Mandolin - Blue Mountain Brewery

JayQue

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light copper color with a small, fast-fading bubbly head from a 750 ml corked and caged bottle into my Chimay goblet. No lacing to speak of.

Mild smell of light fruit (apples and pears), a little hoppines but primarily Belgian yeast "funk"

The primary flavor is the yeasty funk with some pepper and possibly coriander as spices. There is a little sweet fruit here as well. This is a pretty tasty beer....don't really remind me of a Tripel. Some reviewers were calling it a Saison, which seems to be closer, especially because of the funky, earthy taste and aroma.

Mouthfeel is rich. The hoppiness and pepper andd a nice touch to the tongue. There is a little alcohol bite as well but it is well mannered. This is a fine light sipping beer.

I like this beer. Well crafted, if not a standard Tripel. More like an "American Saison" to me. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 00:42:09 | More by JayQue

leftstagebrew

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -21.7%

05-16-2013 15:39:01 | More by leftstagebrew

WallingBrew

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-04-2013 03:20:32 | More by WallingBrew

mhbarber

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-03-2013 18:05:33 | More by mhbarber

gr0g

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

04-28-2013 00:47:03 | More by gr0g

blackie

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

chalice at the brewpub

a: served in a chalice at the brewpub, mandolin is a honey golden in color, with a bone white head showing light retention

s: pale and caramel malts create a malty sweet aroma, joined by yeast and associated spice, sweet pear and fruity esters, a nice dose of citric hops, candi sugar

m: carbonation rides the line between light and moderate, with a body around medium

t: pale malts and a good deal of caramel sweetness form the foundation, with a big yeasty flavor, some spicy output, sugary pear, candi sugar, grassy hops

o: a nice enough tripel - a touch rough around the edges but carrying some enjoyable aromas and flavors, maybe a little sweet for me, drinks well

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2013 02:42:21 | More by blackie

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

"A deep golden beer- born of a single malt. Balance derived from whole-flower hops. Created from water drawn deep beneath the feet of the world's oldest mountains. Flavor driven by a faithful dedication to excess. All brought to life by yeast from a holy place. Great beer is a riddle that does not need to be solved!" Brewed in the style of a Tripel. Spring 2012 release. Best by March 2013.

Poured from a 750ml bottle to a snifter. Served north of 49º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy creamy head of a copper cream tone that retains quite well over a deep copper body with a medium haze and moderate carbonation. A little darker than the average Tripel, the head quality is nice enough to warrant a pleasing score for this beer. Lacing is medium-thick and sticky, head thickens to a settled creamy froth. Pleasing appearance overall. 4.25

(Smell) Aromas are indicative of a tripel, citrusy and cidery fruit notes, a mild grassy hop character, a light bready yeast character with a moderate acidity. Balance is quite nice and the aroma is very bright and forward- there's plenty of apricot and pear to be found in the aroma and a pinch of complimentary spice, traces of coriander and pepper being the most prominent. 3.75

(Taste) Simple mild malt presence with a tart fruity character but more pepper and spice than fruit character. The beer finishes sweet and musty with a notable orange rind character for a distinct tart vegetal flavor. Much of the impression from the aroma doesn't carry over but it makes original in its own regard in the flavor. It may not be the most accessible take on a tripel that I've had, but it's quite a unique take on the style. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Carbonation is very low with a mild thickness to the body and a dry, fuzzy finish. Body is medium+ for the style and medium+ overall. Alcohol presence is medium+, a little drawn out by the peppery spice character blend. I found the carbonation a little too lacking in the mouthfeel. 3.25

(Overall) Mandolin is a unique take on a popular Belgian style. Expect a slightly mustier character with peppery spiced notes amongst more familiar Belgian bread notes. Booze is expected, but a mustier flavor may either make or break how this beer is received. I found it a unique take on the style, but stacked against the remaining beers in the lineup, I don't see going out of my way to return to this beer. 3.75

Blue Mountain Barrel House's
Mandolin: An Artisanal Ale
3.73/5.00

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 20:40:06 | More by Jadjunk

jsh5771

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-23-2013 21:12:33 | More by jsh5771

zillo043068

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

03-15-2013 00:54:55 | More by zillo043068

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.33/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a pretty dark color similar to cherry wood, looks very dark for a tripel.

Nose is dominated by yeast, maybe a touch of funk, a bit of sweetness, don't get much else.

Taste is very different, big apple flavor, pretty malty. Not much like a traditional tripel, but this is pretty tasty.

6.7/10

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 12:38:48 | More by AlexFields

brentk56

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

"2" on the cork - this beer has been in my cellar for at least three years

Appearance: Pours a hazy copper color with a inch of foam that pancakes, raising large bubbles and leaving a film of lace

Smell: Caramel forward, with stone fruit, banana and honey elements

Taste: Caramel forward, with an herbal character that has fruity elements; in the middle, the honeyed sweetness builds though, after the swallow, there is a woodsy element to the beer with just a hint of mandarin orange in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Age has done this beer well, toning down the rough edges and blending the flavors; overly sweet for my palate, but I often find that to be the case with tripels

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 23:02:21 | More by brentk56

Pando

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-04-2013 01:28:14 | More by Pando

bubseymour

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +11%

02-17-2013 18:57:58 | More by bubseymour

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

02-14-2013 19:14:21 | More by Thorpe429

jlindsey

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

01-23-2013 21:55:02 | More by jlindsey

mrterdferguson

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

12-17-2012 03:00:31 | More by mrterdferguson

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

11-25-2012 23:19:35 | More by Rhettroactive

beerdave

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

11-25-2012 03:28:52 | More by beerdave

ncaudle

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +11%

10-13-2012 15:11:41 | More by ncaudle

HopHeadCnK

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +11%

10-04-2012 20:15:50 | More by HopHeadCnK

bigred89

Maryland

2.25/5  rDev -41.3%

09-29-2012 23:18:03 | More by bigred89

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

2.75/5  rDev -28.2%

09-22-2012 01:59:44 | More by Daniellobo

tanner1980

4/5  rDev +4.4%

08-31-2012 01:16:11 | More by tanner1980

obywan59

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a translucent orange to pale amber with a 2 finger tannish head that recedes quickly.

Sweet and fruity with subswtantial spiciness. Very nice.

Not as well rounded as the aroma, but pleasant. Light sweet malt with a bit of spice and some laid back alcohol and moderate bitterness.

Moderately light bodied. Not really sticky, but it clings nicely to the tongue. Some light carbonation is noticable, and there's a definite
warmth from the alcohol.

My experience is nowhere near comprehensive, but this is the best Virginia beer I've tried yet. It's attractive, smooth, and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 01:52:32 | More by obywan59

sodensp

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

08-23-2012 06:32:05 | More by sodensp