Westmalle Extra

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Style: Belgian Ale
Malle, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

I poured a 11.2oz bottle into a Trappist chalice glass.

Appearance: Amazing bright yellow color with an almost lime green tint to it. Most of the pour is crystal clear until the yeast from the bottom of the bottle makes its way in, giving the beer a very cloudy lava-lamp appearance. It forms a surprisingly large, bright white, foamy head which retains well for quite a while, but eventually does dissipate completely as most Trappist beer heads do.

Smell: Lemon and white grape seem to be the most predominant scents here, although I would not classify this beer as strongly aromatic. There’s a light flowery fragrance, but a noticeable peppery aroma from the Belgian yeast.

Taste: There’s a difference between sheer intensity and true robustness and Westmalle Extra is a great example of this. As soon as the beer hits my lips and the tip of my tongue my entire mouth is overwhelmed by the presence of energy. The palate here is very dry and bitter up front with a spastic, peppery sensation to boot. It takes a few swigs to get used to and then the genuine flavors start to develop, most notably white grape and lemon with some residual green fruit in the finish and some spices in the aftertaste.

Old World beers like this derive their taste from their yeast rather than their malts and hops, as neither component is really evident in this beer. Like other beers from the region there is some banana and clove-like flavors, plus lemon and a very dry white grape not unlike white. The taste is pleasing while it’s in the mouth as it’s actually quite sweet and tastes of organic fruit, but the finish and aftertaste are extremely dry. A good comparison might be Sprite made with saltwater.

Drinkability: This is my third Trappist "Pater’s bier" (beer intended for the monks’ personal consumption), and I’m still surprised at just how energetic these beers are. The mouthfeel is very peppery; the body is highly effervescent; and the aftertaste is mostly clean but does leave a slightly dry aftertaste. I would not consider this a smooth beer until well into the drink after the carbonation has died down (as has the flavor). It’s only 4.8% ABV which seems about right, but I can’t imagine sessioning this beer.

Overall, this is what I’ve come to expect in a Trappist Belgian blond and while it’s not my favorite style of beer, it is quite enjoyable for what it’s worth.

Thnx Jbrus. Orange colored brew. Sweet, yeasty aroma. Flavor has got yeast, some apples, fruits, nice palate. Drinkable brew, but not very exciting.

Pours blonde and fairly transparent with a quick white head. Nose is sweet fruit, yeast, and a touch of bitter citrus peel. Flavor is similar, with a small amount of herbal and hoppy tastes mixed in as well, with emphasis on the belgian yeast. Finish is quick and dry. Is basically like a good tripel with smaller malt and (obviously) less alcohol.

(Bottle, 0.33, handed to me by a dutchman called Joris at Kerstbierfestival 2010, thanks!, 20110624) The beer poured golden and clear. Its head was medium sized, white and it disappeared quickly. Aroma had hops, fruitiness and mildly Belgian yeastiness. Palate was medium bodied and mildly fizzy with medium carbonation. Flavours were fruitiness, sweetness, malts, hops, grain, milldy Belgian style yeastiness and medium bitterness. Aftertaste was fruity and bitter. A really tasty beer for being so mild. I wish this were easier to get.

Very easy to drink since it’s so light. The low ABV makes the taste and mouthfeel a bit dull.

Clear Golden/yellow with micro sediments and a small White head. Doræ int and belgian fruity yeast aroma. Palate feels watery compared to the promising aroma, but thats just a cudos to the aroma. Medium sweet and light bitter flavor

Servida en The Drunk Monk (Mataró). Según comenta en la carta, producida solamente dos veces al año para consumo propio de los monges. Única oportunidad de probarla en el estado español. Para mi gusto, excesivamente carbónica pero muy buena rubia. En ciertos aspectos recuerda lejanamente a una lambica.

Alkoholischer, etwas brotiger Geruch. Leichter, getreidig herber Antrunk, leicht, aber vollmundig. Etwas brotig, fast erscheint das Bier alkoholisch! Leichter Nachgeschmack, wobei sich herbe und malzige Töne abwechseln, dbaie deutlich hopfig und getreidig. Test vom 29.5.2007, Gebinde: Glasflasche Noten: 13,11,10,10,-,11