Achel 8 Blond

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Appearance: Pours a hazy, effervescent, burnished gold body with a full, off-white head. Smell: Oh, what a stink! Aromatic scent of peaches, sliced melons, doughy malts, candi sugar, and a dash of booze. Taste: Pale malts and a candi sugar sweetness. A bit of toasted sourdough bread. A drizzle of fruity, tangy peach and melon juice. A decent pop of balancing bitterness. Slight peppery hints. Certainly more bitterness than I had expected on the dry, warming finish. Mouthfeel: A tad beyond medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Drinkability: Decent. It’s reasonably balanced and easy going for an 8% blonde.

*like it ok, would not buy* smell: mild berries, booze spicey zing, nannas. app: cloudy gold pee copper twing. flavor: smooth and creamy, lotsa frothy creamines, a hint of butter in it. not a lot of complexity. some pepper. not bad at all.. not that exciting but good. palate: fine.. to thick for the style. OA: good, not my kin folk but good. very easy to drink, no bad flavor. just bit bland. I like that it is not a banana shake.

Bottle + trappist glass. Pours pale orange with a white foamy head. Well carbonated and has a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. I just found it lacking aroma’s and nose a bit.

Clear dark blond colour with solid retained head. Sweet candy aroma. Flavour is also on the sweet side with some peachy elements coming through.

Bottle. Huge, creamy, white lasting head with good lacing. Sparkling, lightly cloudy yellow body. Sweet malt aroma of bread, cookie, caramel and grain, hop aroma of flowers and perfume, some honey and coriander. Full body, creamy texture and lively carbonation. The flavor is well balanced, moderate sweet and light/moderate bitter. A very good beer.

Pours a bit hazy, orange colour, an enormous foamy head that lasts long time. Taste is a combination of yeasty, earthy aromas, some spices, cinnamon, a hint of orange, crisp sweet edge, sometimes a kind of soapy feel. Large firm head. Leaves a bit dry feel to the mouth, nice hoppy bite. And really one hell of a head. Nice warming afterfeel.

UPDATED: JUN 25, 2009 33cl bottle from Vinmonopolet. Best before 2009-04-12. It poured a light golden colour with a big white creamy head that settled down very slowly in the glass. Aroma is yeast, hops, fruit and spices. The flavour is both sweet and bitter, but in a good way. Notes of hops, alcohol, spices, apples. It has a short aftertaste.

Hazy orange with a firm head and fine lacing. It’s a very lively beer with spice (coriander), fruits (oranges), perfume and yeast being dominant. The alcohol revales itself in the finish which is long and warming,