3.9 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
reddish brown with spuratic bubbles chasing each other around and settling in frothy white soap suds on top..
aroma was a squeeze of sour grapes, a pinch of white pepper, and chunks of peanut brittle..
Juicy plums, puckery grapefruits, rubber brownies..
Upon a second pouring, the peanut brittle aroma was more refined and also let out brown sugar cries..
Rubbery texture..diluted chocolate..citric-membrane bitterness..all hiding the alcohol well..
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Started plummy sweet, moved strongly into bubble gum territory, a hint of chocolate and anise and spices. Started with a good head and left plenty of nearly invisible lacing. Palate was good, but could be thicker. Aftertaste is chewy and left me with a lot to contemplate. It’s complexity was there, but paled in comparison to the Rochefort 10. On to Westy 12 next week! (This bottle cap is stamped 24/05/05)
4.6 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
Nice brown color with a nice beige head. Fruity and delicious, this brew is the best belgium ive tasted. I cant wait to try the 12
4.6 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
UPDATED: APR 23, 2008 Bottle...This beer rocks!... I wanted to re-rate this beer, I think I scored it just a tad bit high during my first tasting. It’s still a great beer, but is no longer my favorite Belgian. That honor now goes to the Westy 12. Thanks go out to hopsrus for my second tasting of this excellent ale.
3.7 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Mouth watering aroma of enormous complexity. Very pretty head which lasts throughout, dissapting to a film. Served at cellar temperature, I found the flavor to be nice, but not much more. Certainly some oak, plum and nuts, but on the whole rather restrained, if not a bid frigid.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
I really don’t get what all the hoopla is about. Yeah, it’s a good belgian ale. But it’s not a great belgian ale. At least not good enough to warrent in the top 10 rated beers. Hints of tannin, oak, a little syrup sweetness. Hoped it would mature as it warmed and produce some more flavors, but I was dissapointed. Bring on the Westy 12!
4.3 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
This is really good, but a bit weak for my tastes. I adore the candy aromas and the butterscotch flavor but there’s not too much else. I prefer the 12. Obviously I’m being picky considering my rating!
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 12/20
Strong alcohol and bubblegum, lots of candy, feel and flavors are thin and spirited with alcohol fire, sweet and tasty but not a champ by any stretch.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
tantalizing musky alcohol induced nose. murky brown color with a light head. I’ve had the 12, and I must say that the 8 is great, but not quite as rich. incredibly complex flavor and finish. hints of grain, maybe even pecan in the beginning, perfect hop mix in the finish. yum yum.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
UPDATED: MAR 16, 2007 Good head. Malty aroma with plums and orange. Full bodied. Very complex taste with plums, caramel, licorice, coffee, apple and pear. Alcohol present, but well hidden. A bit syrupy.
Is this a great beer? Absolutely! Is it a classic? Yes! Buy it whenever you can. But is it worth a top 5 spot? I’m not sure...
Westvleteren 8 2005, tasted 06.03.07. Malty aroma, not too abundant. Caramelpudding. Malty, caramelly flavor with hints of cinnamon and clove. Fluid bread, extremely well balanced. (8 4 9 4 16 = 4.1).
Westvleteren 8 1993 or 1995, tasted 06.03.07. Malt, porto and a hint of coreander in the aroma. Malty flavor with milk chocolate and caramel. Has become thinner, but still a firm and well balanced beer. (8 4 9 3 16 = 4.0)
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