Confirmation, Beligian Monks Know Beer

Previously I favourably reviewed the Trappistes Rochefort 6. On deck today is another contender by those wonderful monks, the number 10.

Word on the street is that all three of the Rochefort offerings start out the same, and it is the alcohol content that really steers the differences between. The 10 being the highest of the range has a busty 11.2% ABV, and in other circles would no doubt be called a ‘quadrupel‘. 

The number 10 has a quick building head, consisting of fairly large bubbles

 which don’t stick around for very long. This is quite in line with the former experience with the 6, though I dare say the 10 built a larger head it could merely be the fault of a more enthusiastic pouring this time around. After only about 20-25 seconds a centimetre of smaller bubbles, in a rather fetching tan, are all that remain.

We are left with a dark ale, more brown than red in contrast with the number 6. Where there was a certain murkiness to the 6 the 10 has none, here just a strong sense of the opaque. Light seems to simply fall into the darkness that is the body of this hearty ale. 

Nose:

Forgive the constant comparisons to the 6, but this really is such a similar beer its hard to resist. Where there was a reminder of mead, and a honey sweetness to the nose of the 6, double it twice and you get the strong nose of the 10. This sweetness was so strong, I lost the notes fruitier notes that I encountered with the 6.

The strong alcoholic content makes itself known here as well, and with it notes of roasted malts and perhaps a hint of chocolate goodness.

Taste:

First off, that eleven odd percent of alcohol? Definitely part of the experience of the 10. Its a knock on the door of ones sobriety, asking the polite question as to whether it wanted to retire for the evening because the time is to be merry. 

Alright so its not quite that strong, indeed the mere 9% of a Fin du Monde much better reflects this turn phrase, but I couldn’t quite resist after typing it out. The difference is that coupled with this strong alcoholic taste is a disarming sweetness that is equally strong. The effect is a smooth, slightly creamy feel on the tongue.

There is a heavy strong malt note that goes exceptionally well with the weaker apricot and plum notes. Overall, the sweetness would be overbearing, but the strong alcoholic content tempers it reasonably well. Oddly, where the nose clearly shows off the 11%, the taste has it masked, due to this sweet interplay.

This is where the beer really shines. As the honey-mead dissipates, the fruit tones remain longer. This shows off how deceptively complex the beer is under all that sugar.  This is a strongly carbonated beer, and thus a proper sipper. This elongated, yet changing, finish complements the sipping approach quite well. One isn’t in the greatest rush for another sip, letting the taste buds speak volumes of that sip you took a few minutes ago.

Belgian Monks know beer

It pours a red-brown, muddy ice tea colour.  A quite frothy head forms, quickly dissipates leaving a semi-permanent layer throughout the remainder of the beer. 

On the subject of bubbles, the beer’s murkiness belies just how fizzy it is. Now this isn’t fizzy like your standard north american lager, just consistently small bubbles that open the flavour on each sip, giving the beer a light creaminess.  The nose reminded me of a mead, yeasty with honey, and caramel possibly a hint of plum as well.

The notes from the nose continue on to the taste.  The yeasty-honey tastes, reminiscent of mead, are the core of the body, with raspberry and a touch of chocolate coming along for the ride. The last sip reveals cinnamon, or perhaps something else that lends a bit of spice to it.

Although its a hearty 7.5% alcohol the soft body hides this strength quite well. It’s finish is of a medium length, long for beer I suppose.  The fruitiness disappearing, with a grapefruit bitterness coming out as the rest fades. The long finish is slight sweetness and a sour note lingering well past five minutes after the last sip.