The last of the current Achel trappists I hadn’t tasted yet, apparently only sold at the abbey in 75 cl bottles and the follow-up to Achelse Zomer, a wonderful brew I bought in 2004, which was a one-off made for the abbott’s birthday; this version is slightly different, more dry and stronger. Since I remember Achelse Zomer quite well despite it being eleven years, I am very interested in how this one relates to its predecessor. Big, towering, foamy, frothy, off-white, dense, lacing head (even very slight gushing), colour hazy golden blonde with a ’peachy’ hue and fierce, champagne-like fizz; turns a murky brownish peach with deposit. Strong ’Belgian yeast’ aroma of Conférence pear, green plum, hint of banana, fresh pineapple, white bread, dough, vague suggestion of crushed peppermint leaves, whisky, roasted pine nuts, soap, subtle honey accent, flowers, but some wet paper as well, bit phenolic. Powerful onset of unripe fruits, green plum, pear, some ’green’ banana and berries, citric freshness (a little bit sourish), with a very strong, minerally, drying carbonation tantalising the tongue - for a tripel, after all a well-carbonated style in most cases, this seems even a bit overcarbonated. Lovely bready and eventually even honeyish malt sweetness ensues, perhaps some white candi syrup sweetness too, very light toasted touch to it, while the spicy yeastiness persists, becoming clove- or even slightly mint-like in the end; full but smooth mouthfeel. Finishes in nicely lingering bready malt sweetness and estery fruitiness, along with a fair dosis of leafy, lightly peppery hop bitterness, retronasal soapy phenols and warming but nowhere disturbing, ’jenever’- or even lightly whisky-like booze. In all: more than decent, the trappist quality stamp is all over it, but it seems to lack some personality in comparison with e.g. Westmalle Tripel or Chimay Triple. Hoppier and more ’warming’ than the regular Achel 8 Blond, but a bit more ’coarse’ as well due to the high carbonation; in comparison with the original Achelse Zomer of 2004, this is a bit of a disappointment, as it lacks the lush, ’baroque’ fruit exuberance which gave Achelse Zomer its distinctive character. Still, the dry-hopping worked well here, this is a good tripel by all means.

Bottled (backlog). Hazy yellowish orange colour with a small white head. Aroma is wood, some herbs, yeast, quite citrusy as well as mild earthiness. Flavour is citrus, some wood, resin, quite strong on the yeast along with some herbs and earth to it. Yet very fresh and nice. Hides the alcohol really well.

best before date 08/2014 at home, golden beer with no head, aroma is fruit and alchol, taste is the same some bitterness, i think this one was just too bad, drainpour will try again soon

Bottle @ MaartenRF10. Thanks for sharing Maarten! Clear golden color, huge soapy off-white head. Smell and taste lightly malts, yeast, some fruityness, a touch of herbs or spices, some alcohol. A bit thin texture, average body, medium carbonation. Decent as always with trappist beers.

Zomerbierfestival 14 Pours fuzzy blonde, big white head . Smell indeed has some hops . Rather dirt/Bitter style than aromatic . Taste is bitter. some Belgian(ish?) hoppyness , grainy, bit sweet back . OK, typical Belgian beer . Finish is nice with some hop-aroma .