LeFort 10

[Trappist]

Hi,
Tasting this 10 vol% beer right now.
I poured it into a Trappist Rochefort glass.





Why did I do that?
Simply, because the similarities with Rochefort 10 are so astounding !!!
Notice the similar blue 10, and ofcourse the name Lefort, leaning towards Rochefort.
But more fascinating is the similar flavors!!!
Together with Rochefort 10, this Lefort 10 has also those subtle spicy coreander touches, but neither of them do state they actually used coreander.
Looking at the ingredients list gives nuts instead! Nuts

Anyway, the smoothness, the creamy foam, the dark color, the alc strength, name it... are all leaning so close to eachother.
I just wonder if this has been done deliberate by brewery Omer vander Ghinste 

All together very intriguing findings, but it is the overall taste, satisfaction, and appreciation that counts, and that really is a10/10 folks 

Cheers,
Filip

[John B]

I've had a few of their other beers including the Tripel, but never this one. Rochefort 10 is one of my favorite beers, so this LeFort 10 is one I'll have to try if I ever come across it. how does the price compare with the Rochefort?

Cheers! - John

[Trappist]

I've had a few of their other beers including the Tripel, but never this one. Rochefort 10 is one of my favorite beers, so this LeFort 10 is one I'll have to try if I ever come across it. how does the price compare with the Rochefort?

Cheers! - John

Hi John,
Did some small research, and compared the prices they apply at one of Belgium's most cheap supermarket, i.e. Colruyt.



1 bottle of Rochefort 10 goes at €1.99 --- 1 bottle of Lefort 10 is €1.33 !

Normally, at other supermarkets or beer shops, the Rochefort 10 goes at around €2.30, so Colruyt really is very cheap.

Lefort 10 is one of the better alternatives fot Rochefort 10. I sure would not hesitate to buy 

Cheers,
Filip

[John B]

Interesting! Thank you Filip for your research. That LeFort is very reasonably priced. If I ever see it here I'll certainly give it a try, although I have no doubt it will be a good bit more expensive here. Would be fun to do a side by side testing alongside the Rochefort.

Cheers! - John

[Trappist]

Would be fun to do a side by side testing alongside the Rochefort.

Hello John,

That is exactly what we have done last Sunday at HOPtimist here in Bruges (Sint-Michiels). https://www.facebook.com/De-HOPtimist-246529612713252/
Ofcourse with this recent messages in mind ofcourse.



That cosy interior of the HOPtimist at around 4pm.
Bartender Thomas Quicke behind the bar there.

Let's do start some beer savorings..   and more.



Starting with this truely excellent session beer, called Tongerlo LUX - 6.5vol%
It is available straight from tap. A fixed value over there, and wow what a smooth beer this is.
A beer you could drink the whole session .. it doesn't get bored at all. But we didn't do that 
Their changing tap was Malheur 12, and beer of the moment, that excellent Zwarte Zwaan from Bruges Bierinstituut.
Tough decisions really 



Here's the second ordering. That's already a start to the side-by-side tasting, because at that time, it didn't came up to me to do this idea.
... till at some point the bell ringed  also because there is a Rochefort 10 availability.
The Lefort 10 and Kasteel dark paired very well with this appetizer of two kinds of dried sausages.
That is a normal dried sausage, and a so called "Sint-Michielse langen", a local narrow long dried sausage with a hint of garlic.
It's achieved next door at excellent butchery Snaet - https://webshop.slagerijsnaet.be/be-nl/keurslagerij-snaet/product/604106/sint-michielse-langen



The apotheosis!



Rochefort 10 next to Lefort 10!
Wow, what a similarities there folks!
Same foam, same color, nearly same alc. strength with Rochefort 10 1.3 vol% stronger, hardly felt.

Nosing and carefully tasting was the message.
The beers were served quite cold, so at that point, the differences were so tight.
But within time and temperature rise towards room temperature, things eventually changed.
Rochefort 10 is that bit more soft on the tongue, more velvety (same for the foam layer).
Nosing and tasting gives the Lefort 10 having that bit more of roasty malts. Delicious roasty malts really, and so delicate.
Actually, these are the only things that I can think of, concerning the differences.

Actually, I am quite amazed with these two - so similar - beers. Did brewery Omer Vander Ghinste wanted to make a copy? It looks alike, and I can tell you, they succeeded so well 
But, I still would vote for the Rochefort 10. It is that slightly more mellow, creamy, more of depth (although very little) that does it for me. Details, yes, but VERY important details if you ask me.









Dinner time with this mixed platter of the finest cheese and charcuterie. Includes sharp Wostyn mustard and a small pot of tomato/bell pepper pesto.
Highly satisfying IMHO. 



Note that the HOPtimist have bought the neigbouring house on the right side (when standing in front of the building).
That is more space, more fun.
That moment, the majority of the people were sitting in the orginal room (see pictures here above).
This picture was taken when we left home. It is actually taken outside on the street, with a view through the window.
A really beautiful and such a cosy beer pub altogether. 

Cheers,
Filip

[Jay]

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Loving the floor in that last shot Filip, so instantly Belgian in a brown cafe sort of way 

I remember seeing something similar (if slightly more colourful) in a locals bar in Barcelona.



Cheers
Jay

[Trappist]

I remember seeing something similar (if slightly more colourful) in a locals bar in Barcelona.

Wow Jay, such a similarities. Nearly identical. 
I think the ones at HOPtimist are the original floor tiles from when the house was build long time ago.
That style is still for sale though: https://tile.expert/nl-be/tile/mainzu/three-capitals/a/three-capitals-centro-viena-20x20
Anyway, beautiful floors indeed 
Cheers,
Filip

[Trappist]

Hi,
I just bought me a new batch of this excellent LeFort 10.





And see what happened. The front and back label have changed.
The nuts are still there, but there is no blue colors anymore 
See also: http://bieregrandcru.be/lefort-goes-trappist/

Same beer all together, i.e. TOP QUALITY !!!

Cheers,
Filip

[John B]

Interesting. I wonder if someone at Rochefort had a little talk with those at Omer Vander Ghinste and suggested that they would, at least, remove the blue from the label. Whatever the case, nice to know that the beer is still as good as ever.

Cheers! - John

[Trappist]

I wonder if someone at Rochefort had a little talk with those at Omer Vander Ghinste and suggested that they would, at least, remove the blue from the label.

Hi John,
If there would have been talks between the monks and bry. Omer Vander Ghinste, they should have tazken place around May (or earlier) of last year.
Inspecting the best before dates on both bottles gives the blue-ish 18 May 2023, and the new "non-blue" label 29 July 2023. That's only two months separated.
Actually, there is still some Rochefort blue on the back label though 
Cheers,
Inspector Filip

[John B]

I wonder if someone at Rochefort had a little talk with those at Omer Vander Ghinste and suggested that they would, at least, remove the blue from the label.

Hi John,
If there would have been talks between the monks and bry. Omer Vander Ghinste, they should have tazken place around May (or earlier) of last year.
Inspecting the best before dates on both bottles gives the blue-ish 18 May 2023, and the new "non-blue" label 29 July 2023. That's only two months separated.
Actually, there is still some Rochefort blue on the back label though 
Cheers,
Inspector Filip

Thank you Inspector Filip! You are a wealth of knowledge, and if you don't already know the answer to a question in the first place you always seem to find it eventually with your excellent detective work. I'd say you're the Hercule Poirot of the Belgian beer world.   

Cheers! - John

[Trappist]

I'd say you're the Hercule Poirot of the Belgian beer world.   

That really is too much of honor John 

I think it is time for a fitting beer



Cheers,
Filip