Westvleteren Extra 8

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

I’m not for certain, but I may have enjoyed this more then the 12. Bright mahogany but something deep about it. Ruby red more like it. Big beige head. On the nose, some apples, cinnamon and a little smoke. Creamy, frothy and with really attractive lacing on the glass. I couldn’t get over that. Taste was very generous with caramel and toast, a little biscuity character on the finish. Overall one of the best Belgian Strong Ales I’ve had in a long time. Thanks John!

Very, very malty stuff. Quite candyish, buckets full of interesting sugars. Cola-ish, maltiness is very prevalent but still sweetly enjoyable. Surprised at the sweetness of this one, very interesting stuff, but could use a bit more depth.

Bottle. Pours a hazy dark brown with dense, proportional beige head. The aroma is very lovely, lots of dark fruits, almost like blackberry jam; there are also some woody hints, pine needles, vanilla, dry red wine, toffee, and an ever so distant bitter chocolate note. The flavor has a more pronounced toffee quality, along with plenty of prune, plum, cherry, and various berries. There are some nice toasty notes, along with some dried leather. There’s a pleasant dryness to the finish, along with just a nudge of ashy sourness, that keeps everything in balance. A very nice beer, indeed.

Nice aroma, beautiful caramel color, incredible flavor. This was my first Westvleteren thanks to austinpowers and I see this as being my next favorite ale. Beautiful. Now, on to the 12.

Murky mud brown in color with orange highlights when put to light. Fizzy tan center for the head with some icy offskirts. Admirable aroma consisting of brown sugar, prunes, nutmeg, cloves, chocolate, anise, whole wheat bread and banana peel scrapings. Rich and bright flavor. Chocolate flakes, sweet rolls, plums and other assorted dark skinned fruits. Several earthly interjections partake in the Trappist display, honing in on cigar wrappers and walnut shells. Dark candi sugar is clearly at work, joined by a presence of crystalline brown sugar and blackstrap. Tingly effervescence, medium-bodied and thickening as the fizz dies down. Finishes like English pipe tobacco. Easily enjoyable.

Near black pour with a lasting beige head. Aroma is fine candy, darker fruits, caramel, chocolate, yeast, more. Very complex yet delicate aroma, similar to the 12. Medium bodied with a soft mouthfeel. Still awesome.

Rating #1000 . Pours a nice caramel cola pour but this cant hold a torch to the ass to the 12. Th e flavor is weakened & watered. This is still a very good beer but not as good as ratings tend to assume. try this blinded & im sure your rating will be lower. Flavor is there but muted. Just tried Westy 8, Westy 12 & St. Bern Apt 12 next to each other. Westy 12 is far superor. On its own platform. Westy 8 is nice but the 12 is on a whole different level

Pours brow with a big a fizzy head. Alcohol and fruity esters on the nose. grapey overtones reminiscent of a fine white whine . Dry & Hoppy flavors on the finish.