Tripel - Great Divide Brewing Company

jsisko01

Michigan

3.69/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Bottled on Aug 12, 2010

Appearance - Pours a VERY hazy golden color with an inch thick, soapy white head that lingers for a couple minutes. Leaves a nice thick, creamy lacing.

Smell - Has a musty funk aroma that is most dominant. Light spices and citrus seem to be present as well

Taste - Spices come through much stronger up front, with a very strong and sweet honey flavor. Banana, clove, orange citrus, and pepper are also detectable. And a fairly strong alcohol bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with high carbonation.

Overall - The sweet honey flavor is a little overbearing in my opinion.. but I think this may be how tripels are intended to be? I have only tried a couple others and they were very similar to this.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 03:34:39 | More by jsisko01

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 9/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a murky yellow-orange amber. Thin white head but nice lacing. Mild malt and spice aroma. Malt, light fruits, light lemon, belgian yeast and spice. Finishes dryer and less complex than most Belgian tripels. Tasty, but not quite up to the level of a Belgian. Good, pleasant backup tripel.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 19:44:35 | More by LiquidAmber

superspak

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into chalice; bottled 08/12/2010. Pours hazy golden straw color with a nice 1 finger dense white head with good retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of lemon, pear, apple, orange, pepper, biscuit, grass, yeasty spices, and light tart grains. Nice and well balanced aromas. Quite standard for a tripel as expected. Taste of big lemon, apple, orange, pepper, grass, biscuit, tart grains, and spicy yeast. Lingering notes of citrus, pepper, grains, and yeast spices on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy mouthfeel. Very smooth drinking for 9.3% but is still a bit of a sipper. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is an excellent American made Tripel. Great flavor balance and complexity; with good drinkability for the level of alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 07:45:11 | More by superspak

n2185

North Carolina

2.03/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: Pours a hazy gold with a finger of white head that recedes into a thin layer with decent lacing.

S: Some slight spice notes and light fruit aromas up front, followed by a strong DMS aroma of cooked vegetables.

T: Light spices and candy sugar up front followed by that strong veggie flavor. There are some yeast flavors on the finish.

M: Medium-light body with medium carbonation, this beer is a bit thick and watery for the style.

O: Not a good beer at all. I don't know if it was a bad bottle because of the strong veggie aromas and flavors, but I definitely have no urge to have this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 20:47:32 | More by n2185

HalfFull

California

3.28/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a wine glass from a foiled 22 oz. bottle. Brewed in August 2010, an interesting find from Great Divide. Pours a hazed golden with a thin white cap. Bit hazy and wheat like in appearance. Moderate retention settles to a light film and leaves light lacing.

Aroma is slightly sweet and with an under represented yeast influence. Somewhat fruity on the nose but lacking the delicate nuance of the better Tripels.

Flavor follows the nose, again offering some yeast notes that are a bit to buried in the sweet delivery. Lightly spicy and with a chalky graininess. Finish is less viscous than expected, allowing for a decent drinkability. Overall the beer has no notable flaws yet lacks the subtle nuance I look for in the style, being a bit too buttery, likely from the yeast or yeast conditions.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 03:32:11 | More by HalfFull

KajII

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

[Best served in a Trappist glass]

The pour was a cloudy almost murky medium yellow-orange that had an average sized (1-2 fingers) white creamy head that lasted a little while leaving behind some nice foamy residue creating a decent amount of lacing that lasted throughout.
The aroma was nice and enticing with a mild grain malt, a nice flowery hop and a sweet moldy yeast with obvious notes of banana, honey, orange and a mild peppery spiciness with just a tinge of alcohol.
The first sip tasted ever so lightly sweet with a nice dose of honey and a hint of citrus. Although as the flavor progressed it became quite a bit more appealing with a little bit of sour setting in and a nice strong yeasty flavor. Towards the end I noticed notes of banana, some spiciness and a nice alcohol warming sensation that allowed the flavor to stay with you for a decent amount of time.
Mouthfeel was light to medium in body with the texture starting out rather creamy but shifting to a dry finish with a mild carbonation.
Overall a smooth aromatic blending of malts, yeast and spices giving this beer a tremendous flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 19:50:25 | More by KajII

TheHoppiest

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into an oversized snifter. Pours a hazy gold color that seems to glow with ambient light. A white head presents upon pouring, but quickly reduces to a mere shadow.

Has a fruity, spicy aroma that is somewhat muted. Somewhat peppery, with hints of lemon and floral notes.

Pleasanty fruity, mildly malty and yeasty, with abundant floral notes and a gentle bitter hop ending.

Medium bodied, with a mildly dry ending. Very smooth and easy drinking.

This beer is much nicer tasting than I imagined it would be. Great Divide did a nice job on this beer, and I would gladly have it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 00:03:47 | More by TheHoppiest

Beer4Baltimore

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bomber
A - hazy gold with a thin head but significant lacing.
S - yeasty spices overlayed on grains.
T - yeasty sweet grain with a distinctive hoppy grapefruit finish.
M - feels heavy but the good carbonation really moves things along.
D - one bomber will bomb you for awhile.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 04:57:49 | More by Beer4Baltimore

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.18/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Straw yellow and somewhat hazy. Head was decent but faded quickly, leaving decent lacing.

Smell is of yeast, spices, cloves, pepper, sweet fruits, with a tinge of alcohol.

Taste is a bit odd but within the style for sure. Earthy yeast flavors dominate, along with some graininess, cloves and pepper. Alcohol is noticeable.

Feel is medium and slick, with a sweet, yeasty aftertaste and low bitterness.

Drinks average. It's ok but as far as tripels go, I'm not that impressed.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 00:10:46 | More by AlCaponeJunior

stercomm

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

650ML Bottle

Pour is golden with a hazy touch to it. Small head that dissipates quickly.

Smell - initially got bread and lemons then went almost to pineapples.

Mouth feel is medium good carbonation

Taste - will agree with some others, starts out with a nice sweetness, moves to a tartness and then finishes very dry - I like this a lot.

All in all a very nice pour, for whatever reason I feel this beer would be awesome with a spicy Chinese dish

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 22:01:34 | More by stercomm

obywan59

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

650 ml bottle into my St. Bernadus oversized wine glass.

Yellow-gold to golden and translucent. 1 finger white head that dissipated rapidly. Kind of looks like pineapple juice when held up to a bright light.

Wow, smells really bready and sweet with a lemony aroma as well. Like a lemon flavored cake. Later I got less lemon and more tropical fruit like pineapple. 2nd pour is even more bready.

Sweet up front, then some spicy Belgian yeast. Bitter hops stand out in the end.

This is listed as medium-bodied, but to me it seems really full and luscious. Give the first glass a 5 for mouthfeel. The 2nd glass seemed way more carbonated and prickly. Nice, but more ordinary, give it a 4. Alcohol is buffered well by the body, but there is still a descent burn in the throat.

I really like this beer. It starts out as a sweet brew which I generally prefer, but ends up more on the dry side with some light tartness.
An excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 05:12:06 | More by obywan59

jsh420

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

bottled aug 27 2010

pours cloudy golden yellow with a 2+ finger head that left some spotted lacing

smell was very faint - all i could detect was yeast

taste was so much better then the nose - bready banana a little must in the yeast but over all solid flavor

mouthfeel was a medium body with good carbonation that gave it a crisp and creamy feel

drinkability very easy drinking for a 9+ abv beer - light clean flavors - i just wish this was in 12oz bottles

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 01:59:44 | More by jsh420

beersensei305

Florida

3.18/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottled Aug 14, 2009.. So I imagine the flavors are different.

Dark golden amber head foams up big foamy dissipates after the first sip

The smell is yeasty with some citrus/fruity.. Like pasteurized apple juice

The taste is yeasty, bready and sweet mellow overall no spice like Chimay. More pronounced malt but still mellow.

Medium bodied nice carbonization 

This beer was pretty damn good, I'd have it again- especially since this bottle was over a year old I would like to try the original flavors. 

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 20:11:50 | More by beersensei305

bierguru

Florida

2.42/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

bottle aged a year

A -
apple juic in color thick soapy head laces out fairly quick

S -
yeast spciy and yet sweetish maybe honey or apple

T -
yeast spice spice is mild almost sour backend is sweet

M -
light and drys the mouth out

D -
the beer was aged a year so it maybe why it has such a poor review but dont care for it

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 20:02:52 | More by bierguru

McCrae

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- a Yellow straw-like color, smaller head

S- sweet, lightly citrusy mixed with yeast

T- yeast and slightly hoppy, very much like it smells with an overall citrus vibe

M- very carbonated, slightly oily

D- overall good but the citrusy taste and oily feel make it a little much for more than a bottle in a night.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 03:25:39 | More by McCrae

dragonWhale

New York

4.4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottled 8/14/09. beautiful gold, can see the bubbles through the liquid when i hold it aloft to marvel of its glory.
peppery, little bit of alcohol, some spice, slight citric acid. tastes just slightly sweet, spicy, peppery with a nice alcohol base. smooth and very easy. very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 02:14:49 | More by dragonWhale

InebriatedJoker

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 650ml bottle - bottle date Aug 27 2010

Poured a nice cloudy straw color,two finger head that quickly dissipated leaving thin lacing , lots of bubbles and strangely lot's of floater's.

Smell - Hints of apples ,light citrus and slight malts.

Taste - The sweet fruits hit you immediately,decent maltyness to balance the sweetness,slight hops are evident as well.

Drinkability - a very drinkable craft brew, have you hugged a monk today ?

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 17:19:30 | More by InebriatedJoker

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bottle into Tulip glass.

A. 2 finger head. Color is hazy golden. Good lacing. Good retention.

s. Yeast, spice, leomony fruity smell. A bit of corriander. Little bit of hop bitterness. Smell is heavy on the yeast aroma.

T. Taste is good. Fairly dry. Yeast and spice come out in the flavor profile just like the aroma. Some pears and other light fruit. Nice balance.

M. Finishes pretty dry. Medium bodied. Medium carbonation.

D. Very drinkable. This one actually surprised me a bit. Really liked the flavor. Semi-sweet with a dry finish. Good American made Tripel.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 02:48:41 | More by siradmiralnelson

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Grapefruit golden yellow with steady streams of bubbles disappearing into the underside of a lovely looking lid of alabaster colored cream. The foam has plenty of character and does a nice job decorating the sides of the glass.

The nose is indistinguishable from a bona fide Belgian tripel. It hits every one of its marks with ease and has no negatives. The usual golden fruit and spice are as well-matched as ever and smell even better as the beer gains a few degrees.

Great Divide is one of those American breweries that comes pretty damn close to nailing just about any style they set their sights on. Plenty of breweries do a good job with the standards, but putting Belgian-style ales into the mix separates the men from the boys. That's why GDBC will always be one of my favorites.

The flavor profile is textbook. We have... sun-ripened apples and pears with a perfect amount of sweetness, along with an ideal amount of complementary clove spiciness. Pretty simple, but oh so tasty. Expertly buried alcohol is no surprise at all.

If there's any one area in which this brew is showing its (now 14 months of) age, it's the mouthfeel. It's still big enough and carbonated enough to be enjoyable from first sip to rapidly approaching last.

My favorite Belgian style from one of my favorite breweries. It was a foregone conclusion that Tripel would be delicious and drinkable beer. Good thing this stuff comes in bombers because it's disappearing like nobody's business. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 21:53:31 | More by BuckeyeNation

avalon07

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bomber to a goblet. Had an orange color and a cloudy consistency. There was an inch and a half of foamy, long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A nice, sweet aroma of fruit, yeast, malt and some hops.

T: Tasted of yeast, lemon, pineapple, malt, hops, and esters. Very well balanced and tasty.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

D: An extremely drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 12:03:52 | More by avalon07

babaracas

Florida

3.33/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly hazy straw color with streams of carbonation rising to the top. Two fingered dense foamy head, settles to a thin cap leaving a nice ring of lace. Smell: bready, orange fading into spicy hopping, muted phenols - banana and a little musty. Taste: sweet with a touch of clove, orange citrus, lemon peel, blending into a spicy hop bite and then fading into a peppery, drying finish. Hop forward for sure. Lingering impression are tangy-ish and metallic flavors, not so nice. Not the best offering from Great Divide. Didn't realize this was a one-off, bottled on Aug 12, 2010.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 01:53:14 | More by babaracas

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy yellow body, white head.

Aromas are sweet with a malty character that turns to notes of orange zest ans spice.

Sweet toasted malt forms the back drop for a hodgepodge of honey, bitter orange peel, coriander, fresh bread, banana, grape, and dry peach before a bitter, spicy finish.

Round, creamy mouthfeel despite ample carbonation. Its 9.3% ABV, but I will have no problem finishing off a bomber all by myself (gotta love days off).

Great Divide Tripel is a well crafted, complex, and balanced Tripel. I really enjoyed it and will be sure to grab another bottle while I can.

That said, it serves as an example that even some the best American brewers still can't match the layers of complexity and nuance that Belgium's top notch producers have attained. This is a good Tripel, but it doesn't touch Tripel Karmeliet or St. Bernardus Tripel. Of course it isn't fair to expect that much of it either.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 22:37:55 | More by BradLikesBrew

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I think I passed on this when it first came out because I thought I had it before. Bottled aug 14 2009

Pours a some what bubbly & viscous apricot with a finger+ ivory colored head. Clouds a touch the last 3rd of the bottle. insane lacing & above average head retention

S: Breadyness, orchard fruit phenols & a touch of hay

T: Orchard fruit, lemony hops, a touch of candi sugar & a touch of musty yeastyness & some pineapple up front. Yeasty, bready with peaches & pineapple once warm, a some boozey warmth too. Finishes grainy with yeastyness, pineapple & candi-sugar dryness & some fairly earthy phenols

MF: Chewy with subtle carbonation, warming & fairly well balanced. Somewhat grainy once room temperature

Drinks pretty darn easy for the style & abv. Boozey warmth does slow me down a touch. I shall seek out some fresher product next time for comparison, but I doubt it will be better than this. This by far the best of GD's Belgian offerings IMO

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 02:17:38 | More by russpowell

atsprings

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber into a Hopus tulip pours a crisp pale orange with a decent off-white head that slowly diminishes to a thin layer and leaves decent lacing on the glass. Aroma is lemon peel, spice, sweet malts and sweet fruits. The taste is lemon zest and sweet fruits with a nice kick of coriander and spice. The beer is medium bodied with fairly well hidden alcohol. I'll admit, this one was better than expected, far from the best American brewed Tripel, but far from the worst.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2010 01:24:28 | More by atsprings

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In a snifter the beer was a golden color with a small white head.
Aroma of fruit, yeast, and sweet malt. A bit on the muted side.
Apple, pear, cotton candy taste. Peppery at the finish.
Nice beer. Would never have guessed it was 9% ABV.
Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 21:06:29 | More by lordofthewiens