Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale - Dark Horse Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
83
good
-
473 Ratings

rAvg: 3.66
pDev: 14.21%
Reviews: 301
Hads: 172

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Brewed by:
Dark Horse Brewing Company

Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
Tripel | 9.50% ABV

Availability: Spring. bottle (278), on-tap (22), growler (1).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (55) | Reviews (84) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by tectactoe:

tectactoe

Michigan

3.7/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

I've had this a at Old Chicago on tap, but never got around to reviewing it. This review will be based on the bottled version. It pours a murky golden-yellow color with a bit of stoplight-amber at the very core. The stark-white head settles nicely at about a quarter-inch and leaves a small amount of lacing, only at the very top of the glass.

Like you'd expect from most tripels, the first things to breach your nostrils are equal amounts of clove and subdued fruit. Hints of over-ripe bananas coated in a light battering of cloves spices, followed by some mild malt sweetness and a touch of Belgian-style yeast. Unfortunately, this aroma isn't as robust or commanding as many tripels out there, and doesn't have much complexity. Even warming up over time doesn't really reveal anything new or exciting.

The flavor follows closely to the nose in both the flavor profile and the somewhat underwhelming nature. A sea of malt upon which a big of bananas and apple skins lie, coated with a bit of brown sugar and followed up by some kitchen spices. Alcohol character starts off low at first, but by the end of the glass, the phenol character is quite high and almost even a little intimidating.

One of the most disappointing factors of this beer is its straightforwardness. Even the Belgian yeast really fails to open up and develop, and rather you're left with a small hint of bubblegum in the finish and some small, bready notes close behind. It tastes like a watered down tripel that's not really watered down, rather it's just somewhat flavorless in comparison to other beers of the same style. Medium bodied, lightly creamy with a high amount of carbonation.

From reading the review above, I'm sure it sounds like I hate this beer. I don't. I guess I was being hard on it because I expected much more. It's definitely "good" in the sense that I'd have it again (and I have), but it just doesn't stand up to some of the big-boy tripels out there. It lacks the robustness, finesse, and complexity that the style commands, although it's still a reasonably tasty and drinkable beer in a more broad sense.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 11:46:25 | More by tectactoe

More User Reviews:

Rohkey

Michigan

4/5 rDev +9.3%

06-17-2013 20:00:51 | More by Rohkey

Hobo

Kentucky

2.5/5 rDev -31.7%

06-16-2013 00:19:40 | More by Hobo

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.25/5 rDev -11.2%

06-14-2013 21:55:25 | More by Kegatron

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.8/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a goblet. Color was a medium amber, with next to no head. A few small streams of bubbles rose from the bottom. Aroma had a bit of alcohol, but shifted to a primarily fruity sweet, hints of prune. Reminded me a milder barleywine. Flavor was sweet, more on the sugary side, but not excessively so. Despite the sweetness, came across a little thin and watery. Overall it was pretty good, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 23:00:23 | More by mountdew1

bobbyr5

Michigan

3.75/5 rDev +2.5%

06-08-2013 16:14:25 | More by bobbyr5

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.51/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dense mucky orange with a high rate of turbidity matter. Milky, creamy beige head is slight, moderately holding leaving a sparse and speckled lacing around the glass. A good amount of yeasty solids settle on the bottom of the vessel.

S: Aroma of pear, green fruit and some hefe-banana.

T: Flavor of fresh green melon, some banana, and some tropical fruit. Creamy oats and grains base, dry citrus, dry wheat, and a dry powdery milkiness. A gentle sourness occurs but he yeast is fairly tame, showing some oranges, apples and a toasty warmth of alcohol.

M: Mouthful is creamy, with some musky fruit, dry grains. Light fresh fruit snap, carbonation was a little loose and light. Rounds out with a warming of fruit alcohol.

O: Overall worthy drinkability, dry grains and fruit touch. Light warming of alcohol but is highly manageable. Wont blow your socks off, but would readily reach for another one. A little loose, could use some tightening up (i.e. sharper, crisper flavor and carbonation).

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 11:45:46 | More by beerthulhu

thehappybelgian

Ohio

3/5 rDev -18%

06-08-2013 04:42:21 | More by thehappybelgian

Bustersuess

New York

3.5/5 rDev -4.4%

06-04-2013 03:36:06 | More by Bustersuess

Paul_Apsley

Michigan

4.5/5 rDev +23%

06-01-2013 08:52:53 | More by Paul_Apsley

Jas45678

Michigan

3.75/5 rDev +2.5%

06-01-2013 01:41:23 | More by Jas45678

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.36/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: a nice orangish yellow. pretty hazy with a white head that sticks around.

Smell: almost non-existant. dry bread and some banana

Taste: a strong dryness, some bananas, clove, belgian yeast. and strong alcohol. a bit too strong on the alcohol and subtle on the rest

Mouthfeel: not very heavy but the alcohol sticks around.

Overall: not a big fan of this one. alcohol should blend better. other flavors should have more kick

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 02:41:37 | More by SportsandJorts