pour that hints plenty towards orange with a huge bright white head that lasts for ages, sticks in big clumps, and laces a ton. Grainy Belgian aroma with plenty of sweet sugars and funky and spicy yeast as well. Sweet flavorful pale malt flavor with sugars, candy, sweetness, and even some nice dryness as well. Huge high carbonation with lasting chalkiness as well.

Tap. Large dense white head over a hazy yellow amber body. Excellent lacing. Strong grain-bread aroama with a spicey (coriander) taste with a long bitter, dry, touch astringent finish. Medium bodied with light carbonation.

On tap at Achelse Kluis w/ eds4bama. Pours a hazy medium yellow. Aroma is lightly malty, hoppy, yeasty. Flavor is moderately sweet, citrus.

On tap at Achelse Kluis. Beautiful orangey golden with a lacing head. Good fruity nose with hints of orange zest. In the mouth a nice blend of honey, hay and fruit. Dry finish. Lekker

One of the two Trappist brewers (the other being the allusive Westvleteren) whose beers arn’t available in Australia. Clean bright blond beer, fluffy white head, seemly not as characteristically dense as most Belgians. Sweet sort of aromal spicy fruits, apricot and peach, seems hop but probably isn’t. Quite rich body, low carbonation, syrup-like texture. Bold spicy flavours; pear, peach and apricots, plenty to keep it interesting. Probably not on par with other Trappists, but this only a "blond" as opposed to a "tripel".

Golden with a light haze and a nice light white head. Wonderful malt aroma. Smells a bit like a haystack. Smooth and light mouthfeel. Light and drinkable with a subtle earth hop finish and light citrus tones. Notes: At Achel Monestary

On tap at the brewery cafe, sun splitting the clouds as I entered the courtyard. Had this with a bowl of soup. It serves a hazy, straw or yellow-golden body under a small, white head leaving cute lacings. Citrusy, fruity nose with a wheaty touch. Flowery hops with some pepper and pinecones. The flavor has citrus and pale malts with a fine piney hop touch. Pleasant bitter finish with some citrus. Full-bodied, dry and nicely carbonated. A beer that might be simple in many ways, but it’s quite complex, tasteful and moreish. Wouldn’t mind returning to the cafe to have this one again. 091008

On tap (@De Kluis):Hazy, pale golden, smaller lacy white head; mineralic nose with a zesty and hoppy background; moderate, quite dry bitter flavour, light to medium bodied; lingering tart and zesty aromas in the hoppy bitter-sweet finish. Good session beer, unfortunately served tooooo cold.........