Westmalle Trappist Tripel - Brouwerij Westmalle

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

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

dpodratsky3

Georgia

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz bottle poured into tulip glass

A: Hazy, bright liquid gold, mixed with a little bit of darker shades, large head stays for ever, white and frothy

S: Spicy and crisp, I have a little bit of a cold, but it still doesn't seem "world class", it is still better than average though

T: Very spicy and phenolic, somewhat peppery, hops are a little noticeable and combine with the alcohol and carbonation to create a significant burn

M: Dry, high carbonation

O: I served this beer a little too warm, but it is still a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 21:54:21 | More by dpodratsky3

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Slightly hazy golden yellow with giant three-finger, white, foamy head that lasted a long time. Great lacing.

S: Sweet malt. Banana. Belgian yeast. Subtle spice. Vibrant and fresh.

T: Moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Banana and sweet malt. Spice.

M: Medium bodied with lively carbonation. Crisp and warm going down.

O: Best Tripel I have had.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 04:26:54 | More by SolipsismalCat

notchucknorris

California

2.64/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a hazy apricot color with a huge two finger cream colored head. Looks really awesome.

S: Uh oh. Skunk and funk. First thing I smelled was a blast of skunk, followed by a pretty big dose of brett. Pretty sure it's not supposed to smell like this. Some toasted oak, almond meal, and Belgian yeast.

T: In a word- unbalanced. Stays between big flavors of sweet Belgian yeast and a pretty substantial bretty funk flavor. Aspirin and heavy bready malt as well. Again, I don't think this bottle is right. I'll revisit and rewrite if necessary.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 01:12:48 | More by notchucknorris

Blindpigbiz

California

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

Smell: tangerines with cream and sugar

Taste: bountiful dry hops, tangerines, tinges of rose, sugar, walnuts, barley pears, pine needle sap, with a scotch-like burn; crisp and tangy

Probably the BEST TRIPEL MADE, this beer is one of the most complex beers one could ever drink. Touched by the hands of god, these Trappist monks sure know how to shake it down.

Pair this beer with the finer things in life, such as, chateau briand, New Zealand lamb, or filet minion with properly prepared escargot and buttery vegetables: this beer and pairing is second to none

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 09:43:38 | More by Blindpigbiz

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

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

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

rangerred

Tennessee

4.49/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle into a goblet.

Pours a hazy straw yellow with a HUGE three finger billowy white head. Absolutely amazing head retention and gobs of lacing once the head finally does fade.

Incredible aroma of yeast and clove along with peaches and some bubblegum. Quite spicy but light and almost tropical at the same time. There is some light bread and vanilla as well. A touch of dark fruit and flowers.

Flavor of clove and peaches along with coriander and orange peel. More vanilla and tropical fruit along with a very light touch of biscuit. More perfume and flowers along with a breath of alcohol leading to a warmth in the chest. Very dry mouthfeel that finishes with just a slight bit of stickyness.

Overall, this is perhaps the benchmark for the Tripel style and an absolutely amazing beer. Truly perfection in every sense of the word and world-class.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:05:52 | More by rangerred

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.99/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

ENORMOUS white foamy head, very impressive, one of the best Ive seen to date. The color is a cloudy deep gold, with a tint of orange to it. Loads of thick lacing kling to the glass as the massive head retracts. Aroma consists of white grapes, grain, some orange peel and maybe a little wheat? The malt presensce hits you up front in the palette. More grapes. Alcohol is not hidden and gives you a warming feeling. Pretty bitter towars the end with a very dry aftertaste. Medium body and mouthfeel. Pretty spritzy, kind of champagne like. This is a tough one for me. Not my favorite, but then again neither is the style. I can certainly appreciate the beer for what it is though and can understand how some give it such a high rating.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 01:31:24 | More by Burkbom23

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

appearance: Hazy straw. Huge fat white head on the pour.
smell: sweet, yeasty, bready...with spice. As it warms and I sniff away...fruit and citrus. Awful lot of good stuff happening in this nose.
taste: a very slight letdown from the nose. Many of the same flavors coming through.
overall: Finally got to try this. Very nice. a bit more alcohol bite than expected (in a good way).

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 22:08:33 | More by cindyjeffsmith

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

4.39/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted blindly next to St. Bernardus Tripel in a blind test. This was the first tripel I ever tried, and I promptly ranked it 5 in Hads.

A: Nice head that settles down after two minutes. Extremely murky gold color. Carbonation is active, not furious.

S: Brown sugar, booze, cooked apples. Vibrant and strong.

T: Quite sweet and a little hot, but man it tastes great. There's a fig taste at the back end that overlaps somewhat with the dubbel. Best tripel I've tasted.

M: Creamy and full, and a little sluggish with the carbonation compared to Chimay White.

O: Crazily satisfying, the paragon of the style. Substantially boozier than many of the others, and the higher ABV is likely somewhat responsible for the taste upgrade over all others.

The Westmalle/St. Bernardus showdown was the penultimate in a month of tripels, with Westmalle winning easily. Only Tripel Karmeleit vs La Fin Du Monde remains.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 14:58:18 | More by ZethOfTheNorth

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.31/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

33cl bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a hazy golden color with three fingers of active head. Retention is very good and lacing is excellent.

S: This beer smells quite dry and spicy. Peppercorn and dried apricots dominate with a bit of a mustiness that adds to the complexity. Clean, but complex.

T: Sweeter than I expected, I get caramel and dried apricots with peppercorn and spicy phenols. The beer remains fairly dry, but maintains a sweetness that is great for the style.

M: A touch on the thick side with soft, but active carbonation.

O: A great tripel. A nice sweetness with great spiciness that remains balanced and complex.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 00:50:34 | More by coreyfmcdonald

RaphaelSC

Brazil

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

A: Pours a golden pale yellow cloudy body with a white head that persistent head, that when dissipates leave a lacing on the goblet.

Smell of citric fruits and is very sweet, delicate and complex.

T: the flavor is very complex, resembling of fruits and hops and malts with a complexity that is not found in a commom ale or lager, still it is a very delicate beer, the 9,5 % of alcohol just appear in the sweetness, but is never intrusive in the flavor.

M: With its thick Body, no much carbonation and a little alcohol warmth Westmalle Tripel have a real complex mouthfeel, the hops prevail in the end, but in the begginning it leave a fruit and sweet spicy taste.

Westmalle is a real world class beer, not too expensive and very unique. Everyone should try this liquid treasure.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 05:21:03 | More by RaphaelSC

barczar

Kentucky

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a hazy golden yellow with a frothy inch and a half ivory head that lingers.

Belgian yeast, pear, tangerine, and mango form the initial aroma. There's an underlying confectioners sugar sweetness, along with coriander and a hint of wheat. Somewhat musty.

Flavor is fruity and sweet initially, but it dries out considerably at the finish. Pear, belgian yeast, green apple, pineapple, ginger, and coriander underlie a slightly sweet, light bready malt body, becoming peppery at the finish. Very delicate, but complex.

Body is moderate, creamy, with fairly high carbonation and significant alcohol warmth.

Very nice belgian yeast ester character, and an excellent balance of sweetness and dryness.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 21:15:34 | More by barczar

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big-bottle, 25.4oz format. Poured into a Westvleteren Tulip.

Pours a hazy pale yellow banana color, with a huge foamy white head which does thin out, but leaves a really nice thin and bubbly layer on top. It's bright and holds light really well. Chunks of lacing just slide down the glass, no real cling.

Aroma is filled with spice, pepper, light lemon, and maybe a bit of smoke. It's citrusy and ever-so-slightly filled with fruit, but not overly.

Taste is similar, but way more forward. It's spicy/peppery and herbal, with elements of light lemon and some wood as well. It's "belgiany" with malt/breadiness apparent. Light fruit (apple, and maybe others) as well.

Feel is very complex; smooth and creamy but it's also effervescent, almost like champagne or chardonnay (which is where I believe it gets it's wood character). Alcohol is there as well.

I first had this beer about 18 months ago, and was given this larger bottle as a gift about 5 months ago. Westmalle Tripel is very interesting and unique, but I suppose I find most trappist ales that way as well. It's a good beer. It's refreshing and the right choice tonight as it's still really warm right now. I'll definitely grab another big bottle or several smaller. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:16:48 | More by rodlavers

pmarlowe

California

3.59/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Westmalle Tripel

Best By 05/09/14. Tulip glass.

A: Pours a straw-golden color with a finger of fluffy, airy, bright white head. The head slowly deflates, leaving behind a wall of intricate lacing. Very good retention, some champagne-like effervescence, but average clarity.

S: Fruity esters, candied stone fruit, floral and clove, a bit of smoke (?), honey-coated apple, and tasty sweetish malt.

T: Slightly fruity malt, floral and spice notes again, a Diet Coke-like flavor or sweetness that is beyond me. This has a muddled finish, with a sharp graphite/pencil off-taste (maybe the yeast) with some sugar.

M: High carbonation, soft, medium body. Alcohol is pretty well hidden.

O: I'm not sure what's going on with the flavor in this, but it's not really doing it for me. The aroma is quite appealing, though muted. I'm a little let down since this is supposed to be somewhat of a classic.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 05:30:43 | More by pmarlowe

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.69/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a light gold (piss) colour. Leaves a foamy pure white head. There's small dark sediment at the bottom. Not particularly good lacing.

S: Bathwater, sherbet, nail varnish. Floral and a touch vinous.

T: Phew, no coriander flavour. It's slightly vinous. Has some sweetness. Not yeasty but there is some white bread. A bit of spice and peppery clove, a good bit of lacquer/nail varnish complemented with an appropriate bitter bite. It's quite floral. There's some of that hoppy bathwater that I get from English ales but not as strong as the head suggests. Nail varnish and summer fruits in the aftertaste. More citrusy as I get to the dregs. Leaves a sustaining Sprite-like citrus flavour in the mouth. At 9.5% it's very drinkable. Alcohol is well masked.

M: There's enough effervescence but it's very soft and fine. Foamy but in a good way.

O: This is now my third favourite Belgian pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 07:22:49 | More by Hoppsbabo

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From: Friar Tuck's, Savoy, IL
Date: Best by 07/03/2014
Glass: Tulip

Not as bright or fruity as La Fin Du Monde, a more heavy pale malt-Westmalle yeast-hop bitterness tripel with cooked fruit flavors. The easy ethanol detectability was a bit of a let down, but the complexity of the beer and its overall flavors were quite enjoyable. Still, for $6.50 per 11.2oz bottle, this is not a particularly good deal, I can't see myself revisiting this with any sort of regularity.

Pours a voluminous white head of small-sized bubbles, which lasts an incredibly long time. Head collapses into a meringue-like thick cap atop the body of the beer, remaining throughout the entire glass. Lacing is very present, thick sheets adorn the entirety of the inner glass. Body is a fairly bright yellow-gold color, transparent, light binging out brighter yellow. Very strong and easily visible carbonation.

Aroma is of dried sweet grass, Westmalle yeast strain and its associated byproducts, poached pears and apples, honey, and pale malts with light candi sugar.

The flavors of the beer are predominantly of pale malt sweetness, Belgian yeast and its classic byproducts, modest hop bitterness, and cooked pears or apples: sweet and slightly fruity, with interesting yeast products, as the style warrants. Front of palate picks up on sweetness from pale malt extractives, spicy ethanol, Belgian yeast, poached pears, vanilla, and honey. Mid-palate detects honey, light candi sugar, Westmalle yeast and byproducts, dried lemon pith, white bread, vanilla, modest hop bitterness, and spiciness from the ethanol. Back of palate notes ethanol, pale malt sweetness, and Westmalle yeast. The aftertaste features mild bitterness that's balanced with lingering honey and candi sugar sweetness.

The beer is heavy-bodied, with moderate carbonation that gently foams this up on the palate. The resulting mouthfeel is heavy, but smooth and foamy. Ethanol heat is easily felt across the palate, in the nostrils, and on the back of the throat. This one's strength isn't that deceptive. Closes semi-dry, with moderate stickiness left on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 03:34:35 | More by falloutsnow