Brasserie de Rochefort Trappistes Rochefort 6
What the brewers say
“Reddish-brown color with amber-gold highlights; soft body leads to earthy flavors and an herbal character. Refined, soft spiciness in the bouquet finishes with a bit caramel. Bottle-conditioned for soft natural carbonation.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “High grapefruit, citrus notes up front along with honey, flowers, and a bit of stone fruit. Pineapple, grape, and pear sit atop lots of piney hops aroma. Fruity plum/cherry notes are there as expected. Alcohol is evident, but not over strong.”
Flavor: “The typical ‘Belgian’ ester profile is replaced with lighter fresh fruit. Medium citrus in the background. There’s a strong honey component that comes off more as a sensation than as actual sweetness on the tongue. A nice smooth finish makes this beer go down more easily than it objectively ought to. Aftertaste is filled with bubblegum-like notes and is medium lasting.”
Overall: “Seems like a bit of an oddball among dubbels, but it works. An enig- matically honey-like and floral beer that remains classically Belgian in its refusal to adhere to stylistic norms. This ale is very fruity—the apricot flavor is quite nice, but unexpected.”
