Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale - Dark Horse Brewing Company

allengarvin

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer is a bit of a dark tan color, hazy, with a filmy head. The aroma is highly fruity, ripely so, with a dusting of faint hops. The taste follows, with an initial bit of sweet malt. Tart apple and pear fruitiness does make a pleasant contribution to the taste, but the alcohol is surprisingly present and its harshness detracts greatly. This could really use some more carbonation as well.

A very mediocre tripel.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 02:41:07 | More by allengarvin

htomsirveaux

Texas

2.8/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tried on tap at Twisted Spoke, 17 Jul 2011. Served in a ~300 mL tulip.

Small creamy beige head. Minimal carbonation. Hazy golden color. Aroma seems relatively light for the style, sweet and yeasty, just a bit of alcohol. Yeasty, a touch spicy. Moderately sweet. Medium creamy body. Alcohol is a little warming. Lightly spicy sweet finish and aftertaste.

Overall a little washed out.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2011 00:56:37 | More by htomsirveaux

Giggy

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: This one pours a hazy dark golden, with a slight head. The cloudy yeast seperates and settles at the bottom of the glass.
S: aroma of traditional belgian yeast and clove sweetness.
T: Not the smoothest. Some sips you can taste the alcohol. Has an aftertaste of pipe tobacco.
M: Not bad, not good. slightly sweet, slight tingle on the tongue, slightly bitter at the end with a little bit of pepper.

Overall an enjoyable beer. I just wish the alcohol content was covered bettered.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 00:17:23 | More by Giggy

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A cloudy, orangey-amber pour. Decent head that fades pretty fast. Almost no lacing to speak of.

S: Oranges. Maybe a little bit of lemon. Some belgian yeast and some...cloves?

T: Oranges like the nose. Yeasty aftertaste. Pretty simple beer. No real indication of alcohol and just a bit of citrus bitterness. Refreshing cleanness to the taste.

M: Medium body, very smooth taste. Most tripels seem to be bright and crisp. This one is just simple and smooth. Not in a bad way either.

O: Not bad at all. I wasn't expecting a stellar tripel for a whole $10 for a 6pk. They've kept it simple and smooth - very drinkable. Sometimes you don't want a beer with 20 different characteristics. I like it!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 03:57:22 | More by Dope

ssimpson89

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Single from Jack's Market in Traverse City, MI

Pours tan butterscotch color, cloudy with floaties suspended. Small head that quickly dissipated. Pleasant smell of bananas.

Tastes as expected, Not my favorite style, but true to form and enjoyable. Lightly carbonated with a medium viscosity and crisp finish.

I love Dark Horse's beers, so glad I tried it. It's not their best offering, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 01:44:58 | More by ssimpson89

beergod1

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy Orange with a quick receding white head. A light spotted lacing remained. Aroma was sweet with a peppery edge to it. Sweet light fruit and yeasty notes were barely there. Flavor was cloves, sweet caramel malt and earthy fruitiness, well-blended with a nice spicy/sweet finish. Great balance between the spicy and sweet notes throughout. Medium bodied, smooth. I can't believe it is 8.5% abv. Not 1 hint of Alcohol. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 22:12:35 | More by beergod1

gaugebozo

New York

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Between golden and light brown. Super cloudy with light suds once they die down.

S - Some malt, belgian yeastiness, and low alcohol.

T - Similar to smell. Nothing really overpowering, but alcohol shows up a little more than it should. Usually in this style it's high alcohol that is deceptively hidden. It's not right there, but you can tell it's higher in booze. Strong Belgian yeast flavors (nice for someone who appreciates them), but malt could use more character. (More specialty grains plz).

M - good. Thicker with light carb.

O - good belgian, could use a little work, mainly as denoted in the T category.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 00:42:16 | More by gaugebozo

minterro

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Kalamazoo beer exchange in a sniffer glass

A: the beer is a hazy burnt orange color. Pretty opaque. The head has a white color and clings pretty well to the glass

S: powerful. Super yeasty smell. The yeasty scent is surrounded by sour and spice tones. The citrus is mostly oranges not grapefruit or limes. Maybe some banana throw in there

T: the taste is pretty similar to the nose. However some differences are in the taste the citrus is more of a lime instead of oranges. The beer is very sweet.

M: crisp and refreshing, finishes pretty dry. Medium body

O: got for only 2.25 due to the stock crash at kzoo beer exchange. Not super well balanced but overall a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2011 16:04:14 | More by minterro

DovaliHops

California

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours an extremely murky, reddish-golden orange color with a medium white head that settles slowly. Scent is filled with a lot of clove and banana. Some nice Belgian yeast as well. Taste is initially spicy with nice pepper flavors...then it gets yeasty. Tons of Belgian yeast and clove, mixed with alcohol flavors. Banana flavors throughout. The flavors are all quite nice, they just seem to be a little unbalanced to my palate. Mouthfeel is a little on the chewy side for a tripel, as I like mine to be a little more crisp. Drinkability is high, as this beer is pretty tasty. Overall, not the best example of this particular style, but it is definitely a beer worth drinking.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 05:51:51 | More by DovaliHops

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours into a thick orangish brown. Slightly unfiltered and hazy. Not overly carbonated. Maintains a decent head.

S- Yeast, cloves, and mildly fruity. Less yeast than seems typical for Tripels.

T- Although not bad tasting, it's lacking in punch. The flavors go together well, but it doesn't really have any flavors leading. The yeast and fruitiness are nice, but the spiciness seems to take the focus away from them.

M- Medium body. Slightly carbonated and prickly on the tongue. Slightly sticky on the tongue.

D- Quite drinkable for the style. Very smooth as well. The only downside of this is that it doesn't really stand out. This is a
Triple that I don't expect to remember, although there was nothing close to unpleasant about it either.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 16:44:50 | More by BBP

zachary80

Indiana

3.15/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours with a small white head that fades quickly. Body is a hazy orange, very similar to apple cider. Leaves thick lacing.

S: Smell is somewhat like a spicey brown ale. Mostly sweet, not much complexity.

T: Taste isn't weak but the Belgian yeast character is not prevalent. Overly sweet without much of the Trappist taste. What might be fine in another ale isn't good as a tripel.

M: Full bodied. Pretty good. No alcohol presence even at 8.5%

O: Overall this beer is just average. Not bad in any way.

V: At 10.99, it's a decent price for a tripel, but the quality just isnt there

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 02:28:01 | More by zachary80

hosehead83

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a wine goblet. Cloudy orange in color, with a short, off-white head of foam.
Aroma-Belgian yeast and spices, faint funk
Taste-Belgian yeast, earthy hops, orange rind. Very smooth for the strength, with a refreshing, Saison-like quality. Tasty and very drinkable. Certainly worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 18:04:24 | More by hosehead83

adman08

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a cloudy golden straw color. Minimal white head that fades quickly.
S-Slightly sweet aroma with some clove and banana mixed in.
T-Typical spice flavor of a tripel but tastes a bit watered down. Flavors of clove and a hint of orange.
M-Noticeable alcohol warmth but seems a little watered down to me. Moderate carbonation.
Overall, this tastes more like a strong Belgian style wit beer. It seems too light/watered down for a tripel. The flavor is decent and nice for a warm weather beer but for the style not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 23:23:23 | More by adman08

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown bottle served in a snifter.

Oak-hued copper with floating sediment. Creamy, white head that retreats to an intact sheet. Thin and condensed lacing with good strength.

Moderately sweet, Belgian candied sugar. Slightly tart, vinous fruit: green apple, orange, white grape, and raspberry. Hints of farmhouse must, but generally clean aromas.

Dry oak and earthen flavors that receive some reprieve from an understated candied sweetness. Pepper and coriander play into the earthen flavors and make for an even drier flavor. A slightly musty finish leads to notes of coriander and clove in the aftertaste.

A light, medium in body; quite smooth for the style on account of the low-key carbonation and sweetness.

The flavors are too earthen and muddy to accurately represent the style. Not quite my taste, but pleasant qualities (e.g., aroma, mouthfeel, and appearance).

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 15:47:24 | More by NEhophead

mdr4669

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

App: Poured to about a half a finger of head that dissolved very quickly. The body of the beer's a very dense amber gold color reminiscent of apple cider.

Smell: Initially there's some bread like characteristics and some dark fruits, then I get some scent from pine.

Taste: Nice bread-like initial taste then some citrus-like nodes of orange, followed by a crisp hoppy finish.

MF: Very crisp, very smooth with a nice warming effect @ the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 02:14:54 | More by mdr4669

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 5-13-11
Reviewed cold from a bottle to a glass

A – Poured a finger of foam, cloudy copper color, some carbonation present

S – Medium roasted malts, wheat and bready notes as well

T/M – Medium bodied, taste the dark caramel which is a strong sweet taste, a bit overpowering for this brew. Slight hop bitterness at the end which started out pretty smooth at first but turned crisp

D – Good tasting brew, not overly strong in general except some sweetness up front. More bready and wheat then expected. Couldn’t drink too many of these but glad I tried this one. I recommend it

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 18:18:31 | More by FreshmanPour77

dragonWhale

New York

3.55/5  rDev -3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An ageless wonder!
Gettin in the mood while brewing my 1st tripel and my first brew in the BK.
An impenetrable amber with a decent 1 finger head that slowly dies away to nothing. Suspended proteins and some granular sediment. This will be entertaining.
Some banana caramel aroma, a little bit of vanilla. Smells slightly sweet with a little bit of booze.
Surprisingly lightbodied and refreshing. Vanilla and banana are there but in the background. It's a little sweet but finishes medium dry. Super easy drinking. Too easy.
Good thing I just have the one, or this could get dangerous quick..

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 00:02:46 | More by dragonWhale

DannyDan

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is the first time I ever tasted a tripel, and so this is my thoughts on this beer.
A. Pours out a dark orange with excellent retention and really good lacing with moderate carbonation.
S. A very wonderful aroma of bananas, cloves, spices, vanilla, and some orange. As soon as I could smell this wonderful aroma I started thinking how good this beer will taste.
T. Starts out with bananas and spice followed by some cloves and spices. There is also some fruit, vanilla, and orange in the back and finishes off with more bananas and vanilla. It has a really nice balance between sweet and bitterness in the taste.
M. A nice smooth creamy easy drinking light body feel. This beer also leaves the mouth with a dry feel.
O. This is a great tasting beer that hides its 8.5% ABV very well and if most tripels taste this good than this could easily become one of my favorite styles. If anyone has any suggestions on what other tripels to try than let me know.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 01:54:19 | More by DannyDan

GrandCruDrew

New York

3.6/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured in my Dark Horse Pint

A- copper or dark amber in color, cloudy with an inch of head little retention and lace.

S- Belgian yeast, apricot, banana, spices.

T- I do get that Belgian distinctive yeast, banana, spice. It's kinda Triple meets Wheat.

M- A little syrupy, coats the mouth well.

Overall- Good, I wish it was warmer out. It seems like it would be more appreciated. The alcohol is hid rather well.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 00:21:38 | More by GrandCruDrew

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Race Street Cafe, Philly, PA

Served on tap in a tulip glass. Pretty nice. Packed a flavorful punch, a little less on the hoppy side, and more on the floral side, if that's what you look for in a tripel. Hazy amber color with moderate head. Floral aroma with light fruits. Light fruits in the taste, peaches, apricot, banana, light sugar. Light-medium mouthfeel, and fairly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2011 18:55:49 | More by Rifugium

mdfb79

New York

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 04/25/11 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in Washington, DC.

a - Pours a hazy deep orange color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of bananas, oranges, yeast, spices, cloves, and bready malts. Very nice.

t - Tastes of bananas, fruits, spices, bready malts, wheat, citrus, yeast. Again, very enjoyable.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, very smooth and creamy. A little less carbonation and the mouthfeel would be perfect.

o - Overall a really nice trpiel and another very good beer from Dark Horse. Something I would love to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 18:56:27 | More by mdfb79

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Was in a tripel mood so I cracked this one

A - Wow I was surprised by the color. Expected a golden yellow but got a dark hazy amber. Little to no head but carbonation is pretty lively. Decent looking.

S - Smells very little like a tripel. Kind of malty and not so much yeast which isn't a bad thing. Still smells less fruity and more sugar based. Curious I take a sip.

T - Not a bad beer but it does seem more malt forward. Their is a distinct hop profile to this and the sugars are more predominant. Not really fruity in terms of tart apple or pear but the ABV is well balanced. Fruits may be there but subdued. OK tripel.

M - Medium bodied so for the style it's very drinkable

Overall I did have a good portion of sediment in the bottom so I give some leeway to Dark Horse that this bottle might be old but I did like how hop forward this was and how well the ABV was concealed. Might consider buying it again fresh to try or maybe pick up another single from D's. For me this is one drinkable Tripel!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 22:40:50 | More by DrDemento456

hopheadtony1

Belgium

2.55/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear amber beer. Nice amber light. this is amedium quality white head for my part. Herbal in the nose, malty smooth in the mouth. European hops background. Maybe more intresting with sa little bit of yeast sleeping in the bottle. Nice belgian tribute.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 16:59:32 | More by hopheadtony1

matjack85

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny's store in Plainfrield, IL for $2.59. No freshness date that I could see.

The beer poured a cloudy golden/honey color with only a ½ finger of white head and only minimal lacing.

The smell was very fruity - mostly apples, apricots, and pears. There is also some sweet malt, cinnamon, and other spices in here. I liked the smell.

The beer has a nice caramely sweetness to it like you would expect from a tripel, but there is lots of fruit flavor to this as well. Apple, orange, and apricot are the main flavors I taste, but there is a tartness in here as well - maybe from the Belgian yeast. Cinnamon, clove, and a touch of alcohol make up the rest of the flavor. I thought it all came together fairly well. A very tasty brew.

Medium to full bodied mouthfeel with a bit more than medium carbonation.

A sipping beer for sure with an 8.5& alcohol level, but the alcohol is not overpowering or dominant here. It's a bit pricey, but definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 09:31:53 | More by matjack85

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale

Appearance: A hazed orange, tiny yeast particulates gather and the soapy white head recedes to a ring around the edges.

Smell: Belgian yeast, some hay/wheat like elements, banana.

Taste: Much like the smell, some banana, clove, biscuity malt. Tea like hop bitterness, and overall not unlike many imported tripels. The 8.5 abv is hidden well.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, carbonation level could be a little higher, could be a bit drier, but decent feel.

Overall: Dark Horse makes some interesting and fine beers. This one is good. Simple, and could creep up on ya.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 01:56:56 | More by Stinkypuss