Westvleteren Extra 8

(Bottle at Poirotti on 2008-04-30) Deep dark brown. Big tan head. Chocolate and salty liquorice in nose. Quite full palate. Salty liquorice and chocolate in taste, too. Some bitterness and acidiness. Bitter aftertaste. Perhaps too young.

From my backlog. Pours a gorgeous fluffy head and great lacing. Deeply refined essence of dark plums, raisons and dates drift into my nose. Outstanding esters from the complicated fermentation process along with that incredible dark candi syrup which provides a tapestry of flavours upon the palate. Far into the experience, wave after wave of deep layers of complexity still make themselves known. Deep levels of caramelization that dance in and out of your senses along with the delicate aroma of northern European hops help to lend balance. The finish itself just continues on and on without any indication that it will end. I find myself basking in an afterglow of an experience I am lucky enough to have experienced on several occasions. Certainly one of the highest examples of brewing artistry.

Dark brown with a creamy head. Nose and taste is close to the 12. Lots of malts, dark fruits and sweetness. Well balanced and only slight alcohol appearance. Not as complex as the 12.

Bottle. Pours with a brownish color, and a larger head with lots of carbonation. Aromas of raisin, plums. Flavors of dark fruit, molassess and a bit of a bitterness in the finish. Also some alcohol hotness, it could mellow a little.

the appearance was brownish in color with a hint of red to it. the head is creamy and thick with beautiful lacing and great retention. noticibly carbonated. the smell is where it’s at with this beer. at first it was less than expected, but the smells really came out as it warmed. the smell was big on the caramel and toffee end for me. the alcohol really settled into the smell over time as well. the taste is of caramel, chocolate, toasty and malty. i’d best describe it as a chocolate covered cherry maltball. the mouthfeel is creamy and thick with great carbonation. i loved the taste this beer. well balanced and not too much alcohol taste.