Archive for the 'Tripel' category
Samuel Adams Barrel Reserve
A few reviews ago Ben mentioned North Peak “Majestic” Wheat Ale’s interesting bottle. This Samuel Adams Barrel Reserve bottle qualifies as quite interesting in my book. The bottle is the single reason I picked the beer up. What can I say, I like a good bottle and there is not much variety in craft beer bottles, so anything different sticks out.
As for the beer, it was golden in color with a very slight haze. A stark white head sat atop the beer’s body for a good few minutes, held aloft by a cascade of tiny bubbles. The aromas were of mango, star fruit, banana and yeast spice. Overall an enticing mix that was not overdone.
Lots of carbonation play on the tongue, which kept the beer light and lively. The tropical fruit notes come through mid-tongue, but there was little time to enjoy them. The beer quickly moved to a finish that was dry, rather spicy, and had a tweak of warming alcohol. The yeast spice provided an aftertaste that lasted a couple of minutes after each sip.
For a barrel aged beer I was expecting some type of barrel aged aromas or tastes, but I could not find any. The bottle is quite cool and though I did not find anything off putting about the beer, I probably will not pick this beer up again. I wish it had a little more barrel-esque kick to it.
Flying Dog “Kerberos” Tripel
Oops! We almost forgot about this offering from the Beer of the Month Club this month, simply because we drank them so fast! This is actually a beer we have reviewed previously, and I’ve simply appended that review below. It’s still delicious, and I love a tripel – so these disappeared quickly.
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I love a tripel, and I kinda like Flying Dog. Together, we may perhaps have a tasty brew. This one can be found in 4-packs around the way right now, and it MIGHT be a limited release – not sure. Regardless, I was glad to get my hand on a few of these.
This tripel pours a mildly hazy golden color with quite a lot of dense suspended debris and a light white head that eventually fizzes out to nothing. Throughout it all, though, there is a lot of carbonation here, with steady streams of tiny bubbles rising throughout the life of the beer. The aroma of this beer is very nice with tons of spice, lots of sharp candi sugar, and a ‘pungence’ that slightly burns the nose (in a good way). In the mouth, this is a pretty good tripel. All of the ingredients are here for a good tripel. There is a nice burn on the tip of the tongue, some powerful candi sugar flavors that stick all over the tongue, and a good amount of spice to keep the sweetness from being too cloying. The only downside of this beer is a tangy bitterness that strikes right on the front end of the aftertaste. I can’t really say that this twang ruins the beer – some may even say it adds to complexity – but, for me, it taints an otherwise smooth and simple tripel (which is sorta the way I like ‘em). So, overall, it’s a pretty good tripel. It’s a little more abrasive than I like, and it simply isn’t the best I’ve had. But, in this price range, I can’t say it’s a bad buy.
Stoudt’s Triple
Now, don’t get confused. If you’re looking under the “Stoudt’s” category right now, then you’re seeing reviews for both a Stoudt’s Triple and a Stoudt’s Abbey Tripel. Apparently, these are 2 different beers. Furthermore, I reviewed the Abbey Tripel so long ago that I’m practically drinking with 2 different tongues. So, while these reviews won’t give you a legit contrast of those 2 varieties of Stoudt tripel, you can at least rest assured that I’m reviewing 2 different beers for you…
The triple pours a lovely golden hue, lightish in color that attains a light ruby tint towards the center, or ‘heart’, of the beer. The head is very thin and stark white, never becoming too big or hearty. In the nose, the beer has some hints of spice and a bit of citrus, though the primary aromas are of carbonation and a flat grainy scent. I won’t say this is the best-smelling tripel I’ve had, but it isn’t too shabby. In the mouth, I’m finding this beer very pleasurable. The initial sensation is sharp and sweet, offering a light carbonation burn on the tongue. The beer continues to sizzle down the tongue, with an increasing blast of candi sugar sweetness, coupled with some tangy spice and some lemon zest citrus. The mouthfeel of this is a bit syrupy – this is nice in its effect to coat the tongue, but may make it second string once it gets a bit warmer. To be honest with you guys, I’m a sucker for a tripel, and it’s likely my favor variety these days. So, the fact that I haven’t had a tripel in weeks may be contributing to my enjoyment of this. That being said, I think this is phenomenal – it’s not the best tripel I’ve had, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one any better in a small bottle. Thus far, Stoudt’s has provided nothing but exceptional beers to my face, and they’re making me into quite the fan…
Lagunitas We’re Only in it for the Money
I’m out the loop on this one, in multiple ways. First of all this was a summer seasonal and I didn’t see it until mid-September and secondly who the hell is Frank Zappa? A quick google search lead me to wikipedia and while there is a ton of information I still don’t know anymore about the man than I did yesterday. I know this is part of Lagunitas’ shtick, being completely random, but at the moment I am just annoyed. This beer was brewed in honor of his (and his band, Mothers of Invention’s) 4th album, We’re Only in it for the Money. While the vast majority of the label art is weird and nonsensical, the very bottom right corner tells me all I need to know. This is a Belgian Triple and now I am a little excited.
I wish I would have known this was a triple before I poured it because I would have chosen different, more appropriate glassware. Fortunately I used the Sam Adams “super glass” so in theory it is releasing the most amount of flavor. Nonetheless I like my triples out of a goblet but oh well. This beer is darker than most triples and it would appear it has been filtered. I’m a little confused right now. I’m smelling oranges wrapped in hops and that smells good. The taste is much more complex and now I’m actually starting to enjoy this experience. There is a pepperiness that accompanies the carb burn that attacks the palate. These flavors then round into a sweet liquorice-like and dark fruit taste. The sweetness reopens and morphs into floral bitterness, then travels down the throat. The aftertaste is biscuity and has a thick, honey consistency. Right now I am both impressed and confused. There’s a lot going on here but there’s no rhyme or reason for it. In short the flavor is mismanaged and, while I like a complex brew, this one’s not for me.
Green Flash “Le Freak”
Unfortunately, tonight I ran into a case of the ‘bad 6-packs’. I bought a few tasty bottles of a local brew that I especially love, and I was psyched to crack open a couple. But, woe is me, it appears said brewery may be having some issues, as every beer in the 6-pack was undrinkable, forcing me to tumble them all down the drain. What better way to drown your sorrows than to open something so wild, so CRAZY, that I couldn’t possibly keep dwelling on some sour ales? Well, that’s what Le Freak promises to be. It’s a hybrid of a west coast IPA and a Belgian tripel. I don’t really know what to expect. Did I mention it’s called “Le Freak”?
So, this one pours a very cloudy medium golden color that seems just chock full of dense debris. The head on this is very thick and soapy, full of chunky big bubbles. In the nose, the aroma is interesting in that it contains lots of hop and that tripel candy sweetness. However, it isn’t TOO crazy, just a surprising combination. Most of what we get here is the hop, though, so you really need to look for that sweetness. In the mouth, this gets a little wild. Initially in the mouth, there really is a lot of hop. And, true to the west coast, it’s all fresh and floral and very aromatic. So, up to here it’s just a big IPA. However, about the middle of the tongue, that candi sugar kicks in, and we get a totally misplaced combination of very bitter and very sweet. It’s an interesting thing. It isn’t bad, it isn’t great, it’s just bizarre. These are two flavors that, even in other similar hybrid brews, I’ve never seen displayed with such individual strength that played in such contrast – it really tastes like you made an IPA/tripel suicide and took a big swig. This sweetness quickly is displaced again by that floral hop bitterness as it hits the aftertaste, travels up into the nose, and sticks around for quite some time after the swallow. Even in the aftertaste, though, there is still a vague interplay of the sweetness around the roof of the mouth, like a little doormouse running through the big house of hop. I am noticing, however, that, as the beer warms, the hop gains strength and the candi sugar loses oomph. So, while some sweetness sticks around, the hop definitely takes centerstage after the first 15 minutes has passed. So, for the real boxing match, tune in while this beer is still quite cold. Altogether, this is definitely worth a try. Don’t get me wrong – this is not a daily drinker, at least not for me. But, it’s the best job of such a hybrid I’ve yet tasted. It’s tasty and very interesting, and it is certainly enough to take my mind off of the aforementioned bad brews…
Andelot Lunatique
I picked this little ditty up at Total Wine last night while perusing their selections for an upcoming taste challenge (be on the look out in the next few days). I didn’t really want it but I was one of the few bottles I didn’t recognize, so, what the hell, you know?
As it pours into the glass this beer has a pale straw-colored hue, but as the liquid and sediment settle is has a merky golden color. The frothy, pure white head sits cleanly, about 3/4 inch on the top. Oh by the way, my girlfriend is going to try her hand at beer reviewing so I will post her thoughts in italics. “It looks like beer. The head looks like snow.” There is a combination of lemon and red apples in the smell. It is sharp but not pungent or abrasive. “It smells like apricots.” She’s totally wrong. This is a very light triple. I’ve had some whose spice characteristic burn so much that it over powers the flavor but this one is very drinkable. It has a well-rounded, soft mouthfeel that allows the flavors to glide across the palate. There isn’t any one taste that sticks out. Lemon, grapefruit, apple and grapefruit mix together nicely with the floral hop arrangement. “It has some apricot in it with a hint of lavender. P.S. I’m making stuff up to make fun of my boyfriend.” She’s an idiot…Oh yeah be careful with this beer because the abv will sneak up on you quick. I really like this beer. It’s not hard to find so give it a try if you’re into triples.
Maredsous 10
Yesterday (July 21) was Belgium’s Independence Day, so in late celebration, a review of a Belgian beer! This beer could also qualify as one of my “Spring Cleaning” beers, since it has been in my fridge since February. I am not really sure why I have not had it yet, other beers have gotten in the way I guess. Anyway, on with the review.
The beer pours a slightly hazy amber-orange, with a constant stream of carbonation throughout the tasting. The off-white head leaves a nice lace stickage, almost forming full rings, down the goblet. Cooked pineapple hits me as an aroma with some interplay of yeast and slight grain. The mouthfeel boarders on medium, with the carbonation lightening the beer in the mouth. The carbonation adds a certain coarseness to the beer towards the back of the mouth however. The taste of the beer is a mix of slight toffee and banana sweetness towards the front and green pepper/vegetable middle. This sounds odd, and quite frankly it is. The finish of the beer is bitter and astringent. This is a 10% ABV beer and there is no masking of that fact.
Overall I am not all that impressed with this beer. Two qualities of the beer that really stuck out through out the tasting were its coarseness and astringent value. These are two values I really do not want to stick out in a beer. I can say that “I have had it”, but I probably would not revisit this beer.
Big Boss “Hell’s Belle” Belgian Ale
To be honest, it has taken longer than it should for us to review this offering from up-and-coming local brewery, Big Boss. I first had this brew at Milltown, a killer Belgian beer bar in Carrboro, NC. Since then, I’ve been seeking out this offering at all the local brewpubs, as it has heretofore been available only on draft. However, it recently came out in bottled form, and so it’s high time we review it!
This beer pours a lovely dense golden color with a thin white head. The aroma of this gives away the fact that it’s a tripel – there is a candi sugar sweetness and a light citrus hint. There is also a less pleasing sour tint to it that I can do without, but it’s the same scent that finds it’s way into many tripels. In the mouth, the initial sensation of the Hell’s Belle is a decent carbonation burn. After that, a rich candi sweetness rears it’s head and begins to blaze a trail down the tongue. During this trip, the primary sensation is of sweetness, with a citrus bite going hand-in-hand to keep the tastebuds alive and buzzing. The aftertaste of this beer is rich and carries just a hint of a nutty bitterness. Overall, this is a great beer that sticks well to the tripel genre with perhaps just a bit more sweetness than most. In my opinion, this sticks up to the best of American tripels on the market, and I intend to drink it repeatedly. Also, I can’t wait to make a visit to the brewery, and I feel ashamed that I haven’t already. These guys are putting out some seriously good brews that will likely be making their mark on the craft brew market soon, so keep your eyes peeled for them! And, while your eyes are peeled, take note of the excellent album art – strong work, Big Boss!
Bell’s Sparkling Ale
I first had this new offering from Bell’s at Tyler’s Taproom in Carrboro, NC. At the time, I had never seen this bottled before, and I worried that it might be a draft-only offering. However, to be sure, I headed down to the Blue Light that night to investigate and, lo and behold, there was a sparkling 6-pack of the Sparkling Ale, just waiting to come home with me!
This beer pours a clear and, surprise surprise, sparkling golden color. There is an excess of carbonation here, and loads of dense bubbles pour forth from the bottom of the glass, giving the beer a very ‘festive’ appearance. Oddly, all these bubbles don’t lend to much of a head – there only exists a very thin stark white film on the top of the beer. The aroma of this beer is very pungent and very sweet, full of candi sugar with hints of orange zest. For a golden ale that looks so typical, this strong of an aroma is a rare treat. In the mouth, this brew exudes flavor. The primary flavor here is of candi sugar, and it rides all the way down the tongue and sticks well into the aftertaste. In addition, you can taste some citrus undertones and a light banana backbone. Finally, there seems to be a tiny bit of coriander that creeps up on occasion. It is a smooth and unabrasive brew that has a silky texture with enough carbonation kick to really enliven the tastebuds. To be quite frank, this is the best beer I’ve had in a long time. Granted, you guys know that I LOVE Belgian Tripels, and this is very close to the genre. In fact, Bell’s professes this to be an “American Triple”, which I’m not really familiar with – however, if Bell’s wants to make this into a new niche of it’s own, then I’ll gladly buy in. This is a great beer full of great flavors. It is refreshing enough to be at home on a hot summer day and it’s rich and complex enough to make a great digestif. Basically, go out and buy a few six packs. If you don’t like ‘em, then you can send ‘em to me!
Malheur 10
Another tasty brew that Beer of the Month Club graced us with this month is the Malheur-10, a Belgian brew that, by most accounts, is of the Tripel variety. Coincidentally, I just finished a rather comprehensive review of this beer a few days ago, so I will merely re-allocate it to this position. To those of you who already read the prior review, I apologize for the redundancy. For those of you who are checking this out to see how BOMC is doing with their offerings, take note that this is an excellent Belgian ale from a relatively new Belgian brewery, and I was very excited to see it come in the mail:
“Seems like I’ve been tied up in American brews lately and haven’t been giving the Belgians their usual due. For this, I apologize. I apologize to those readers who might be especially fond of the Belgian ales. I also apologize to my poor tastebuds, because I am quite certain that they’re fond of Belgian ales, and I have lately been depriving to them. So, that brings us to the Malheur ale that jumped out at me because of its simple and effective label art, and because I find the name rather appealing. Let’s hope the beer is equally appealing.
This brew pours a VERY effervescent golden with fairly course debris. I say that this is very effervescent because the cork nearly killed me and, despite a careful poor, I ended up with 2/3 a glass worth of course white head. For that reason, I thought that this might be a bum bottle. However, after allowing the beer to settle for a few minutes, it turns out that it doesn’t come across as too carbonated at all. Highly carbonated, yes, but not overly so. The aroma of this brew is fairly sweet with a predominance of lemon zest and spices. While it isn’t called such on the label, it truly reminds me of a tripel. After the first taste, I do believe that I’m correct in my tripel assumption. The beer starts off with a sharp carbonation burn that is blended with an early tart sweetness. On through the mouth, this sweetness begins to fade and an interesting musty bitterness creeps up. Within this musty bitterness lies very little hop, but quite a bit more of a herbal flavor with some honey tints blended with a citrus undertone. This lasts all the way to the back of the mouth and pushes itself against your throat in the aftertaste. Frankly, this aftertaste might seem initially displeasing, but it actually follows the early sweetness to make for a full and complex flavor experience. Furthermore, the bittersweet aftertaste sticks around and makes you yearn for the next taste. All in all, I consider this a great beer. It has a smooth and full mouthfeel, a very complex flavor for a beer of the tripel variety, and I don’t recall it being excessively expensive. Another excellent showing from the Belgians, which is no big surprise…”
Issaquah Menage ‘A Frog
Roque bought the Issaquah Brewery located in Issaquah, WA in the early months of 2000. I guess when the world didn’t come to an end at the turn of the century as was predicted the folks at Rogue felt it was time to expand their business. Not much has changed, as Issaquah is still produces some of its original brews. However now it is done in conjunction with its new partner in crime. Tonight’s review showcases the Menage ‘A Frog, an interpretation of the classic belgian triple. I first tasted this beer at The World Beer Festival in Raleigh, NC this past April. I enjoyed it then and expect to have the same experience tonight.
Before I even pour the beer I had a surprise waiting for me under the cap. It wasn’t the wax covering the bottle cap but the cork underneath that caught me off guard. I popped the top with our bottle opener and then had to break out the corkscrew. It was unlike anything I’ve seen before. Its appearance was more of what I expected; a golden-opaque ale with just a smidgen of white head. The prominent smell is of coriander with a light hint of clove. There are multiple flavors mixed within this triple. The front of the tongue is privy to orange peel while the middle and and back uncover banana and clove. It isn’t as bold as some other triples I’ve had, say varieties from Unibroue, Ommegang, Delirium, even Victory’s Golden Monkey; but, it does have an endearing quality about it. It is light enough that a novice can appreciate it but complex enough to challenge the palate. This is a delicious beer, and the name is quite witty, both things I find extremely important in a beer. Word to your mother Issaquah, word to your mother.
Malheur-10 Belgian Ale
Seems like I’ve been tied up in American brews lately and haven’t been giving the Belgians their usual due. For this, I apologize. I apologize to those readers who might be especially fond of the Belgian ales. I also apologize to my poor tastebuds, because I am quite certain that they’re fond of Belgian ales, and I have lately been depriving to them. So, that brings us to the Malheur ale that jumped out at me because of its simple and effective label art, and because I find the name rather appealing. Let’s hope the beer is equally appealing.
This brew pours a VERY effervescent golden with fairly course debris. I say that this is very effervescent because the cork nearly killed me and, despite a careful poor, I ended up with 2/3 a glass worth of course white head. For that reason, I thought that this might be a bum bottle. However, after allowing the beer to settle for a few minutes, it turns out that it doesn’t come across as too carbonated at all. Highly carbonated, yes, but not overly so. The aroma of this brew is fairly sweet with a predominance of lemon zest and spices. While it isn’t called such on the label, it truly reminds me of a tripel. After the first taste, I do believe that I’m correct in my tripel assumption. The beer starts off with a sharp carbonation burn that is blended with an early tart sweetness. On through the mouth, this sweetness begins to fade and an interesting musty bitterness creeps up. Within this musty bitterness lies very little hop, but quite a bit more of a herbal flavor with some honey tints blended with a citrus undertone. This lasts all the way to the back of the mouth and pushes itself against your throat in the aftertaste. Frankly, this aftertaste might seem initially displeasing, but it actually follows the early sweetness to make for a full and complex flavor experience. Furthermore, the bittersweet aftertaste sticks around and makes you yearn for the next taste. All in all, I consider this a great beer. It has a smooth and full mouthfeel, a very complex flavor for a beer of the tripel variety, and I don’t recall it being excessively expensive. Another excellent showing from the Belgians, which is no big surprise…
Green Flash Trippel
Okay, dudes, it’s another tripel. I don’t really have any witticisms about Green Flash, as it’s a relatively new brewery to me. However, I can tell you that I really dug their IIPa, and I’m pretty excited about all their other beers, including a barleywine ale that I believe I have sitting in the fridge.
This one pours a relatively clear dark golden color. The aroma here is fairly muted for a tripel, with a light sweetness that is exceptionally rich, almost caramel-like. In the mouth, this is a tad more typical of a tripel. It displays the candi sugar flavor you expect with just a hint of citrus. However, this richness rears its head again, and again almost caramel-like. It adds a layer that I don’t really expect of a tripel. it’s almost as if these guys traded in the extra citrus bite and tangy sweetness for a darker and richer sweetness. It’s actually a rather good beer, and it has a great mouthfeel, but it is a bit different than most tripels I typically drink, and I drink a lot of tripels. I won’t say that I’d choose this over other offerings on the shelf (like the Anderson Valley Brother David’s Tripel), but I will say that it’s good. If you find the bite of typical tripels a bit to tangy or cloying, then this might be a nice compromise for you. It’s kinda like a ‘dark’ tripel, if you can imagine…
Bornem Abbey Tripel
Let’s chalk up another tripel for the books! If I was stranded on a desert island, I think the only beverage I would need would be tripels, because obviously IPAs aren’t refreshing enough for those sunny days, and who really needs water? So, tonight, on the desert island that is my couch, I decided to pop open this new tripel that recently appeared on NC shelves.
This tripel actually pours a little light for a tripel, which is a bit refreshing, as I’ve had enough of these that they all start to look the same. The aroma is quite pleasant, with the requisite candi sugar blending with a slight honeysuckle smell. In the mouth, this is fairly standard for a tripel, but not totally. You get a slight carbonation burn early in the mouth which then moves to a sugary sweetness. However, in my opinion, the sweetness here is slightly different than I’m accustomed to – it’s still obviously from the candi sugar, but it tastes a bit more ‘flowery’, for lack of a better word – perhaps this is the same place where that honeysuckle aroma comes from – it gives it a freshness that doesn’t bespeak the usual maturation time for a tripel. There is also a touch of tartness in the aftertaste of this beer that isn’t necessarily typical, and it gives it a welcome punch towards the back of the mouth. Actually, I’m quite impressed with this beer, and I’m surprised by the subtle differences that I’m noticing when compared to other tripels. This is brewed by Van Steenberge, so it’s not a new brewery by any means. However, this beer tastes like somebody’s been experimenting a bit (but not getting too crazy), and I like the little touches. Salut to Van Steenberge – I’m liable to buy this again!
River Horse “Tripel Horse” Ale
How many good breweries can you think of in New Jersey, seriously? The only thing I can think of is that big god-forsaken Anheuser-Busch plant that I always passed on the way from Newark to Hoboken when I once lived there (I’m trying to give you guys small hints about my life so that, post-humously, one of you can put together a very brief biography of me). There might be other good breweries in Jersey – if so, I’d love to be reminded of them. What I’m getting at is that River Horse is based in Jersey, and that’s a novelty to me. Furthermore, River Horse makes some excellent beers, which is another plus.
The River Horse tripel pours a ruby red; this brew is quite dense – so dense, in fact, that the bubbles from the ‘nucleation site’ on my new Boston Beauty glasses rise oh-so-slowly through the liquid. The aroma of this is much wilder than most tripels. In fact, it is almost reminiscent of a flemish sour ale – quite biting on the nostril really. But, don’t get me wrong, it’s really quite pleasing – I like it when a brew can give my nose something to talk about. The flavor of this is also quite novel, and in a good way. Most tripels have a nice rock-candi sweetness, which I love, and a decent alcohol bite. But, this tripel has a lot more going on. There is a nice sweetness to this, but this sweetness is also joined by a solid malt backbone and a spicy flavor of cinnamon and a bit of clove. These flavors tickle the tastebuds at different points of the mouth, but the aftertaste is an interesting combination of the bunch, with a solid amount of the spice that almost gives this brew a ‘holiday’ feel. So, this is a bit of a divergence from your standard tripel, but son-a-mighty it’s good. I’ll have to give this one of my highest marks for an American tripel, and great marks for New Jersey. It’s an extremely tasty brew with a complexity that is rare to find in any tripel. I feel like they’re taking some liberties to get away from a pure tripel in the Belgian sense. But, if they can do that while still making a brew this tasty, then cheers to innovation!
