Maple Tripple Ale - Lawson's Finest Liquids

leftde18

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 Release of 2011's brew. Bottle #1 of 750 poured into a snifter.

A-crystal clear dark amber, with a small tan head that dissipated quickly.

S–a bouquet of maple sweetness and alcohol.

T–the Maple Tripple dances on your entire pallet, engaging every taste bud. Maple sweetness is joined with slight malt and yeast flavors and the beer finishes with a hint of relative bitterness. It was very sweet, but never cloying. It was extremely complex, but never muddled. A display of incredible brewing finesse.

M–A perfect viscosity, that coats your tongue long enough to savor each sip. It wasn't syrupy or heavy though.

O–By far the best beer I have ever had. It is most similar to Avery's 2011 Beast but it somehow avoids all of that beers small imperfections. The beauty of the beer is the complexity that comes out of its simplicity. It has 4 ingredients (concentrated maple sap, barley, yeast and hops) and they come together in a way that surpassed my very high expectations

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 16:31:05 | More by leftde18

cosmicevan

New York

4.85/5  rDev +12%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to Joeybones3 for this one. Shared with the local crew at an impromtu tasting on 8/10.
bottle 404 / 750 - bottled may 2012

a - looks like maple syrup. pretty still with very soft carbonation if any. really attractive amber maroon color, but still.

s - nice sweet smell. some maple and subdued booze. good brown sugar notes.

t - in a word...maple syrup. strong brown sugar. very tasty indeed, but not very beer like.

m - minimal carbonation but easy to drink. very soft and the ABV is invisible.

o - overall, VERY impressed. kind of like a braggot. different, but damn tasty!

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 02:42:47 | More by cosmicevan

duchessedubourg

Vermont

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Shared a bottle with Sean L. at a local radio interview on pairings. Goes killer with Bayley Hazen Blue cheese, BTW!

Deep amber color - exactly that of Grade A Medium Amber syrup. Aroma is of maple and a certain woody scent. Sean claims no wood-aging involved to contribute that. Nicely balanced between sweet & dry; hops are very low-key. Flavor is all maple & wood, with toffee & caramel notes. Not astringently dry like many sap beers. Finish is long and of maple candy - but not sweet, thankfully. As with many sap & maple beers, there can be a flavor of wood that imitates maple wood aroma - but very subtle. An utterly captivating beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2010 19:44:25 | More by duchessedubourg

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.79/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

500ml bottle 12,0% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
Batch 1
Bottle Number: 176/374

A massive thanks to gn0sis for this bottle.

Appearance: Maple Tripple Ale pours out a beautiful burnished orange, with a back light revealing streaks of orange and red, as well as bright golden edges. A rough pour yields a slow forming off-white head that displays good retention for the Abv. and leaves a few small blotches of lacing.

Smell: Ah man, this smells absolutely amazing! Massive maple syrup notes dominate the nose (go figure), but it is far from one dimensional. Brown sugar, candy sugar, sweet caramel, brandy laced caramel sauce, charred oak, golden raisins, sweet cooked apple and a smidgen of candied citrus peel are all noted.
There is virtually no alcohol presence, even as the beer approached room temperature.

Taste: Mmmm, this stuff is absolutely delicious! As the nose promised, massive, sweet, sugary maple syrup dominates the flavour. Other notes include: Dark candy sugar, a note reminiscent of liquid malt extract, brandy laced caramel, a hint of vanilla toffee, light oak and a barleywine-esque fruitiness. Amazingly the 12% is almost completely hidden, with only a hint of warming present at the back of the throat.

Mouthfeel: As with the rest of this beer, the mouthfeel is right up my street - full, chewy, sticky body (although not quite as sticky as one might expect given the ingredient list); with a distinct sugary feel and a medium-low level of fairly smooth carbonation.

Overall: Maple Tripple Ale is a fantastic beer and certainly one of the most interesting brews I have had. I thought that the lack of water would make this a little too sweet and syrupy to enjoy in quantity, but I could easily have hammered a second bottle and maybe even a third had it not been mid summer! I will certainly be looking for another bottle or two of this to put away in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 09:28:10 | More by Thehuntmaster

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a sampler. Wow. What a treat. Thank god for generosity and kindness. Pours a maple syrup golden brown with minimal head. The nose is all maple. Sooo lovely. The taste mirrors the nose entirely. Rich maple, vanilla, and a touch of bourbon. The mouthfeel is smooth as silk. Could hold this in my mouth for forever. Top notch beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 19:43:27 | More by Retail1LO

ChrisPro

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to spycow.

A - looks like maple syrup. 'nuff said.

S - amazing maple notes, touch of oak and a little bready yeast

T - Holy maple! At first it just seems one note like I'm drinking maple syrup, but there's definitely some vanilla (from the wood?) and an awesome biscuit flavor on the finish. Not insanely complex, but this taste is just phenomenal. Tons of residual sugar really works for my palate.

M - Very full bodied, light carb and a touch of heat. Seems to have subsided from some of the earlier reviews and it's pretty solid.

O - For what it claims to be, it's incredible. Others said they wanted to just sip a few oz., but with my sweet tooth, I'm pretty sure I could put away a whole bottle. To get that much maple flavor into a beer is an incredible feat. Get this!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 00:41:03 | More by ChrisPro

craytonic

District of Columbia

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Many thanks to starrdogg

Appearance: Very fall-ish looking, if that is even possible. Golden amber, more amber. a step away from translucent

Smell: Sweet and delicious maple syrup, bits of white oak and vanilla. Enticing.

Taste: Just sweet and delicious, makes you think of breakfast and pancakes. THe maple dominates, followed by oak and something a bit boozy

Mouthfeel: very full and sticky, not a surprise. Typically a negative but OK here given the rest of the beer

Overall: Very enjoyable, although I don't think I could do more than a few ounces.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 04:29:03 | More by craytonic

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours thick and dark golden, no head to speak of; legs trail slowly down the sides of the glass. Looks pretty much like pure maple syrup. Aroma follows suit. Before tasting I know this will be the most heavily maple-flavored beer I’ve ever had and it sure is. Hard to call it beer, almost. Flavor of mildly boozy maple syrup. Not many other flavor notes discernible. Brown sugar, caramel maltiness, very faint floral hops which contribute a subtle bitterness. Thick, chewy, and slightly cloying, a bit sticky, quite sweet, totally unique. What can I say? I loved it. If you are a maple fan this is hands down the one beer you have to try. If you don’t like sweet beers or maple flavor you should steer far clear.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 21:29:00 | More by tobelerone

Sean9689

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks, Chris (spycow)! Poured into Narke tulip.

A - Pours a clear burnt orange color, small white head, some bubbles on top, and that's just about it.

S - The maple notes are outstanding and the booze is so perfectly smooth. Caramel, super-smooth booze, light fruity notes, and tons of maple syrup. So good!

T - Similar to the nose, but even better. Maple syrup, smooth booze, caramel, burnt sugars. Just so smooth, but definitely a sipper.

M - Medium, light carbonation, creamy finish.

O - Just simply excellent! The time in the bottle has definitely done this beer some good. The booze is so smooth and the maple syrup is the perfect compliment, without going over-board on the sweetness. Recommend!

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 19:21:23 | More by Sean9689

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A- A dark amber body with a thin white layer of bubbles on top.

S- Maple is there, with a lot of oak coming through from a malty body.

T- Nice malty oaky body followed by a huge rush of sugary maple syrup.

M- Thick and syrupy. A definite sipper that sticks to your mouth for a long time after each taste.

O- An innovative beer that cannot truly be categorized. There are very few beers that are "out there" and this is one of them.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 03:48:19 | More by stephenjmoore

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into Lawsons snifter. Brewed in 2011, bottled in May 2012, purchased at Lawson's farmer's market release in August and cellared since then. Hard to read but looks like bottle #672 out of 750. Consumed on Christams day, because what other occasion would I open a $30 bottle?

A- Pours a translucent reddish brown copper mahogany, no head, fairly low carbonation but consistently rising bubbles, pretty much no lacing to speak of.

S- Maple Syrup, candied sugars, sweet malts, some oak, maple liquor. Nicely aromatic, fairly sweet and a little bit sugary but in a good way, unique, appealing, and a nice maple syrup presence that you can tell is pure VT maple syrup.

T- Maple syrup, belgian candied sugars typical of a triple, finishes with more maple syrup and some oak maple liquor that gives it a slight alcohol taste that blends well. Sugary aftertaste of light maple. Nicely balanced, very flavorful, and very well crafted.

M- Medium bodied to a little bit on the heavier side, slightly syrupy, fairly low carbonation, smooth especially for abv.

O- This was an interesting, unique, and well crafted offering from Lawson's. I have pure Vermont Maple Syrup pretty much every week and you can definitely tell that this was crafted with it. Pure Maple syrup is very sweet and sugary, but this beer had a nice balance of it that coupled well with the Belgian yeasts used. It was very sweet and sugary, but not overly so that it was unappetizing. It did have a tiny bit of heat to it, but I felt like it went well with the beer a nice slight maple liquor feel to it. Definitely a sipper, especially considering the price. I definitely recommend checking this out, but it's probably not something I would drink all the time. I can see this aging very well although probably not improving significantly

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 02:46:02 | More by jaasen64

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

500ml corked and caged bottle into a couple of snifters. April 2011. #360/374. Pours copper with a thin white head. Leaves back light spotty lace that slowly drips down the sides. The aroma is SWEET! I’m talking maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel, sugary dough and fruit. I’m pleased to find that is isn’t cloying in the nose however, as the complexity keeps things very interesting. The taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, very sugary on the palate but with more help from those fruity esters and some extra boozy sweetness from the ABV. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied and quite chewy on the tongue. This feels about 12% but doesn’t sting, as those aforementioned flavors eat up a lot of the booze presence here. I really liked this. I initially thought the sweetness was going to get to be too much at first but the overall complexity of this really grew on me the further I got into the glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 20:34:41 | More by Kegatron

Kkottonmouthkngz

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First in a long night of tasting, but oh so memorable. Bottle 204 of 347.
Light copper gold color with no head whatsoever. Theres evidence of a decent amount of carbonation judging by the bubbles floating up the sides of the glass, but actual amount was just right. I found it amazing how this beer was not overly thick based on the use of maple syrup, moreso how it was perfectly viscous. It was sweet enough to let you know what the ingredients were, but not so overbearing that you couldnt drink it. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of the ~10 ABV, merely a pleasant sweet heat. i wish i had more of a serving, but glad i got to share with a few appreciative folk. Absolutely worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 02:48:10 | More by Kkottonmouthkngz

MasterSki

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Chris (spycow) for this rarity. April 2011 release, bottle #301 of 374. Served in a Surly Darkness glass.

A - A half-finger of white foam settles to a thin ring, wisps, and tiny spots of lace. Even with small volume, the head retention is very good with bubbles lingering throughout the pour. Mildly hazy brown body with light transparency to it.

S - Smells like a maple liqueur. Oak, booze, caramel, and an absolute ton of maple syrup.

T - The taste is interesting, as it's heavy on maple syrup and sugary malts, but somehow manages to be less sweet than the aroma - I appreciate that it avoids being cloying. Some mild alcohol presence, but nothing inappropriate for the style.

M - Full body, chewy, syrupy, with low carbonation. A bit dry and tannic in the finish. Some nice warmth to it.

D - A definite sipper, but highly enjoyable stuff with a nice blend of sweetness, warming alcohol, and barrel flavors. Don't open this without a few people to share, as it's more of a 4oz after-dinner kind of drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 22:45:26 | More by MasterSki

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a late night, after dinner or cold evening treat. Was lucky enough to make it up to Vermont for the release of this beer and have always wanted to try this.

No head and not supposed to be. A nice autumn brown/amber color with excellent clarity. Based on the look, you are more likely to check for legs vs. lace.

Shocking that this smells like real maples syrup.. I’m not talking about Aunt Jemima or Log Cabin.. but the real stuff. I’d also say some brown sugar as well.

Wonderful and very different. Doesn’t feel like a beer, doesn’t drink like a beer, but still wonderful. A kicked up Maple liqueur with a kick. The brown sugar notes are here as well. A nice subtle bitterness just below the surface that balances what could be some overbearing sweetness.

Definitely bold in body and a touch sticky.. Just a slight touch of carbonation..

Just a pretty cool beer… Well done sir.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 01:36:22 | More by Reagan1984

Chincino

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I attended a beer info session with Sean Lawson at the Vermont Brewer's Festival in Burlington, VT this past July 2010. At the session, Sean Lawson gave out samples of his Maple Tripple Ale which he stated was brewed with 100% pure maple sap. The beer sample was paired with a gorgonzola cheese. The beer was an amber color and had a strong aroma of maple which overpowered any other scent coming from the beer. The alcohol was well-hidden with this beer. The beer was a bit thick to the taste and was sweet, but not as sweet as the strong aroma of maple would imply. The taste was very unique and very good. It is quite the beer treat and I highly recommend trying it if given the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 03:09:33 | More by Chincino

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500 ml? bottle

Pours a beige head. Color is a golden amber.

Aroma: Maple syrup and spices. I smell notes of bourbon. Very sweet. Some fruits. Coriander and bananas.

Taste: Maple syrup, bananas, coriander, cloves. Tons of maple syrup. A lot of spices. Very sweet. I get oak and vanilla flavors. I swear I get hints of bourbon here.

Mouthfeel: Warming, smooth, creamy, and a little dry. Medium bodied with a low to medium amount of carbonation. Ends clean.

Overall, this was a fantastic beer. One of my favorite tripels. Very drinkable and very unique. This was a real treat!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 01:14:58 | More by mothman

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Kegatron for sharing this expensive bugger with me. Bottle 360 of 374 poured into a matching snifter. The brew appears a clear copper orange color with a yellow tint around the edges. A tan cap slowly fades leaving spotty lace sticking to the glass.

The aromatics are strong with a scent of bunt sugary quality. Some vanilla, caramel and maple-like candy all take their turn showing off their sweet residual character that entices and makes you salivate. A trace hint of alcohol is felt tingling the back of the nose.

The taste starts off reminescent of caramel then more vanilla with suggestions of maple syrup. A mild amount of oxidation and solvent booze break up the profile with some herbal hop aspects and a bit of dry earthiness.

This is a medium bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. This was a very nice dessert-like brew that was downright crushable. For 12%, this brew drinks at an alarming rate. I think I killed half my glass before composing a single thought and writing any notes. The price point on this is a bit rough but christ, after having it I would not be able to say no to buying this if the opportunity presented itself. Thank you Heath for sharing this with me!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 19:05:28 | More by stakem

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle number 126 of 374 shared with sleepnbballrlife. 12% ABV.

Pours super clear brownish amber with some crackley head that leaves no trace.

Aroma reminds me of Vin Santo...a lot. Nose is super boozey, liqueur-like. Orange and cognac (Grand Marnier) perhaps.

Palate is rather hot with alcohol, but also quite sweet. Orange liqueur is big midpalate and then it fades on out into something like a maple sugar candy. White grape (props) and plum wine (props) also come to mind. There are some odd alcohol flavors and aromas here, but the beautiful maple sugar notes on the finish make it all worth while. As it warms the midpalate starts to show more classic Tripel notes.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 03:24:43 | More by SFLpunk

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ish mL bottle shared by Mr. Starr.

Pours a clear, viscous burnt amber color with a trace amount of white head with no retention or lacing. Nose is caramel and maple, sappy and sticky, with light dark fruit and some traces of oak. Some alcohol heat, but not distracting. Syrupy body, low carbonation, sticky and dense on the palate. Raw maple and burnt sugar sweetness hits the front of the palate and persists throughout. Finishes dries out a little with light oak and pleasant warming alcohol. For such a big, unusual beer, this never veers to becoming cloying or too boozy. A novelty, but surprising well balanced and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 00:11:23 | More by yourefragile

HopHead84

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

5/2/2012

Bottle #236 from batch 1.

A: Hazy dark gold with a small white head.

S: A rich blend of maple and brown sugar. Notes of candied caramel meet soft orange and apple aromatics. Oak is light and there's a touch of booze in the nose.

T: Caramel and toffee meld with prominent maple syrup notes and light oak. There's a little brown sugar in there. Booze is evident but not detracting, and there's a lower moderate earthy bitterness. There's some warming in the candied maple finish.

M: Medium body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is sticky and smooth with alcohol warming.

Overall: I'm glad I was able to try this. I'd never heard of this beer but it's interesting, enjoyable, and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 22:39:57 | More by HopHead84

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared with rudzud

Pours a decent fizzy bubbly head with a super aggressive pour light head covering that fades fairly quickly but if lacing over fairly hazy maple brown color.

Nose brings nice maple sweet syrupy maple candy and light molasses like, maple creams, light triple like Belgian malts and light esters, light booze and big malt sweetness.

Taste Starts sweet with lots of maple, maple candies and creams, caramel candies, syrupy but not sticky. Nice maple, but lighter triple flavors, some esters and light booze with a hint of heat, light bitterness and hint if spices, hint of bitterness too. Nice candy finish, lots of maple and maple creams, still a bit sweet, light triple bitterness, slightest hint of citrus.

Mouth is thicker syrupy and sweet, decent carb, just a hint of booze.

Overall nice, more like they threw in a ton of maple and couldn't figure out what to call it, so they threw in a few Belgian triple malts and yeast flavors to call it a maple triple, but fairly tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 02:12:59 | More by jlindros

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.22/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Thirstybird for generously sharing this brew. 500ml bottle - #353 of 374. Served in a chalice. Pours a hazy amber with a quarter inch, loose, khaki-colored head that dissipates into a skim. As to be expected, the nose has a huge maple syrup presence, but it's not overly cloying. There's also a bit of citrus and a light boozy quality somewhat characteristic of a cordial. Taste consistent with nose - not quite as sweet as maple candy, but it's really quite sweet nonetheless. A subtle citrus acidity cuts the flavor a trace. Mouthfeel is medium-light with an easy carbonation, a slight acidity and a texture that falls just short of oily. This is really an interesting beer; however, it could definitely be bottled in a 7.5oz format similar to what was done with the Bourbon Barrel Aged Fayston Maple Imperial. We split this amongst three and had to revisit it between other offerings. That said, this beer is at its best as it warms to room temperature. A 2.5oz pour would have been perfect.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 00:16:07 | More by Jwale73

koopa

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml April 2011 12% abv bottle purchased 1 month ago from the Warren Store.

Appearance: Pours "Grade A Dark Amber" maple syrup colored with a 1/2 finger white crown that shows little retention or lace.

Smell: Very nice maple syrup presence, a hint of alcohol, and a whisper of orange. I'd give it a 4.2 if I could so I'm rounding down a bit.

Taste: Same as nose but with less orange, the same alcohol, some oak and a huge finishing blast of maple syrup....yum!

Mouthfeel: Thick side of thin bodied and not and fairly (but not overly) dry with moderate carbonation.

Overall: For a 12% brew aged in an oak soaked liquor barrel it drinks very well! Glad I picked up a few bottles as this one should be fun to age for a few years!

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 21:34:14 | More by koopa

mdaschaf

Washington

4.21/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to Paul for sharing this one!

A: Poured a copper/red/pink color with a small off--white head. Minimal retention and head. Not entirely surprising.

S: Definitely sweet, some maple syrup, caramel and brown sugar dominate the aroma. It has a bit of candy sweetness with faint raisins.

T: Similarly sweet, candied sugar and maple syrup. Slightly estery with a little bit of booze.

M: Medium bodied, moderate retention. The 12% abv is well hidden.

O: A very interesting beer. I applaud Lawsons being innovative using maple sap/syrup instead of water. Quite drinkable for the abv with a nice flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 06:38:00 | More by mdaschaf