Trappistes Rochefort 10
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Well. I just finished up Rochefort 10. Let’s hope I can write down my thoughts before the 11.3% ABV catches up to me.
The Rochefort brews really, really fascinate me. These three beers are all based on the same recipe but vary so widely in presentation, aroma, and taste. You could envision them as brothers with a clear family resemblance but driven by sibling rivalry . . . Think of the 6 as the sensitive younger brother who reads poetry, listens to anti-folk music, and is getting a D in algebra because he forgets to study. The 8 is the middle brother, loud and brash and looking for attention. But the 10 is the oldest child, casting a long shadow over the others. It was always good at sports, dated the popular girls, and knows the effectiveness of a good swagger. The others will grow up doomed to be compared to the 10.
And it really is a handsome brew. Dark reddish-brown, the beer poured into my chalice and politely left its sediment in the bottle. (When I finished the beer in my glass, I celebrated by drinking the dredges directly from the bottle — not too bad, actually.) It put up a nice head, but like the other Rochefort ales this head didn’t last very long, fizzing up loudly and fading away over a couple of minutes. The 10 produced a touch of lacing, but only very little.
The aroma was rich and understated. Deep malt, some chocolate, and lots of alcohol dominated the aroma. Undercurrents of brown sugar and fruit are present, but they are not nearly as clear as the sweetness displayed with the 6 or the 8.
On the tongue, this beer tastes of licorice, molasses, and sweet, lightly roasted malt. There’s a peppery quality to the beer that holds everything together and continues through the aftertaste. The alcohol is very apparent, and the carbonation is strong — fizzing around the tongue when swished, and contributing to a creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel.
I liked the 10 a lot, but there were moments when the taste was too strong for me — when the licorice flavors seemed to dominate or when the alcohol took center stage. Several times, the Rochefort 10 seemed to taste more like a liqueur than a beer.
All told — quite a pleasure to drink, but strong in every aspect.
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2 Comments
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
I woke up today thinking about this beer, and a comparison occurred to me. Rochefort 10 shares a similarity with Dogfish Head’s Palo Santo Marron. They’d sure be fun to drink together…
Anyone else see this?
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 am
That comparison makes sense Andy.
And yes, a strong beer in every sense. You might enjoy it more the 2nd time around… or if you don’t drink two glasses of Big House Red beforehand :p