Westvleteren Extra 8

Bottle, Winter Ale Festival, Manchester. Lucky to snaffle the last bottle of this, and surely worth every penny of the do re mi. Hard to really do this justice as there was so much happening in all departments, and was still revealing itself down to the last sip. Quite an assault on the senses. Aroma had something different with every inhale....All kinds of fruit and spice, yet something indefinable, a freshness that put me in mind of a pine forest on a cold crisp morning. Flavour had spices and caramel, brown sugar, pear with a nice bit of carbonation. Everything gliding down smoothly, leading to a top notch lingereing bitter finish. A spiritual drink that could probably only be crafted by monks.

Pours dark brown, roasted malts, bready, dark fruits, caramel, little anise, little bannana, slight spice.

Pours a dark espresso brown with thick light tan head. Aroma is bubblegum and caramel with toasted malts. Flavor is dark caramel malts with notes of vanilla bean. Body is thick and creamy with a fair amount of carbonation. A great beer.

Having tried many, many great Belgian beers, I still struggle with the ratings given to Westvletern beers. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very good beer, but no where near the best I have had in Belgium. It is worth trying...if you can get your hands on one.

Pours a cloudy dark brown and is quite similar in appearance to its big brother, the 12. The flavor is not nearly as profound or as complex though. This one’s a little more yeasty, bready, authentically Belgian all the way around. The alcohol is very subtle; This is a lot smoother than the 12. Overall, this is very good, but not a life-changing event as one would anticipate, considering all of the hype over this abbey.

Nov 23, 2006 Bottle from Beer Mania. Wow! Another fantastic spicy ale. Smells deliscious. Taste winds up, fruity, spicey, alcohol mouthfeel and then smoothens out, silk-like. Warms the stomach mintues after and leaves lacey feel on the lips. Just divine.

Thanks to Cletus for the bottle. Consumed on Christmas day along side of the infamous 12. Pours a dark brown, not quite as murky as the 12 but still a bit murky. Small tan head. Aromas are a bit citrusy, sweet fruits, cherry. Flavors are the same fruity, and sweet, not as much going on here as its big brother, but still a tasty brew you won’t catch me turning down.

Acquired bottle via trade with BelgianBeergal. Pours a murky brown color with a prominent mocha head and mild carbonation. Earthy. Smells of anise and yeast. Tastes of both with additional notes of raisin, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, vinegar, and tart cherry. The depth of this beer is amazing. Well worth the wait.