Beer Review: Trappistes Rochefort 10

Newer readers may not know this, but Belgian ales are my love, passion, and absolute favorite style. I’ve reviewed a few Belgians (full list) on this site already, including my review of Trappistes Rochefort 8. I also wrote a long post on the history of Trappist beers which you should check out if you’re unfamiliar with Belgian ales or Trappist beers (which the following beer is one of).

Brewery: Brasserie Rochefort
Beer: Trappistes Rochefort 10
Style: Belgian Quadrupel
Alcohol by volume: 11.3% [woof]

Very dark brown/black color with plenty of bubbly light-brown head.

Smells lightly of brown sugar malt and dried fruits. Oh and alcohol, a small  bit of that in the aroma as well.

Taste is full of sugar malt sweetness followed by some more raisin and prune action. None of this fruit action is too overpowering, though. There is no hop bitterness at all just smooth delicious malt. Also, some nutmeg spice action playing around on the tongue. A bit of a cocoa taste develops as it warms, the taste and flavor of the alcohol also picks up as you get towards the bottom.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and super smooth. While there isn’t much alcohol flavor initially it presents a very warming feeling throughout the beer

Raisins and figs aren’t the most tantalizing taste in the world to some people but don’t sweat that. This beer is fantastic! Easily one of my top three favorite beers and loads of sites all over the internet agree, far too many to actually list here, and it is worth all of that praise. Some (OK, many) may say Westvleteren 12 is the best Belgian out there, but screw trading people or traveling to Belgium. Just go to Cappy’s, Dutch’s, Party Source, or any better beer seller and you’ll find Rochefort 6 – 10 for $5 a bottle (which is pretty steep, but totally worth it).

Also in my continuing adventure to see how deep the rabbit hole of craft beer goes I’m now aging a bottle of 8 and 10. The goal is to age them for at least a year, but we’ll see how long they actually end up staying down there. With luck, I’ll forget for 2 or 3 years!