Trappistes Rochefort 8
Pours a cloudy dark, deep ruby color with a big off-white head that laces nicely enough. Smells of plums, dark sugar, apricot, some rummy overtones, big dark fruit/rum nose. Really nice. Up front dark cherry with some plum that fades into a sugar, almost citrus/peach middle that ends on a bitter, rum, alcohol, fig note. There is also a distinct bready character. Awesome flavor, complex, but there is some astringent character and it is a bit too hot (would work out with some age for sure). Perfect mouthfeel, high carbonation, light bodied, easy to drink. After drinking 6, I was worried, but this beer is just fantastic. Dark fruit character with some citrus notes, and nice alcohol/rum character. Nice phenolics that blend well...a bit of age could make this divine.