Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij De Achelse Kluis Trappist Achel 8° Bruin Belgian Strong Ale at 8% ABV ($5.03 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330ml, best before 13-Jan-2016)
Pours clear amber-brown with one finger of rocky light tan head, excellent retention, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is mild dark stone fruit, brown sugar and toffee malt, faint spice. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Medium to light body, moderate sustained carbonation, warming finish. (4/5)
Pleasantly mild trappist with a fairly light body and an immediate (but not unwelcome) warming. Lots of dark fruit and dark sugar, with just a hint of spice. My only complaint about this one is that, if anything, it’s too mild – to the point of being just a touch bland. The nose is fairly muted, and the taste and body are light. It’s impressive that such a high ABV beer can pull off such a mild appearance, sure, but it might have benefited from a bit more authority. (12/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
