Green's Quest Tripel Blonde Ale - Green's Gluten Free Beers

largadeer

California

2.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Clear, pale blond with a big frothy white head, very good head retention.

Smell: Sweet and sour; lemon, sugar, husky grains, herbs. A little rough, but not bad.

Taste & mouthfeel: Fairly sour initially. Flavors of lemon and green apple with a bit of astringent herbal bitterness. Sweetens up a bit before the finish, with the green apple flavor really coming forward in the aftertaste. Very light-bodied for the style.

Drinkability: I probably couldn't drink more than 7-8 oz.

Notes: Not impressive as a tripel, but good for a gluten free beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2008 01:07:06 | More by largadeer

jujubeast6000

Texas

3/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Reviewed 6/11/2009 (Bottle):

Pours a clear very light golden colored body. Small pure white colored head. Almost looks like apple juice. Very sweet aroma. Sour apples, and grain. Sugar aroma. Grainy taste, some pear. Light taste, hides the alcohol pretty good. Similar to lambic, and also to a Belgian triple.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 23:03:00 | More by jujubeast6000

txbrewer

Texas

3/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reading other reviews of cloudy pours, I wonder what is up with the brewery. Mine was quite clear (almost looked and smelled like cider) and very much on the sweet citrus smelling side.

The initial taste is a reminder of apple or pear cider, not what I expected when the label read Tripel Blonde Ale. That being said, it is still quite drinkable. One person commented about the after taste as it warmed - this is true and I would not suggest this be served ice cold as it covers any flavor this brew contains.

A bit over carbonated (maybe they could cut back on the sorghum or rice???) as all that bubbly was covering the flavor.

Drinkable yes, would I normally, no. For those who are gluten intolerant, it is something nice to have around. I have noticed that most sorghum beers seem to have a certain sweet twang that is just not expected in beers - DeProef Brouwerij is close but they need to get more of the hop flavor going and possibly a bit less on the sugars (this bottle is labled at 8.5% ABV).

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 16:45:28 | More by txbrewer

Dave1999

Virginia

3/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Light yellow to orange with a few bubbles and a very foamy head.

The smell wasn't too strong. sweet malts and a little bit of hops.

Its tastes malty with no real bitterness a very mellow flavour with some spices and a bit of sweetness.

Feels pretty thin in the mouth with a small amount of carbonation.

If I had to drink gluten free beer I wouldn't mind drinking this although I prefer the Greens Dubbel to this.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 16:37:43 | More by Dave1999

WillieMoe

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- Light orange, fairly heady, with mild haziness. Seems fizzy with high carbonation.

S- The alcohol is very present in the smell,mixed with a pilsner or light lager scent. Actually, if you close your eyes you'd think you were sniffing a pinot grigio. There's also a hint of cider as it warms. Quite a unique and complex aroma.

T&M- The taste is a shock and a half after smelling. It is very sweet, and has a definite cidery feel to it. Gives off an almost sour apple feel to the tongue. Doesn't feel very fizzy or carbonated on the tongue. It is dry, but not very bitter.

D- This is a very complex beer, that seems kind of all over the place. It was not that terrible, but it's not something I would go out of my way to drink or drink on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2008 17:35:24 | More by WillieMoe

bsp77

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Tulip.

Appearance: Mostly clear but slightly dulled yellow with surprisingly substantial foamy head and lots of lacing.

Smell: Sweet, grainy and adjuncty with some Belgian yeast characteristics of clove and banana.

Taste: Similar to the aroma, it is too sweet and grainy. That said, it has some nice layers of fleshy fruit, banana and clove. Ends with a titch of spicy hops (Styrian?)

Feel: Moderately high carbonation, medium body. Not as dry as a great Tripel, but many American-made Tripels that are not gluten-free are still like this.

Overall: Not bad for gluten-free, but people with gluten issues ultimately would be better served by drinking wine, hard alcohol, cider, etc.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 21:46:03 | More by bsp77

DavidST

Texas

3.08/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a goblet, best before 4/10/15. This pours a light golden color with a fizzy short lived white head. The smells are of belgian yeast esters, sweet malts, banana. The feel is medium to thin with a fizzy carbonation. The taste is okay, pretty sweet almost like an apple juice, a dirty flavor. Its okay, not something I'd get again.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 02:38:23 | More by DavidST

tdm168

North Carolina

3.08/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - pale copper with a giant thick, dense, white head that has decent retention

S - alcohol, white grapes, grains

T - grains, apples, white grapes, intense boozy alcohol

M - warm, well carbonated, medium bodied

When this beer was cold it was better. As the beer warmed, however, the alcohol became intense and extremely bitey. There was little flavor content or body to stand up to the intense alcohol. I'll avoid this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 15:39:07 | More by tdm168

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The third in the series of Green's gluten-free beers that are now available in Lexington KY. The Trippel is better than the Amber, but not as flavorful as the Dubbel. Starts off with a crystal clear straw - golden color, with ample carbonation, and a large airy foamstand that shows good staying power. (as with most gluten-free beers, when the head is disturbed, it fades very quickly.) Aromas of pears, apples, and appricots swirl with a syrupy sweetness and an odd fermentation 'twang'. The flavors bring out the same fruits found in the scent, along with an artificial and residual sweetness that is as distracting as benificial. Typical of G.F. (gluten free) beers, the body is void of maltiness, richness, or depth; leaving the beer a bit soul-less and coats the mouth with a cola-like syrup. Finishes clean tasting, but feeling oddly sugary. For gluten-free products, this beer does quite well, it just cannot compete with grain-beer counterparts.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2007 05:04:51 | More by BEERchitect

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500 mL bottle

This gluten free beer poured a clear, golden color with fizzy carbonation and good, white foam that persisted, clung to the glass, and left lacing. The smell was like sour cherries (not sure if this is the way it is intended to smell?). Not an offensive smell, just surprising. The taste was tart cherries and green apples with very low hop presence and a light sweetness. Very unusual flavors. The mouthfeel was fruity and tart with medium body and strong carbonation. The flavors of grain and fruit linger. This is an odd beer, but I did not pour it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 16:03:28 | More by UncleJimbo

allengarvin

Texas

3.2/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

My third Green's beer. Not holding much hope it will be good, but it does at least make a pretty pour, with a hazy gold color with a nice thick head on top. Fruity nose, with a touch of citrus tartness. Wow, much better tasting than the other two Green's I've had. It's not good, per se, but it's drinkable. There's a tart, bordering on sour, fruitiness, but there's also noticeable citrus hoppiness which does a good job offsetting the terrible off-flavors.

Probably the best gluten-free beer I've had. Which isn't saying much.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2008 18:51:19 | More by allengarvin

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Though I have been disappointed by other Green's offerings, I decided to give this one a try, and I am glad I did.

Color is a clear orangy-amber, nothing special but not off-putting. Aroma is crisp and fruity, more on a cider than a beer, a little sweet but not cloying. Flavor is perky, fruity and a little sour, with a nice alcohol zing; it tastes like a mixture of cider and sake - different, and not in a bad way. Texture is smooth and pleasing, a teensy bit watery but not too shabby.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2008 03:33:39 | More by Cyberkedi

Rayek

Colorado

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

A: Brilliant gold, with nice clarity and a bit of carbonation. A foamy bone white head has nice staying power and leaves bits of lace.

S: Quite sweet in the nose. Apple cider, pear and white grape aromas do the bulk of the work. A light whiff of alcohol keeps the sweetness in check.

T: The sweetness from the nose carries straight to the flavor. Sweet apple cider is what really stands out. Bitterness is very mild, but does add a touch of coriander spice. Alcohol adds warmth to the finish.

M: The medium body is syrupy and has about the right dose of fizz.

D: The is the best of the gluten free beers that I've had. It doesn't have much of a beer taste to it, but does show that you can do good work with sorghum when you try.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 05:41:18 | More by Rayek

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance: This one has been aged 1 year in a cellar. Semi hazy, golden in appearance, some lace.

Smell: Cider, mint possibly from the hops.

Taste: Apple cider, belgian yeast. Sweet. Somewhat tart. Alcohol hidden well. For a blonde/tripel this tastes more like a dry cider.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, semi dry finish.

Drinkability: Not a typical tripel, but a good beverage. If I had a gluten allergy, this could be a staple.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 16:37:43 | More by Stinkypuss

emsroth

New York

3.3/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Tried this on a whim after reading about on the Merchant du Vin website. Why not try a gluten-free beer brewed in a classic belgian style?

App: Frothy white head. Nice deep golden color with perfect clarity, for some reason it seems darker than I expect in tripels. Solid amount of lace.

Great fruity nose. Sour apples, white grapes, and lemon that come from the zesty yeast. A touch of sweet alcohol and grain with just enough hoppiness to round the flavor out. Smells a bit more like a saison, but I'm staying open minded.

Taste and mouthefeel: Wow! Pretty darn good here. All the things I look for in my tripels. A strong fruitiness with a hint of funk. Ends dry with a moderate does of hopes that truly round out this flavor.

I've definitely learned that barley malt is what gives beer the body we love. while the flavors of this beer are great, it's definitely missing some meat, both in body and in flavor. The beer seems to be highly carbonated to make up for the body, but I cannot fault them for that.

Definitely a pretty good tripel! Better than some malt versions I have had. Good for those with gluten intolerance and the occasional change of pace. I will be trying the others, but there definitely is a lot of psychology involved in having a gluten-free beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 03:32:49 | More by emsroth

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.3/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Hazy orange/amber with 3 fingers of white sea foam that retain well.

S - Grapes, green apples, candy sugar, hints of bubblegum alcohol, spice, slightly acidic.

T - Tart fruit, green grapes and apples, clean white wine flavors, spicy soft grain on the back of the palate. Sweet middle with some yeast esters mixed in. Dry grassy hops clean up the sweetness on the finish.

M - Smooth and clean body with a fizzy dry finish.

Sweet and clean tartness with a dry fizzy finish. This exceeded my expectation being gluten free. I applaud the brewery for this as it doesn't stack up to a BSPA or a Tripel but has the characteristics without the bready malt. I would drink this if I had an intolerance to gluten.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 21:39:26 | More by StaveHooks

hdofu

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It is not a bad beer perse, but it isn't one that I see myself being excited about. For such a strong beer it has a watery finish. Taste is like a watery cider, smell is very fruity. The beer pour orangeish brown with a thick white head slow to fade away. Overall this beer is pretty strong though not very satisfying, not sure I would want to drink many of these.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 22:47:19 | More by hdofu

MTNboy

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I thought this was a great looking beer. It is blonde orange/brass with a lot of carbonation amber. Beautiful head with great lacing with good retain ability. This beer has a fruity sweet alcohol aroma. It has more of a wine taste to it than a beer taste. It is very dry and somewhat sweet. It is not as bad as I thought it would be. I have not really cared for gluten free beers in the past.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 17:01:04 | More by MTNboy

scottoale

California

3.53/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this one at O'Brien's Pub tonight, bought by a friend...thanks Dave. It poured a shade of yellow gold with a white fizzy foam cap. The head resedes leaving no lace or trace behind. The carbonation looks fine however.

Aromas of Chardonnay, crisp green apple and just plain sweetness fill the nostrils.

The taste is of green apple that turns to Chardonnay, not too sweet and just tart till it warms a bit. In the mid I get a flat out whiskey punch (actual whiskey taste), with the alcohol stepping up as such. It then tapers to a dry and somewhat warming finish.

Light bodied with almost aggressive carbonation, the alcohol seeming bigger than 8.5% in taste and in feel, ending with dryness in the mouthfeel. I do recommend this beer for the experience alone...interesting stuff.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 03:40:16 | More by scottoale

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a three finger cream head that fades very slowly, leaving some lace. Nearly clear pale golden amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Sweet apple nose. Flavor is sweet apple and cider. Does not taste like a triple. Higher ABV is hidden. Best by Sep 13, 2009. $5.99 for a 500ml bottle from Manchester Wine and Liquors Manchester, CT.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 23:59:39 | More by jdhilt

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.6/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I grabbed a bottle of this Tripel Blonde Ale today, for $5.99, at Ayotte's. Going to dive in while watching the Bruins-Rangers tilt.

Poured into a small tulip, the bier foamed up prodigiously, a lovely, lacy web of white sitting lightly atop the liquid. The foam leaves a splendid trail of lace behind. The bier itself is a bright golden, with a slight bit of haze, and a steady stream of carbo is rising within. The aroma is a bit mild, with some fruity notes present. The body is almost medium, and there's a touch of prickle on the tongue as it heads south.

The flavor exhibits a good amount of fruitiness, with green apple, pear and melon coming into play on the palate. There's a touch of sweetness, but the fruitiness is the lead player here. The finish is quite dry, with a subtle hint of spiciness. Overall, not bad, though I don't think I'd pony up the coin for another. Prosit!!

3.6/5 rDev +30%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1431

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 20:07:56 | More by Bierman9

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer review from BA Mag Sep 2007.

We never thought we would ever see a gluten-free Tripel--talk about a niche within a niche.

Very quick to foam up with a white-colored head, a slow crackle shows the head dissipating into a patchy lace that sticks to the glass. Crystal-clear dull golden color--a trained eye can see a hue unlike what malted barley yields. Big pungent grainy lemony aroma that is clean and fresh. Crispness rides over the top as in any true Tripel, and moderate body is a little slick up front. There's a thick kernel of grain to start off, a bit sweet and slightly coarse. Mineral notes, exotic fruit and a faint woodiness show levels of complexity. Minimal hops, suggestions of white wine from a mild tartness and more graininess form an interesting but uncommon flavor profile. Fruity esters and warm alcohol come in the finish with more grain.

Beer geeks, be warned. Gluten-free beer is a new frontier; to compare a beer like this to other Belgian Tripels is wrong. That said, it's certainly complex and worth a try--an absolute must if you have gluten issues.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 00:06:18 | More by BeerAdvocate

velosuds

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a clear pint glass.

A-Pours a orange-copper hue with a two+ finger head with decent retention and lacing. Actually, quite remarkable for a gluten-free sorghum based beer.

S-Nose is more like a tripel and would rate higher if there were separate gluten-free categories.

T-Peppery spice from the yeast is the most prominent flavor noted. There is some mildly fruity twang with some graininess. Slightly sweet.

M-Dry and well carbonated .

D-A good beer, but among the best gluten-free ales I have had. Very much like real beer. Well done and a great alternative for the gluten intolerant or folks with gluten grain allergies.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 04:52:34 | More by velosuds

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

3.65/5  rDev +25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I have no medical reason to drink a gluten-free beer, but what the heck, let's try one anyway.

GLASS: Tripel Karmeliet Goblet
TEMP: Cellared at approx. 50 degrees

This beer looks nice in a glass. It has the color of golden honey. It should be noted that it looks just slightly darker than expected for a Tripel. It pours with a nice thick head that, unfortunately, dissipates all too quickly.

It gives off a nice citrus and yeast smell that leads me back to positive anticipation.

The taste is not quite what was expected from a Tripel, but it is very close. It tastes predominately of peaches and nectarines. It has a slight taste of honeyed apples on the back end of it. In between lays an unknown tanginess and something that almost tastes too sweet for this glass.

It does feel good in the mouth, as a good beer should. There is nothing to make you think that you're missing some ingredient.

I would say, as someone who is not concerned about gluten content, that this would be a good beer to enjoy every now and then (like once or twice a year). Just to be used as something to throw into the mix to break up the regular routine.

If you are someone who must maintain a gluten-free diet, you would be hard pressed to find a beer with better flavor than this, at this point in time, anyway. In the realm of Tripels, this is in the middle of the pack. I've definitely had better, but i've certainly had worse.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2008 22:32:31 | More by coldmeat23

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev +25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Goddamn review just got accidentally deleted so heres a much a shorter one since I can't remember everything I just said.

For being gluten free this beer is pretty good. Golden hue with a craggy white head. Lots of alcohol on the nose but some scents that are reminiscent of belgian beers come through slightly as the beer airs out.

The mouthfeel is big for being gluten free but still extremely light for a tripel. Sweet corny rice like taste on the tip of the tongue which lingers after the swallow. Subtle fruit flavors of pear and apples along with some earthiness. Bit of detectable alcohol on the swallow but really not all that much, less than you get on some other non gluten free tripels.

This beer provides a nice option for gluten free beer drinkers. Comparing this beer to an actual all malt tripel is unfair due to obvious differences but the guys at greens put on a hell of a good show with this beer providing the gluten free community with a somewhat complex bigger brew. It's also one of the best gluten free beers I've had honestly.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 04:11:11 | More by jtierney89