Westmalle Trappist Tripel - Brouwerij Westmalle

wanker

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

Boy, I was disappointed in this one. Of course, I had high expectations going in, after reading the reviews here.

First the good news. The mouthfeel is outstanding. A fairly high amount of carbonation, but I like that. Very crisp finish. The appearance is also nice, a light amber with just a touch of cloudiness. A gentle pour generated almost no head, which is also fine with me, because I don't like to wait for a head to subside before I can start drinking.

Now the bad news. The alcohol taste is way too harsh. I know that alcohol can be masked better in 9% ABV Belgians, because Unibroue does it with theirs. No alcohol masking with this beer. To me, it tasted like a Duvel with a shot of Everclear poured into it.

This booziness destroyed the drinkability for me. If I want a boilermaker, I'll order one. Also, drinking just one 330 ml bottle gave me heartburn and a slight hangover, which never happens to me when drinking a similar size bottle of other 9% brews.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2007 15:12:35 | More by wanker

pandow

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

06-18-2013 17:47:25 | More by pandow

KelsoSaaz

New York

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into snifter. Thanks to my friend Nick for just bringing this back to me straight from Belgium.

A: Slightly hazy yellow with a fine, off-white, 1 finger head that leaves large amounts of lacing.

S: Sweet fruit with some hints of spice and booze, yeasty bread aromas as well.

T: Ripe apricots and candi sugar. Spicy and slightly herbal tones, mixing with flavors of fresh baked sweet bread. Very slight and deceptive boozy notes. Spice and alcohol last in the finish.

M: Slick in the mouth with a medium-ish body and moderate carbonation. Alcohol also warms the palette.

O: This is an incredible beer! Sweet, yeasty, and tasty this brew just satisfies in every way. One of the greats, Westmalle Tripel is a beer that you should definitely try if you have the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 06:11:07 | More by KelsoSaaz

ripweblo

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

06-17-2013 14:24:39 | More by ripweblo

alelover

Michigan

4/5  rDev -7.2%

06-17-2013 13:58:34 | More by alelover

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -13%

06-17-2013 03:23:40 | More by vicsju1991

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

06-17-2013 00:36:35 | More by Phillyz

Quafftastic

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

06-17-2013 00:12:54 | More by Quafftastic

jaxon53

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -7.2%

06-16-2013 19:54:12 | More by jaxon53

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

06-16-2013 15:32:10 | More by TheBeeraholic

adityashekhar

India

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

06-16-2013 10:15:26 | More by adityashekhar

JohnW58

New York

4/5  rDev -7.2%

06-16-2013 04:40:11 | More by JohnW58

Boilerfood

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -13%

06-16-2013 02:02:38 | More by Boilerfood

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3/5  rDev -30.4%

06-15-2013 23:15:36 | More by IchLiebeBier

atone315

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

06-15-2013 12:20:59 | More by atone315

cosmonick

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

06-13-2013 22:40:58 | More by cosmonick

Immortale25

Florida

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had at The Abbey in Miami Beach. Served in a Rochefort goblet.

A- Pours a semi-hazy dark golden color with a 1/4 inch white head that soon dissipates to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a frothy sheet of surface foam. Non-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass and leaves little behind.

S- Somewhat boozy aroma with some Belgian yeast and candy-like sweetness. Semi-effervescent.

T- An initial solvent-like booziness clamps down but immediately lets go and allows the fruity esters to move in. Sweet and complex with some white wine and honey characteristics. Alcohol is apparent but works with the overall flavor profile. Hint of wheat in the back and nearly no bitterness.

M- Definitely the best part as it is spritzy and sharp with medium-high carbonation and a lightish body.

O- A no-nonsense tripel that begs to be appreciated through small sips.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 20:05:32 | More by Immortale25

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.54/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Westmalle Tripel has a thin, white head and a hazy, bubbly, yellow-gold appearance, with a few tiny, white specks suspended throughout. The aroma is of full, strong, pungent, sweet bread, with a slight sourness. Taste is of stinging yeast, peppery, banana, sweet bread, a good amount of harsh bitterness, and sugar. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy, and one really does pick up the alcohol with this- think brandy. Westmalle Tripel finishes mostly dry, biting, and wonderful. A challenging, outstanding beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 15:21:42 | More by RonaldTheriot

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle was poured into a stemmed chalice.

Appearance: The beer poured a small head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a hazy golden straw yellow with bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: apples, pears, vanilla, spices, bready, yeast, and Belgian candy.

Taste: Same as above. Pretty tasty beer and booze is nice and warming.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, bready, a little boozy, low to medium carbonation, and medium to full bodied. Extremely drinkable.

Overall: Solid classic and one of the best. Many more to be enjoyed in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 02:51:56 | More by Flounder57

dwren89

Virginia

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: hazy, active yeast visible, golden yellow, slight orange hue in the light, foamy white head with good staying power

Aroma: not very strong fruit esters, though detectable banana and clove, no noticeable malt aroma or hop aroma

Taste: definite banana and clove taste, well rounded bready malt profile to round out yeast flavor, no noticeable hop character. Spicy phenols carry flavor and deliver a well rounded fruity, spicy, and softly malty flavor. No alcohol solvency, no diacetyl detected.

Mouthfeel: highly carbonated, prickly to the tongue, medium body, finishes dry and with a malty residue left in the mouth.

Overall Impression: Certainly more drinkable than a Quad, this ale bears similar taste resemblance to a German hefeweizen, however it's medium body, roundness of malt character, and lack of wheaty astringency make it easily discardable. If those characteristics were not enough, the obvious Belgian influence is easily recognized in the yeast complexity.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 21:46:04 | More by dwren89

Dreizhen

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Light, clear, bubbly. If I didn’t know better, I would say this is champagne. Good head that dissolves somewhat quickly.

Smell: Light, a little hoppy, white grapes. At this point I’m wondering if I’ve been misled by the bottle’s packaging.

Taste: Bitter, hops, no grapes but just a hint of grapefruit. A little floral towards the end. More crisp than flavorful.

Mouthfeel: Light, carbonated, again very close to champagne.

Overall: Not bad. Not my favorite Trappist beer, but pretty good. The alcoholic content is well masked. Pairs well with some good Belgian frites. In fact, I started eating some between writing this and posting it. The beer is exponentially better with the fries.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 18:42:03 | More by Dreizhen

utopiajane

New York

4.49/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours cloudy lemon yellow with a perfect white head of soft foam. Excellent retention and handsome lace. This beer glowed in the glass and was perfect to look at. Nose is banana, apricot, bubblegum, pale malt, lightly yeasty, complex and layered. Slightly medicinal. Some floral and hay. Perfumey with honey and light biscuit. There’s a quick breath of orange peel and a just enough spice. Taste follows the nose all the way. Buoyant on the palate, vivacious, balanced, supple and creamy. There’s a little clove on the palate that wasn’t on the nose as much. Finishes dry and slightly sticky.

This beer is outstanding, cultivated and refined. It’s not assuming but it is assured and significant in it’s exceptional character. A well done tripel like this is a sweet delight.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 12:23:47 | More by utopiajane

bcm75

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.2%

06-12-2013 03:21:33 | More by bcm75

JammyV

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.2%

06-11-2013 14:10:01 | More by JammyV

GraduatedCashew

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

06-11-2013 00:08:01 | More by GraduatedCashew