Bottle. Muddy brown colour with fluffy beige head. Aroma is fruity of dried berries and prune, with smooth flavour of caramel and hops, nice warming mouth feels and smooth finish.

Stronger version of Achel 8 Bruin, originally marketed as Achel Drie Wijzen, since then more widely available as Achel Extra Bruin in 75 cl bottles. Deep mahogany colour with egg-white, medium, frothy head. Lovely aroma of raisins, brown sugar, brown bread, caramel, apple sauce, cinnamon, gingerbread, port wine, banana; sweet fruity onset, apple and banana, candi sugar touch, soft, full and velvety mouthfeel, sourish accent, yeasty spiciness, caramelly and somewhat chocolatey, rich maltiness, leafy but well balancing hop bitterishness and warming alcohol touch. Breathes the quality stamp of trappist ales, perhaps more so than the other Achels.

Bottle at the Cads 10th Anniversary bash, 29/03/15. Clear amber/chestnut brown topped with moderate off white spotting. Nose is toffee, rich malt, nutty, candied fruit peel, brown sugar, light must, dates. Taste comprises sweet malt notes, toffee, yeast notes, dates, prunes, spice. Medium + body, soft carbonation, sweet licks and booze in the close. Ok quad.

Bottle shared at the Cad’s 10th Anniversary Tasting - CBC Clerkenwell, London. Thanks to whomever brought this one! Pours clear ruby with a creamy tan head. Doughy brown bread in the nose, dark fruits, subtle brown sugar, yeast. Medium to big sweet flavor with lots of bready malts, toast, candi sugars, berries. Full bodied with average carbonation and creamy texture. Sweet and warming on the finish, with lots more rich brown bread, candi sugar, berries, toffee. Classic. Excellent. (March 2015, Score 4.0)
Earlier Rating: 3/3/2012 Total Score: 4.2

Bottle at the RBESG 2011 Grand Tasting, London. Pours hazy brown with a light, filmy head. Brown sugar malt aroma. Very sweet flavor, big malt notes, more brown sugar. Full bodied with fine to average carbonation and a very smooth mouthfeel. Mild warmth in the finish, with rope fruits, a bit of yeast, and more dark malt character. Good complexity and very drinkable. (August 2011, score 4.2)