Westmalle Trappist Tripel - Brouwerij Westmalle

spoony

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a 750 ml bottle (bottled May 15, 2012) into a Westmalle chalice.

A-A timid pour produced about one and one-half fingers of shiny, white foam. The head was dense and stuck around for almost the entire glass. The brew was golden amber in color and mostly clear with considerable carbonation visible in the glass.

S-I picked up green apple, pepper, lemongrass, and an herbal, slightly medicinal alcohol on the nose. Not nearly as sweet as some other tripels I have sampled.

T-The taste follows the smell pretty closely, i.e., crisp apples, lemongrass and hay, pepper, and a pretty hefty dose of alcohol. Lightly bitter on the finish. No gimmicks or dominant flavors here.

M-The feel was smooth and a little slick. Light to medium bodied.

O-For me, this sum of this beer parts was better than any one component. It was a touch boozy, but the alcohol integrated nicely with the crisp flavor profile. Perhaps this is a good example of old world subtlety in brewing because although no one flavor or aspect of this beer jumped out at me, the whole package worked pretty well.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 17:17:32 | More by spoony

desint

Belgium

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-24-2013 12:19:21 | More by desint

robertmitchum

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-24-2013 09:17:58 | More by robertmitchum

drebrew

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-22-2013 19:25:59 | More by drebrew

broob

Mississippi

5/5  rDev +16%

05-22-2013 19:25:33 | More by broob

MoistPope

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-22-2013 17:30:07 | More by MoistPope

gamanley

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-22-2013 02:56:46 | More by gamanley

randomNBGD

Serbia

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-22-2013 00:43:05 | More by randomNBGD

apasternak

Ohio

5/5  rDev +16%

05-21-2013 23:40:32 | More by apasternak

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-21-2013 23:22:04 | More by GinsuDave

HattedClassic

Virginia

4.76/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Appearance:
The beer pours a beautiful and clear gold color. The white head is fairly fluffy and lasting despite having been poured several minutes ago and drunk several times.

Smell:
I get yeast, Belgian sugars, and a hints of apricot as well as a slight hay smell.

Taste:
Whoa. A really complex taste that I can only begin to guess what's in it. So far I've found honey, apricots, a bit of toffee, sugar, the yeast, and general sweetness.

Mouthfeel:
Crispy with an odd velvet, fluffiness.

Overall:
A fine Tripel and one of the best I've had. I might buy another one of these down the road as soon as I finish the other beers in my closet.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:40:17 | More by HattedClassic

Liquoric3

Germany

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-20-2013 10:19:16 | More by Liquoric3

dar482

New York

4.46/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

It comes in a hazy golden color. A big white fluffy head that just sicks compared to other tripels.

A very fruity aroma without the breadiness of other tripels. Bright oranges, citrus, just a big pop of fresh citrus fruits. A wet hay, big on wine white grape. Some biscuit malt sweetness. It’s very floral.

The flavor does not follow through as much with its big fruit aroma. There’s still some peach and cherry flavors along with white grape and apple skin. There’s not much carbonation. There’s a biscuit breadiness.There’s a slight booziness in the finish of this. It really does stand out from other tripels because of this alcohol that hits you. Despite that, it’s a really clean and a very dry beer. Highly recommended for white wine lovers.

I had this blind taste tested with Chimay and La Fin Du Monde. This came in second, with La Fin being first. This is however where you want if you don't prefer sweet and fruitiness, but want some more strong flavors with booze, bitterness, and vinous flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 05:00:37 | More by dar482

jarrett123

New York

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-20-2013 04:21:03 | More by jarrett123

lancecenter

Texas

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-19-2013 20:10:13 | More by lancecenter

Stugotzo

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-19-2013 01:40:28 | More by Stugotzo

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-18-2013 21:58:05 | More by Photekut

BeastLU

Virginia

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-18-2013 20:15:56 | More by BeastLU

Dr_Q

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-18-2013 02:51:21 | More by Dr_Q

arfenhouse

California

3.5/5  rDev -18.8%

05-17-2013 07:53:19 | More by arfenhouse

MSandahl23

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-17-2013 02:40:08 | More by MSandahl23

Matak3

Serbia

5/5  rDev +16%

05-16-2013 23:45:57 | More by Matak3

Blashawright

Texas

5/5  rDev +16%

05-16-2013 22:34:08 | More by Blashawright

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-16-2013 20:25:39 | More by carlosega

humpho

United Kingdom (England)

4.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Served in goblet glass
appearance-cloudy hazy gold with good carbonation and thick 2 finger sized head. Which dissipates quickly

Aroma -fantastic nose of banana and dark fruits aalmost like rum soaked raisins and figs.

Taste -malt and banana dominate then out comes the dark fruits on the finish held up with just enough hops and a lovely alcohol warmth.

Mouth feel -very creamy and coats the tongue in a fantastic way.

Overall an outstanding Abbey trippel which is almost too easy to drink for its strength. Superb.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 19:48:54 | More by humpho