Maredsous 8

Brewed by Brouwerij Moortgat
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium

Tasted 01/11/2008. 330ml bottle from Regionals. Like he said but with a slight spicy and lacquer-like alcoholic qualities. Very nice.

330 ml bottle from a gift pack purchased at the LCBO. pours clear deep red with a lovely beige head. loses one point for clarity because i like my belgian’s a bit hazy. aroma are dark fruit and roasted malt with a touch of alcohol. flavours are very dark belgian ale oriented but lacking the depth and quality you get in really good examples. this is a servicable brew that is somewhere between a BSA and a dubble.

pours a dark but clear red brown with a beautiful frothy head slow to dissipate. Aroma holds a lot of clove, nutmeg, dark fruit, and yeast- fairly typical belgian smell, but still quite nice. Flavor is less sweet, with more malt presiding on the tongue with a bit of roastiness. Palate is a bit thin, but a very serviceable belgian.

Pours deep reddish-brown. 1/2’’ tan head that settles to a thin sheet of creamyness . Aroma of caramel, a little chocolate toffee, some spice at the end. Begins begins quite roasty, with a little bit of hops, spices, caramel, and dark fruits. Ends crisp, with some spice lingering at the end.

Bottle from Regional. Pours a deep brown/red, with a tan head. A well spiced aroma, with caramel infused with vanilla and fruit backing up. Flavour starts with some fruit, almost like cherry. Roast malty bitter chocolate flavours sneak in behind the fruit, and dance on the tongue for a while and then linger after. Ends bitter and dry making one beg for another sip. The best Bruin I’ve had to date, incredibly complex with all flavours balanced. The 8% alcohol doesn’t even dip its toe in the flavour, making it highly palatable. Simply amazing.

Deep chestnut/amber pour with a 3/4’’ tan head and layered lacing, a wonderful appearance to be modest. Fruity plums and sugary raisins countered by an aroma of flowers and fresh, earthy yeast. Medium bodied and smooth. Calmly balanced with an enjoyable aftertaste. Flavors of heavily fermented dark fruits and sweet caramel. Light coffee taste with some vanilla hints. Nice treat.

Bottle 33cl. Pours a murky brown colour with some carbonation and a good size, lasting head. Smell is very fruity and pleasant. Can detect pears and oranges and also a hint of banana. Taste is a bit smokey with nice fruity taste mixed into it. Also nice warmth going down.

tasting at GDBTF on 10/18/08. amber in color with a bit of tan head. sour on the nose with some dark fruits. this carries through the mouth and has an average spice quality. a sub par Belgian IMO.