Maredsous 8

750ml bottle. Pours a thick, reddish brown with a medium beige head. The aroma is citrusy and indicative of a good amount of hops. The flavor agrees, and also included caramel notes, along with a musty character. It was mostly dry, but there was some sweetness to it up front. There is a little alcohol bite in the finish. Left a nice lacing on the glass.

bottle. Hazy dark brwon colour, creamy beige head. Full-bodied, spicy and malty, slightly hoppy. Hints of caramel, chocolate and toffee. Pleasant mf, medium carbonation.

One of the hoppier strong brunes widely available in Belgium. Tough to beat with roasted poultry. Pours dark, reddish-brown with chestnut highlights, big fluffy beige head recedes to persistent layer. Nose of raisins, prunes, port, with fainter hop notes. Light fruity sweetness rolls into mild hoppy bitterness, faint roasty notes. Relatively high carbonation does block some of the early flavor, but adds something to refreshment value. Easy-drinking for 8%. This is another one that can save you in Belgium when a pub’s selection is otherwise dire.

Poured from a corked 750-ml bottle a dep brown color with a tint of red. Huge fluffy white head that went down slowly. A malty smell of caramel and dark fruits. The taste was complex with a lot going on. Herbal spice was noted along with a fruity taste (especially banana). Also seemed to note some caramel and toffee.

Bottle: Clear deep red colour, nice creamy head. Aroma of yeasty,caramel, citrus and flowers. Flavor is almost the same here, some nutty mouthfeelings was here too. Thin to medium body, and a thin to medium fruity finish.

Bottle; poured a translucent dark burgandy color with nice tan head with great retention that laced the glass. Aroma of sweet dark roast with fruity notes. Flavor was sweet dark roast malt, slight bitter and flavor hops. Medium carbonation, medium body....good beer!

Cork blew right out of the 750 bottle when the cage was removed. Hazy burgundy appearance with a large, dense, beige head and very good lacing. Yeasty, dark fruit, sweet malt aroma. Soft, almost lush, caramel malt taste; low keyed hop flavor; some woody/nutty traits. Rich, full bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel, alcohol that is well hidden, and a mildly spiced, long lasting finish. While maybe not as complex as the Westy 8, this one still has a lot going for it.

This is a beautiful pour. Dark brown with a big explosive head. Aroma is also delightful being full of dark fruit such as raisin. Earthiness is also present. Flavor is also fruity but with yeast and more alcohol than the ABV would indicate. Spices are quite noticeable and sugar appears late and seems to increase. A good beer all the way through.