During the almost 18 years I’ve been writing this column, more than a few people have asked me, “What’s your favorite beer?”
That’s a loaded question, of course, and like anyone, my answer was never fixed on one beer in any way. If I had one, my answer would depend on the year, month or even day you asked me. But in reality, I never gave anyone a real answer. My stock joke answers were usually, “The one that’s in front of me,” or “a free one,” or “the one you’re about to buy me.”
I have had favorites at various times, of course, but never any particular one that separated itself so far from the pack of excellent brews at the top of my list in such a way that put it as a clear-cut absolute favorite.
But what I can say – and decided to do so today – is which beer I consider the best-made brew of all the ones I have had over my life. This doesn’t mean it’s my “favorite” (although I obviously enjoy it immensely); it’s just the one that I consider to be the beer that most closely resembles a piece of art in my view. I only drink it occasionally. and while it’s a style that I enjoy, it’s not my favorite style.
That beer is Trappistes Rochefort 10, a Belgian quad made under the supervision of Trappist monks of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy Abbey at Brasserie de Rochefort.
This beer is held in high esteem by just about everyone, of course, but it doesn’t top many lists like I am saying here. It gets a 100 rating on BeerAdvocate.com but is only the 93rd-highest ranked beer on the website’s list. Not that No. 93 is a bad place to be, but in my opinion, it’s kind of like saying The Beatles make the Top 100 bands, but just barely.
So although the brew is clearly beloved, it’s also underrated in my opinion. I’ve had the previously highly esteemed Belgian brew, Westvleteren 12, which was No. 1 on BeerAdvocate forever, or so it seemed (until imperial stouts and IPAs pushed everything else aside), and I like Rochefort 10 quite a bit more than Westie 12.
With Rochefort 10, it’s the complexity of the brew coupled with how all the parts hang together seamlessly, like a sublime symphony or a perfectly designed and executed.
The blend of toasted maltiness, plum notes (and other dark fruits), caramel and floral hops is an exotic melange that easily could go sideways. But these brewers have choreographed this ballet of flavors like Swan Lake.
On top of everything else, Rochefort 10 is 11.3% (alcohol by volume) and the booziness is barely noticeable — which is a neat trick in itself.
I knew I should have become a monk.
April 11, 2021 at 05:25PM
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Beer Nut: Rochefort 10 may not be my ‘favorite,’ but it’s the best - MassLive.com
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