Trappistes Rochefort 10

Name: Trappistes Rochefort 10
Style: Belgian Trappist (Quadrupel) Ale
Owner: Independent / Abbey
Courtesy of: Insop Song

BeerAdvocate Rating: 100 (World-Class)
RateBeer Rating: 100,100
ABV: 11.3%

Established around 1230 as Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, what is now known as Rochefort Abbey is a Trappist Monastery in Namur Province in Belgium.  They've been making beer in the abbey since 1535, but have only been able to produce enough to sell since 1952.  They obtain the water from a well on the grounds and they maintain their own strain of yeast which has mutated over the years, which gives their Ale a very distinct character.

Having never tried this style, I was initially unsure as to whether I'd like it.  I've had Leffe (the most popular Belgian Ale) and wasn't really that keen on it.  It had an overpowering smell and taste of banana esters which I frankly can't stand.


Serving:
Delicately poured from a dark 330ml bottle into my Steady-Temp double-wall beer glass.  The glass shivered with antici............pation.

Appearance:
This ale pours a beautiful, deep chocolate brown with a three fingers of dark tan head that slowly fades to a thick film over the top of the whole glass.  There is plenty of lacing, demonstrating exactly what that term was invented to describe.  It's as if someone left a garter around my glass.

Smell:
It presents a heady aroma of sweet malt, chocolate, plum, date and other dried fruit.  In the background the alcohol slips through, but it's not the fusel alcohol of cheap malt liquor, but rather the clean, complex smell reminiscent of a fine wine.  On the tail is an oaky hint of a gentleman's malt whiskey that makes you want to inhale deeply and hold your breath.

Taste:
This beer is a fucking flavor explosion.  All of the notes on the nose don't even begin to describe the delights that come through on the tongue.  The sweetness of the malt is there, for sure, but is nicely balanced with the noblest of the noble hops.  In addition to the malty and fruity flavors one would expect, floral notes sing through.  It's as if they were able to take every flavor profile ever found in beer, orchestrate them like Mickey in Fantasia, and stuff them in to a tiny bottle.  Unlike some other brews, this one only gets better as it warms - the complexity you note on your first sip gets deeper and more interesting as the glass progresses.

Mouthfeel:
A very full-bodied quaff without being "chewy"; an excellent complement to the end of a heavy meal when you've settled in to your easy chair and don't plan on moving.

Overall:
I really can't say enough about how good this is.  When I saw the perfect scores on beeradvocate and ratebeer I was very skeptical at first;  I've never drank a "perfect" beer.  After getting through the glass, I know what they're talking about.  There's nothing about this I think could be improved.  It's well-balanced, tasty and smells like a dream... what else could you ask?

If you take my word for nothing else, take this away:  If you can find this, buy it.