Achel 8 Bruin first saw light one year after the Achel 8 Blond. And unlike its somewhat troubled brother tripel, this Dubbel was well received from the start. It especially hit the spot just across the border, in the Netherlands, where a Trappist beer is expected to colour dark-brown in the glass.

And in the end, how could it have been any other way? Not when Achel had the assistance of the legendary Brother Antoine. He moved from Rochefort Abbey to Achel in 1997.

This meant that the Limburg brewery had its own ‘dark-side’ Trappist beer specialist, right within its walls. So unsurprisingly, the Achel 8 Bruin comes across as a tasty marriage of Rochefort know-how and first-class natural ingredients.

While remaining a typical Trappist beer, it’s also one that’s easily drinkable. This dark-brown beer, with its aromas of dried fruits, tastes nicely full in the mouth – with surprising touches of caramel and coffee – but also manages to be very refreshing at the same time.

The finish is slightly bitter; the hop is never dominant, though. Although this is a filtered beer, traces of yeast do show up as a veil in the bottle. And, of course, there are no additives. All in all, a highly remarkable brew, thanks to the balance between the roasted malt and the fruity aromas coming from the yeast. This is how a Dubbel should be. – Belgium Beer Tourism