Westvleteren Extra 8

Brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Westvleteren, Belgium

[1172-20080302] Bottle. Very mild aroma only has notes of plastic and sweet wood. Hazy, dark brown body with a long-lasting foamy off-white head. Sweet boozy malt flavour has again that bit of wooden plastic plus outer hints of fig and fruit and sweetness. Medium-full body. Muted but still very nice.
(@ In De Vrede; Westvleteren, BE)

Bottle 2004 vintage poured a clear copper brown with a lasting amber head leaving behind nice lacing as I consume it. Aromas of carmel, spice, dark fruit and brown sugar. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, spice, dates, pears and brown sugar with a smooth lingering lightly sweet spioce finish.

On tap at In De Vrede. Dark brown with a large light tan head. Aroma is a grainy malt. Decent sweetness, some bitterness. Must be better with some age. Disappointing.

Nice beer with a plumy raisony slighty hoppy flavour. Dark and rich, but not as much as the 12. Carbonation was moderate with a nice lacing. I enjoyd this beer thourghly.

Bottle. Aroma: Floury bread dough, yeast, caramel, dark fruits (plums and currants), light pepperiness, anise, toasted nuts. Appearance: Deep rich brown in color with a small chestnut highlight. Light beige head was full and creamy with good retention. Good lacing. Flavor: Bread dough and yeast, dark fruits and chocolate, very light smoke and anise. Orange and caramel. Some cleansing bitterness at the end leads into a dry finish. Alcohol builds a little with each sip. Palate: Medium-full bodied. High carbonation. Some light alcohol warmth in back of mouth. Overall: Another great one from Westvleteren. Layers on layers in aroma and taste and a near perfect balance of mouthfeel and carbonation. Very good.

(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.