La Trappe Tripel (Koningshoeven / Dominus) - Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.

Radome

Spain

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted from a 33 cl bottle bought in Greece.

A - Light golden color, but with a shade of orange. Slightly hazy. White head is made up of tiny, pinprick bubbles. It dissipates quickly to almost nothing, but remains as Belgian lace.

S - Aroma is a good balance of malt and hops. The malt is crisp and grain-like. The hops are earthy and European. There is some fruitiness from the yeast; maybe grapes with just a hint of bubblegum and banana. The smell is pretty muted, but the sample is also chilled more than I think is best.

T - The taste balance is (surprisingly to me) tilted toward the hops. The hops are earthy and a little grassy. The malt is bready and slightly grainy, like wheat toast. Yeast fruit notes add complexity. Sweet alcohol is there in the background. A complex and hoppy example of the style.

M - Medium body. Mild carbonation. Moderate hops bitterness and a little alcohol burn.

O - A smooth, balanced and fairly hoppy Tripel. The alcohol is definitely present, but the balance of flavors help keep this dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 22:01:48 | More by Radome

apanloco

Sweden

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-18-2013 16:42:32 | More by apanloco

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-18-2013 02:45:43 | More by hotsudge

DutchBeerDrinker

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-17-2013 20:05:05 | More by DutchBeerDrinker

Matak3

Serbia

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-16-2013 23:56:50 | More by Matak3

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2%

05-12-2013 17:48:16 | More by mikeburd1128

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a chalice glass

Appearance- Pours a slightly hazed golden orange color with a two finger off white head present upon pouring. Rather quickly the head fades leaving a moderate level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell- The aroma is heaviest of a citrus and yeasty smell with lots of banana and spice mixed within. Other aromas of other lighter fruits, like apricot and peach are present as well with all the smells being complemented by a light alcohol aroma.

Taste – The taste follows the nose fairly well with a front showing of citrus and some lightly toasted malt. The yeast quickly come to the tongue and bring with them flavors of banana and a bit of clove. As the flavor advances fruiter a bit of a warming alcohol taste begins developing with some flavors of apricot and a little bit of earthy hop coming at the end of the taste. With the alcohol now slightly stronger at the end of the taste, a fruited and yeasty, warming taste is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the medium side for an 8 % abv triple with a carbonation level that is average to slightly above average for the style. The combination of the two, when mixed with the lighter fruit flavors, give a crispness to the brew, making it quite easy drinking.

Overall- A nice triple that has a great easy drinking character with a good blend of malt, light fruits and yeast. Rather enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:35:57 | More by Darkmagus82

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-07-2013 22:46:05 | More by dalepryor

joemacangel

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-07-2013 18:18:55 | More by joemacangel

pkenkman

Estonia

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-03-2013 19:35:10 | More by pkenkman

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-03-2013 00:41:15 | More by PEIhop

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(4.0) A: Cloudy rich copper colour with a finger of velvety head. Adequate retention and waves of lacing cling to the glass.

(4.0) S: Green apple, banana, cloves, spices, faint floral qualities, and dried figs and dates. A good mix of strong aromas that work together well.

(4.0) T: Ripe banana, pineapple, cloves, yeast, slight grain taste, and floral qualities. Smooth with a honey-like finish. Not overly sweet with a solid dryness.

(4.0) M: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation. Appropriately slick with a bit of gritty texture.

(4.0) D: A good and solid all-around tripel and one I would enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 02:51:10 | More by Digimaika2

ltdantheman

Georgia

4/5  rDev +2%

04-26-2013 14:39:57 | More by ltdantheman

Poupae

Thailand

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-16-2013 13:44:06 | More by Poupae

Elbrownbag

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-13-2013 19:13:34 | More by Elbrownbag

AugustusRex

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

04-12-2013 14:25:45 | More by AugustusRex

Chrysostom

Ohio

4.41/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

As always, I review live, not from notes, puzzling out the libation brewed in houses of salvation. As always, I review to style (ala BJCP), modified by personal taste (contra BJCP), not solely to personal taste, which would be unfair to many great examples of styles that I don't personally favour.

First time I've had this beer. Ratings subject to revision upon consumption of additional bottles.

Apologies for my short review this time. Christ is risen! It's Easter/Catholic Pascha (Orthodox Pascha isn't until May 5 due to the Revised Julian Calendar differences from the Gregorian - lots of discounts!), so I'll be heading out to the House of Worship in an hour. Or less. I'll try to keep it brief. And likely fail.

Presentation: 750mL corked and caged bottle, $9.99, served at 40ºF and warming as I write, poured in to a Chimay goblet/chalice.

A: Slightly hazy, still mostly transparent, apple-juice or hard-cider colour, with one finger of soapy white head which recedes relatively quickly to a scum upon the face of the beer and a ring around its edges. Minor rings of lacing. Mildly active carbonation.

S: Cracked black pepper, very mild citrus fruits, bready yeast, "dry bubblegum" (bubblegum aromas, surprisingly lacking much sweetness), applejack, a little Belgian funk, and an extremely elusive (possibly imagined) whiff of Belgian spiciness.

T: Peppery and fruity, probably from the inimitable Belgian yeast, slightly dry, quite bready, bordering on the biscuit-like. There's a bit of undefined alcohol in there, along with an undefined hop bitterness which holds the malts and sweetness in check without being obvious. A little bit of weird skunkiness, probably part of the Belgian funk, with an almost-imperceptible twang of DMS on some sips - it may just be my imagination, but it gets a 4.5 instead of 4.9 or 5.0 for this bottle.

M: Medium of body, light and spritzy of carbonation,

D: High.

O: An extraordinarily well-balanced Tripel, not exceedingly complex but complex enough for the job. Easy drinking, but with layers of flavour that exist if one wishes to drink it more slowly with the goal of puzzling them out. Better than St Bernardus Tripel, not quite as good as Chimay or Westmalle Tripel, but it's a beast of it's own sort - less fruity, less estery. Better in some ways, not in others, it's hard to make a direct comparison: try it. It's certainly worth it.

To style: 85/100
To taste: 92/100

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 13:33:21 | More by Chrysostom

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.08/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

330ml bottle purchased from Steve's Cool Booze in Kensington.

Pours a rather deeper hue than I expected: an amber-golden colour, that looks rather dense and syrupy. Head fizzes up quite a lot on the first pouring, but then settles back to an inauspicious film across the top. Body looks fluid, but also retaining some of the thickness initially perceived. Overall, it looks like a decent beer, but a pretty average tripel.

Nose is dusty and slightly savoury. Some green sprouting wheat characters, and a hint of dusky spice, like pepper mixed with earth. There's a noticeable booziness as well, and a suggestion of oxidation. I note the best before date is 05-2013: so it's still within that range, but towards the back end. Overall, I'm not particularly impressed.

Taste is dank and limp, with a metallic character rising on the mid palate, and a old sherry oxidised bitterness on the finish. Some spice and booze are noticeable, especially when the beer is allowed to evaporate on the tongue, but otherwise it feels flat, and rather uninteresting.

Feel is overly fizzy, despite the perception that it has burnt itself out quickly. It is light, however, belying the appearance of thickness. Some boozy heat is also present.

Overall, I'm not a big fan. This has really darkened, dampened and flattened with time, and I'm far from being enthusiastic. Indeed, this tastes a little like a mediocre homebrewer attempting a strong Belgian golden without much success. Very average indeed.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 06:13:32 | More by lacqueredmouse

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-29-2013 05:40:21 | More by yancot

Anze

Slovenia

4/5  rDev +2%

03-28-2013 16:12:56 | More by Anze

Idrankthat

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

03-18-2013 17:18:39 | More by Idrankthat

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%

03-11-2013 04:36:55 | More by spycow

beersvh23

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-11-2013 03:05:36 | More by beersvh23

TimeLincoln

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-10-2013 18:34:17 | More by TimeLincoln

Filosoof

Netherlands

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This tripel lacks elements that can make a tripel interesting. It is drinkable, certainly. But it's too thin and dry. If there are other tripels available, I will not take this one.

A: okay; golden looks; good top;
S: which smell? It lacks smell! Some bitter, stone, alcohol.
T: starts interesting but loses my attention very quickly. Too tart and bitterish for a triple.
M: okay, missing a finish; alcohol feels strong, though it is just 8%.
O: bit disappointing; drinkable, but doesn't make me happy.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 15:38:48 | More by Filosoof