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Hype. Dictionary.com defines it as “exaggerated publicity; hoopla”. I think it’s safe to say that most of us have at one time or another been caught up in hype, and on nearly every one of those occasions been let down. Maybe it was a new book (are you listening Mr. Barker?), maybe it was a song or record (hey, Public Enemy warned us) or even a TV show.

But some things defy the typical. Some things really are as good as everyone says. The obvious one here is sex. And boobs. And nekid women in general.

But I digress…

The item I’m talking about today is a beer. Specifically Westvleteren 8. Brewed by the Trappist monks of the Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren, this beer is considered by many beer fans to be a sort of Holy Grail. In fact it’s big brother currently occupies the number on rating in the world over at BeerAdvocate. One of the reasons these beers are so popular would seem to be the difficulty one has in acquiring it. You see, Westvleteren produces less beer than any other Trappist abbey, and more to the point it’s only officially sold at the gates of the abbey itself. Add to this that you must make an appointment and can only purchase two cases per month and a sort of mystique begins to form. Would it be any wonder if people everywhere, having jumped through so many hoops to get a bottle, maybe gave it a little more credit than it deserved?

Fortunately I was recently in a position to find out:

A careful pour into a Duvel tulip reveals what could quite possibly be the best looking beer I’ve ever see. A dark ruby red sparkles in the light beneath a generous slightly off-white head. This is starting off much better that I could have hoped.

Bringing the glass to my nose and inhaling deeply my skepticism is returns with an aroma dominated by yeast and alcohol. There is obviously some amazing malt underneath giving hints of toffee and caramel but it’s far from a world class nose. The first taste confirms much of what was now suspected with an overly sweet and cloying start and while there really is a nicely complex beer in there somewhere the musty yeast reminds me of drinking bread while the carbonation is a bit over the top and distracts from the mouthfeel.

Okay. Step back. Take 15 minutes and try it again.

Wow. This isn’t beer. This is liquid boobs. In a short time the aroma has completely changed. The yeast is still there but now it’s a note among many. The alcohol has almost completely disappeared and now the toffee and caramel reveal themselves. The taste is equally transformed. Toffee and caramel continue from the smell and are complemented by dark fruit somewhere in the middle until the flavor actually changes during the swallow into a nice sour bitterness that stays in the side of the mouth. The carbonation has mellowed a bit and now the fine bubbles tickle the tongue and enhance the full body.

Wonderful. Fantastic. Insert additional favorable descriptions here.

So in a nutshell the “Westy 8″ really does live up to the hype and joins a select few elite beers that truly deserve to be referred to as “World Class”. Now the question remains will it’s big brother fare as well?

I intend to find out.