Tripel Karmeliet - Brouwerij Bosteels

ThaCreep

Belgium

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Creamy, spicy flavors are also quite fruity and even if the origin of these remains difficult to identify. It reveals, however, the apricot. The beer is made with barley, wheat and oats (each grain is taken once believed, once malted) and is very warm and contains little bitterness. The flavor is mild and sweet with a finish reminiscent of quinine. It is less sweet and more balanced than the pressure bottle and she appears much more refreshing, even if it is full of flavors. Complex beer.

Serving type: cask

01-02-2010 16:08:11 | More by ThaCreep

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Pours from bottle into a chalice glass

Appearance – Upon pouring, the brew was a golden yellow color with a one finger pure white head and lots of carbonation seen streaming through the brew. The head fades relatively quickly, leaving a lighter level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma was of a grainy and lightly biscuit nature with some hints of yeast and orange peel. There are aromas of some candied sugar as well a little bit of spice and an herbal/haylike smell mixed within.

Taste- The taste begins with a nice Belgian malt flavor and flavors of biscuit. Even though it is moderately dry upfront there are some hints of some orange sweetness with other sweeter candied sugar tastes. The orange dwindles more toward the middle as a lemon citrus taste takes it place. Yeast flavors come to the tongue at this time and bring with them some floral hop as well as some spice of clove and coriander. These flavors take the taste to its end, where the candied sugar then largely leaves the taste, with a bit of a herbal taste taking its place, to leave a clean and crisp malty and dry fruit flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the thinner side with a carbonation level that is high with tons of tiny champagne like bubbles. The thinner body and higher carbonation are fantastic for the drier and fruity flavors of the brew and make for a truly fanatic feel and great drinkability.

Overall – Quite easy drinking and enjoyable. This is a very nice triple and renowned for a good reason.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:48:34 | More by Darkmagus82

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

4.26/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz single, $4.50. Poured into a tulip.

A: Quite light for the style with a meringue-like, very large, very white head. Can't ask for too much more in this dept.

S: Lightly floral. Cotton candy. Yeast. Bread. A whiff of vanilla and a touch of booze. There's a lot to be found in here.

T: Delicious and rich. A touch boozy. Pilsnerlike breadiness on the back end adds a nice rustic quality. Very little sweetness.

M: Decadently creamy. Dry. Beautifully carbonated.

O: Not as thrilling as Westmalle, but this is my #2 for the triple style. Pretty flawless and appropriate most any time.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 14:26:59 | More by ZethOfTheNorth

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at Top Hops recently, having never had this beer before or knowing nothing about it. I had no idea that this was a Tripel until I signed on here, because of how light the hue was and how much this reminded me of a Belgian Wit, even if it was stronger than what I was used to. This beer was amazing on so many levels and a pleasure to drink, even with the alcohol being quite high.

I can't say that I've ever seen anything with a pour quite like this, as the head filled up 2/3 of my pint glass long before I emptied all of the contents of the bottle out. The beer itself was a nice golden straw with lots of swirls in it and the head almost seemed like a solid, it lasted so long! Once it settled, a good amount of what was left remained on the sides of the glass as soapy lacing. The aroma could have been a bit stronger but that was the only drawback to this. Lots of grass, straw, wheat, grass, and dark fruit beautifully combined in the taste, with none of them dominating too heavily over any of the other notes. The carbonation was quite high, which was a plus since it scrubbed the drier flavors away and left just the plum and fig to linger a bit with some sourness that softly grew sip by sip.

Yes, this was strong but it never felt it. While I couldn't get down this quickly, I never wanted to because I never had anything quite like this before. The way this beer faded from a Wit to a Tripel during each sip was a wonder to behold as the candy sugar quietly made its presence felt. It's not often that a beer this bold sneaks up on you but this one fit the bill and for any Belgian beer lover, this is certainly a must-try. It's a shame I can't find this in a larger size!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 09:00:22 | More by JerzDevl2000

RobertColianni

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

10oz tap pour into a Duvel Tulpip at Hawthorne's Cafe in Philadelphia.

A: Burnt amber with a white, sudsy head with layers of carbonation.

S: Heavy sweetness. Has that sexy rankness of most true, dark fruited trips. Heavy cherry cordial scents.

T: Cherry Cordial and white, Turkish Figs. Beautiful sweetness with a subtle malt that balances nicely with the thin backbone.

M: Thin and smooth.

OVERALL: A very drinkable trip with only a slight maltiness that adds definition and depth to this perfect, all day ale.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2013 20:38:57 | More by RobertColianni

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Brouwerij Bosteels - Tripel Karmeliet - 1pt 6fl oz bottle

First off, holy carbonation! My buddy was unscrewing the cork holder and as soon as he had it unscrewed the cork blasted off, hit the ceiling, then bounced and hit the window. Thought that was funny and wanted to share, be careful lol!

Look - Pours like a a fizzy golden champagne with a bubbly head that dissipates quickly. Some lacing, definite heavy carbonation. Tripel/Saison-style in the carbonation.

Smell - Aroma is deep yeasty bready sour belgian-style. Simple in style but complex in general. Spices and mouth-watering profile.

Taste - Tons of fruits. Bananas and green grapes in the first sip. Sweet but smooth. Second sip yields tinny sour fruit notes, but still sweet, thinking pears. Light floral hops throughout.

Mouthfeel - Rests quite sweet pears, sour is hidden a bit. Spices give mild lip burn as you drink this. Gets deeper flavors as it warms. Slightly boozy but non-determinate, does not dominate.

Overall - A little light and lacking sour, more towards sweet but a solid brew nonetheless. Good tripel.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 13:50:48 | More by JMScowcroft

barczar

Kentucky

4.06/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Aggressive pour yields a slightly hazy light golden color with a 3 inch ivory head that billows over the top of the glass like a snowcap. The head lingers indefinitely, while endless bubbles rise from the bottom of the tulip.

Grain, belgian yeast, lemon, pear, and confectioners sugar form the initial aroma. Musty, earthy notes emerge, along with floral hop character.

There's a bit of graininess in the flavor, as well. Lemon, pear, clove, and cardamom underlie lightly bready malt and wheat, becoming slightly peppery at the finish. Floral underpinnings add depth and complexity. That subtle character is the saving grace for this beer. Honeysuckle and tones reminiscent of hibiscus are a welcome addition.

Body us a touch watery, with fairly high carbonation and moderate alcohol warmth.

Malt character is slightly lacking, and the dominant flavors are somewhat banal, but when the floral notes surface, this beer shines. A little on the hot side.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 20:11:19 | More by barczar

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

From big corked bottle dated 21/03/12. Poured in a medium Duvel glass.
Big pop of cork and slight gush.
Pours a gold yellow with big active head.
Aroma of candy sugar, malts, citrus spritz.
Moderate carbonation and modest mouthfeel.
Flavors of malts, grassy hops, lemon & lime, candy sugar, fresh bread, light spice. Overall one of my favorite Belgian brews...refreshing, full body with nice malt sweetness, some complexity but very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 04:12:40 | More by DenverLogan

RichardMNixon

Delaware

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a straw body with a lively head that fades to a persistent fizz. Lacing is short-lived but vibrant.
Wonderful aromas of yeast and a surprising amount of spice. Gets fruitier as it warms.
Carbonation starts high for my taste but gets lower and very smooth given time.
Tripel isn't a style I'm generally fond of, but I'll be getting some more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 23:33:07 | More by RichardMNixon

3sheets2thewind

Kentucky

4.29/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- My goodness this was great to watch. A head like no other formed with very tight retention and by it being bottle conditioned, just kept forming and holding. Never witnessed a head form that perfectly into place. It was almost champagne like' knew from just looking it was going to be very dry. Straw like color

S- Nice... Like sticking your head inside a grain bin. Wheat, oats, barley... like a fresh bale of hay in the summer afternoon. Lemon and then a little clove show itself late in the game. Bit this had a great nose. A lot nicer than other tripels I've had.

T- Belgium grain right on top of freshly squeezed citrus fruit. The high carbonation is such a treat. Kinda has the reminiscent of an ancient ale...

M- Very dry. Normally dry is not something I want, Even absinthe being my first and foremost love... Its dryness is the worst part. But this beer would not be as good if it lost that characteristic.

O- I'm not a big fan of any triplets... yet! But this is definitely a must try for anyone. Then again this is how IPAs started out for me, I hated them and then found myself craving some of them.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 03:40:59 | More by 3sheets2thewind

MShirokov

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

As far as flavor characteristics go, other people have done a great job describing this beer.
Get this one in a small bottle if you can, and not the big one. There is stuff that settles to the bottom, so you want to get the full flavor from the first glass instead of waiting to get to the bottom of the big bottle.

A great beer. Yeasty but not ridiculously so, complicated flavor, smells great.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 16:31:02 | More by MShirokov

MadCat

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: A light straw color with a good white head, leaves good lacing

Smell: Malty sweetness, Belgian yeast

Taste: Fruity, peppery, yeasty, malty... this tastes like a highly complex version of what I expect from a tripel. You would never know it is high in alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, high carbonation, very smooth and refreshing

Overall: A great example of the Belgian Tripel style. It is awesome, I highly recommend it, especially if you like the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2013 02:10:30 | More by MadCat

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

4.71/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Aroma: Crisp nose with caramel, cloves, and floral notes

Appearance: Golden color, full creamy head.

Taste: Light, clove-y, floral, esters. Slightly fruity

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth, champagne-like carbonation. Sharp finish.

Overall, an excellent beer. One of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 13:00:48 | More by Beerstorian

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into an oversized tulip. Best by 9-26-14

A - Straw gold with good clarity. Delicate pour results in a towering tight white head that holds on forever. Great lacing all the way down, beautiful rockiness to the head is perfect.

S - Solid husk/grainy malt quality. Small candy sugar note, faint lemon citrus quality. Powdery yeast, touch of fruitiness. Getting a hint of some kettle hops.

T - Malt lends little to the flavor but is carried rather by some candy sugar. Not a whole lot to describe. Finishes pretty dry with a little bit of alcohol warmth.

M - Medium body, high carbonation, semi-dry.

O - My favorite part of this beer was its smell. Had all the tenents of a good tripel. Drank smooth and never was sweet, the body was clean and drinkable. High carbonation is perfect for the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 00:23:41 | More by Jparker37

DJoe

Massachusetts

2.99/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75

A: Clear golden-yellow with a large white head of good retention. A very ample head.

S: Scents of pear and apple are drowned out by a Heineken-like odor. Overall, this is quite off putting.

T: The beer resonates throughout the mouth, with a finish both crisp and peppery. There is also a hint of cloves laced in.

M: HIghly carbonated and dry...

O: A disappointing experience. Perhaps I just got a bad bottle, but this had an unappealing aroma and tastes that tended toward cheap cider.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:40:40 | More by DJoe

OneBallJay

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Excellent beer to be had at a tapas restaurant. A variety of seafoods was my personal preference. The beer was refreshing and also very full of body which helps the hollow after taste of most seafood. As with most seafood a slight hint of citrus will always entice the pallet. There were other delicacies that went well with the Triple Karmeliet too. A beer to be had with a variety of fine foods. Top notch compliment to the meal.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 07:05:35 | More by OneBallJay

Douberd

Netherlands

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle, at home. Poured into a tulip glass. ABV 8,4%.

Clear golden yellow colour with a huge froathy head, good retention.. No activity in the glass and light lacing left behind.
Some aroma of citrus fruits, some banana too.
Taste is quite sweet and malty at first, the alcohol very well hidden, no obvious at all on the taste.
Full body with quite a carbonation.
A very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 00:21:57 | More by Douberd

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Chimay chalice,

Bright, golden blonde colored ale with a massive, brilliant white head that is chunky and very dense. Plenty of crispy lace caking the sides of the glass.

Smells of fruits - sour apples, apricot, candied malt and spices.

Tastes of sour apples, buttery malt, grain, yeast, spicey - maybe pepper and coriander. Mildly hoppy...sort of balances everything nicely.

Medium mouthfeel, actively carbonated.

A truly classic take on the style. Personally for me, I'd like it to be just a tad bigger, but make no mistake - this is one satisfying tripel that is an absolute must try. Like so many others, this a bit more flavorful as it warms. Halfway through the abv is making its presence felt - in a nice warming kind of way. Great brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:24:50 | More by ujsplace

schlimenhaumer

New York

4.26/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a St. Bernardus tulip at low altitude in NY. Thanks to my girlfriend for giving this to me as a gift!

A: Clear golden-yellow with a large, prickly white head of good retention. As the head gradually recedes, it leaves plenty of lacing along the sides of the glass.

S: Pear, apple, cloves. Smells intensely fruity up front with the spice character in the background. Alcohol doesn't come through at all on this one. Overall, the smell is mouthwatering.

T: The apple/pear notes come through strongly right from the beginning -- reminds me of drinking hard cider in certain respects. The fruit flavors give way to clove and pepper notes on the finish. The sweetness is a bit cloying.

M: Medium-bodied with a prickly and dry mouthfeel. Suits the flavors well, but doesn't leave any lasting impression.

O: Quite different from most other tripels I've had in terms of the apple/pear flavors (as opposed to dark fruits). Well-built and tasty, just a bit too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 03:32:37 | More by schlimenhaumer

Arno

2.78/5  rDev -34.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.25

A: Weak yellow color, clear. Like a regular pilsener. Like pee ;) Not especially inviting.
S: Citrus fruits. Light bittering hop. Slight sour yeast. Fruity sweetness. Inviting ...
T: Not as full flavored the smell might suggest. Actually the first beer i've experienced that's ruined by the mouthfeel, killing any flavor sensation with an overload of carbonation. I do still get the citrus fruits with a good balance of sweet, bitter and sour.
M: Well, too much carbonation. I don't like the feel at all.

O: The mouthfeel just ruins it for me. Maybe it's because of the taste i had on the day, but somehow every sip i took was taken over by a lot of carbonation tingling. Also the flavor is too one dimensional. There's not much more then citrus fruits. The only good part is that you don't get any alcohol at all, which is an achievement considering the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 20:50:31 | More by Arno

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: dull, light gold; almost clear; snapping, bubbly head, but burns out after a minute - poured in a chalice, but even so, not good retention

Aroma: sharp, acidic tang; apple, pear, like cider; grape

Taste & Mouthfeel: buttery and fatty feel on the tongue stand out at first, although getting a good sizzle from the carbonation; a mash of fruit flavours, almost juicy, and again apple, pear are standing out, and there's some yeasty spice too; a faint whiff of alcohol at the finish; acidic, but not to the level of the nose, and slightly tart - like a granny smith; a hint of wheat and cereal, but it's quite hidden; nearing the end, the sweetness is getting cloying, tasting of candy syrup, and the aftertaste actually begins to be unpleasant

Overall: the fruitiness is enjoyable, and the mouthfeel is decent, but as time goes on it all becomes too much, just too sweet for my taste

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:33:26 | More by BGDrock

NardiByNature

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My buddy has an empty bottle of this in his room, salvaged from a semester in Europe. Recognized the label in the fridge at Bauer's on Newbury and had to snag it on the way home from Work.

Nice golden clarity and lively carbonation racing to the top of my glass. A massive pearly white head forms and stays there. Aromas like sweet but crisp tart fruits – sliced green apples – hit me first but there’s definitely a spicy, peppery element there too. More fruity depth in the taste: juicy fruit gum (I think sweet lemon, papaya, dried mango, all that). There’s a light crackery grain, and, rolling down my lip, a verdant hop bitterness.

Mouth: one of my favorite things about this beer. I like the lively, prickly carbonation from the little bubbles. 8%? No way.

Overall: 5/5: it’s that good. I’m no tripel fiend but this one is amazing. Something like this really gets me amped up about beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 23:05:55 | More by NardiByNature

Docrock

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle into a Tulip

A - golden in color with a slight haze. 2" head of small white foam. Solid lacing

S - pear, honey, and a slight spiciness.

T - Pear and maybe a hint of clove. no aftertaste at all. slightly sweet, taste is very similar to the nose.

M - solid body with well balanced carbonation that actually hides the alcohol well

O - really enjoyable, the fruit and spice is not overpowering. well placed within the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:21:12 | More by Docrock

Beelzebeer

Newfoundland (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, served in a chalice. Bottled Dec 20/2011. Almost a year old.

A - Traditional tripel. Good amount of medium density head, which has been sticking around forever. Pale yellow.

S - Wheat, some light liquorice, a little tangy bitter, little sawdust, oddly enough.

T & M - Taste is being overridden by a too-high amount of carbonation. Underneath there is wheat, a little hop, dried fruit. Pretty dense mouthfeel, maybe a little too much, but not bad by any means.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 23:34:41 | More by Beelzebeer

Vec2267

Florida

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

A - cloudy, golden, huge frothy head, great lacing, lotsa little bubbles

S - spice (pepper, coriander, clove), sweet/honey, fruity

T - a blend of spice and sweet and tart, no bitterness - coriander, clove, tart pears/apples, candy sweetness

F - very full and rich but the carbonation keeps it light

O - spot on for the style, lots of complexity, the spice and tartness keep the sugar from overwhelming the beer like in many other interpretations

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 22:47:39 | More by Vec2267