Trappistes Rochefort 10
Brewing since 1595, this is a Monastery with a very rich history of brewing Old World recipes. These Trappist ales are arguably unmatched, but I will do my best to remain objective. Here goes... Appearance - Amazing head on this beer. Great lacing, sticks to the sides of my Trappistes Rochefort glass chalice (oh boy, already I'm seemingly biased). Off-white/ beige and incredibly creamy. A thick layer of head as well. This retains a great amount of head as it sits, hardly disperses over time. Dark, almost black. An unprecedented amount of sediment when held up to the light -- shocking, really. Definitely the characteristics of a rich, Belgian Quad. Smell - Warm notes of yeast with dark fruits, honey and light spice. Lots of raisin, vanilla, bread and black current come to mind. A very light hop on the nose as well. Taste - Mind-blowing. Traces of plum, licorice, candy sugars and honey. Naturally sweet. For being a 11.3% abv beer, this is impressively smooth on the tongue. The alcohol is completely disguised and can only be noticed during the aftertaste. This is easily one of the most complex and balanced Quads available from Belgium. Toffee, yeast, caramel and dark cherries/ figs, too. Mouthfeel - An amazing feel across the palate. Perhaps one of the best I have yet to experience. The sugars manage to stimulate all parts of the mouth and leave no area untouched. Astounding! Very syrupy, almost like honey coating the mouth. Complex and distinct. Rich and chewy. A beautifully heavy ale. Overall - Wonderfully complex. Rich and sweet, yet remaining dry and bready. A dizzying experience! A monstrous Quad that demands your attention and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up on each sip (a good thing in my books!). Beautifully balanced. Somehow seems to master many startling, in depth flavors within each bottle. Definitely enjoy one of these after being somewhat warmed (not directly out of the fridge). I suggest serving this anywhere between 12-14C to fully take in the breadth of this Quad. Simply amazing. Enjoy!!