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

mndlssphlsphr

Washington

4.26/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

This is a well rounded beer. It starts off with an autumn orange flow into the glass that it is poured with an off white head to follow. The smell is sweet and peaceful and tells you that there is smooth flavor to follow. The taste is a pleasure while the mouthfeel; however, is a bit bubbly and tickles the capillaries to pause the time causality while the brain questions the thought if the hops come before barley, or am I wrong? This is worth your dollar, and with the recent loophole for bankers in free-trade laws I will say it is worth your time here in Panama.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 20:20:33 | More by mndlssphlsphr

sfprint

Germany

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Exp 7/2013
A: A hazy dark orange. sparse microcolumns of rising carbonation with a more substantial column directly in the center. quickly disappating head.
S: Sweet apricot peach, slightly of nail polish/paint, somehow like a plesant scratch and sniff something designed for girls, except more intense, rich and sweet. Pretty remarkable.
T: Ooh, this one is good. Tripels are sometimes one of my favorite styles of beer, but they can be so hit and miss. This one is also quite unique. Despite it's paint quality, it's smooth and orange fruity. Rich but not syrupy. Very impressive. A tinge of bitterness is creeping in as the beer warms up.
M: Rich and smooth with a slight sharp, delayed sting.
O: I was extra careful in keeping the yeast out. But regardless, it's a very impressive Tripel and also quite different from other's I've had. It's kind of "flashy" in a way like a polished car.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:32:56 | More by sfprint

blandmath

Oklahoma

3.23/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A bit darker than most tripels. Amber and a bit cloudy.

Nothing exceptional, but still good.

Typical Belgian flavor prevalent.

Hides its potency well.

Served in a chalice from a 750ml bottle taken from the refrigerator and set for 30 minutes prior to opening.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 05:41:04 | More by blandmath

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

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My second bier during my 05Oct12 visit with Brabander. Had been going heavy on the Tripels so far, so why stop now? A 0.25l glass cost €3.50.

The Trappe chalice contained a Clear, medium-dark golden liquid; a touch dark for a Tripel, to me anyhow... Had steady carbo and a nice, foamy, off-white head with A-1 lacing. Aroma was somewhat candyish along with good tropical fruitiness. Pretty smooth despite the carbo, and it had a medium body.

Flavor had a good amount of candyish sweetness to start. Solid trop fruits attacked the palate, with pear, green apple and some honeydew. Finish leaned towards dryness, with some cotton candy notes detected. A nice Tripel! Thnx to Thijs for covering my two biers here at La Trappe.

3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1520

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2012 18:45:58 | More by Bierman9

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle from the LCBO; caged and corked. Although I've never reviewed this until now, I have already had it three or four times, and it has always been an enjoyable quaff. But how does this compare to some of the authentic Belgian tripels I've had?

Pours a muddy golden-amber colour, opaque with sediment, and topped with two fingers of pillowy, frothy, pearl white-coloured head. The retention is below average for the style; it wilts away over the next few minutes, leaving a thin, smooth cap behind in its wake, and little in the way of lacing. The aroma definitely leans on the sweet side, with candi sugar, ripe banana, cotton candy, pears comprising its enticing odour.

Yeasty flavour with plenty of fruity notes - red apples, pear, banana, plums, white grapes and apricot all come to mind, as the orchard fruit character is a prominent fixture. The spiciness is mild; a solid bite of clove and allspice comes forward in the finish alongside some flowery hops, lingering into the yeasty aftertaste. Some slight heat from the ethanol becomes more prominent as it warms. Medium-bodied, with heavy carbonation that gives it a spritzy, biting mouthfeel that works well with the spicy finish. An enjoyable sipper, although this bottle is a bit much for one person.

Final Grade: 4.03, just barely eking out an A-. La Trappe Tripel remains one of the most accessible tripels in my area - I have enjoyed it every time I have had it, and there is no doubt in my mind that I will enjoy it many more times in the future. This Dutch tripel is not quite as good as some of its Belgian trappist equivalents, but it's still a fabulous ale that all tripel-lovers should try if given the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 19:29:03 | More by thehyperduck

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber orange and hazy. Massive off-white head is retentive and lacy. A fine looking beer. Aromatic notes of honey, banana, pear, and clove. Dry and yeasty with apple, banana, and peppery notes. Slight alcohol warmth. Light bodied with lots of soft carbonation. Feels like velour in the mouth. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 17:40:53 | More by mintjellie

bnes09

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep caramel color and hazy with floating yeast. Adequate head which is reduced to a thin swirling film.

Lots of caramel and dark fruits in the aroma.

Good malt flavor, buttered biscuits. Smooth and creamy caramel. Dates and figs add sweetness. Subtle herb and fresh grass hop character. Hint of apple and roasted peanuts. Well balanced.

Medium bodied and smooth throughout with a dry, even finish. Carbonation is snappy and adds a crispness to the overall feel.

Really good brew. Doesn't really look or taste like a triple to me based on the dark color and the flavor profile. Still a very complex and well rounded set of flavors. Would be glad to enjoy this anytime.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 04:23:59 | More by bnes09

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a light brown, caramel color, two fingers of head with decent retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Musty caramel, figs, an odd rubbery scent, floral and fruity yeast notes with a touch of raspberries.

T - Flavour comes off a tad mild, fruity caramel, musty notes linger alongside some bready malts. The fruity year notes dominate off he top but fade to abv heat and some peppery cloves.

M - Lighter bodied ale that is a tad over carbonated for my liking and the heat that lingers is a bit of a turnoff.

O - A tasty triple and worth a try, but I've enjoyed others more. I would prefer a bit more Flavour and less heat.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 22:32:43 | More by andrenaline

Douberd

Netherlands

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle of 300 ml at home, poured into a chalice.
Honey like colour, with great activity in the glass and a white two finger head, with good retentionAroma of fruits like bananas, some yeast too.
Great taste, sweet with lots of fruity notes, bananas again, bubblegum and maybe some caramel.
Full body and average carbonation.
A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 23:31:57 | More by Douberd

RickS95

Indiana

2.98/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a brownish orange. It's clear, but dark enough to be opaque. The head is a bright white, not too thick but with good retention. The bubbles are all of equal size, nice looking drink.

Smells like a quality Belgian. Fruity nose from the yeast, a bit of pepper spice, flowery, with a dash of alcohol.

A big letdown. There's nothing fruity or flowery in the taste, it's all pepper and hoppy with some alcohol. It's really shaggy around the edges, lacks refinement. Doesn't taste significantly different than a fancy macro.

It's not smooth. It's got an earthy bitterness, kind of pilsner like. The spice hits hard with just a bit of heat in the finish. The finish is somewhat crisp and dryish.

I'm completely disappointed with this beer. It's not easy to drink. The tastes is below average and the spice is too much. Just not a good tripel.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 02:39:46 | More by RickS95

NForr

Quebec (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank on May 7th 2012

Koningshoeven Brewery - La Trappe - Tripel - 8% - Netherlands

Pours out a nice amber orange with a good sized two finger head.

Aromas of bananas, apples, cloves, mint, with general Belgium yeast smells.

Typical Belgium tripel flavors, Spicey with strong yeast flavors. Dry and sweet at the same time - interesting. Some candy sugar. A little peppery, sour ending with minimal bitterness.

Full bodied, with nice carbonation. Head dissipated quickly, but a small ring of foam remained throughout.

This wasn't the best Tripel that I have had, but it's up there. Being particularly Fruity and smooth made this one an easy drink. Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 19:19:42 | More by NForr

einar85

Norway

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Served in a Westmalle chalice. Golden. The foam disappears quickly.
S: Sweet malty aromas with a hint of bananas.
T: Crisp. Surprisingly bitter. Although the alcohol is clearly present, it is very well balanced.
M: Full bodied.
O: It requires your full attention, but it is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 19:27:29 | More by einar85

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into chalice, bottled 11/30/2010. Pours fairly hazy golden orange color with a fairly dense 2 finger white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some slight spotty lacing on the glass, with a good amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big lemon, pepper, pear, apricot, grape, candi sugar, biscuit, honey, and yeast spices. Very nice and well balanced aromas, with good strength and complexity. Taste of big lemon, grape, pepper, pear, apricot, clove, candi sugar, bread, coriander, banana, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of grape, pear, lemon, coriander, pepper, clove, and big yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Great balanced flavor profile of sweetness with spicy character; and no cloying sweetness at all. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a fairly slick and prickly mouthfeel as expected for the style. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with hardly any warming noticed at all on the finish. Very smooth to drink but is still definitely better to sip on. Overall this is definitely a great Tripel. Great flavor balance and complexity; and extremely smooth and highly enjoyable to sip on.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 03:37:55 | More by superspak

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours with 2 fingers of white bubbly head. The hazy honey brew reveals tiny streams of bubbles hinting at the level of carbonation. Some retention of head with lacing and a rim of bubbles around the glass.

S: Sweet malty notes and hints if white flesh fruits, apples, pears and white grapes. Scents of fresh pepper and cloves and a hints of yeasty bread.

T: Big malty taste sweet and smooth, with a hint of hops at the end.
Sweet flavours of pears and apples that complement the malt. Excellent yeasty presence, typical of a triple, and pleasant warming alcohol. Worth drinking slowly to get all the complexity.

M: Medium bodied and a high level of carbonation. Bit of sting on the tongue from the higher level of carbonation.

O: As expected from a triple the alcohol is well hidden, the sweet malty brew is easy to drink and versatile enough to complement creamy rich cheese or crisp salad. La Trappe is an easy drinking brew that shows some of the best of the Tripel qualities, I'll definitely be picking up a bottle just to have on hand.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 03:07:15 | More by FondueVoodoo

n2185

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy orange with two fingers of off-white head that fades into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: Light spice notes up front followed by strong aromas of bubblegum and candy sugar. White grape and pear notes bring up the finish with a light bready aroma.

T: Spice notes hit first again along with sweet light fruits and some candy sugar. Sweet bready flavors bring up a clean and dry finish. Very slight alcohol presence.

M: Medium-light body with mid-high carbonation, this beer is pretty light with a clean and dry finish.

O: A good tripel, overall. Not particularly pretty, but otherwise smells and tastes good while being quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 20:53:02 | More by n2185

fields336

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

cork says 26/10
Poured into cigar city snifter

A: hazy golden color, almost honey like, carbonation rises, about 1 finger head, dissipates to leave a ring which stays the whole glass.

S: some esters, light fruits such as white grape or apple, pepper, slight metallic notes, spices

T: said spices, along with a slight hop presence, nice, and the yeast is there as with other trippels, there is a nice sweetness there too

M: carbonation is great, a little less than most trippels, finish is dry and nice

O: I like this beer a lot, I served it with a Sweetgrass dairy Green Hill double cream and french bread. Made for an excellent pairing and lunch.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 18:27:09 | More by fields336

iSip

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

La Trappe Tripel, 750ml bottle: Fantastic! I am a big fan of Belgian style tripels, and the La Trappe is a worthy find. Not much of a head forms on this brew compared to most tripels, which tend to produce a washer load of suds. The La Trappe is cloudy, and has a straw yellow color, with a hint of red if held up to the light. There is an aroma, but it is subtle. So far, not outstanding, but take a sip. The La Trappe is clean and crisp, very champagne like at the start, and staying light and flavorful to the end. This is a great tripel for newcomers and beer advocates alike.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 13:41:42 | More by iSip

nout72

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Of all the Tripels I came across this is my favourite...well at least for now :-)
A very full and balanced flavour, extremely smooth, I cannot come up anything negative, well ok, maybe the weak smell?

I feel this beer is a bit underrated, both the highly rated Westmalle Tripel and Chimay Tripel (White) have a metallic bitterness besides the sweetness that can give me a stomach ache.
Not this one, I think you cannot even force it to give you a headache either.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 16:59:53 | More by nout72

Everydayoff

Thailand

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle poured into an Orval goblet.

A:
Hazy orange amber in color with one finger white frothy head with moderate retention, the texture seems to be likely clear. The head dissipates to a flat bubble film with some lacing patches. There is not much of visible carbonation.

S:
Overtone mild fruity mingles with malty sweet, a bit spice from the adding of coriander and phenol also with notes of dry husk and nuttiness.

T:
Mild esters and citrusy from yeast do their job well in yielding fruitiness and sweetness drying up the palate along with malt lay as backing. Phenolic spice draws down generating more complexity in tasting. Bitter sweet at the end derives from hop and yeast snap.

M:
The body is medium, low carbonation but fine crisp and carry out well, very dry in the finish.

O:
Very well brew and very easy to go with yet high drinkability as there is no harshness and alcohol is well hidden. Everything just goes down smooth.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 09:52:16 | More by Everydayoff

OttoPeeWee

Illinois

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

Served in my Maredsous chalas. Look is deep golden almost brown with a somewhat thin head. Very little lacing. Both of these points are surprising considering the style and origin are know for head and lacing. Smells of yeast, slight pepper, and a whiff of alcohol. Tastes fantastic like honey, caramel, and bread. Definately on the sweet side.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 01:17:03 | More by OttoPeeWee

teromous

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark shade of copper, with a rose hue. The head is thin but covers the surface in white foam. The beer is hazy, and leaves spotted lacing.

S: Very strong malt scent, with familiar Belgian scents. It has a fruity plum-like scent.

T: Again there is a robust malty caramel flavor, similar to how it smells. I get some boozy flavors.

M: The mouthfeel is very clean. It's medium bodied, then ends very light. Great carbonation.

O: Overall it's a very good beer. It's not my favorite Tripel, but it is very tasty and quite delicious.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 22:00:19 | More by teromous

ChopperSmith

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked 750 ml bottle into a clear chalice glass.

Appearance: Poured a hazy deep golden color, almost amber. One finger of creamy white foam head that receded slowly and left a little sticky lacing on the sides. Settled to a frothy white cap that lasted to the end.

Smell: Sweet and yeasty with light hops and fruit aroma like pears and green apples. Slight alcohol sweetness as well. Some spice beneath. Really inviting.

Taste: That wonderful sweet, yeasty and fruity flavor that the Trappist Belgian Tripel style is known for. A good hops presence. Slight sourness and light fruits are there too, like light pear and green apple flavors. Good warming and sweetness from the alcohol. Yeast is the right blend of sweet and spicy.

Mouth feel: Slick and creamy with soft carbonation.

Overall: This is the cream of the crop for Belgian Tripels for me, and one of the best examples of the style (in my opinion). I have had this often over the years and it is always consistently fantastic. I'm surprised I hadn't already reviewed this one, since it's easily one of my favorite beers in the world.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:31:27 | More by ChopperSmith

draheim

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle (code 10:10 K09B10 / 36/09 on cork - guessing this was bottled in 2009)

Pours a beautiful golden amber w/ a thick fluffy off-white head that dissipates pretty quickly and leaves no lacing.

Aroma is Belgian yeast, pale malt, fruity esters - just slightly musty.

Taste is a nice green apple tartness combined with some spicy and floral notes.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, just a little prickly.

Overall a good tripel but not the best I've had. I'd still drink it again though, maybe fresher next time.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 04:49:25 | More by draheim

morimech

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The first pour results in a clear, bronze colored beer with a mighty head that is slow to recede to a thick cap. Heavy lacing is left on the glass.

Surprising amount of hop aroma. Spicy, earthy, peppery hops meld nicely with the vinous, fruity, yeast esters.

Like the aroma, the flavor has quite a bit of noble hop flavor and bitterness. A bit more balanced than a lot of the sweet Belgian examples. There is some underlying malt sweetness, but the hops help balancing it out. The yeast esters however, are not as impressive as, say St. Bernardus.

Body is smooth and rich. Just a touch undercarbonated. Would of liked a little bit more life. It lays on the palate a little flat.

Impressive beer to say the least. A couple others in the style I like more, but this gives a different interpretation of the style while maintaining old world flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 20:11:47 | More by morimech