Belgian beer has inspired craft brewers across the globe and many have embraced their styles and developed their own interpretations. Belgian beer has also benefitted from this relationship as many more consumers are discovering some of these great beers through their interactions with local craft brews and Rochefort 10 is undoubtedly one of the best.
Rochefort 10 is a Trappist beer brewed by Abbaye Notre-Dame de St.Remy, one of only seven breweries who are allowed to use this designation which is protected by the International Trappist Association. Trappist beers, as the name implies, are brewed by monks in working monasteries and are distinct from ‘Abbey’ beers a term used to describe beers that are simply emulating the style.
The Monastery was founded in 1230 and has managed to survive numerous challenges including the French Revolution and two World Wars. The brewing facilities were last updated during the 1960s so you can imagine that the monks are working with fairly antiquated equipment by today’s standards but perhaps this is part of their success. The brewery is capable of producing 40,000 hectolitres each year however, the monastery only produces 25,000 hectolitres as it would have an adverse impact on time allocated to prayer. As a result of this demand greatly exceeds supply and it can be hard to get a hold of.
Rochefort produce three top-fermenting ales and Rochefort 10 is their signature beer. Rochefort 10 pours dark and clear, almost like a cola and this colour is largely due the fact that dark sugar is used as an ingredient rather than the use of roasted malts. On the nose you get a wonderful fruity aroma that reminds me of Christmas pudding. With an ABV in excess of 11%, I would have expected a super-sweet, treacle-like liquid but this is unexpectedly reserved and supremely well-balanced giving generous but not over-powering notes of dark chocolate, fig, and liquorice to start, followed by tobacco on the back of the throat to finish. Rochefort 10 is rich, complex and intense with a fair amount of lasting carbonation and exceptionally smooth with an almost tacky mouthfeel.
I sometimes view beer in terms of music and if Budweiser is the Westlife of beer then Rochefort 10 could be Miles Davis. Anyone can hear a piece of music it but to understand and fully enjoy it takes time and exposure to acquire a taste. This to me, is one of the reasons why the craft movement has been such a great facilitator by introducing people to styles of beer that they wouldn’t normally try and created curiosity to see what else is out there. I know when I first tried Rochefort 10 almost a decade ago I didn’t really enjoy it, but as my palate has developed I can now understand why it is seen as a masterpiece by so many.
Words: Greg McElherron
Image: Wikimedia
