Rochefort – A Holy Trinity of Ales

Belgian beer has a rather widespread good reputation, and Trappist Ales tend to stand out in the memory of anyone who knows a little bit about good Belgian ale. I suspect there are people out there who think that all Belgian beer is made by monks toiling away under vows of silence while observing their vows of obedience by dedicating their non-praying, non-eating waking hours to toiling away over malt, hops, candi sugar, water and yeast.

There are six Trappist breweries in Belgium, and they deserve their reputation for producing quality ales. I imagine part of their success comes from the fact they make a limited amount of beer in a limited set of styles, which are generally the same styles they have been making for many years. The Rochefort beers, brewed at the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, exemplify this idea. Rochefort produces three beers, the 6, 8 and 10, whose names reference their original gravities. All three beers begin with the same two grains, two hop varieties, local water, and yeast strains. The 8 and the 10 have candi sugar added to increase the original gravity to the desired level. Tasting the three in succession is an interesting adventure.

The 6 is the lightest and least strong of the beers, though at 7.5% ABV, it still packs a bit of a punch. I would also rate it the least impressive of the three. It has a slightly soapy smell and a quickly disappearing head. The color is a dark, reddish amber or perhaps light brown that is just light enough to see through. Compared to the 8 and 10, the 6 is a little thin and spicy. There is a decent malt presence and a bright, lingering finish, but the thin body makes for some slight disappointment in the overall experience.

The 8 is 9.2% ABV, deep brown with hints of red, and welcomes you with a lovely, malty aroma. In short, this is gorgeous. There are flavors of dark fruits, brown sugar, medium malt and a little bit of spice. Still a bit of brightness at the front and the back of the flavor with some noticeable alcohol in the finish. In short, this is gorgeous. If you haven’t had a chance to try this yet, it is worth the effort.

And then there’s the 10. So deep brown it’s almost black like the color of charred oak, the 10 welcomes you with an aroma that is equal parts malt, booze and pipe tobacco. The flavor has dates and figs up front, a spicy wash over the tongue in the middle and a warm lingering finish. The flavor of this is so complex that it seems a little bit different with every taste. One minute you have tobacco and malt and the next minute you have brown bread and spices. This is great for savoring as an after-dinner drink. In fact, I would put this up as one of the best beers in the world, period. It’s a beer more suited to a good novel than a football game, but it is worth the time and effort to seek out and savor.