Westvleteren Extra 8

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

Slightly murky brown, light tan head. Nose is caramel, alcohol, cocoa, some strawberry. Flavor is caramel, hints of spice, a little fruit.

33 cl bottle courtesy fonefan, best before 06.06.09. Gorgeous dark ruby mahogany colour with a fully lasting rich, creamy, pillowy, fizzy, and rocky beige head. Raisin, chocolate, plum, cherry, toffee, brown sugar, canided fruit, date, fig, and very light alcohol aroma with some woody notes. Dark fruit dominates the flavour - lots of fig, raising, and plum - with some toffee and molasses, hints of chocolate and cherry, and a light vinous finish with a touch of alcohol. Full bodied, rich, soft, and smooth mouthfeel. Beautiful beer.

This is probably as close to perfection in a bottle as it’s going to get. Wonderful vinous quality about it and a little spiciness. It has a very appealing green apple tartness balanced by some candy sugar sweetness that makes this one of the most enjoyable beers I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. smooth, light textured and silky on the palate. The monks did themselves very proud!

HUGE thanks to my dear friend peabody for this beer (as well as the 12). Beautiful brew. The aroma is excellent; I could keep my nose planted in this glass all day. As for the taste...oh boy. Too many things to count, just know this: this is an extremely delightful and very drinkable beer. It’s wonderful. Some people may look at this as the "little brother" of the Westy 12, but this is great.

Westvleteren Extra 8 12 oz bottle Brewed 10/06, beatified 06/07 Moderate pour in a chalice and brandy snifter. Poured a mysterious dark brown with amber red highlights with a moderate somewhat lasting frothy off white head. Smelt of moderate candi sugar, spices ( cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise), dried figs and raisins, doughy yeast. Flavor was upfront strong sweet candi sugar and sweet dark bread and bitter spices. Very reminiscent of a warm slice of buttered cinnamon raisin bread or hot cross buns. On the follow through a buzzing strong bitter grassy hops presence is felt as well as a multitude of spices, with a moderate yeasty kick and sweet bread and caramel flavors on an average to long finish. Palate was medium bodied, oily to creamy,softly carbonated, lightly astringent and slightly alcoholic. Overall, this is like the 12 but with a less pronounced alcoholic aspect. The 8 seemed a bit hoppier too. Great balance again, in depth, strength and length of flavors. Overall, excellent stuff. Thank you monks! Much thanks to mreusch for the trade!

2005 Bottle. Hands down, the best appearance I’ve ever seen in a beer. Can I get a 6/5 please? Perfect frothy off-white head and a dark brownish mahogany color. Taste was caramel, figs, molasses, candi sugar, spices, a little bit of chocolate, and a fair amount of yeast. This thing definitely gets a whole lot better as it warms up. I’m not sure what these monks do to this brew - but just like the 12, it leaves a unique tingly film all over the mouth. I prefer the 12, though. Great beer!

Bottle courtesy after4ever. Thanks Tom! Pours a clear mahogany with a mountainous off-white head. Sweet and creamy full body with moderate carbonation. This beer smells and tastes more like malt than any beer that I’ve had for a long time. There are plenty of other things going on here, but it really seems like a malt celebration. Aroma and taste of figs, cookie dough, almonds, leading to a softly tang finish.

330. Thanks, Maria! Pours deep grainy and murky dark brown. Impossibly massive head, even splitting the beast between two glasses--20:1 ratio between head and actual beer for a good 30 seconds. Wet, earthy, leafy, and loamy nose. Medium body; pleasantly restrained carb and a fullness that’s not overbearing or overly weighty. Interesting mix of dark wet earth and some dark nut and cola notes along with it. Nice mild sticky sour finsh--great stuff; thanks again, Maria!