Redhook Tripel - Redhook Ale Brewery

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2009 Limited Release bottle marked May 21 09/453. Sampled on the 2009 NFL opening day - September 13, 2009. I really like the stability of the bottle. It is a thick brown glass and feels heavy. The pour is not impressive to me. It is too much copper in color with remarkable clarity and no head to speak of. I like my Abbey Ales to be cloudy. The aroma is a happy mix of wheat, cloves, and fruit. The mouthfeel is of medium to thin body. The tastes are a decent balance of wheat, clove, and hops with a slightly dry finish. It may be inspired by the traditional Belgian brews but it lacks something.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 21:04:33 | More by puboflyons

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

04-29-2013 06:52:30 | More by Kelp

powdersoldier

Washington

4/5  rDev +7.8%

02-02-2013 17:26:20 | More by powdersoldier

muchloveforhops3

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%

11-13-2012 06:47:16 | More by muchloveforhops3

heganhound

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

07-08-2012 01:42:19 | More by heganhound

beerbrains

Nebraska

2.15/5  rDev -42%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Tasting date 3-5-12. Date on bottle 5-4-09. Picked this up a couple of weeks ago at Davidsons in Denver.

This bottle is past it's prime. The beer is amber and has a fizzy head that disappears quickly leaving no trace it ever was there. Smell and taste are similar on this beer overripe fruits a little boozy. Not really pleasant at all.

I would like to have tried this when it was fresher.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 07:03:07 | More by beerbrains

savagepm

Colorado

4/5  rDev +7.8%

02-17-2012 23:24:07 | More by savagepm

kiki3drt292

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

01-10-2012 18:39:14 | More by kiki3drt292

jaycount

Kansas

4/5  rDev +7.8%

12-29-2011 17:56:26 | More by jaycount

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +7.8%

11-26-2011 17:20:34 | More by Rochefort10nh

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +7.8%

11-19-2011 20:44:12 | More by ElGallo

zeledonia

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +7.8%

11-15-2011 03:04:05 | More by zeledonia

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

very cloudy with a nice big head of white on top that nearly came over the side of the glass. I was expecting a bit darker of a color here,

I pick up pears and apricots immediatly upon leaning into the glass. F hints of herbal spice, nothing too strong, just nice, almost meadow like touches of grasses and light grain. some notes of plums. Smooth near perfect feel and carbonation really lend themselves here to showing off the palate. Light fruits start off the exchange here, again picking up pears, apples, light lemon perhaps before rolling into that light grain with a touch of spice that just gives it that much needed balance. Finish strong and dry,

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 03:13:16 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a modest head that leaves a few dots of lacing behing

Smell: Butterscotch dominant with a spice cake element

Taste: Biscuity, at first, with the butterscotch growing in a dramatic fashion by mid-palate, where the spice cake aspect emerges; the sweet flavors linger into the finish though there is a hint of medicinal character underneath

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation

Overall: Well, low and behold, this widely criticized Tripel has turned into a barleywine after a couple of years in the bottle; not the best barleywine, mind you, and a bit one dimensional, but I suspect it is now a lot more drinkable today than it was in its youth

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 23:38:46 | More by brentk56

beer2day

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 month old bottle, aged in the beer fridge. Had made its way to the back of the shelf and almost got overlooked.

Apple cider gold in color, with limited head as expected from the aged bottle. Very active carbonation. Surprisingly nice lace.

Nose is fruity esters with a slightly oily feel. Fairly strong contribution from pears and apples, even some apple pie spice.

Hits fairly light, but builds quickly. Very rich feel with lots of depth. Spicy and tart, with some light candy sugar in the finish. Active carbonation in the feel as well, combining with tart apricots, dates, and grapes, make this a pretty good sipper.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 01:11:26 | More by beer2day

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful butterscotch with a frothy crown that is darker than parchment and lighter than ecru. The original three finger thickness loses digits at the rate of one every few mintues, and leaves more finely dotted lace than the ABV and the relative lack of hop resins would suggest.

Spice esters are more prominent in the nose than are fruit esters. Thankfully, alcohol isn't hugely noticeable, despite the fact that this offering is slightly more alcoholic than most tripels. In the end, once warming has occurred, there isn't enough power or personality for the next highest score.

The Redhook Ale Brewery website recommends a shelf-life of 180 days for Belgian Tripel. This bottle is now 588 days of age and it doesn't taste any worse for wear. Given the style and the ABV, a mere 6 months is a ridiculously small window.

This is definitely a bold and sassy brew that wears its 10.2% like a badge of honor. In other words, the alcohol still packs a (warm, just short of hot) punch that isn't for the weak of palate. An in-your-face spiciness makes me wonder if the brewers didn't use something other than malt, hops, Belgian yeast and water.

Specific flavors include lightly toasted white bread, pears soaked in Poire Williams (pear eau de vie) and Stolichnaya, clove, and a generous amount of warming white pepper. Flavor notes mentioned on the label include cinnamon... which isn't completely crazy.

The mouthfeel, by virtue of its incompletely buried alcohol, is granite firm rather than crushed velvet smooth and silky. There's still a lot to like for lovers of big bold beer. Carbonation is pleasantly prickly, which is a positive rather than a negative.

Redhook Tripel Belgian Style Ale is not a classic version of the style by any means. It's a little rough around the edges (even after more than 1.5 years in the bottle), but its go-for-broke personality is appealing to the big beer lover in me. Prediction: once further aging has tamed the beast, it won't be nearly as good.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 14:06:28 | More by BuckeyeNation

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a larger 2 finger frothy head that fades quickly over very hazy yeast chunked orange wheat golden color.

Nose has plenty of Belgian malts, some bright fruit apple, apricot, peach, juicy, little boozy, light sweetness, and some very light darker toasty malts.

Taste brings some red ale like malts, plenty of Belgian malts as well, some sweetness with a bit of light candi sugar and light syrupy flavor, very light spices with a bit of clove and hint of even banana, a bit of vanilla and even a slight hint of orange. Some fruits with apricot and light apple again. Some warming booze with a bit of tingle. Finishes with a slight sticky quality, light boozy taste, still fairly sweet, and bit of the fruits and Belgian malts lingering.

Mouth is medium to slightly heavier bodied, some warming and tingly booze, and decent carbonation.

Drinkability is meh, with the warming and tingly booze and some sticky syrupy sweetness on the finish that turns a slight bit flemish.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 00:47:05 | More by jlindros

Gavage

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: clear yellowish orange in color with a short 1/2" head. No lacing develops.

Smell: caramel, yeast, and some fruity sweetness is all that can be detected.

Taste: caramel, yeast, black pepper, pear, and sweet green apples are balanced with a mild bitterness. Alcohol is very noticeable and warming here.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Smooth to start, smooth and a bit syrupy at the finish. Aftertaste is short but alcohol-laden.

Drinkability: this was a bit too boozey for the style which took away from the flavor profile. Slow sipping beer, and the large bottle should be shared.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 13:25:49 | More by Gavage

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.18/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap 9/16/2010 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a bright reddish amber color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramel, fruit, light malts, a little bit of Belgian yeast and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of fruit and caramel. Then a significant alcohol sting come in along with some mildly bready flavors from Belgian yeast and a thin malt character. The hops presence is mild but about where it should for the style and provides some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, strong kick, not the best representation of style, this is one is certainly not one of the better Tripels that I've had and is just a mediocre beer overall.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 16:21:13 | More by TheManiacalOne

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Bright, clear orange color. Poured a 2 finger off-white to beige (where thicker) head that dissipated to thin cap that thickened around the edge. Laced in intermittent wavy rings.

S: Light-colored fruits, bubble gum and pepper. Some clove and lemongrass in the background.

T: Sweet and candy-like. Light-colored fruit like apricot and banana follow. Spicy up to the finish where warming alcohol softens the fruits and spices.

M: Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Alcohol finish is rough and some of the flavors a bit untamed.

D: There's smoother examples in the style, but all-around, its pretty good. A little rough, a little boozy.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 19:19:02 | More by Haybeerman

DrewKid4

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served: On tap from New England Brewfest

A: Cloudy amber with finger width head.

S: Like a hefe. Did not smell strong like other Tripels I have had.

T: Bananas and spice. Other flavors from coriander and the like? Burn from the spices and 10% ABV.

M: One of the best tripels I've ever had actually (at least in small tasting doses). Fruity and smooth enough for enjoyment but not to be a fruitier beer.

D: Good drinkability, but watch out for the ABV!

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2010 00:58:47 | More by DrewKid4

emmasdad

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours from the 22 ounce bottle a deep golden-amber color, with a moderate white head. Aromas of orange peel, Belgian yeast and maybe banana. On the palate, mildly fruity, sweet and yeasty and a little bit peppery. A solid effort, but not a $7/bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 04:04:24 | More by emmasdad

DocSkalski

Minnesota

4.97/5  rDev +34%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance - Pours a nice clear golden orange, with a thin head and light lacing as you drink. Could use a bit more carbonation for my taste, otherwise perfect.

Smell - This is my favorite part of the beer. The aroma is similar to what you smell when brewing with Carapils specialty grains in the initial mash. It is a bit unusual, but it pleases my nose more than any beer ever has. Many may not appreciate this the way I do, so I admit I'm biased, but the smell takes me to my own happy little world of bliss and wonder. Lol

Taste - Hits your palate hard with the thick bodifull flavors of a perfectly roasted malt, smoothes to a balanced bitter sweet flavor (mostly sweet), and finishes with a sweet floral and Nobel hops touch. This is a wonderful flow of events that keeps you drinking and enjoying the brew.

Mouth feel - The mouth feel is just as if not more prominent and wonderful than the taste. The beer seems to release its carbonation as it hits your tongue, holds steady with that smooth/sharp exuberance and then fades with a light tingle revealing a quick flourish of flavors. No other beer I've tried presents its mouth feel quite so prominently or uses it to such an advantage in enhancing the beer's flavor.

D- As I said before, this beer encourages you with each swallow, and at 10.2% ABV it'll sneak up on you. This beer is 2nd to none. On my personal "best of BA" list, this ranks in at #2, 2nd to the Westvleteren 12 I've yet to try (I hope it's better, but I don't see how it could be).

p.s. - Served in a Chimay goblet.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 23:31:17 | More by DocSkalski

UA8

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an amber body with a one finger cream colored head.

Scents of pear, apricot, spice, and belgian yeast.

Mimic of the nose but with a spice and slightly medicinal finish.

Medium viscosity and light carbonation.

Overall a nice effort for the style by an american company. Save a bit of an off taste in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 02:36:45 | More by UA8

Flashsp2

New Mexico

3.45/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Redhook Tripel Limited Release bomber into a pint glass (at a friend's house, this would be in a pinot glass at home)

A slow pour generates a giant half glass head of light beige medium bubbles and a perfectly clear red body with gold highlights. Retention is decent, with the head simmering down to a thin topping which lasts a few minutes, and there is no lacing to speak of.

Aroma is banana and clove, some pepper and alcohol.

Taste is banana, yeast, sweet malt, ground black pepper and fruity alcohol, in that order.

Mouthfeel is pretty heavy, but broken up by the high level carbonation, which combines together to make a nice drink.

Drinkability is so-so, since the alcohol is so prevalent. I like the fact that Redhook goes out on a limb to make some truly good beers on occasion (Double Black coffee stout, etc), but this one is just too intensely alcoholic for my tastes. If the ABV was a little better masked than this would be outstanding, but as it stands, it's just a good beer without truly being world class. Not great, but well worth the $7.50 for the 10.5% ABV bomber.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 22:27:00 | More by Flashsp2