Tasting Notes: Westvleteren 8

Westvleteren 8(Belgium: Trappist Belgian Strong Ale: 8% ABV)

(Note drunk 02/01/10 Best Before 12/02/12)

Visual: Head is small and uneven due to slow careful pouring, and yet the dark brown red body is still cloudy brown from sediment. Soon becomes clear headed, like a placid black lagoon.

Nose: Cherries, grapes, white wine and sourness. Soaked alcohol and raisins. Fresh, slightly lactose with a sharp character and elements of rich fermenting fruit.

Body: Fizzy, then the elements start coming through. Figs, slightly dry, brown bread and tiny touches of cherry. Some rum like elements including an evident alcohol punch. Sweet shortbread and a cake base with sugar dusting. A sherbety mouthfeel filled with dried fruits – raisins and sultana then milk chocolate, the flavours swelling into the available space throwing out red grapes and plums. Touch of milk character again. Many complex competing flavours.

Finish: Bitter, figs and lots of dry bitter chocolate. Some nuttiness. Long lasting dusty bitterness, hoppiness and flour like character, Honeyed treacle shines through.

Note: Truly a beer that needs to be served at a warm room temperature. This beer was initially quite disappointing until it was warmed from its cold winter room temperature. The quality of the beer when warm was enough for even this northerner to put on the heating.

Conclusion: Whilst I have tried many beers since I first drank this, which was one of the first exceptional beers I tried, it still held up well against the wealth of beer tried since.

No longer is it the peak of beers, but it is complex and heavy – a more expressive beer in the style of Tsmisje Dubbel with elements of the contrary Gouden Christmas beer – a good sign as both are highly complex tempting beers with punishing pleasures within.

It is dark and powerful, bitter fruit flavours that take time to express, a liquid heart of darkness from the trappist monastery of pure thought. Not a beer of light heart and joy, its speaks of rich challenges and enlightenment through adversity.

No longer the best, but to have your tastebud tantalised by the extremes of a cruel yet exciting challenger who used to be no1, and picked up some tricks on the way.

Well that is still a beer to exalt in.