Trappistes Rochefort #8 (33cl, 9.2%)

Trappistes Rochefort #8 is a Belgian Trappist dark strong ale brewed at Rochefort Abbey in Namur, Belgium. The grist includes pale malts, Munich malts and unmalted grains, with Hallertau and Styrian Golding hops, candy sugar and crystallised sugar. Water comes from a well inside the monastery walls and a proprietary yeast culture maintained since the 1960s shapes its fruity esters. The nose opens with molasses, caramel, figs, dates, light aged rum, toasted bread, herbal hoppiness and spicy yeast. The palate brings brown sugar, caramel, mixed berries, fig, date, coriander, nutty yeast, toasted baguette and dark rye bread. The finish is long and warm, with leather, a faint smokiness, dried fruit and gentle herbal hop bitterness.